Introduction

Not everything on the camcorder is perfect, however. Most of the buttons are poorly designed and some are difficult to access while you are shooting. While the touchscreen system is useful for beginners, it may frustrate more advanced users, and the LCD is likely to get covered in greasy fingerprints very quickly. The camcorder also isn't very good for intermediate users, as it implements an all-or-nothing approach to using manual controls. Still, the camcorder performs exceptionally where it counts—video performance—and its overall functionality is very strong. The total picture is very strong, making the HDC-HS300 one of the best camorders of 2009.

Update: The Panasonic HDC-TM300 (a flash memory sister model to the HS300) was ultimately selected as our 2009 Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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In the Box

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Color

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 measured very accurate colors in our bright light testing. The camcorder registered a color error of 3.5 and a saturation level of 97%. Both of these scores are top-notch and they are statistically identical to the color errors we measured on the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000. More on how we test color.

In the color error map above (on the right) you can see how accurately the HDC-HS300 reproduced each color from our color test chart. The camcorder did very well with most colors, although browns and reds weren't as accurate as blues and greens. The 97% saturation level produced by the camcorder makes for deep, vivid colors in bright light. In the picture adjust section of the menu, the HDC-HS300 does allow for some adjustment to color gain (on a -5 to +5 scale). The test images below show how these adjustments to color gain will alter the video image.

In the images above, you can see how much setting the color gain to -5 really desaturates the colors on the HDC-HS300. Comparatively, bumping the gain up to +5 makes everything more vivid. A -5 to +5 scale for color gain doesn't give you loads of control, but it is a very good feature to have on a consumer camcorder.

All the camcorders in this comparative set have very good color accuracy at bright light. Of the group, only the Sony HDR-XR520V didn't put up stellar numbers in this test. The Sony also showed a darker, less saturated image than the rest of the competition. Looking at the close-up color comparisons below, you can see how much darker the Sony is compared to the Panasonic HDC-HS300, Canon HF S100, and Sanyo VPC-HD2000.

Like we said, all the camcorders in this group are very good bright light performers. Even though the Sony HDR-XR520V didn't do as well as the rest, it still captured very good colors. The Panasonic HDC-HS300, along with the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, is one of the best bright-light color performers we've tested this year.

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Low Light Color

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 had good color accuracy in our low light testing, although the results were fairly average compared to the rest of the competition. The camcorder measured a color error of 5.2 in low light, with a saturation of 64.25%. In our low light color test, the HS300's image looked very similar to that of the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100. More on how we test low light color.

In the diagram above, you can see that the camcorder had more trouble with certain blues and purples than anything else. Still, a 5.2 color error in low light is quite good. You can see from our test image that the camcorder still has a decently bright image in low light and colors are still vibrant and strong. Below are low light comparisons with the other models in this group.

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 clearly has the brightest image out of this set. As a result, its colors are also the most accurate. To some, the Sanyo's colors could appear too saturated, but that is entirely a matter of opinion. Both the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100 measured a color error roughly on par with the Panasonic HDC-HS300.

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Noise

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Panasonic camcorders have been measuring fairly low noise levels in our testing this year and the HDC-HS300 is no different. In our bright light test, the camcorder averaged 0.43% noise. This is a very good performance and it comes in right on the heels of the Sony HDR-XR520V, which measured 0.37% noise. Both the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000 did significantly worse in this test. More on how we test noise.

In the close-up comparisons above, you can see the level of detail offered by each camcorder in our bright light testing. Both the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100 have a slightly sharper image than the Panasonic HDC-HS300, but all the camcorders in this set look very good in bright light.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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We haven't seen many camcorders with excellent low light sensitivity this year. The Panasonic HDC-HS300, however, put up terrific numbers. It needed only 9 lux to peak at 50 IRE on our waveform monitor—this is the same amount of light that was needed by the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which is the best overall low light performer we've tested this year. No camcorder has scored better than the Panasonic HDC-HS300 or Sanyo VPC-HD2000 on our low light sensitivity test so far this year. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Shooting in 24p mode will often boost a camcorder's low light performance. The Panasonic HDC-HS300, however, didn't show a significant improvement when using the alternate frame rate. The low light sensitivity of the camcorder improved by only one lux when using the 24p mode and the low light color accuracy and noise levels didn't show any significant improvement either. In contrast, the Canon HF S100 proved to be a much better low light performer when using its 24p or 30p record mode. Its sensitivity improved by a whopping 10 lux in 24p mode (from 16 lux down to 6 lux) and the camcorder showed lower noise levels and more saturated colors when using the slower frame rate.

