
Filmmaker and Catch Magazine Founder Todd Moen captures the natural beauty of fly-fishing with the new Panasonic HC-X2 camcorder
Brie Clayton September 28, 2022
0 Comments
Created 13 years ago with a friend, documentary filmmaker and camera operator Todd Moen created Catch Magazine, an online fly-fishing journal that highlights the best fly-fishing photography and video shot by contributors all over the world. The centerpiece of the magazine is a fly-fishing production that Moen films, edits and produces himself. For issue No. 75, to be released Fall 2022, Moen created a fly-fishing film, Hopper Season: Fly Fishing for Trout on the Williamson River, shot on the historic Yamsi Ranch in Southern Oregon. For the short film, Moen captured fourth-generation ranch family member, Tom Hyde, as he pursued trout on the Williamson River's crystal clear, 45-degree spring-fed waters amid a grasshopper hatch. Shooting with the new Panasonic HC-X2 camcorder, Moen captured the wild south-central Oregon landscape, handheld close-ups of rainbow trout, fast action sets and hookups, and 120-fps slow motion footage of hungry fish rising to devour grasshoppers during a late-summer hopper hatch.
Moen has built his entire production career around camcorders and for the past 15 years, he has only shot with Panasonic camcorders, starting with the AG-HMC150 to his current AG-CX350. One of the things he loves about Panasonic cameras is their dependability in extreme conditions. With his CX350, he recently shot in the brutal flats of the NW Coast of Australia, which reached temperatures of 120-degrees with high humidity. Moen has also shot in subzero temperatures and brutal, coastal-wet conditions in British Columbia without fail. He prefers the form factor of a camcorder over a DSLR, or mirrorless camera. I just like the feel of them, he said. It feels more like a video camera. I think you must choose one or the other.
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!
This happens because the functionality/content marked as Google Youtube uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
At the time of his shoot, Yamsi Ranch was having a once-in-a-lifetime grasshopper invasion. According to Moen, if you don't have the insects, fish will not rise, and you won't capture their explosive action on the surface. It was one of those National Geographic type scenarios, revealed Moen. Grasshoppers were everywhere, with 20 to 30 flying right up in front of you with every step you took. To see how the fish were dialed into those insects hitting the water, it was a camera operator's dream come true.
Ideal for run-and-gun shooting, the Panasonic HC-X2 is a 1.0-type (inch) 4K 60p camcorder with the widest angle (24.5mm) view in its class, plus an Optical 20x zoom lens. To meet professional broadcast demands, the X2 contains SDI/HDMI Dual Output, XLR Input, Wired Remote, Triple Manual Ring, User Switch, and Live Streaming capability. For cinematographers and documentary filmmakers, the X2 offers proxy recording, as well as HLG/V-Log capture.
Moen felt the X2 was very similar to the CX350 with some new welcome features. When I first pulled the camera out of the box, the first thing I thought was, Wow, this camera is a lot like the CX350,' he explained. They've simplified the buttons on the side more, and the X2 has a larger menu dial, which makes controlling the menu system much easier. I really like what they've done with this camera. Moen felt the X2 fit perfectly with his run-and-gun shooting style because when shooting in the wild, he often needs to be seconds away from making his next move, and the X2's 20x zoom lens gave him plenty of options. I would be shooting antelope one second and then I'm shooting a tight shot using the lens' macro function, explained Moen. You never know what's going to happen with wildlife so being able to go back and forth within two or three seconds of each shot is essential. If I was trying to change lenses, I would have missed the antelope right in front of me.
For fly-fishing, Moen is typically shooting 50/50 between manual and autofocus. One feature Moen was impressed by was the X2's new Fast AF system. My target is a subject that normally you can't even see because it's underwater, revealed Moen. When a fish breaks the surface, I better have the shot. In those situations, I'm in full autofocus and the X2's autofocus system is spectacular.
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!
This happens because the functionality/content marked as Google Youtube uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
Although it's not new technology, the pre-record function is another essential camcorder tool that Moen depends heavily on. It's a complete game changer, said Moen. Back in the day, I'd have to roll tape for hours until something would happen right in front of me. It's a make-or-break feature and if a camera doesn't feature pre-record, I won't use it.
Compared with DSLRs, Moen was grateful for the X2's internal ND filter system, which he used to cut light, or to manipulate his exposure. For Moen, internal NDs are a huge time saver since he doesn't need to carry ND filters for each lens, nor does he need to clean each one. He always employs a circular polarizer to cut glare on water surfaces.
