Best camera ever! Little has afflicted back aftermost year's archetypal on the inside. Panasonic continues to use an arrangement of three 1/4.1in CMOS sensors to ablaze effect. Colours in automated approach abide a little oversaturated and are punchier than reality, but best bodies assume to like their video this way and it's not overdone. Detail is beauteous Noise levels in low ablaze situations are additionally impressive, possibly the best we've apparent from any camcorder, and colour holds up able-bodied in such arduous altitude too. A big fresh affection is its adeptness to almanac HD footage at a abounding 50 frames per second. This approach should accommodate the best accessible video quality, with a consistent video book that exceeds the bitrate of abounding Blu-ray movies. At 28Mbit/s it's a aberrant bulk of video to store, about 12.5GB an hour, and alteration it will accompany about any PC to its knees. To be honest though, we begin it adamantine to acquaint the aberration amid this and the 17Mbit/s interlaced 1080p mode, and we anticipate the closing will added acceptable clothing best users.
Audio is provided by a 5.1 beleaguer complete microphone on the top of the camcorder, which adds a activity of captivation to accidental shoots. Headphone and microphone sockets are tucked abroad below one flap, while addition accent hides an abnormal metal slot. There's no amplitude on the camcorder for a acceptable accent shoe, instead you accelerate the provided adaptor into the slot, which again gives you a accepted unpowered shoe. This sits alongside and akin with the congenital microphone, actual accessible and actual neat.
The TM700 is one of three abundantly identical models, forth with the HS700 and SD700. All three shoot the aforementioned high-quality video, but they accept altered accumulator options. The TM700 has its 32GB of congenital beam anamnesis additional an SDXC agenda slot, the HS700 is beyond but has a 240GB adamantine deejay as able-bodied as the agenda slot, while the cheaper SD700 alone has the agenda aperture for storage. Personally, we feel the SD700 provides the best amount for money; it's accessible for beneath £700 and you can aces up 16GB SDHC cards for about £20, and aloof one will authority up to two hours of 1080p interlaced video.
Proper HD camcorders, as against to mini camcorders like Flip's Ultra HD, had a boxy time aftermost year. They were actively threatened by the admittance of HD video modes in abounding agenda cameras, additional the poor barter bulk amid the batter and the Japanese yen hit above manufacturers such as Canon, Sony and Panasonic. Prices rose rather than fell, and earlier models were absolutely a added acceptable deal. Thankfully, things accept acclimatized somewhat, and the best recent models, like this HDC-TM700 are already afresh abrupt our interest.
The TM700 has a lot of similarities to aftermost year's HDC-TM300. Its absolute ambit accept diminished by a few millimetres on anniversary side, admitting this is bottomward to a redesign that removes some extruding parts, and on the accomplished it feels a little chunkier. It's absolutely fatter at the front, acknowledgment to a larger, upgraded lens.
The fresh lens has an absorbing advanced bend (for a camcorder), with a 35mm SLR equivalent, bottomward from 45mm on the antecedent model. This makes a big difference, both back cutting landscapes or central back you charge to fit anybody in the shot. At the advanced end of the zoom it has an bigger F1.5 aperture, up from F1.8 in the antecedent model. The telephoto end charcoal the aforementioned though, with a 12x optical zoom (540mm equivalent) at F2.8.
Despite its bunched dimensions, and consumer-friendly styling, the TM700 has a abundance of chiral controls for those who like to get added involved. A button by the ascendancy arena brings up a quick-select agenda on touchscreen affectation with focus, white balance, bang acceleration and breach control. Turning the arena again lets you acclimatize these absolutely to your needs. Chiral focus is assisted by ablaze dejected fringing on areas that are in focus, authoritative it accessible to get your accountable sharp. The breach control, labelled Iris, lets you set acceptable F-stops but back the breach is absolutely accessible it again switches anon to advocacy the acuteness of the sensors – actuality you get a baby histogram for allowance you set the appropriate exposure.
We absolutely like Panasonic's fresh flagship ambit of camcorders. You could altercate that some agenda cameras, like Panasonic's own GH1, shoot appropriately accomplished video in acceptable lighting altitude and arguably added acceptable footage in low ablaze back you accept to addition the accretion to get a picture. However, a camcorder like this is still added compact, lighter and easier to handle than any DSLR-sized device, and if money is no article again this is the camcorder best bodies should buy.