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Low Light Noise

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As we saw with low light color, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 is right in the mix with the rest of the high-end camcorders when it comes to low light noise. The camcorder registered 1.42% noise in our low light testing—a good score—but not the best we've seen. The Sony HDR-XR520V posted a significantly lower 0.87% noise, while the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000 produced similar numbers to the Panasonic. More on how we test low light noise.

In the crops above, you can see that the level of detail captured by the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100 is better than the Panasonic HDC-HS300 and Sony VPC-HD2000. The Panasonic isn't far behind, however, and its image is significantly brighter than both the Sony and Canon. The minuscule amount of noise on the Sony HDR-XR520V probably has something to do with its sharp picture at low light. Notice how crisp the number and lines are on its 100% crop above.

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Low Light Color

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 had good color accuracy in our low light testing, although the results were fairly average compared to the rest of the competition. The camcorder measured a color error of 5.2 in low light, with a saturation of 64.25%. In our low light color test, the HS300's image looked very similar to that of the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100. More on how we test low light color.

In the diagram above, you can see that the camcorder had more trouble with certain blues and purples than anything else. Still, a 5.2 color error in low light is quite good. You can see from our test image that the camcorder still has a decently bright image in low light and colors are still vibrant and strong. Below are low light comparisons with the other models in this group.

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 clearly has the brightest image out of this set. As a result, its colors are also the most accurate. To some, the Sanyo's colors could appear too saturated, but that is entirely a matter of opinion. Both the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100 measured a color error roughly on par with the Panasonic HDC-HS300.

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Motion

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 offers smooth motion with a sharp image and little amount of trailing. The camcorder does show a bit more artifacting than the Canon HF S100 and Sony HDR-XR520V, but its overall motion is very similar to those two camcorders. The HS300 also has identical motion to its sister model, the HDC-TM300, which makes sense because the only difference between the two camcorders is their internal recording media. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 performed very well in our video sharpness test. The camcorder measured a horizontal resolution of 750 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 650 lw/ph. This puts the camcorder slightly ahead of the Sony HDR-XR520V and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, although the three camcorders were all roughly equivalent with this test. The Canon HF S100 was at the top of the pack, but not by much. Since each camcorder in this set is a top-of-the-line model, these excellent video sharpness scores should come as no surprise. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Ease of Use

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 offers a fairly intuitive user experience, especially for beginning users. The default setting is essentially an auto mode, which disables manual image adjustments and several other features otherwise found in the menus. When you have this kind of cruise control, you don't have to worry about anything except framing your shot. If you want even more assistance, there's the optional Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies. In iA mode, the camcorder will employ its Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Contrast Control, Face Detection, and Image Stabilization in an attempt to make the best video possible. In regular auto mode or iA mode, you can also use the new AF/AE Tracking tool, which will follow the subject you choose on the touch screen, even as it changes location within the frame. It's all incredibly easy to use.

Sadly, all this great technology isn't really designed with the advanced user in mind. Panasonic expects you to use either full manual controls or easy mode. Once you enter manual mode—by pressing the hard-to-reach, ambiguously labeled button—all the clever iA tools disappear. We prefer when auto and manual controls aren't so mutually exclusive. Performing a simple manual white balance means deactivating some of the HS300's best features. Most significantly, you'll miss out on the AF/AE Tracking feature: an excellent feature that justifies Panasonic's switch to touch screen controls.

That makes the manual controls seem all the more inaccessible; users seeking a more integrated auto/manual experience might want to consider something like the Sony HDR-XR520V. On the other hand, there are some features that help ease the transition for beginners. The most useful of these is the information button, which brings up a tool tip every time you select a feature in the menus. The tool tips can explain things like Digital Cinema, backlight compensation, etc. The info button is available in both the main menu and the Q.Menu—but not the Function menu. Unfortunately, options that are only available on this menu (like white balance, shutter, and iris) get no explanation unless you consult the Operating Instructions. Fortunately, the included instructions are fairly comprehensive.

Another minor feature to aid newcomers is the Shooting Guide. When Shooting Guide is activated, the camcorder will give you 'tips on how to make a good recording.' All we really noticed was the occasional warning message like 'camera panning is too fast.' We suppose that this is a case of something-better-than-nothing-ness.

