Panasonic HC-X1500 review: an epic zoom, but don't buy it for low-light filming

The Panasonic HC-X1500 is one of the last camcorders left standing in the prosumer price bracket between expert and total newbie. If you're anything like me, camcorders are best remembered at school plays, birthday parties and sports days. However, their all-in-one handheld designs and oft-epic zoom ranges can still win over some consumers in today's video market.

I've tested almost all of the best camcorders you can still find on sale (a diminishing list) over the last few years, and I think Panasonic is the brand with the most skin still in the game. Despite its mirrorless Panasonic Lumix S5 II proving itself as the best camera for video, the brand has still launched two new budget models within the last year, the HC-VX3 and HC-V900.

These fresh faces are geared more toward family moviemakers and messing-around-filmmakers though, while the X1500 is a camcorder for more serious applications – live concerts, news gathering or even sports events, the latter made all the easier by the 4K recording at 60p or 120fps by switching down to Full HD.

With a small sensor (1/2.5-inch) by modern camera standards (but similar to competitors like the the Canon HF G70) I knew it was never going to give me the same bokeh-laden, high-res footage as the best cinema cameras. But then that's not what the HC-X1500 is about.

It wins in its versatility, and the fact you don't need a monitor, cage or tripod for decent results. The 24X zoom gets you close to a diverse set of subjects from birds to football players, and the camcorder is equally being able to capture vlogs in your bedroom-turned-office-turned-studio at home, or become a run-and-gun documentary partner.

Camcorders like the HC-X1500 are still said to be in their "comeback era", but why? I tested the HC-X1500 for several weeks to find out whether, in 2025, it's simply a pleasingly nostalgic reminder of a bygone era, or a genuinely professional video tool worthy of your money.

Panasonic HC-X1500: What's new?

The HC-X1500 was announced at the infamous annual CES tech show back in January 2020 alongside its pricier sibling, the HC-X2000. It replaced the HC-X1000, which was the first camcorder capable of recording 4K 60p/50p images onto a commonplace SD card rather than specialist media storage. These video specs are matched with the HC-X1500, but Panasonic did upgrade the zoom range from 20x to 24x. That means the HC-X1500 camcorder effectively covers a versatile 25 - 600 mm focal range compared to its predecessor's 29.5 - 626 mm, and while subtle, this view is more usable for wide-angle people shots and up-close pieces video diaries.

Panasonic HC-X1500: Price and Availablity

The Panasonic HC-X1500 may have been released years ago, but it's still widely available at retailers like Amazon and Adorama. Depending on where you buy, it costs around $1,500 (a wider range of £1,000 - £1,500 in the UK the last time I checked). 

This is around 30% more than the prosumer Canon HF G70, which feels fair given you get a longer optical zoom, extra iris ring, and built-in ND filters. However, the sensor size and low-light performance are similar. For around the same price as the HC-X1500, you could buy the hybrid Panasonic Lumix S5II mirrorless camera with its far superior phase-detect autofocus system and excellent stills functionality. But you'd also need to add the cost of a lens on top. 

Overall, I think the HC-X1500 represents fair value for the build camera and monster zoom range you get.

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Panasonic HC-X1500: Design & Handling

When the Panasonic HC-X1500 arrived, I was surprised at how big the box was. Your perception of its size and design is likely to come down to what kit you've used before, but in a world of tiny vlogging cameras, the main selling point here isn't compactness.

The camcorder weighs 1.2kg, including the lens hood, battery, and eyecup. Compared to my usual Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera, which is 670g (body-only), the budget Sony AX43 camcorder I most recently tested (510g), or the Canon HF G70 (953g), it starts to look and feel like quite a chunky offering.

But in real use, I never found the HC-X1500 uncomfortable or unwieldy. It needs to be as big as it is to accommodate five customizable buttons, two SD card slots, a built-in variable ND filter (with three strengths), and two manual rings at the front of the lens – one for focusing and the other for zoom or aperture changes. The strap is also more padded than the cheaper recorders I've used, and the recording button is raised enough to make it easy to find when you're filming yourself.

On overall design, the HC-X1500 sports the same matte black plastic casing as every other camcorder out there. It's not officially waterproof or weatherproof – and therefore not a confident purchase for outdoor filmmakers – but it also doesn't feel brittle or like it would get easily scratched.

