This week over 90,000 media and entertainment professionals from over 150 countries flocked to Las Vegas for the 2103 National Association of Broadcasters Show.
The big hardware news for many Ustreamers out of the NAB Show is the number of camcorder lines now sporting direct to Ustream broadcast capabilities using built-in WiFi.
Panasonic showed off three new HD Camcorders and we think they include the best direct to Ustream support we seen yet despite the initial setup being a bit cumbersome. We also think they have much better image quality and low light performance over their similarly priced JVC counterparts. All had hybrid optical/digital image stabilization and a level shot function to reduce camera shake and help keep the video steady and level. This worked pretty well. They also connect to a powerful companion app for full remote wireless control and monitoring with an iPhone or iPad or Android phone or tablet. We think they're all really nice camcorders for the money and think you'll be really impressed by their sharpness and low light performance.
The Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder (pictured left) is Panasonic's entry level model with Ustream support. It features 50x Optical/80x digital zoom, a f/1.8 28mm wide lens with Optical Image Stabilization and 3" touch screen. If you're looking to for a HD camcorder with direct to Ustream broadcasting capabilities, this model is a great choice for the budget conscious or those who wouldn't miss the lack of a mic input, filter ring mount, and accessory shoe.
The Panasonic HC-V720 HD Digital Camcorder (pictured right) is the mid-range model and features a high sensitivity sensor, 21x Optical/50x digital zoom, a f/1.8 28mm wide lens with Optical Image Stabilization, It has a 3" touch screen and adds an accessory shoe, a filter ring mount, and mic input jack. For most streaming and general video recording applications this is the model we'd suggest. It'll give you the most flexibility, with great image quality and low light performance. There's a heck of a lot of bang for your buck here.
The Panasonic HC-X920 HD Digital Camcorder (pictured left) is fully loaded. It features a high sensitivity 3MOS Full-HD sensor, 12x Optical/25x digital zoom, a Leica Dicomar f/1.5 29.8mm wide lens with Optical Image Stabilization and Nano Surface Coating, similar to whats found on high end professional DSLR lenses. It adds a generous 3.5" touch screen, electronic viewfinder, manual ring, and level gauge. It also has an accessory shoe, filter ring mount, mic input jack and also a headphone jack. It's low light performance, sharpness, and image quality was outstanding, the best of the bunch, making it well worth the extra dough if you can afford it.
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