Auto Mode

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One of the more highly publicized aspects of Panasonic's 2009 lineup is the user-friendly features bundled into the Intelligent Auto (iA) collection. In fact, the HDC-HS300 has a number of shooting modes that will seem approachable to beginners—despite the fact that it is a flagship camcorder with the manual controls and price tag suitable for more experienced videophiles. When you first turn on the camcorder, the default mode is a standard auto mode, which hides a lot of options in order to create a less intimidating user experience for novices. The trouble is, the button for activating and deactivating manual controls is hidden up front, near the lens ring. So, if a beginner accidentally activates manual mode, it might be frustrating to figure how to get back into auto mode. We preferred the SD20's design, which featured a clear 'Manual' button right inside the LCD cavity.

When shooting in auto mode, you won't need to bother with adjusting focus, exposure, or white balance. Fortunately, the HDC-HS300 does an excellent job of making these adjustments for you. Focus happens quickly and smoothly, unless you're in very dim lighting conditions. There's also a tele macro option if you're shooting objects close to the lens. Exposure is also quite good: most slow pans were exposed with gradual and even transitions. Automatic white balance gives you surprisingly good colors, though it's not quite as good as the manual white balance.

If you want the camcorder to do even more heavy lifting, you can push the small iA button to activate the Intelligent Auto (iA) features. Intelligent Auto does more than make automatic image adjustments; it also uses Panasonic's AF/AE Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Contrast Control, and Face Detection.

The most fun feature of the 2009 iA lineup—and arguably the most useful—is AF/AE Tracking. This clever feature allows you to touch your main subject on the LCD and have the camcorder 'follow' the selected subject. Granted, the camcorder won't physically move, but it will keep the subject properly exposed and in focus as long as you keep it in frame. We found that the feature works surprisingly well, with a few notable exceptions. If your subject moves temporarily out of frame, for instance, AF/AE Tracking might have a hard time finding it again. There are also problems recording in a more crowded environment: if you're following the action at a soccer game and another player passes between you, the tracking will often lose one player to pick up the other. For recording at a school play, ballet recital, or gymnastics meet—anything where your subject remains relatively isolated—the feature is surprisingly effective.

The other iA features are less gimmicky than AF/AE Tracking, but can also come in handy. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects the appropriate scene mode for the subject being recorded. Backlight Compensation keeps a subject from getting overshadowed by backlight, while Intelligent Contrast Control moderates high contrast scenes to prevent dark shadows and blowouts. Face Framing makes exposure and focus adjustments for up to fifteen faces detected in a frame.

Low Light Modes - The HS300 offers one full-fledged low light mode: MagicPix. It isn't clear what exactly MagicPix does, but it's probably some combination of a 24p frame rate, increased gain, and slower shutter. If you don't want to change the frame rate, you can also engage the camcorder's auto slow shutter, which drops the shutter speed to 1/30 (1/24 in 24p mode). There's also something called Low Light Mode, but that is just the scene mode that the camcorder may select for you if you're shooting with iA engaged. In the iA Low Light Mode, the shutter speed will drop to 1/30 of a second.

Scene Modes - You get the usual smörgåsbord of scene modes with the HS300. You can select these manually or let iA pick the scene mode for you. Options include: Portrait, Snow, Sunset, Sports, Spotlight, Beach, and Fireworks.

Other Auto Features

Handling

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 handles like your average consumer camcorder. It is a bit larger than most camcorders these days, but as far as high-end models go, it is an average size. The design of the camcorder's right side is a bit uncomfortable, mainly because of the bulky 120GB hard drive that is located here. Still, it doesn't feel too bad and the camcorder fits better in your hand than the Sony HDR-XR520V. The zoom toggle lines up well with your index finger and the lip provided by the internal hard drive gives you something to wrap your fingertips around. On the back of the camcorder there is only the record button and the mode dial—both of which are easy to access with your thumb when holding the camcorder.

The lens ring is one of the most important handling features on the HS300. Panasonic has included lens rings on its high-end consumer camcorders for a number of years now, and the ring on the HS300 is similar to its predecessors. The ring is large, easy to grip, and very smooth. At times, the ring feels like it rotates too easily, which can make precise adjustments a little finicky. There is also an issue with the ring only being able to control either zoom or focus when the LCD is open. When using the viewfinder, however, the ring can be set to control white balance, shutter speed, iris, or focus. It seems Panasonic wants you to use the LCD touchscreen whenever the LCD is open and we're unsure why Panasonic would limit the versatility of the lens ring like this. Overall, however, the ring is excellent and it is easier to use than the control dials featured on the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100.

While the lens ring is useful for manual adjustments, Panasonic has also introduced a number of auto controls on the HDC-HS300. Most of the controls make good use of the new LCD touchscreen system, which can be both a blessing and a problem. The touchscreen offers a simple interface and controls can be easily activated with a tap of your finger. Using the screen in this manner also results in plenty of greasy fingerprints and a cluttered LCD.