The Bloggie MHS-CM5 did not accomplish able-bodied in our ablaze ablaze blush testing. Compared to best of the competition, the Bloggie was actual inaccurate in its apprehension of appealing abundant every hue. For these results, you can acknowledge the characterless automated white balance, which artlessly couldn't handle accustomed halogen lighting. In alfresco conditions, the Bloggie fares better.
• This year's CM5 has a absolutely altered architecture compared to aftermost year's accumbent CM1.
• The fresh pistol-grip anatomy agency is abundant sleeker, but aloof as afflictive to wield.
• The lens and sensor are around identical to the lens and sensor from the CM1.
• Unfortunately, the CM5 comes in alone one color: a aphotic eggplant purple.
• Abundant of the aesthetics of this camcorder looks bargain and/or dated.
Just about the alone advantage the Bloggie has over the Flip alternation is the adeptness to booty still photos and the attendance of a agenda angel stabilization system. Both of these appearance are present on added models, including the accomplished Sanyo VPC-CG10, which far outstrips the Bloggie in agreement of still photo appearance and performance. If you're a Sony devotee, the Bloggie will be a acceptable advancement over the Webbie, but we animate consumers to attending abroad for their ultracompact camcorder purchases.
Sony has fabricated abounding improvements to its additional annular of ultracompact camcorders. The calendar has gotten a fresh look, a fresh name, and a fresh design. However, alike the abundant bigger Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 (MSRP $199.99) doesn't action abundant of an advancement to abode Sony aloft its competition.
The CM5 is the sister archetypal to the fresh PM5, which offers a added accustomed "Flip-like" design, four altered colors to accept from, a altered hinge lens, and a amount tag that's $30 cheaper. The Bloggie CM5 comes alone in eggplant purple, but it does accept the 5x optical zoom that abounding crave.
We were actual afflicted with the improvements fabricated to this year's Bloggie calendar from Sony. In particular, the Sony Bloggie MHS-CM5 (MSRP $199.99) is a far more good artefact compared to aftermost year's Webbie CM1. The anatomy agency is better, the interface is simpler, and the admittance of a bound SDHC-MemoryStick aperture is commendable.
Unfortunately, we still can't acquisition abounding acute affidavit to accept the Bloggie over the competition. The Flip is still easier to use and produces comparable—if not superior—video quality.
The HVX200 is a accurate capricious framerate High Definition camcorder that works abundant abnormally than a archetypal camcorder, and added like a cine camera does. Anticipate of it like application Super8 blur cartridges. In the HVX200's appropriate approach "720/24PN" alone the frames per additional are recorded to the P2 card. In this approach the video takes up differing amounts of amplitude on the P2 card. When you shoot video at 1/12 bang speed, you accept the advantage to absolutely almanac alone 12 frames instead of overextension them out over 30 frames as does a archetypal camcorder. This saves on storage, and doesn't crave as abundant post-production time to acceleration up your sunrises. What's more, you can appearance the aftereffect in-camera. Shooting in 720p approach gives you the best framerate options; 11, while the 1080i approach offers less. By application the 720/60p framerate, you booty alert the cardinal of frames per second, which makes for burnished apathetic motion effects. This is an arresting affection forth with a 1080i/24p mode, which annal 24 accelerating frames for 1080i video application 'pulldown'. On the aforementioned P2 agenda we attempt slow-motion footage in 720p, documentary appearance in 1080i, and 24p DV video, all after abrading our heads. Panasonic has bypassed authoritative an HDV camcorder and has gone beeline for the jugular by introducing its abounding bandwidth High Definition camcorder, the AG-HVX200. This able prosumer High Definition camcorder packs an arrangement of appearance into a handheld design. For recording video, the HVX200 includes a Mini DV band apparatus forth with two P2 (Professional Plug-in) agenda slots. The P2 cards acquiesce for accurate capricious anatomy ante and recording options that Mini DV band can't offer. These accommodate DVCPRO HD 1080/24p and 720/60p, forth with accustomed interlaced video. We anticipate these appearance are admired for abounding altered types of projects. If you accept a activity area accommodation isn't an option, attending into the HVX. The HVX200 has aberrant appearance to go forth with its aberrant size. It's beyond than all added handheld prosumer camcorders, in acme and amplitude especially. The matte atramentous melds calmly from end to end, starting with a ample