If you're shooting behind the scenes (BTS) in HD and would like to add 4K to your repertoire, the Panasonic HC-X1500 UHD 4K/Full HD Director's Camcorder can help balance your needs, or allow you to jump straight to 4K. Compact and lightweight for a director or on-set BTS, the X1500 shoots and records UHD 4K at broadcast-compatible frame rates, so it fits smoothly into your existing broadcast workflow. The X1500 features a 1/2.5" 8.29M MOS sensor that is always shooting at 4K resolution, the Venus processing engine to scale the 4K image for Full HD delivery, and an HDMI output. Audio is recorded in up to 24-bit PCM via the built-in microphone.

The built-in Leica Dicomar lens features a 24x zoom with its widest angle at 25mm, and it uses the digital iZoom feature to zoom up to 48x. The Face Detection AF feature allows you to track faces and automatically adjusts focus on your subject. It also features manual control rings, a control dial, and a 5-axis optical image stabilization to keep your shots steady. The 3.5" fold-out LCD features a high-resolution touchscreen. The camera records in .mp4, .mov, and AVCHD codecs and features HEVC compression. The camera incorporates two SD card slots, allowing you to use relay and simultaneous recording. The camera also supports live streaming over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi via RTP/RTSP/RTMP/RTMPS streams.

You also have the option to add the VW-HU1 top handle unit which is available separately and provides two 3-pin XLR inputs, a built-in LED light, a microphone holder, and accessory mounting options.