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Up top, there's a thread to accommodate a Panasonic VW-HU1 handle unit (sold separately), standard hot shoe mount, built-in stereo microphone and satisfyingly sensitive zoom rocker. As you'd expect there's a standard tripod thread underneath.

As far as other ports go, you get a 3.5mm mic, remote line and micro-USB input to the right of the lines, and these are protected by substantial plastic covers. If you do buy the optional handle, that adds two 3-pin XLR audio inputs and a switch for phantom power to turn the camcorder into a more professional tool.

On the lens hood, you'll find a slider to open and close the aperture, rather than the lens opening up when the camcorder is switched on. It's important to remember to close this when you're done filming, or you risk dust and dirt getting on the lens in your bag.

I could lay the HC-X1500 sideways in a standard over-the-shoulder camera bag, although because the lens hood is much wider than the camcorder's barrel, you have to be careful not to catch it when lifting it out. Fortunately, all the other elements and buttons are more streamlined. Where some camcorders have their power packs awkwardly sticking out at the back, here, the long-life battery sits flush at the rear end so that your finger can always reach the red button.

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Unlike beginner camcorders and vlogging cameras, the HC-X1500 has a screen and viewfinder for whizzing around menus and framing and reviewing footage. I was immediately impressed by the brightness and clarity of its 3.5-inch LED monitor, which can be tilted upward and flipped 180 degrees toward you so you can capture yourself talking to the camera. No surprises there. Bettering the Canon HF G70, the screen also snaps neatly into place and doesn't fold back on itself.

On the downside, I found the touchscreen unresponsive unless you're very precise with your finger. It was impossible to press with gloves on, and with no physical buttons next to the screen, I soon got frustrated. However, the menu button is tucked away just under the screen, and there's a pushable scroll wheel beyond this to move up and down and between submenus with your left hand. Once you get used to this approach, navigation becomes quick and easy.

As for the 0.24-inch, 1.56 million dot viewfinder... it's fine. You have to tug it out from the body to extend and activate it – something I kept forgetting to do because I'm so used to my mirrorless camera switching automatically when my eye gets near. The view is also dimmer than I'd have liked. But for the price of this camcorder, I'm probably asking too much.

Panasonic HC-X1500: Performance

The camcorder market isn’t flush with new models, but the Panasonic HC-X1500 is one of the best camcorders you can buy for sheer zoom power. With a focal length range from wide-angle to super-telephoto (equivalent to 25-600mm on a full-frame camera), its versatility and magnifying power are astounding. The furthest zoom was excellent for sports games, and the model’s 4K 60p footage is best in class specs-wise. However, I wish the autofocus had been able to keep up with the action.

One big difference between the Panasonic HC-X1500 and a hybrid mirrorless camera like the Panasonic Lumix S5 II is their autofocus capability. Panasonic’s content-creator camera has a more advanced phase hybrid detection AF system that can detect subjects—such as humans and animals—immediately. However, this camcorder’s AF tech is more vaguely called “High-Precision AF.” 

For me, the HC-X1500 shines in full autofocus mode. It offers basic face detection and skin tone recognition for tracking subjects as they move. The camcorder kept up as long as people didn’t move too erratically around the frame, and it’s just right for vlogs, live streams, and static interview scenarios. 

Area mode is also effective; when activated, you tap on the screen to maintain focus on one portion of the screen and can move it quickly during filming when that point of interest changes. It’s not revolutionary, but it makes switching between near and far subjects smooth, if not speedy.

I often end up featuring my dog in camcorder reviews, not least because capturing the same moving animal over again is a great way to compare the focusing performance of different models. When filming her running toward the HC-X1500 from about 20 meters away, the camera was able to follow her movements sharply until the last 5 meters or so. It didn’t lock onto her body and eyes in the almost creepily good way my Canon EOS R6 Mark II will, but I wouldn’t expect it for its age or price.

The HC-X1500’s 24x zoom is such a draw for wildlife lovers, that my final autofocus tests involved trying to focus on small birds through branches. This is handled with ease by most Sony, Fujifilm and Canon cameras now thanks to bird-specific algorithm-powered AF modes. Sadly the HC-X1500 isn’t equipped to focus on a small subject through layers of foliage, and most of the time I found it easier to swap to manual mode to lock onto the target.

