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New Panasonic camcorders on the block (US)

post #1 of 52
1/7/09 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 
"Panasonic Announces its Flagship Camcorders: The High Definition HDC-HS300, HDC-TM300, and HDC-HS250"


All three camcorders record in full HD/1920 x 1080 with the "3MOS" system (three 1/4.1-inch CMOS sensors).


The three flagship models leading Panasonic's high definition lineup are scheduled for release in April. The anticipated MSRP for each camcorder is: HDC-HS300 ($1399.95), HDC-TM300 ($1299.95), HDC-HS250 ($999.95).

camcorderinfo
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...250-35963.htm#
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post #2 of 52
1/7/09 at 3:56pm
Thread Starter 
Panasonic Introduces Three New SD Card Camcorders: The Standard Definition SDR-S15, SDR-S26, and SDR-SW21

The Panasonic SDR-SW21 will be available in lime green, orange, or silver for an expected MSRP of $399.95. The SDR-S15 will be available in black, silver, or chocolate for an expected MSRP of $299.95. The SDR-S26 will be available in champagne, black, blue, or red for an expected MSRP of $329.95. All three record exclusively to SD card and are expected to ship in April.

camcorderinfo
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...SW21-35966.htm
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post #3 of 52
1/7/09 at 5:34pm
And it would appear to be the only one of the big three to keep a viewfinder.
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post #4 of 52
1/7/09 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by elifino View Post

And it would appear to be the only one of the big three to keep a viewfinder.

this will make a lot of people happy..

but then again panny is def 3rd in consumer HD cams....

Canon and Sony are ahead imo....
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post #5 of 52
1/8/09 at 4:24am
SDXC would work nice with these. I will pick up a HS or TM 300 this year
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post #6 of 52
1/8/09 at 6:33am
Every company has a larger sensor, larger glass, so it will not be as easy to say that. The lenses are also faster, Panny may become a serious player again.
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post #7 of 52
1/8/09 at 10:57am
panny is certainly a serious avchd player with their hmc150... they are leading the prosumer pack right now with that unit.
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post #8 of 52
1/8/09 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by osv View Post

panny is certainly a serious avchd player with their hmc150... they are leading the prosumer pack right now with that unit.

.....In the AVCHD format. Sony is better off sticking with XDCAM EX in the prosumer stuff, which of course gets updated in April at NAB.
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post #9 of 52
1/8/09 at 6:52pm
Does any one know what's the bit rate?
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post #10 of 52
1/8/09 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevypower View Post

.....In the AVCHD format. Sony is better off sticking with XDCAM EX in the prosumer stuff, which of course gets updated in April at NAB.

the xdcam ex costs twice as much as the hmc150, hardly a fair comparison.

you watch and see how many prosumer cams will be running h.264 in the next couple of years.
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post #11 of 52
1/9/09 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by baipai View Post

Does any one know what's the bit rate?

I thought it was 17 but according to this article that someone linked to on hv20.com, it claims that it goes up to 24MBPS.
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/10026.html
Please let that be true.
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post #12 of 52
1/9/09 at 5:37pm
First impressions from camcorderinfo reports just 17 Mbps for the top of the line:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...view-36059.htm

The Japanese Panasonic site also confirms the 17Mbps maximum.
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post #13 of 52
1/9/09 at 7:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slimoli View Post

First impressions from camcorderinfo reports just 17 Mbps for the top of the line:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...view-36059.htm

The Japanese Panasonic site also confirms the 17Mbps maximum.

I don't understand the logic why do they cap it at 17Mbps? These cam have potential with 3mos. Oh well back to the Canon then.
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post #14 of 52
1/9/09 at 10:48pm
Yeah I would want 24bit avchd as well. I'm not worried about it though if it does not. As it is right now 17bit native/raw avchd editing is cpu, ram intensive. 24bit takes even more resources & is less smooth to raw edit. 24bit also takes up more space. The avchd editing software side has a way to go & its also come along way.
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post #15 of 52
1/21/09 at 7:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NJ3118 View Post

this will make a lot of people happy..

but then again panny is def 3rd in consumer HD cams....

Canon and Sony are ahead imo....