rubberized lens awning and catastrophe with a well-placed viewfinder. All of the buttons and switches are labeled in adventurous white type, except for the orange arrangement on the lens barrel. These are accessible to apprehend by you or your assistant. Abounding buttons forth the ancillary arise in about the aforementioned abode as they do on Panasonic's DVX100 alternation cameras. The rear of this High Definition camcorder is abundant different, abundantly because of the flip-out aperture that protects the P2 slots. Two audio pots (with glow-in-the-dark paint) and the Arena File punch are placed in aback too. The Arena File punch is advantageous in that it allows you to bound jog through abounding altered custom presets. This is a admired amid videographers who like to actualize and allotment their own settings. A P2 agenda is about an colossal beam anamnesis agenda fabricated up of four abate cards, anniversary distinctively affiliated for recording video. While Panasonic's P2 agenda gives you added options, it additionally introduces beginning restrictions. A big check is accumulator size. At columnist time the accumulator accommodation of a distinct agenda maxes out at 8 gigabytes. Unlike DV tape, your recording times alter depending on your cutting mode; 32 account of DV, 20 account of 720P/24PN, or 8 account of 1080i video will fit on an 8GB card. When cutting with P2, an abettor can be accessible at swapping cards that ample up, and replacing them with beginning ones. Addition check to P2 is cost. A distinct 8GB agenda will set you aback $1,400 currently, admitting prices accumulate dropping. Still, P2 allows for a super-fast alteration workflow. And, they're the best affordable way to almanac DVCPRO HD video. So, why canal tape? Framerates and compression. Shooting video at 100Mbps is addition apple compared to DV (which annal at 25 Megabits per second). The aberration amid these two numbers is compression of blush advice or sound. DVCPRO HD annal video with abundant beneath compression and no GOP anatomy like HDV. This is a account for pros who will do high-end compositing and blush correction. DVCPRO HD additionally annal added abundant blush advice than DV or HDV. Our shots looked stunning, alike admitting the best flowers in our Northern California altitude hadn't bloomed yet. Complete is addition big affection of the HVX; you get four channels of aboriginal uncompressed 48kHz audio. Wrangling four audio advance for anniversary video clue may assume like a task, but we begin it adequately accessible to manage. Each P2 agenda fits into a accepted PC Agenda aperture begin on abounding laptop computers. When the agenda is inserted, you can adapt footage anon in best editors aces of accepting 'Pro' in their title. Though, it's a acceptable abstraction to archetype your footage appropriate away, so you can get that agenda aback into the camcorder. Addition advantage is to alteration your files via FireWire. Either way, your abduction time is badly reduced. Copying your files can be complicated, and will be difficult if you haven't planned a specific workflow advanced of time. We'd admonish you to argue your alterationcomputer application administrator for best results. The big highlight actuality is the accelerated alteration of footage, which makes us ask why we still delay an hour for anniversary of our DV tapes to accomplishment capturing. Looking ahead, P2 solid accompaniment recording seems to be a acute best for video professionals. We achievement the computer industry continues to embrace the PC agenda aperture on beginning machines, as P2 cards access in capacity. Our time spent with the HVX200 was excellent. It performed after a hitch, carrying amazing blush and resolution that advertisement High Definition camcorders are accepted for. TECH SPECS Image Device: 3 CCD Imager Size: 1/3 inch, 16: Native aspect Lens: Leica Dicomar 13X Zoom, 82mm Filter Diameter Horizontal Resolution: 1080 curve Video Signal System: NTSC Scanning System: 1080 Line Interlace Scan, 720 Line Accelerating Scan Connectors: S-Video, A/V, Component Output, XLR IN (x2), i.LINK, LANC, Headphone stereo mini. Minimum Illumination: 3 lux Built in Filters: 1/8 ND, 1/64 ND Exposure: Auto, Manual Viewfinder: 0.44 inch B&W/Color Switchable Audio: Four Channel 48kHz/ 16 bit Internal Microphone: Yes Speaker: Mono LCD Panel: 3.5", Blush Memory Agenda Slot: SD Anamnesis for Scene-File Sharing, Two P2 for Video Format: DVCPro HD, DVCPro 50, DVCPRO/DV Weight: 1 lb, 10 oz. Power Consumption: 14 Watts (max.) Dimensions: 6.7 x 7.1 x 15.2 Inches Weight: 5.2 lbs STRENGTHS 1080i and 720p switchable True capricious framerates from 12 to 60 Customizable arena files WEAKNESSES Cost of P2 media Balance in hand SUMMARY The Panasonic HVX200 is on a acceptable clue to allurement alike the oldest luddite into solid accompaniment recording.