The buttons on the HDC-HS300 aren't very well designed, particularly the 'membrane buttons' located on the bottom of the LCD panel. These 'membrane buttons' are embedded inside the LCD panel, which means you have to push them very hard with your fingertips, or use your fingernail to get them to work. The rest of the buttons on the camcorder aren't great either, although there are only a few. The iA and pre-record button on the left-top of the camcorder are small and don't give in much when they are pressed. The OIS button (for image stabilization), located inside the LCD cavity, blends into the body of the camcorder too much and can be difficult to find and press. The buttons near the front of the camcorder, which activate manual controls aren't designed too bad, but they can be blocked by the LCD screen when it is open and tilted.

Portability

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is an average size for a high-end consumer camcorder, especially one that records to an internal hard drive. Obviously, it is a good deal larger than the lower-end Panasonic HDC-SD20, but it's also over 100g heavier than its sister model, the HDC-TM300. The HDC-TM300 records to 32GB of internal flash memory instead of a bulky hard drive, which should illustrate how much room those internal drives must take up. Nevertheless, having 120GB of storage space on your camcorder may actually increase its portability in the long run. There's no need to pack extra memory cards or constantly back-up your footage (although it is still recommended that you should back-up often).

The HDC-HS300 isn't pocket-sized by any means, but it will fit easily into a small camera bag or large purse. In comparison, both the Canon HF S100 and Sony HDR-XR520V are roughly the same size (give or take a few millimeters), although the Sony is a good deal heavier because of its huge internal hard drive. If you're looking for high-end performance from a smaller camcorder, check out the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which weighs a mere 311 grams and has an upright, pistol-grip design.

Battery Life

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300's provided battery lasted 102 minutes and 19 seconds in our battery test (1 hour, 42 minutes, 19 seconds). This is an average score for a high definition consumer camcorder. It is slightly better than the battery performance we got out of the Sony HDR-XR520V and Canon HF S100, but it's nothing too significant. All the camcorders in this set, other than the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, have open battery compartments. This means you can purchase larger, longer-lasting batteries if you want to. More on how we test battery life.

The HDC-HS300, along with numerous other models from Panasonic, has an irritating design for its DC input. The input is located inside the battery compartment, which means you have to remove the battery in order to connect the camcorder to a power source. This design forces you to turn the camcorder off whenever you want to switch from battery to DC power—effectively forcing you to cease recording for a few moments. This flaw may not be an issue for some users, but if you're planning to film a long play or sporting event, you will definitely run into this problem as your battery gets low.

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LCD & Viewfinder

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 has both an LCD and a 0.44-inch electronic viewfinder. Most people will likely use the LCD for their filming needs, but the presence of a viewfinder is good to see on a consumer camcorder. While Sony also includes an electronic viewfinder on the HDR-XR520V, Canon does not offer one on the HF S100.

The LCD is 2.7 inches in size and has a resolution of 230,400 pixels. This is fairly average for a consumer camcorder, although the Sony HDR-XR520V features a larger screen (3.2-inches) and a much better resolution (921,000-pixels). As is common on camcorders, the LCD screen can rotate 270 degrees so you can shoot at odd angles or do some self-recording.

There are a number of brightness settings for the LCD screen. Power LCD (accessible in the Q.Menu or Setup menu) allows you to choose from Auto, +2, +1, 0, or -1. You can also manually set the LCD brightness in the camcorder's menu (with 11 increments). There is also a color adjustment feature that allows you to tune the color settings of the LCD screen. Making adjustments to the LCD color or brightness will not change your recorded image.

It's good to see a viewfinder on the HDC-HS300 and it is definitely something you'll be grateful to have on a bright, sunny day. The viewfinder doesn't have the best design—it is surrounded in hard plastic that isn't very comfortable and it cannot pivot—but it does extend and offers a small dial for adjusting the diopter. The viewfinder brightness can be set to any whole number on a scale from -16 to +16. If you're relying entirely on the viewfinder for image adjustments, the same warning applies: remember that a viewfinder adjustment will change the way your footage appears during recording, but it will not impact the final recorded footage. The viewfinder has an image resolution of 183,000 pixels.

Stabilization

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 features optical image stabilization, which can be activated using a small button in the LCD cavity. In our testing, the camcorder did very well in both high and low-shake situations. In our low shake test, the HDC-HS300 reduced 60% of the shake. With our shaking rig cranked up to its high setting the OIS did an even better job—reducing 71% of the shake. Both of these results are quite good for a camcorder of its class.