Moen shot the film in UHD in 10-bit 422 LongGOP (200Mbps). He always records 60p and works in a 30p timeline to have the option for slo-mo.
Acc
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
29/09/2026
Oak View Group (OVG) has announced Cisco as an Official Technology Partner, with plans to standardize infrastructure across its venue network on Cisco solutions...
29/09/2026
SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) won three honors at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
Program awards went to Bucs BP in the Sports Program Live category (produced ...
29/09/2026
The Professional Women's Hockey League has announced home openers for all 12 teams for the 2026-27 season, along with a broadcast partnership with CBC under...
29/09/2026
Manifold technologies has been recognized as a contributor to the Media eXchange...
29/09/2026
FuboTV has announced My Local Sports, allowing subscribers in select markets to add their local regional sports network (RSN) as an add-on to a Fubo Sports subs...
29/09/2026
Asian News International (ANI), a wire agency and video news provider based in India, has deployed Grass Valley's AMPP Media Operating System and Framelight...
29/09/2026
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has deployed Ikegami UHK-X600 cameras as part of an upgrade to IP-based production infrastructure. The deployment ...
29/09/2026
REMI, REMCO models will drive the bulk of the broadcaster's NHL productions ...
29/09/2026
Three years in, the facility is supporting more centralized race production, com...
29/09/2026
NBC, Peacock, and NBSN are carrying all four Wild Card series with a production ...
29/09/2026
19 Nonfiction Projects Across All Stages of Production to Receive More Than $1 million in Support as Documentary Film Program Approaches 25th Anniversary
LOS ...
29/09/2026
Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles
Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...
29/09/2026
All-in-one bus processor revealed
Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...
29/09/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Ikegami announces that the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has chosen Ikegami UHK-X600 camera systems as part of an advance to IP-based operation ...
29/09/2026
Blendkit Offers 20% Discount to Celebrate Crossing 150K Asset Milestone
Brie Clayton September 29, 2026
0 Comments
Blendkit, the largest 3D asset libr...
29/09/2026
Interactive streaming specialist Ease Live supported more than 76.5 million fan sessions across three major European media operators during this summers FIFA Wo...
29/09/2026
Ease Live has added support for VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) to its graphical overlay technology, opening up new ways for broadcasters, streamers and rights...
29/09/2026
Rise AV has announced the launch of the inaugural Rise AV Awards, a new global awards programme celebrating the women, advocates and organisations across the AV...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Clear-Com announced that First Baptist Nashville has upgraded its production communications with a Clear-Com intercom solution as part of a comprehensive sanct...
29/09/2026
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Captured Action Shots for Sketch
Brie Clayton September 28, 2026
0 Comments
Camera's portable design and dynamic range...
29/09/2026
Kean Production Services Deploys AJA ColorBox to Deliver Consistent, Accurate Co...
29/09/2026
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards A total of 28 Berklee alumni and faculty earned nominations across 20 categories this ye...
29/09/2026
Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop Now in its fifth year, the series brings together artists, industry leaders, and s...
29/09/2026
We tend to think we live in a digital world, with hopes and fears around artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, data centres and the next big technolo...
29/09/2026
Today, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Apple relea...
29/09/2026
Final Cut Camera, the professional filming app for iPhone, receives a major upda...
29/09/2026
RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...
28/09/2026
The NHL has announced Adobe as an Official Creative, Marketing and AI Partner beginning with the 2026-27 season. The partnership will provide the league and its...
28/09/2026
MultiDyne will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (October 5-7, Dubai Exhibition Centre), showcasing an expanded technology portfolio following its June 2026 acquisition of...
28/09/2026
ARRI and HONOR have announced the HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, a flagship smartphone carrying ARRI branding on the device and packaging as the first product-level expr...
28/09/2026
Net Insight has added the Nimbra 1020G to its pan-Asian live media trial network, giving customers and partners in the region a way to evaluate ST 2110 and JPEG...
28/09/2026
Vindral has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the category of We...
28/09/2026
Interra Systems will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (Stand B2-37, Dubai Exhibition Centre, October 5-7), demonstrating its BATON QC platform, ORION monitoring solutions...
28/09/2026
Two years into its new production facility, the TOUR is expanding centralized wo...