Maybe in terms of sales, but my Panny HDC-HS100 is MILES better than my Sony HDR-HC7.
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post #16 of 52
2/7/09 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyaDawn View Post

Maybe in terms of sales, but my Panny HDC-HS100 is MILES better than my Sony HDR-HC7.

Hmmm a chip AVCHD Panasonic versus a single chip HDV Sony.... quite a fair comparison! I suppose the Varicam is also better than the Sony SR12.... Yes Panasonic is way better then! LOL. Seriously, model for model, I find the Sonys are ahead of the Pannys. But on Panasonic's side, Sony has left a gap between the Sony SR12, and some of the semi pro stuff like the Z5, Z7 and EX1. Panasonic has seen an opportunity and cashed in, and taken the name "AVCCAM" - looks like Panasonic tried to pre-empt Sony's marketing team from taking that name and cashing in on adding the new format to their pro family. ie: BetaCAM, DVCAM, HD-CAM, XDCAM. To keep it more consistent with Panasonic, they should have called it AVCPRO (like DVCPRO). I don't expect Sony to bring AVCHD to the pro lineup, but I do see XDCAM EX getting smaller, more affordable models. Interestingly, Sony has licensed XDCAM EX technology to JVC, who now has made an affordable semi pro camera with 35mbs. http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...l_id=MDL101845 tiny sensor and lens though.
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post #17 of 52
2/9/09 at 10:50am
Anyone planning on getting the Panasonic HDC-HS300..i heard some good reviews and it might even beat the Canon Vixias.
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post #18 of 52
2/19/09 at 8:07pm
Original Japanese:
¬MÇÌT§uElectric Zooma!v

English Translated:
Translated version of http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs//20090218/zooma399.htm
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post #19 of 52
2/26/09 at 7:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDgeneration View Post

Anyone planning on getting the Panasonic HDC-HS300..i heard some good reviews and it might even beat the Canon Vixias.

I'm tempted by the Panasonic HDC-HS300. I'm still researching and trying to find some more info. I'll see if I can find the links to the reviews/articles I saw ...
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post #20 of 52
2/26/09 at 7:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldcpu View Post

I'm tempted by the Panasonic HDC-HS300. I'm still researching and trying to find some more info. I'll see if I can find the links to the reviews/articles I saw ...

I found these articles on the Panasonic HDC-HS300. .... I hope this is not considered "spam" ...

Camcorder forum
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=161

Panasonic page:
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...702#tabsection

Panasonic HDC HS300 youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7jEjE6nd3A

1st. Panasonic HDC HS300 Review:
http://techalites.com/2009/02/17/pan...corder-review/

2nd. Panasonic HDC HS300 Review:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...view-36059.htm

Does anyone have any other reviews/articles they can share ?

I confess the signficance of the 24bit avchd vis the 17bit native/raw avchd is completely lost on me. Is this important only for playback? or is it important for recording the raw video ? (ie why does this make a difference to some users ? ).
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post #21 of 52
2/27/09 at 1:34am
sheesh

Camcorderinfo states they didn't get to perform tests on the unit.

Here's one in the first paragraph
The company claims the new sensor will reduce noise, but we'll have to wait until the camorder is in our labs until we make the final determination

Here's another in the second paragraph
We look forward to getting the camcorder into our labs and testing out that theory.


The youtube link is an infomercial, not a review.

The "Techalities" review is nothing of the sort, just regurgitating the printed specs, and throwing up a canned corporate video



It may be that the model won't live up to expectation, but until there is some actual test measurements to prove it, please stop referring to these observational articles as 'reviews'.
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post #22 of 52
2/27/09 at 6:40am
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/08/p...ughly-enjoyed/
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post #23 of 52
2/27/09 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kadath View Post

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/08/p...ughly-enjoyed/


again, a nice observational article, but not a single measured test.

Don't get me wrong, I want to see this Panny beat the pants off of everybody else. I own an SD9, but have been thrashed by Canon-this-or-Sony-that. The fact is, Panasonic asked reviewers not to do any testing for pre-production models, so anything out there (at this time) is merely a first impression, not an actual performance review.
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post #24 of 52
2/27/09 at 12:11pm
I just bought the competing Sony, I only posted that link because nobody else had and those, like you, who are interested in this model might benefit from it, not that it had any concrete data for you to pour over.
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post #25 of 52
2/27/09 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by baipai View Post

I don't understand the logic why do they cap it at 17Mbps? These cam have potential with 3mos. Oh well back to the Canon then.