Interestingly, the HS300 did better on this test than its sister model, the HDC-TM300. We assume this discrepancy is due to the heavier weight of the HS300 compared to the TM300. The Sony HDR-XR520V had the best stabilization of the camcorders in this set, however, while the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 put up terrible results with its digital stabilization system. The Canon HF S100 didn't put up great numbers, but it did much better than the Sanyo. More on how we test stabilization.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Tele Macro

Allows you to focus on items close to the camcorder (focal distance is approximately 1cm to 1m)

Guide Lines

Onscreen lines that help you frame your shot (can be set to three horizontal lines, a 9-sector grid, or a 60-sector grid)

Zebra

A common professional feature that assists with manual exposure adjustment: black and white stripes appear in overexposed areas (not on your final footage); unlike on the Canons, there is no option to set zebra stripe sensitivity

Luminance

A small target at the center of the screen, give you a luminance value from 0% - 100% (can be set to always on, on adjust, or off)

Histogram

Helps you determine how much of your shot is currently in brightness, shadows, and midtones (can be set to always on, on adjust, or off)

Audio Controls

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 has more audio controls than your average high-end consumer camcorder. For starters, it has a built-in 5.1-channel Dolby digital microphone located just behind the lens on the top of the camcorder. The mic is located poorly, as your pinky can easily rub up against it when you're holding the camcorder. Moving over to the right side of the HS300, you'll find the external mic and headphone jacks. The jacks aren't located very well either, as they come too close to the edge of the hand strap when you're holding the camcorder. On a positive note, both the built-in mic and a connected external mic can be set to manual audio level control.

The built-in mic can be set to surround, zoom, or focus. Levels can be set using the Set +AGC feature. The interface looks more complex than it really is. At the bottom is an AGC button for turning the auto gain control on and off. At the center is a slider for manually adjusting gain levels on a scale from -30 to +6 (fourteen increments total). This feature alone is more than you'll see in most consumer camcorders, but Panasonic takes it one step further by offering bass control. There are four different settings here: 0dB, +3dB, +6dB, and Lowcut.

The animated image above shows the microphone level control display (Set +AGC). The 5 bar displays around the perimeter of the sliding scale represent the audio levels of each channel on the built-in mic. You can't adjust the levels of the individual channels, so the bars are really for display purposes only. The camcorder also has a wind cut option that can be turned on and off. Below are the audio features found on the Panasonic HDC-HS300 and its comparison camcorders:

Editing

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The camcorder ships with HD Writer AE 1.0, which is a simple editing software that is only compatible with Windows operating systems. The software lets you make simple edits to your footage, helps you organize clips, and assists with uploading video to the internet. Most importantly, the software enables you to import video from the camcorder onto your computer (the AVCHD footage can't simply be 'dragged-and-dropped').

When you open the HD Writer AE software, a 'simple menu' pops up that guides you through some of the more common tasks the program can perform. We found the simple menu was fairly easy to use, although some of the features were too confusing than they needed to be. The image below is a screen grab of the 'import to PC' screen. The design of the 'import to PC' window has too much information and isn't very user friendly. We would have liked to see a simpler, cleaner layout for this very important option.

We got loads of error messages while working with the HD Writer AE software. Most of the time the messages popped up when we tried to do more complex tasks with the program, but they appeared consistently throughout our time spent with the software. Most professional or prosumer video editing programs should work smoothly with footage captured by the HDC-HS300. The camcorder is also compatible with iMovie. Our recommendation is that if you already have an editing program that you're comfortable with using, by all means keep using it with the HS300. HD Writer AE isn't a very good program, although it will work in a pinch if you need it to.

For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Compression

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As with all high definition Panasonic camcorders, the HDC-HS300 records using the AVCHD codec. Panasonic and most of the other major manufacturers have been using AVCHD for several years now. This means that you should have no trouble finding video editing software that can work with the files. On the other hand, there's no getting around the fact that AVCHD files are very large and can gum up the works of older, less powerful computers. If you've never worked with large high definition files before, make sure your processor can handle the files before you make the transition.

Tech-savvy Canon fans might balk at the 'mere' 17Mbps maximum bitrate, but we still don't see this as a deal-breaker. Sure, it's disappointing that Panasonic and Sony haven't risen to the 24Mbps ceiling for AVCHD, but we haven't seen a huge difference yet between the two bitrates. For now, the lens, sensor, and processing have a much larger impact on video quality. When Panasonic and Sony feel they're able to take advantage of a 24Mbps bitrate, we imagine they'll join the others. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 includes a 120GB internal hard drive, which takes up a good portion of the right side of the camcorder. This is a lot of storage space, and it should be large enough to hold roughly 15 hours of video at the highest quality setting (exact record times are not available). If that isn't enough space for you, the camcorder also has memory card slot located inside the LCD cavity (just below a collection of ports). Here, you can insert standard SD/SDHC memory cards, which are currently made in sizes up to 32GB, to increase the storage capacity of the camcorder.