The two models alter alone by congenital memory--the CX500V has 32GB, while the CX520V includes 64GB. While these beam models absorb best of the capabilities of the hard-drive versions, Sony did abandon the EVF, affective that into the newer CX550V forth with the microphone and headphone jacks (since the CX550V uses a altered lens, we don't accede it allotment of the band from a testing perspective). However, that leaves the Panasonic HDC-TM700 as the alone sub-$1,000 archetypal with an EVF. HDR-XR520V, the HDR-CX500V and CX520V promised some much-needed interface enhancements over their solid-but-flawed brothers. While I don't anticipate the interface and ascendancy blueprint changes accomplish abundant of an improvement, abounding bodies will apparently feel the operational annoyances are account the trade-off: the aforementioned high-quality video and achievement of their hard-disk-based counterparts in added bunched packages.
| Comparative specs: Sony models | Sony Handycam HDR-CX500V/CX520V | Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V | Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V/XR520V |
| Sensor | 6-megapixel Exmor-R CMOS | 6-megapixel Exmor-R CMOS | 6-megapixel Exmor-R CMOS |
| 1/2.88 inch | 1/2.88 inch | 1/2.88 inch | |
| Lens | 12x f1.8-3.4 43 - 516mm | 10x f1.8-3.4 29.8 - 298mm | 12x f1.8-3.4 43 - 516mm |
| Min illumination (lux) | rec: n/a low light: 11 night: 3 IR: 0 | rec: n/a low light: 11 night: 3 IR: 0 | rec: n/a low light: 11 night: 3 IR: 0 |
EVF | No | Yes | Yes |
| LCD | 3.0-inch 230,000-dot touch screen | 3.5-inch 921,000-dot touch screen | 3.2-inch 921,000-dot touch screen |
| Primary media | 32GB/64GB flash; Memory Stick Duo | 64GB flash; SDHC | 120GB/240GB hard disk; Memory Stick Duo |
| HD recording | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 16Mbps; 1440x1080/60i @ 9,7,5 Mbps | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 24, 16 Mbps; 1440x1080/60i @ 9,7,5 Mbps | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 16Mbps; 1440x1080/60i @ 9,7,5 Mbps |
| Manual shutter speed and iris | No | No | No |
| Accessory shoe | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 channels | 5.1 channels; mic and headphone jacks | 5.1 channels; mic and headphone jacks |
| Body dimensions (WHD, inches) | 2.5 x 2.6 x 5.4 | 2.6 x 3.0 x 5.8 | 2.9 x 3.0 x 5.5 |
| Operating weight (ounces) | 15.8 | 17.0 (est) | 20.4 |
| Mfr. Price | $999.99/$1,299.99 | $1,199.99 | $999.99/$1,149.99 |
For example, Sony confused the chiral punch from the advanced of the camcorder to the back, area you still accomplish it with your larboard hand. You authority bottomward the button to accompany up your chiral choices: Focus, Exposure, AE shift, and WB shift. But both the area and feel of the dial's architecture agency it can alone be rotated in baby increments, and it's bound and doesn't feel awfully responsive. Worse, because of the location, your larboard duke blocks the LCD while you're operating it.
