4/3-Inch Camera Aimed at Documentary, Reality TV, and Event Production Will Ship in October

Panasonic set a $4,695 suggested list price for the new AG-DVX200PJ 4K handheld camcorder, which it said will begin shipping in October.

Announced at NAB 2015, the DVX200PJ is a 4/3-inch handheld camcorder with a fixed F2.8-F4.5 zoom lens that records in resolutions up to 4K (4096×2160) at 24p. Users who covet the integrated 13x zoom lens will be happy to note the five-axis image stabilizer, which should help the quality of shots taken at the longer end of the lens's range. Three steps of ND filtering are built in.

The new camera is being positioned as a VariCam Junior, with a V-Log L gamma curve option and a claimed 12 stops of dynamic range. Variable frame rates range from 2 to 120 in 1080p mode, the company said. 

Panasonic is striving to make the camera perform like a more expensive interchangeable-lens model, paying special attention to the action of the manual lens rings, the variable speed zoom, and the overall ergonomics. With a 72mm lens filter diameter, Panasonic said it expects third-party manufacturers to announce accessories specifically designed for the DVX200PJ.