If recording to an internal hard drive doesn't suit you, Panasonic offers the HDC-TM300, which records to 32GB of internal flash memory (as well as having an SD/SDHC card slot). The TM300 is a bit smaller and lighter than the HDC-HS300, and it also costs $100 less than its hard-drive-based sister model. If you're looking for a camcorder with a larger internal hard drive than 120GB, Sony offers a whopping 240GB hard drive on the HDR-XR520V. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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The still features on the HDC-HS300 aren't extensive, but there are a few options. The camcorder has 12 still image size settings and still photos can be taken in three different aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9). Since the camcorder's gross pixel count is 9.15-megapixels (3.05 x 3 sensors), some of the HS300's larger still image resolutions are interpolated. The maximum photo size on the camcorder is 3984 x 2656 (3:2), but the highest native resolution is 3264 x 2448 (4:3). The camcorder can capture photos in video mode, but sizes are limited to either 3840 x 2160 or 1920 x 1080. Switching the HS300 over to photo mode (by using the mode dial on the back of the camcorder) and you get access to many more still-image options.

Regular still features like a self-timer (2 or 10 seconds) and a flash with optional red-eye reduction are available on the camcorder. The flash can also be set to one of three brightness levels. Strangely, the HS300 does have a burst feature (24fps or 60fps), but this is only available in video mode. It appears all the burst mode does is take one second of video and split it up into individual frames (either 24 or 60, depending on the option you selected).

You have access to the most photo controls when you put the camcorder into its dedicated photo mode (by rotating the mode dial on the back of the camcorder). Here you can adjust image size, quality, and change flash settings. There are also plenty of controls in the Record Menu that are applicable to still images. It's a bit confusing that you need to go into the Record Menu to select settings that are going to be used to adjust still images. This tends to give the impression that the camcorder can record video while it's in still image mode. We would have liked to see all the applicable still image options under one menu when you're in photo mode. Aperture, shutter speed, and white balance are controlled using the Function Menu, just as they are in video mode.

Still image quality is improving rapidly on consumer HD camcorders. While most camcorders still don't provide you with the kind of quality you'd get from a dedicated digital camera, things are looking quite good for people who like video/photo hybrids. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 managed to capture very accurate colors in our still image testing. Its color error came in at 3.66 with a 96.97% saturation. These numbers are close to what we measured in our bright light video testing, which is a good sign. When you snap a photo with the HDC-HS300, the colors should look just as good as they do when you're recording video.

The HDC-HS300 and Sony HDR-XR520V appear to capture a similar photographic image. The Sony had slightly more accurate colors, while the Panasonic managed a bit more saturation. The Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, while both having a very sharp images, didn't quite have the color accuracy of the other two camcorders. All of these camcorders, however, are capable of capturing above-average still photos.

The HDC-HS300 averaged 0.87% noise in our still image testing. That's not bad, but it is worse than the camcorder measured in our bright light video test (0.43%). We would have liked to see noise numbers in that range here as well. In comparison, both the Canon HF S100 and Sony HDR-XR520V had higher noise levels in our still image tests, while the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 measured just a bit lower than the HDC-HS300.

The Panasonic HDC-HS300 can take photographs in a number of different resolutions. We did our still image testing with the camcorder set to its maximum photo resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio. At best, the camcorder produced a horizontal sharpness of 2090 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) with 13.8% oversharpening. The vertical sharpness of that same image came out as 1148 lw/ph with 22.7% undersharpening. These are good sharpness scores, but other camcorders, like the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, are capable of better numbers. New models from Samsung (the HMX-R10) and JVC (the GZ-X900) boast about having impeccable still image capabilities, but we haven't tested them yet.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 features the same lens as the Panasonic HDC-TM300, the sister model to the HS300. Both models represent Panasonic's top-of-the-line HD camcorders for 2009. On these high-end models, Panasonic includes its standard lens ring for making precise manual adjustments. While most manufacturers are designing consumer camcorders with one large sensor, Panasonic continues to utilize a smaller, multi-chip system that features three 1/4.1-inch CMOS sensors.

