The HC-VX870K captures 4K images at up to 30 frames per second and Full HD images at up to 120 frames per second, as well as 24MP still images on SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It is capable of capturing images from a second camera via Wi-Fi, hence the name Twin Cam. It has a built-in 20x zoom lens and a 3-inch flip-out touch panel LCD screen.
The 32GB SanDisk UHS-1 media card has a U3 speed rating, and the battery included in the accessory kit is the same as the battery that originally came with your camera, giving you a total of two batteries. The UV filter protects your images from UV haze and provides protection for your lens front element. A microfiber cleaning cloth is useful for keeping your optics clean, and the soft shoulder bag allows you to transport and store your camera package.
Panasonic didn’t pull any new tricks when designing the HC-VX870. Weighing in at 353 grams, it’s quite light for a prosumer camcorder. On the right side of the camcorder is a convenient strap and a small flap that covers the DC input. Opening the flap reveals a micro-HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port, and dedicated jacks for A/V and microphone. There are also some physical buttons, including a playback button, a level shot button, a Wi-Fi button, and a power button.
Like the previous model, the door is equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 460,800 pixels. The extremely useful multi-manual dial returns to this camcorder and is still located at the bottom of the lens. Pressing this dial switches the mode to manual, where you can select a specific manual setting to adjust via the touchscreen and rotate the dial to adjust. The controls on the top and back are the same as the buttons you’ll find on any standard camcorder.
4K is the main feature of the Panasonic HC-VX870, and while it doesn’t seem like a new feature since Panasonic has launched 4K camcorders in the past, it’s nice to see the advanced format get some love even in a relatively affordable package. With the exception of the more expensive Panasonic HC-WX970, the other new camcorders that hit the market at the same time don’t have 4K support. And the HC-VX870’s 4K support comes with few compromises.
4K resolution is all about detail, with four times the resolution of 1080p. The results are noticeable on a 4K display, though 4K is useful even if you don’t have one. If you take the extra step of down-converting a 4K video to 1080p, you’ll get a video with better image quality than a video originally shot at 1080p. 4K video is also an ideal medium to work with when you want to extract 8-megapixel frames or zoom in on specific areas of a video without losing detail by cropping.