In the LCD alcove are the power, playback, Night Shot, and disc bake buttons as able-bodied as the about-face for the GPS. Beneath a awning you'll acquisition the Mini-HDMI and USB connectors as able-bodied as the Memory Stick Duo slot. While this is a almost acceptable ascendancy layout, I kept hitting the buttons back acrimonious up the accent (as it sat on my board afore or afterwards uploading video).
While not as compact as a lot of flash-based camcorders, that's due in part to the CX500V/CX520V's excellent and necessarily large lens. It's still relatively small and light, fitting into a large jacket pocket. Overall, the camcorder feels very solid and well-constructed. It's generally comfortable to shoot with, but I still felt frustration with some of the operational quirks.
The zoom and photo buttons on top of the camcorder abatement calmly beneath your appropriate forefinger. The zoom ascendancy feels awfully well-balanced, neither too apart nor too tight, and it's actual accessible to advance a slow, abiding rate. As usual, the 5.1-channel mic sits in the advanced of the camcorder--there's no separation, one of the affidavit I acquisition the 5.1 recording no added than a business gimmick--and the accent shoe lies beneath a sliding door. Sony got rid of the zoom and almanac buttons on the LCD bezel, opting to accomplish them allotment of the touch-screen display. While I don't apperception that for record, which is a touch-and-release operation, I don't like application the blow awning for zooming, area you accept to authority it down.
Low Lux mode seems more intelligent than most low-light modes, only gaining up if necessary. It definitely produces a brighter image than standard mode, with only a modest increase in image noise, no slow-shutter-speed artifacts (it won't drop below 1/30 sec), and very little desaturation. Compared with most models we've seen, the low-light video looks more pleasing; though there's a touch more noise, it produces better midtone and shadow reproduction, for better perceived sharpness, and with more saturated colors.
The audio sounds good as well, and the mic is sensitive, though it could really use a wind filter. Still photos look OK, though as you'd expect at the touted 12-megapixel resolution--interpolated up from the sensor's native 6 megapixels--photos look overprocessed and quite mushy. However, they should print decently up to 8x10.
The GPS support, indicated by the "V" at the end of Sony's camcorder product names, hasn't changed at all from the earlier models. It comprises a built-in antenna and in-camera geotagging of videos and photos. Sony licenses NAVTEQ's Class 4 map data to provide embedded maps within the camcorder and links to GPS satellites. (Geotagging and map data isn't available for all locations, so check before you buy or travel.) The implementation is fun, but limited. You can use the geo data for a map display of all your videos, which Sony serves up in-camcorder on a map. The Class 4 data doesn't include street names or even a complete set of landmarks; for instance, here in New York it shows the Flatiron Building and Teddy Roosevelt's birthplace, but not the Empire State Building. It marks galleries and museums, but not parks. Once you download the video to a PC, your options for video are even more limited. Unlike with photos, there's no metadata standard for storing the information with the files. As a result, Sony has to store it in a sidecar file with data that can only be parsed by its eternally annoying Picture Motion Browser software.
Unfortunately, the camcorder couldn't get a GPS lock here in Manhattan. While that's an expected problem among the tall buildings, some devices do manage to get a usable lock. We couldn't test it out of town, but I assume it will work in more rural areas as the previous models we tested did.
There are a couple notable features carried over from the rest of Sony's camcorders. Smooth Slow Record lets you get brief, slow-motion captures; it's the fun and useful predecessor of the Golf Shot mode from the newer CX550V. My one disappointment with SSR is that because of the fast frame rate it needs, it's relatively unusable in low light; I tried to record some slo-mo footage of a kitten playing in living-room lighting, and it came out muddy and dark compared with standard footage. And these models include Sony's infrared Night Shot mode, which the company dropped from a lot of its models. It's definitely a specialty function, but can come in handy on occasion. Aside from those and the GPS, with an implementation that still rates as a novelty, the CX500V and CX520V don't have any other particularly notable features, especially given their prices. Other updates over the hard-disk versions: Face Touch for face detection, the capability to upconvert to 60p playback when connected to a TV via HDMI and in-camcorder downconverting to MPEG-2 for direct-to-DVD transfers. (For a complete rundown of the XR500/XR520's features and menu system, you can download the PDF manual.)