LCD & Viewfinder

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 has both an LCD and a 0.44-inch electronic viewfinder. Most people will likely use the LCD for their filming needs, but the presence of a viewfinder is good to see on a consumer camcorder. While Sony also includes an electronic viewfinder on the HDR-XR520V, Canon does not offer one on the HF S100.

The LCD is 2.7 inches in size and has a resolution of 230,400 pixels. This is fairly average for a consumer camcorder, although the Sony HDR-XR520V features a larger screen (3.2-inches) and a much better resolution (921,000-pixels). As is common on camcorders, the LCD screen can rotate 270 degrees so you can shoot at odd angles or do some self-recording.

There are a number of brightness settings for the LCD screen. Power LCD (accessible in the Q.Menu or Setup menu) allows you to choose from Auto, +2, +1, 0, or -1. You can also manually set the LCD brightness in the camcorder's menu (with 11 increments). There is also a color adjustment feature that allows you to tune the color settings of the LCD screen. Making adjustments to the LCD color or brightness will not change your recorded image.

It's good to see a viewfinder on the HDC-HS300 and it is definitely something you'll be grateful to have on a bright, sunny day. The viewfinder doesn't have the best design—it is surrounded in hard plastic that isn't very comfortable and it cannot pivot—but it does extend and offers a small dial for adjusting the diopter. The viewfinder brightness can be set to any whole number on a scale from -16 to +16. If you're relying entirely on the viewfinder for image adjustments, the same warning applies: remember that a viewfinder adjustment will change the way your footage appears during recording, but it will not impact the final recorded footage. The viewfinder has an image resolution of 183,000 pixels.

Connectivity

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 has the standard fare when it comes to ports and connectivity options. Inside the LCD cavity, near the bottom of the camcorder, are the video output options: A/V, Component, and HDMI. These three ports are located behind a sliding plastic shield that opens and closes like a garage door and protects the ports well. It's good to see these ports located on the left side of the camcorder in an easy-to-access location. On last year's models, Panasonic awkwardly placed the video outputs inside the battery compartment—which meant you had to remove the battery and connect the DC-input every time you wanted to connect the camcorder to a television or computer.

The USB connector, which is protected by a flexible plastic cover, is located just beneath the video output ports. The SD/SDHC card slot is also located here, and it is covered by a flip-down door that pops open with the flick of a small switch. On the top of the camcorder is a cold accessory shoe. The shoe is covered by a large piece of plastic that is hinged to the side of the camcorder. The plastic does a good job blending in with the rest of the camcorder and it offers a decent seal for protecting the accessory shoe compartment. Even though the shoe is cold (not powered), Panasonic should be applauded for not using a proprietary-fit design like Canon and Sony. The shoe will fit any normal-mounting accessory or device.

Up front, on the right side of the camcorder are the external mic and headphone jacks. While the inclusion of these ports is excellent on the HS300, their placement is a bit uncomfortable. The ports ride a bit too close to the edge of the camcorder's hand strap, which means the side of your hand may rub up against the plug when you have headphones or a microphone connected. Still, this will only be a problem if you plan on doing lots of hand-held shooting with an external mic or pair of headphones connected to the camcorder.

Despite the fact that Panasonic moved its video-output ports to the left side of the camcorder, it decided to keep the DC-input inside the battery compartment. By placing the DC-input here, it forces users to stop recording and turn off the camcorder whenever a switch from battery to DC-power operation is required. So, if you want to continuously record for longer than an hour or so, you'll need to have the DC-input plugged into a power source for the entire time. This may only be a problem for certain users, but if you like to consistently switch between battery power and DC-input, the design of the HDC-HS300 will certainly frustrate you.

Battery

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The HDC-HS300, along with numerous other models from Panasonic, has an irritating design for its DC input. The input is located inside the battery compartment, which means you have to remove the battery in order to connect the camcorder to a power source. This design forces you to turn the camcorder off whenever you want to switch from battery to DC power—effectively forcing you to cease recording for a few moments. This flaw may not be an issue for some users, but if you're planning to film a long play or sporting event, you will definitely run into this problem as your battery gets low. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The Panasonic HDC-HS300 includes a 120GB internal hard drive, which takes up a good portion of the right side of the camcorder. This is a lot of storage space, and it should be large enough to hold roughly 15 hours of video at the highest quality setting (exact record times are not available). If that isn't enough space for you, the camcorder also has memory card slot located inside the LCD cavity (just below a collection of ports). Here, you can insert standard SD/SDHC memory cards, which are currently made in sizes up to 32GB, to increase the storage capacity of the camcorder.

