The Panasonic HDC-TM300 Twin Media HD camcorder offers the choice of recording to the 32 GB HDD or SD/SDHC memory card and the 3MOS system with three full-HD sensors has one of the world's highest total pixel counts. The TM300 provides high image quality for both motion and 10.6-megapixel resolution still images. And it features high 8.3-megapixel resolution for still images when recording simultaneously with motion images. You can also enjoy a 5.1-channel surround sound system with 5 microphones featuring Zoom and Focus Mic functions.

The manual ring gives you easy fingertip control over the focus zoom and exposure settings. This lets you create images that just aren't possible with automatic functions. And the AF Tracking has been added to the iA function which automatically judges the scene and makes the best possible settings so the TM300 keeps the subject in focus even if the subject's face turns away from the camcorder.

To view recorded images as quickly as possible the TM300 features a new highlight playback function. This gives you a quick easy way to view the most exciting scenes all together. The HD Writer AE 1.0 editing software also has a new function that lets you easily upload your video clips to the YouTube website.

• Capture Full HD video; 1920 x 1080 resolution


• Records to 32 GB built-in Flash Memory or SD memory cards


• 12x Leica Dicomar lens with Optical Image Stabilization


• Capture stills up to 10.6 megapixels


• 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel LCD

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The TM350 is a twin memory model that records Full HD images either on its 64GB internal flash memory or an SD (or SDHC) Memory Card. A 32-GB SDHC Memory Card can hold around 12 hours of recorded video clips (in HE mode). The TM350 can copy recorded video images from the SD Memory Card to the internal memory or vice versa with easy operation.

• Full HD 1920x1080 Recording


• 64GB Built-In Memory and SD card slot


• 3MOS camcorder System


• Intelligent Auto Mode and AF Tracking


• Manual Ring Electrical Viewfinder and Cold Shoe

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The HD 80 Series features an Intelligent Zoom function that goes all the way up to 42x. When using Intelligent Zoom Intelligent Resolution technology lets you shoot at high zoom rates while preserving the image resolution. You get sharp images of highly detailed objects without the blurry edges. Plus the HD 80 Series is equipped with HYBRID O.I.S. an image stabilizer system that corrects hand-shake blurring by combining the action of its hybrid optical and electrical image stabilization systems. Even when zooming where hand-shake often occurs both optical and electrical hand-shake correction make it possible to record beautiful images with approximately 2 times* the hand-shake suppressing effect as conventional models.

• Intelligent 42x Zoom and HYBRID O.I.S.


• 33.7mm Wide Angle Lens


• Zoom Mic and Wind Noise Canceller


• 16GB built-in memory


• SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card Recording

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The Panasonic HDC-TM80 High Definition Camcorder provides HD recording to a 16GB internal flash memory and to optional SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. In addition to the beautiful future-friendly 1920 x 1080 high def format and convenient flash memory recording the TM80 comes loaded with a number of stress reducing shooting functions digital still capture and options for archiving editing and sharing. Panasonic's Crystal Engine PRO and the 1/5.8" CMOS sensor form the heart of the TM80 - producing vivid life-like footage with fast processing speeds. Other core features of the camera include a touch screen 2.7" LCD for intuitive control of the camera a 33.7mm wide-angle lens 42x Intelligent zoom and optical image stabilization. All of these features work together to create clear beautiful memories. And along with creating detailed video the TM80 also produces crisp audio thanks to the built-in zoom mic and wind noise canceller. Without using an external mic this built-in mic captures high-quality sound without added expense.

The TM80 also features a number of shooting controls designed to make shooting easier. Let these controls take the guesswork out of shooting leaving you only with true-to-life memories not headaches. Panasonic's Intelligent Auto Face Recognition and Pre-Rec are just a few of the ways you can capture each and every moment with ease. When it comes time to edit share or archive the TM80 presents multiple options as well. Utilize the in-camera Advanced Highlight Playback for fun montages of your scenes set to music for starters. When you're ready to take the footage out of the camera and share it with the world the included HD Writer AE 3.0 software helps you do just that with simple upload to websites like YouTube and Facebook. Other options include the optional VIERA link or burning with a DVD burner.

FEATURES:

• Intelligent 42x Zoom and HYBRID

• Intelligent 42x Zoom and HYBRID O.I.S.


