/// HD Camcorder Comparison

Picture ?

Manufacturer

Panasonic

Sony

Name

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HXR-NX70

European name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HXR-NX70E

US name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HXR-NX70U

lowest US price

(3499) $

(3000) $

On the market since

November 2011

July 2011

Manufacturers URL

link to Panasonic

link to Sony

Test preview

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode

Video

Video formats ?

AVCHD
MVC 3D

AVCHD
SD MPEG2

Recording Medium

SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card

SD Card
SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
SDXC card

video resolutions EU ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
SD MPEG2 720 x 576

video resolutions US ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
MPEG2 720 x 480/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60p

Max Bitrate ?

28 Mbit/s

Compression format ?

MPEG4

on-board memory ?

96 GB

Optics

Optics Manufacturer ?

Panasonic

Sony

Optical Zoom ?

10 x

Wide Angle 16:9 ?

29,8 mm

26,3 mm

Filter diameter ?

- mm

37 mm

Image Stabilization ?

optical

optically and electronically

ND Filter ?

Exchangable optics ?

Image Sensor

Number of sensors ?

Size of image sensor ?

1/4,1 inch

1/2,9 inch

image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?

3050000 Pixel

6140000 Pixel

Image Sensor Type ?

CMOS

Controls

White Balance ?

auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift

Focus ?

auto
manual

Minimum shutter time ?

1/250

1/10.000

Maximum shutter time ?

1/24

1/6

Apperture control ?

auto
manual
AE-Shift

auto
manual

Infrared recording ?

Yes

Expanded Focus ?

Yes

Peaking ?

Yes

Signal Processing

Zebra ?

50-105%

70-100%

Histogram ?

Yes

adjustable sharpness ?

Yes

Adjustable color ?

Yes

Cinegamma ?

Yes

Black Strech ?

Yes

Knee ?

Yes

Colorbars ?

Yes

Misc.

Shot Transition ?

Custom Presets ?

Yes

Set Time Code ?

Yes

Configuration

Connections

FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite

Out

YC ?
synonymous: S-Video

YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal

Out

HDMI ?

Out

DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394

USB ?

USB 2.0

Microphone / Audio input ?

XLR

XLR
Mini-jack

Headphones ?

Mini-jack

Lanc ?

Yes

Time-code interface ?

Genlock ?

Accessory shoe ?

Standard

HD-SDI ?

Misc.

Weight (without battery)

1600 g

840 g

Weight (with battery)

Battery type

Panasonic CGA-D54s

Sony NP-FV70

Battery capacity

5400 mAh

1960 mAh

Charger ?

external

internal

Remote control

Yes

Size

Height

145 mm

111 mm

Width

195 mm

119 mm

Depth

350 mm

297 mm

Relative Size ?

Viewfinder

Viewfinder available ?

Yes

Color Viewfinder ?

Color

Viewfinder format ?

16:9

Viewfinder pixels ?

1226880 Pixel

Display

Display available ?

Yes

Color display ?

Color

Display size

3,5 Inch

Display format ?

16:9

Display pixels ?

1152000 Pixel

921600 Pixel

Touch Screen ?

Yes

External controls

Manual Zoom ?

Rocker
Ring

Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned

Manual Focus ?

Ring

bi-functional focus or aperture wheel

Manual Aperture ?

Ring

bi-functional focus or aperture wheel

Focus switcher ?

Yes

ND Filter ?

Exp Lock ?

Gain ?

White balance ?

Yes

Push AF ?

Yes

Audio Levels ?

Yes

Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons

Audio

Audio Formats ?

AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
2 channel PCM

Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
2 channel PCM

Microphone ?

external XLR
5.1 Internal

Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
external XLR

Audio Control ?

auto
manual

manual

Audio levels ?

Viewfinder
Screen

Still

Recording Medium ?

SD Card
built-in flash memory
SDHC card
SDXC card

Medium included ?

Effective pixels ?

Resolutions ?

4672 x 2628 - Max

Standard ?

JPEG Exif 2.2

Flash ?

Misc.

Specials

GPS Geo Tagging

Product Shots

View 1

View 2

Test results

Test pictures

luminance resolution

chrominance resolution

lens distortion

test small ISO image

noise / internal microphone

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?

Test image 12 lux optimized ?

slashCAM rating

Lowlight ?

Good

Very good

Resolution ?

Excellent

Very good

Color performance ?

Very good

Good

subj.Picture impression ?

Very good

Optical Zoom ?

Sufficient

Wide Angle ?

Very good

Excellent

Configuration / image ?

Very good

Good

Configuration / sound ?

Excellent

Very good

Handling ?

Very good

Good

Portability ?

Satisfactory

Good

Photo function ?

Poor

Satisfactory

Optics ?

Very good

Good

Dynamics ?

Very good

Good

Conclusion slashCAM

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

Total score ?
(maximal 570)

440

424

Pros

+ Extreme manual control options
+ Very good image quality
+ Good 3D control

+ 50P Recording
+ Big wide angle
+ Very good low light behavior

Cons

- No ND filter
- Autostereoscopic display mode

- Image characteristics can not be changed

Conclusion

Even as a 2D camcorder the Z10000 is absolutely competitive thanks to the professional features and excellent image quality.The additional 3D capabilities are currently unique in this price range (and even much further) (as of 11/2011).

The HXR-NX70 is a nice camera; with its external controls it makes Sony`s consumer technology interesting for pros also.In addition to the good light sensitivity the abberation correction is remarkable, since it is seldom found on professional cameras.The only real drawback is the fixed image characteristics, which can not be modified.The pricing is fair considering the XLR connectors and the dust and splash protection -- as long as you actually have use for these features...Otherwise a comparable image quality can be found in the consumer class for approximately one third of the price of the NX70.

More information

Reviews and Forums