With such a long zoom comes a lot of camera shake. Or so I'd have thought. Optical image stabilization is standard in the camcorders still on sale, but the HC-X1500’s 5-axis compensation gave the most impressive footage of any I’ve tested. Whether walking over uneven ground, filming a kestrel at the full optical 24x, or panning, the footage was never jerky or wobbly.

One feature I loved when filming on the HC-X1500 was its built-in, selectable neutral density (ND) filters, which were incredibly useful for reducing intense sunlight. With four strengths (including clear/off), it’s quick and easy to toggle through these options physically, view the live effect of the exposure on the screen and adjust your exposure. It meant I was able to shoot in brighter conditions than I had with other models, with a greater level of control.

Despite being chunkier than rivals, I hugely enjoyed using the HC-X1500 as a run-and-gun model. It's a generalist capable of shooting a bit of everything (as long as the light is decent). The color reproduction is faithful in auto and there's the ability to set white balance manually. Wi-Fi and live streaming features are also both easy to use. So what gives? 

Its undoing is its tiny 1/2.5-inch sensor. I did much of my testing outdoors, but as soon as I brought it indoors, I noticed how poor the low-light footage was. The HC-X1500 adjusts its sensitivity to light using "gain," similar to how ISO works on a camera. By increasing the gain manually (up to 30dB), you can amplify the signal from the sensor, but this also introduces big levels of noise. This isn't the camcorder for you if you're going to spend long portions filming inside without extra lighting.

Panasonic HC-X1500: Sample video

Above: sample video show with Panasonic HC-X1500

I tested the Panasonic HC-X1500 for several weeks, carrying it on daily nature walks in the countryside with my dog, taking clips in the house and garden, and when visiting family. I also used the camcorder to capture a local football (soccer to US readers) match.

I tested the camcorder in manual and auto mode, manual focus mode, and used all of the ND filter strengths when shooting in bright, direct sunlight. The clips in the sample footage were taken at full resolution, using automatic exposure and focus, as I think that's how most shooters will use the HC-X1500. I didn't include the clips of sports events or chasing children due to lack of official permission.

Panasonic HC-X1500: Final Verdict

The Panasonic HC-X1500 hits a real sweet spot in the current camcorder industry. Its auto mode gives good enough results for many subjects, and I can see it being popular in families with enthusiast-level skills. Conversely, advanced filmmakers can gain full creative control by switching to manual mode and setting the shutter, white balance and ND filter strength, all while tweaking custom buttons to get the handling just right.

This camcorder is relatively affordable, and the money goes on doing a few things well rather than a host of party tricks you'll use once or twice. The HC-X1500 lacks common features on modern vlogging cameras, such as the ability to recognize products and switch between them and your face (helpful for influencers or unboxing videos). The autofocus technology is at times plodding, and while the camcorder stays sharp on faces in front of the lens, it can't recognise eyes so accurately.

The reason to buy the HC-X1500 over a vlogging-specific or hybrid mirrorless camera is because of its versatility. The epic length of optical zoom up to 600mm optical zoom – with stabilization to match – was the biggest draw for me during testing, and I was continually amazed by how close I could get to tiny creatures in the distance.

It's part of a dwindling set of camcorders, which makes its appeal all the more potent. Handling isn't perfect thanks to the unresponsive touchscreen and lacklustre EVF, but filming with a camcorder feels so natural I still can't mark it down too harshly. The sensor isn't big enough for low-light performance either, but as one customer review put it online, "it's fine unless you plan to go cave-diving". The HC-X1500 is a professional video equipment that still warrants a place among filmmakers today.

Alternatives

Canon Legria HF G70: The HF G70 is similarly-priced and specced to the HC-X1500. I found it more user-friendly to beginners and it's also a little lighter to hold, but it does fall victim to the same low-light weaknesses.

Panasonic Lumix S5II: This mirrorless costs more than the HC-X1500, with a compact kit lens at that. But if you want to take pro images, the 24-megapixel sensor and open-gate 6K 30p footage offers the best of both worlds.

Checkout our complete guide to the best camcorders, and for an introduction to video-making options look at our guide to the best camera for video.