• 33.7mm Wide Angle Lens


• Zoom Mic and Wind Noise Canceller


• 16GB built-in memory


• SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card Recording

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The Panasonic HDC-SD800 High Definition Camcorder is a high-end HD offering from Panasonic. Right off the bat a few of the camera's most desirable features include: 1920 x 1080/60p recording an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot the option to record in 3D and a quality image sensor system. These features alone give you detailed beautiful images a plethora of recording space and the ability to shoot fun and unique movies in 3D with an optional lens. Panasonic's proprietary '3MOS' is a 3 sensor CMOS that adds up to 9.15MP (3 x 3.05MP). These sensors work together with another Panasonic technology Crystal Engine PRO. This engine is a fast processor which writes those gigantic HD files to the HDD or SD card quickly and efficiently. It also allows for high-res zooming when exceeding the optical range. In addition the engine works to reduce image noise rendering beautiful like-like images. These two work together to produce 1080/60p footage. The "p" means progressive; when recording in a progressive frame rate the footage captures is more vibrant and detailed than even "i" or interlaced HD recording.

Of course the sensor and engine wouldn't be able to do their job without a high-quality lens. The SD800 comes with a 35mm Leica Dicomar lens that sports a 3.45-41.4mm focal length 12x optical zoom range 46mm filter diameter and a 1.5-2.8 f/stop. Lens can zoom up to 20x using the Intelligent Zoom; and it features a manual ring for more control and creativity with your shooting. Another way in which the camera works to create clean video is with HYBRID O.I.S. (optical image stabilization). This O.I.S. keeps your shots steady when hand-holding the camera. It reduces the effects of hand-shake for an easy-to-view clean shot. Other useful tools of the camera include a 3.0" touch screen LCD. This screen provides you with options like "Touch Zoom" and "Touch Shutter". The zoom function allows you to zoom in by dragging your finger acros

• Advanced 3MOS sensor system


• HYBRID O.I.S image stabilization


• 2D & 3D video capture capability


• SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card Recording

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• Advanced 3MOS sensor system


• HYBRID O.I.S image stabilization


• 2D & 3D video capture capability


• 32 GB built-in memory


• SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card Recording

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Almost a Prosumer Camcorder

I bought this camcorder to replace a Sony DSR-PD170. I needed to switch to from miniDV/DVCAM to HD and in the process I wanted to go to flash media. There are very few choices right now. Panasonic's AG-HMC70U is a gigantic monster compared to my DSR-PD170 and the new Panasonics and JVCs aren't getting the greatest reviews - so I looked at the consumer camcorders.



I wanted 3CCDs and XLR inputs but no XLR on a consumer camcorder so I'm using a Studio One stereo mini to XLR box. The CCD vs. MOS isn't important to me as long as I get 3 sensors. This is the only 3-sensor consumer camcorder using flash media I could find.



The quality is good and I would say it's at the top of the consumer camcorder heap at this point. AVCHD is great for good quality with a very small file size but make sure your editing software can handle the MTS format.



Panasonic supplies a utility that gives you some preformatting options when you download your video from the camera but I'm not using it.



Here's how the camera records: Each time you record it creates an mts file (AVCHD) if you pause and then continue it writes the first file and starts a new one. So you end up with a lot of sequentially numbered MTS files. I just download them to my PC without any pre-processing and import them into Premiere Pro CS4 (it reads the mts files with no problem). You just put them in order on the timeline.



I am so happy to be done with tapes. The last vestiges of an ancient era in video processing. No more capturing video from the camcorder. Just lay the files into the timeline and edit them there.



Just for the heck of it I tried to upload the mts files directly to YouTube. YouTube accepts the files and transcodes them but they are very choppy dropping frames left and right once on YouTube. So I bought a batch converter that converts them to 720p MPEG 2 files and that makes YouTube happy.



So is the Panasonic HDC-TM300 a pro camcorder? Not hardly. Is it a prosumer camcorder? Not really. But it's a good choice if you want good quality HD video at a low price (compared to pro camcorders).



On the other hand I just used this camera to record a 6-hour workshop in a hotel with not-so-great lighting. The video was very washed out - not even close to the low-light quality of my Sony DSR-PD170. The TM-300 has a manual iris/gain feature that lets you open up to 18db. Surprisingly the brightness improves significantly without getting too grainy. Still not close to the PD170 in auto mode but significantly better than the TM-300's auto mode.



I would have liked to have replaced my Sony with a Panasonic AG-HMC150 but at $3800 I just wasn't ready for the price. Although the TM-300 isn't quite good enough to cause me to get rid of my PD170 it's good enough to make it my camcorder of choice in well-lit shooting environments.



The Panasonic HDC-TM300 is a really great consumer camcorder that's well-worth the price.More detail ...