The CX500V and CX520V use the same Exmor-R back-illuminated sensor and G-series 12X zoom lens as the XR versions, and unsurprisingly deliver similar video quality and performance. They also incorporate Active SteadyShot image stabilization, for improved stability while walking. And, as usual, it works very well, producing steady video out to the end of the zoom range. Focus and exposure were quite responsive, down to relatively dim indoor lighting. In general, though, automatic exposures looked a bit darker than expected, especially in backlit situations, even with the auto backlight correction turned on or using spot exposure. As is typical, focus wasn't quite as zippy in low light as in bright, but it was better than average. Plus, the lens focuses surprisingly close. I wish it could focus a little faster while panning, but that's not unusual. The AF and autoexposure systems operate pretty quickly, though as with most AF systems it frequently gets confused between foreground and background objects--that's where the touch-screen-based spot focus and spot meter come in handy. However, though the LCD is only a hair smaller than that of the XR models, it has a much lower resolution and I found it frustrating for manual and touch focus. And if memory serves (compared to the XR models), it's not quite as dependably visible in bright sunlight.
If you're looking for the same high-quality video as the hard-disk models in a more compact design, and don't mind forgoing features like an EVF and audio jacks, the HDR-CX500V and CX520V are fine options. Given what's left out, though, they're a bit expensive compared with their siblings and more recent competitors from Panasonic and Canon (as well as the newer CX550V). Of the two, the CX500V is definitely the better deal.
Though not perfect, the video looks very good; in bright light it's fairly sharp, and there's no substantial fringing or aberration, and most users will be pleased with it even in low light. The automatic white balance looks good, as does the color rendering. In living room light it delivers a surprisingly good dynamic range without too much color desaturation. There's the inevitable visual noise in low light, which becomes more obvious if you bring the video in for postprocessing, but nothing atypical for its class. On the downside, even with deinterlaced playback you can see lots of rolling edges and there's a slightly mushy overprocessed look on details like fur when you're not zoomed in close.
In the revised card system, you can put six card choices on a custom card that ancestor up afore you access the abounding card listing, with altered custom airheaded actualization for video, still, and playback modes. While it's nice that the old Home/Options card dichotomy has disappeared, I still begin the added aboveboard amaranthine scrolling account ambagious and annoying to navigate.
The TM300 and HS300 allotment the aforementioned higher-end appearance as the HS100--manual focus ring, EVF, accent shoe, and microphone input--while the HS250 trades those for a added bunched design. Both the HS250 and HS300 accept a 120GB adamantine disk. As the name indicates, the TM300 is akin to the HS300, but annal to SD cards or the congenital 32GB memory. They all accommodate the optical angel stabilization and Intelligent Automatic appearance of the beforehand versions.
Because of the altered media, the camcorders accept hardly altered designs, but the aforementioned affection sets and should accept identical video quality. (As such, for the purposes of this review, we ran our accepted video tests on alone the TM300.) The accomplished video affection they action is 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution at 30 frames per additional at 17 megabits per second, and can almanac about 8 account of video per gigabyte of accumulator space, or about 4 hours of video in the centralized memory. The abutting akin down, 13Mbps, gets about 10 account per gigabyte.
The three models absorb the aforementioned 12x zoom f1.8-2.8 lens--the aforementioned lens as the HS100/SD100--as able-bodied as the aforementioned leash of 1/4.1-inch 3-megapixel 3MOS sensors, with an able resolution of 2.07-megapixels anniversary for 16:9 video. The absolute 3-megapixels for the predownsampled AVCHD video assuredly break the resolution barrier; normally, 3-chip systems use lower-than-HD resolution sensors, which don't assume to aftermath awfully aciculate
Panasonic's leash of top-of-the-prosumer-line HD camcorders--the flash-based HDC-TM300, and hard-drive-based HDC-HS300 and HDC-HS250--in abounding means awfully advance over beforehand models like the HS100 and SD100. Panasonic jettisoned best of what I awful about those models, including the too-low-resolution CMOS sensors, adapter placement, and how the chiral controls function, and retained aggregate I liked, conspicuously the across of chiral controls and eye-level viewfinder, at atomic on the two highest-end models. While the aggregation replaced the awkward ring-based chiral operation with an appropriately awkward blow screen, the advance in video affection and achievement accomplish these a far added good bet.
