Panasonic AG-CX350PJ5 Reviews
Love it
By Ahmad
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-08-01
I am panasonic camera user since 2004 with the DVX 100a and I am totally satisfied with the function of the AG-CX350 4K even though I don't use the 4K much the pictures still look great.
Very disappointing camera
By Steve
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-14
I had been waiting to buy this camera, and once the price dropped (usually a strong indicator it's about to be discontinued), I bit. Upon first inspection, I'm very disappointed that it is all plastic, has a cheap lens and only has a 2.8 max Iris opening. And while offering many record options, none of them actually look good. Image quality is underwhelming to say the least. The camera also makes an audible humming sound! And worst of all, having purchased this camera in November of 2022, I am shocked that I had to download the most recent firmware update, which was from 2019! Has this camera been sitting in a warehouse for 3 years?! Panasonic doesn't update the firmware during manufacturing? Finally, as I mentioned, the image quality of the CX350 is very, very disappointing. My 11 year old Panasonic AC160 has better saturation and overall better look. I have been a Panasonic video fan for a long time, but between this awful camera and their apparent lack of interest in making good prosumer cameras anymore, I will have to find something better.
Very Powerful, Heavily Featured
By Lanny
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-05-18
I love this camera. It's a big improvement over my AC130. Great light sensitivity, minimal noise, and 4K too. It takes some getting used to, though, because it's so heavily featured. It could use a stronger ND filter, though. I took it outside for some tests on a sunny day, and the white fence was covered with zebras with the 1/64 internal filter in place. I have a variable ND filter that fits the lens, and using that in concert with the internal filter allowed my to get the shot without blowing out the highs and I could see the textures in the fence. And yes, the gain switch was at minimum. Read the other reviews ... everybody praises their CX350!
Pro Level ENG Camera
By Will
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-06-07
This camera has delivered what I expected. I needed to upgrade my Event/ENG to 4K and coming from the canon xf205 the picture quality is beyond expectations, stabilizing seems solid. The auto focus was the only thing I was bummed out with. That said, I should not be relying on that so... I wanted a pro broadcast quality camera and this one hit the mark so far for the price point.
Very versatile and potent for the price
By Matthew
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-05-13
I'm NOT a professional videographer, but I am a serious geek and tech nerd. I bought this to replace a six-year-old Sony 1 sensor 4k camcorder--something that was a very early version of that resolution and sensor size. I use this for live-streaming or recording community events, school events, etc. I also use it for various real estate projects (which is my actual day job). Key selling points are the exceptionally wide short end of the zoom range, the substantially more light sensitive and low noise image sensor, and the dramatically superior options for codecs, frame rates, and simultaneous internal 4k recording WITH 4k output (something the old Sony lacked the processing power to do). Image quality and noise are dramatically superior under marginal light than the much older Sony.
I shoot with Nikon mirrorless cameras, plus the Sony camcorder. I'm still adapting to the Panasonic user interface, which is both new and more complex due to the huge number of options.
Based on other reviews, I expected auto-focus to be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency feature, but it's very useful in practice. Certainly not on par with current-gen Sony, but rarely problematic.
One design flaw is that the flip-out LCD doesn't quite position horizontally, making it very confusing to mentally adjust to the impression that the whole shot is out of level. The only other minor complaint is that, compared to my Sony experience, where I could have auto-exposure seamlessly adjust gain to maintain exposure across the variable aperture zoom range, the Panasonic appears to leave no choice but to stop down at the wider end of the zoom to have a constant f/4.5 across the range. Otherwise, if the goal is a wide-open aperture, I have to flip the gain switch (which is not a gradual adjustment) to a different setting at wide-angle f/2.8 versus telephoto f/4.5. The good news is that the sensor is sooooo good with less light that my results are still totally fine with a constant stopped down aperture and a little more gain. Images out of the camera are gorgeous.
Wonderful Camera For It's Price Range
By James
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-04-09
I purchased two of the CX350's to compliment the two GH5's I have, since all are 10 bit, 4:2:2 cams with log gammas and time code. Since they have similar gamma settings I use the same LUTs on each in POST. I can't stress how great this is, and how well 10 bit footage grades. I used to spend hours color grading 8 bit, not any more. You have so much more control over color accuracy and depth in 10 bit.
The CX350 has a fair dynamic range with log gamma. When shooting under stage lighting with its wide dynamic range, log gamma settings keep faces from being blown out while shadow detail is still there . In post, colors render correctly and evenly from cam to cam over an entire, two-hour production and on one battery. The standard battery life is great, even at 200 mb/s in 1080. You will want the larger battery for shooting in 4K at higher bit rates.
When shooting lit scenes or outdoors the Cine-gamma mode looks the best in my opinion with good shadow detail and a non-video look. The CX350 performs fairly well in dim light, such as wedding receptions when the dancing starts and the lights dim - but you will
need to up the gain to do it. Grain is minimal compared to HDV. The S/N ratio, while unpublished, is pretty good and comparable to my SONY EX-3 of 56dB. It can produce good blacks on a scope, similar to the GH5s.
The CX350's integrated lens, while pretty good, doesn't have the same sharpness of the 4/3 Leica lenses on the GH5 cams, but its close enough. The videos are sharp, skin tones look great, and the color is honest. The 1, 4K MOS chip produces a pleasant bokeh at nearly any range.
After using the two CX-350's for just over two years I would say for
me, this camera has three issues but each can be dealt with. First and worst is the electronic kit lens with the lack of absolute focus and iris control, and the auto-focus breathability. Holding focus in auto-mode is impossible, so you will need to go manual.
Second, the 3.2 display is not bright enough for outdoor focusing, even with the magnification setting. It's ok indoors but you'll want
to get an 7 external monitor especially since the FIZ rings are awkward on this camera and focus is challenging without one.
Third, the CX350 can't be controlled remotely with the CX-ROP app with live visual monitoring while you make changes with your Apple or Android device. Remote changes to focus, iris and zoom are
made blindly. The reason I bought the two CX350's was so I could make changes while working other cameras. While the CX-ROP app is free, you'll need the AJ-WM50 wireless USB antennae ($159 ea) to
be able to transmit the wireless signal from the camera to your device. Don't waste money on 3rd-party USB antennas - they don't work. After installing and configuring the CX-ROP app and finding the CX350 wi-fi signal (tricky), you CAN control most of the camera's
features, but you can't see what the results are live. I hope that is fixed some day as this is a great camera for the money.
I also use the two CX-350's in a streaming mode, outputting a 720-30p signal via the SDI out to a controller which displays on a projector screen while recording.
A typical setup is the two GH5s cameras on 12' lighting stands for clearance and side angles, the CX-350's on tripods for zoom shots or roving with one on an Axler VH-12 monopod. This rig fell once when I left it alone for a minute. The CX-350 didn't break a thing except the battery came out.
In all fairness the AG-CX350 camera is 10 lbs of very high-tech in a 5
lb. bag. If you are on the fence, get off of it and buy one. You won't be disappointed.
Excelente actualizacin de cmara
By nelson
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-07-31
Compr una unidad como reemplazo de una HPX250 para trabajar en un canal de TV, la calidad de imagen no tiene comparacin, con altos valores de ganancia y sin ruido importante. La compr desde Chile y sin problemas el despacho internacional, menos de 7 das desde NY a Chile
Great!
By Jp
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-02-25
Definitely a great purchase. We bought these as an upgrade from older Panasonic camcorders. These are a huge improvement and very reasonably priced.
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