The Panasonic HDC-TM300 is the flash memory sister-model to the equally impressive HDC-HS300 (which records to an internal hard drive). These two top-of-the-line models from Panasonic are stellar camcorders, and the HDC-TM300, which includes 32GB of internal memory, was recently awarded CamcorderInfo.com's 2009 Camcorder of the Year award. The TM300 combines a strong video performance with a comfortable body design and a load of manual controls to create one of the best all-around consumer camcorders we've seen. With a $1299 price tag the HDC-TM300 may be hard on the wallet, but if you're in the market for a top-notch camcorder, it is the best of the bunch.
Part of the TM300's allure is its ergonomic design and comfortable handling. The camcorder doesn't have a large internal hard drive bulking up its right side, so when you grip it with your right hand it seems to meld perfectly into your palm. In addition to this comfortable design, the HDC-TM300 features a manual lens ring up front that can be used to adjust a variety of controls. Panasonic's lens ring may not be as smooth as some of the control dials found on other camcorders, but it is easy to access and it should be a pleasure to use for anyone who is accustomed to working with prosumer models.
One disappointment with Panasonic's lens ring is the fact that you must close the LCD and use the electronic viewfinder if you want to adjust anything other than zoom or focus with the ring. It's not clear why Panasonic would limit the camcorder like this, but we're impressed with the lens ring nonetheless.
Panasonic has long been known as the manufacturer for people who love manual controls on their camcorders. The HDC-TM300 definitely doesn't fail in this arena, as the camcorder offers full manual control over aperture, shutter speed, focus, white balance, and gain. What really makes the HDC-TM300 impressive, however, is Panasonic's inclusion of new Intelligent Auto (iA) features that are designed for beginners. The most useful iA setting is a tracking feature that follows your subject around the frame while automatically adjusting focus and exposure accordingly. Many of the camcorder's iA features are made possible by Panasonic's new touchscreen LCD system. With this setup you can simply touch the portion of the screen you want to focus, expose, or track and the iA system will do the rest.
Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The best thing about the Panasonic HDC-TM300 was its all-around solid performance in our testing labs. The camcorder was among the best in our stabilization and bright light testing, although its real strength in performance came in low light. The camcorder had one of the best low light sensitivities out of the high-end HD models we tested and it maintained a sharp, detailed image when we dimmed the lights.
While the HDC-TM300 was a very good performer in bright light, it didn't put up the best numbers we've seen this year. High-end models from JVC and Canon both edged out the Panasonic in the video sharpness and motion testing categories. Still, the HDC-TM300 was the best overall performer in our battery of tests.
Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
We actually liked the HDC-TM300 a bit more than its sister-model, the HDC-HS300. This judgment is entirely based on the TM300's more comfortable design, which is due to the fact that it doesn't have a big internal hard drive built into its right side. As far as performance goes, however, the two camcorders are essentially identical.
If you're going to be doing most of your shooting under ideal lighting conditions then you may want to check out the Canon HF S11 or JVC GZ-HM400 over the Panasonic HDC-TM300. These two high-end models from Canon and JVC managed stunning results in our video sharpness and motion tests, but they didn't have the low light capabilities of the TM300. The GZ-HM400 was particularly bad in low light, while the Canon HF S100 managed decent results—particularly when we shot using its 24p and 30p frame rate settings.
The Sony HDR-CX500V managed similar performance results to the Panasonic HDC-TM300, but it doesn't have nearly as many manual controls or features. The CX500V also features a rear-mounted adjustment dial that isn't as easy to use or as comfortable as Panasonic's lens ring.
As a whole, the Panasonic HDC-TM300 is the best consumer HD camcorder we've reviewed this year. It may not have had the best performance in every single one of our testing categories, but it had no glaring weaknesses and its numbers were very good across the board. If you'd rather record to an internal hard drive instead of flash memory, check out Panasonic's equally impressive HDC-HS300.
For a more in-depth review, visit the Panasonic HDC-TM300 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com