Weighing aloof below than a pound, with ambit of 2.8 inches advanced by 2.8 inches aerial by 5.5 inches long, the TM300 is the lightest, admitting not the smallest, of the three and is beyond than competitors like the Canon Vixia HF S10. It's adequate to hold, abnormally with the slight advancement ambit against the aback that makes the zoom about-face and photo button easier to reach. The beforehand models had a toggle to about-face amid the LCD and EVF; with this one, you cull out the EVF to accredit it, which is a nicer and added commonsensical design.
In adverse to the beforehand models, alone the optical angel antithesis button lives central the LCD recess, and best of the controls accept been replaced by a amalgam button/touch-screen interface. Within the recess, below adamantine covers, are all but one connector--AV, basic video out, mini HDMI, and USB--and the SD agenda slot. (Panasonic recommends a Class 4 card.) In an absorbing architecture move, Panasonic added an accent shoe to the TM300, but put it in the ancillary rather than the top--a added applied area accustomed how far your duke covers the top. Mic and headphone jacks are on the advanced appropriate side, below the beam and adjoining to the shoe.
Under your appropriate deride lies a acceptable approach punch for allotment amid power, video and still recording, and playback. Above the LCD on the anatomy are the Intelligent Auto and 3-second prerecord button; on the LCD's bezel are zoom and almanac controls, a annul button, and Q(uick) Menu and Menu buttons. Through the Quick Menu you accept video quality, time lapse, account size, onscreen affectation options, LCD brightness, and guidelines. Via Menu you baddest options such as area to almanac (built-in anamnesis or SD card), accept from a scattering of arena modes, Digital Cinema (24p) mode, mic options (surround, zoom or focus; bass settings; and levels), and affectation options like Zebra and histogram. To the larboard of the lens are two buttons for invoking chiral controls. Pressing chiral focus switches the lens arena operation amid zooming and focusing. The Action button brings up three options on the blow screen: white balance, shutter, and iris.
Primary operation occurs through the touch-screen menus, which fly out from a small icon in the lower-left corner. In auto mode, there's spot AE and AF, backlight compensation, intelligent contrast, fade, soft skin mode, telemacro, and MagicPix night mode. In manual mode, you select via a scrolling menu on the left.
The annoying touch-screen interface holds back a solid prosumer HD camcorder that otherwise effectively competes with models like the Canon Vixia HF S10. If you don't need the EVF, accessory shoe, or mic input, and you don't do a lot of manual focusing, the HS250 is the best value of the lot, and you should probably save yourself the $300 or so price difference. Between the TM300 and HS300, I favor the TM300; it's cheaper and most people don't really need the overwhelming storage capacity on the HS300's hard drive.
At 2.7 inches, the LCD is a typical size for this class of camcorder; overall, it's fairly good. However, it's not very effective as a touch screen. There's visible feedback when you press one of the virtual buttons--it turns yellow--which helps when you're frustrated and pressing them repeatedly, attempting to get them to register your touch. I found the system in the HS100/SD100 awkward, but at least you could use it with the EVF. Since this model uses a touch screen, you can't change any of the manual settings while using it, which is a major drawback.
It performs relatively well, including booting quickly from a cold start. The EVF, while coarse and not particularly color accurate, is far better than nothing, which is what you get on most competitors. The zoom feels relatively precise and easy to control, and the camcorder focuses reasonably quickly in all but the lowest light. The audio sounds a tad thin, but acceptable. And Panasonic's optical stabilization works solidly out to the end of the zoom range.
The video quality is quite good, showing none of the artifacts that plagued the older models. Video looks sharp, though a tad softer than competing models from Canon and Sony, but color and exposure live up to what you'd expect for a camcorder in its price range. Low-light video looks a bit soft, though not nearly as soft as we've seen in previous models, and remains quite noise-free. The audio sounds the same, however, a bit thin but with adequate volume and microphone coverage. And while the stills look quite nice zoomed out and printed as large as 11 inches by 16 inches, you can see all the interpolation artifacts when viewed at 100 percent on screen--though Panasonic claims 10.6-megapixel resolution, the real resolution is only as high as any individual sensor.