These cameras are at the cheap and cheery end of the market and the target users are most likely only want to be able to burn their 17Mb/s AVCHD to cheap DVDR media.

My Panny BD35 blu-ray player will not play AVCHD on DVD smoothly at data rates above 18Mb/s. I read that the SONY play station has this limitation also.

This is due to the Redbook DVD standard limiting DVDs to 16Mb/s max, so the players are not built to spin any faster than this.

Yes, the 25Mb/s max / 21Mb/s ave AVCHD H264 rates as used on the Panny AG-HMC150 would be nice, but consumers would have to burn to BD-R.

Note, BD-R 25s are cheap enough now, so Panny could have at least given users the option of the higher bit rate.
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post #26 of 52
2/28/09 at 3:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by elifino View Post

Camcorderinfo states they didn't get to perform tests on the unit.

Here is a review, where the reviewer "claim" they got their hands on an early version of this camcorder. ...
http://www.trustedreviews.com/camcor...c-HDC-HS300/p1

Its NOT a 'single measured test' but its more information to add to this thread, as we try to build up a "picture" as to how this camera may perform.

Edit ... I see now that the http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/08/p...ughly-enjoyed/ article simply refers to the "trustedreviews" article.
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post #27 of 52
2/28/09 at 3:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kadath View Post

I just bought the competing Sony, I only posted that link because nobody else had and those, like you, who are interested in this model might benefit from it, not that it had any concrete data for you to pour over.

You did not say in your post, but I assume because you are posting links on Sony that you like your Sony. Glad to infer that you like it, and I'll be certain to visit both Canon and Sony threads for information on those Canon and Sony competing camera ... And thanks for the http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/08/p...ughly-enjoyed/ link !! ....

Still, last I looked this still is a Panasonic thread. .... Do you have any views on the new Panasonic cameras?
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post #28 of 52
2/28/09 at 12:01pm
I've been set to get Sony as my first HD camcorder (specially due to 5.1 audio over Cannon) but new Panasonic seems very interesting and I'll wait for few reviews of Panasonic before I pick up Sony.
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post #29 of 52
2/28/09 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajamils View Post

I've been set to get Sony as my first HD camcorder (specially due to 5.1 audio over Cannon) but new Panasonic seems very interesting and I'll wait for few reviews of Panasonic before I pick up Sony.

Yeah... think I'll hold as well. I have to replace the wife's HC3 and it was either the JVC HD6 or a SR11 for the 5.1 sound. But these new panny's sound good and come complete with the surround sound. It'll be interesting to see some actual tests and numbers.
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post #30 of 52
2/28/09 at 1:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevypower View Post

Hmmm a chip AVCHD Panasonic versus a single chip HDV Sony.... quite a fair comparison! I suppose the Varicam is also better than the Sony SR12.... Yes Panasonic is way better then! LOL. Seriously, model for model, I find the Sonys are ahead of the Pannys. But on Panasonic's side, Sony has left a gap between the Sony SR12, and some of the semi pro stuff like the Z5, Z7 and EX1. Panasonic has seen an opportunity and cashed in, and taken the name "AVCCAM" - looks like Panasonic tried to pre-empt Sony's marketing team from taking that name and cashing in on adding the new format to their pro family. ie: BetaCAM, DVCAM, HD-CAM, XDCAM. To keep it more consistent with Panasonic, they should have called it AVCPRO (like DVCPRO). I don't expect Sony to bring AVCHD to the pro lineup, but I do see XDCAM EX getting smaller, more affordable models. Interestingly, Sony has licensed XDCAM EX technology to JVC, who now has made an affordable semi pro camera with 35mbs. http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...l_id=MDL101845 tiny sensor and lens though.

Slightly off topic, but this JVC GY-HM100U only has 35mbs MPEG2.

Assuming H264 has 2.5x more efficient compression, then it would be approx = 14Mb/s H264 quality. ie - Not stellar, but good enough for TV new gathering. BTW - I would be curious as to how this camera performs in low light (I am not expecting much) - best on a new thread.
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