If recording to an internal hard drive doesn't suit you, Panasonic offers the HDC-TM300, which records to 32GB of internal flash memory (as well as having an SD/SDHC card slot). The TM300 is a bit smaller and lighter than the HDC-HS300, and it also costs $100 less than its hard-drive-based sister model. If you're looking for a camcorder with a larger internal hard drive than 120GB, Sony offers a whopping 240GB hard drive on the HDR-XR520V. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The still features on the HDC-HS300 aren't extensive, but there are a few options. The camcorder has 12 still image size settings and still photos can be taken in three different aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9). Since the camcorder's gross pixel count is 9.15-megapixels (3.05 x 3 sensors), some of the HS300's larger still image resolutions are interpolated. The maximum photo size on the camcorder is 3984 x 2656 (3:2), but the highest native resolution is 3264 x 2448 (4:3). The camcorder can capture photos in video mode, but sizes are limited to either 3840 x 2160 or 1920 x 1080. Switching the HS300 over to photo mode (by using the mode dial on the back of the camcorder) and you get access to many more still-image options.

Regular still features like a self-timer (2 or 10 seconds) and a flash with optional red-eye reduction are available on the camcorder. The flash can also be set to one of three brightness levels. Strangely, the HS300 does have a burst feature (24fps or 60fps), but this is only available in video mode. It appears all the burst mode does is take one second of video and split it up into individual frames (either 24 or 60, depending on the option you selected).

You have access to the most photo controls when you put the camcorder into its dedicated photo mode (by rotating the mode dial on the back of the camcorder). Here you can adjust image size, quality, and change flash settings. There are also plenty of controls in the Record Menu that are applicable to still images. It's a bit confusing that you need to go into the Record Menu to select settings that are going to be used to adjust still images. This tends to give the impression that the camcorder can record video while it's in still image mode. We would have liked to see all the applicable still image options under one menu when you're in photo mode. Aperture, shutter speed, and white balance are controlled using the Function Menu, just as they are in video mode.

Still image quality is improving rapidly on consumer HD camcorders. While most camcorders still don't provide you with the kind of quality you'd get from a dedicated digital camera, things are looking quite good for people who like video/photo hybrids. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 managed to capture very accurate colors in our still image testing. Its color error came in at 3.66 with a 96.97% saturation. These numbers are close to what we measured in our bright light video testing, which is a good sign. When you snap a photo with the HDC-HS300, the colors should look just as good as they do when you're recording video.

The HDC-HS300 and Sony HDR-XR520V appear to capture a similar photographic image. The Sony had slightly more accurate colors, while the Panasonic managed a bit more saturation. The Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, while both having a very sharp images, didn't quite have the color accuracy of the other two camcorders. All of these camcorders, however, are capable of capturing above-average still photos.

The HDC-HS300 averaged 0.87% noise in our still image testing. That's not bad, but it is worse than the camcorder measured in our bright light video test (0.43%). We would have liked to see noise numbers in that range here as well. In comparison, both the Canon HF S100 and Sony HDR-XR520V had higher noise levels in our still image tests, while the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 measured just a bit lower than the HDC-HS300.

The Panasonic HDC-HS300 can take photographs in a number of different resolutions. We did our still image testing with the camcorder set to its maximum photo resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio. At best, the camcorder produced a horizontal sharpness of 2090 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) with 13.8% oversharpening. The vertical sharpness of that same image came out as 1148 lw/ph with 22.7% undersharpening. These are good sharpness scores, but other camcorders, like the Canon HF S100 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000, are capable of better numbers. New models from Samsung (the HMX-R10) and JVC (the GZ-X900) boast about having impeccable still image capabilities, but we haven't tested them yet.

Other Features

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Time Lapse Recording

The Panasonic HDC-HS300 can be set up to record a time lapse video. When engaged, the time lapse setting will condense a length of footage into a short, animated clip. Clip length can be set to 1 second, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes. For example, if you film a slow sunrise for 30 minutes with the time lapse setting on 10 seconds, the camcorder will turn that long sunrise into a sped-up, 10 second clip. The maximum continuous recording time on the camcorder is 12 hours per clip.

Auto Ground Standby (AGS)

To prevent 45 minutes of dizzying soil and ant documentation, turn on Auto Ground Directional Standby. When the HDC-HS300 is left recording and the camcorder senses that it has dropped below its normal horizontal recording level, it will automatically shut off. This will save you battery life and precious space on your memory card.

Quick Start

A common feature on many camcorders, quick start allows the camcorder to immediately turn on when you open the LCD or extend the electronic viewfinder. We find quick start mode doesn't save all that much time, although it can be convenient if you're constantly turning your camcorder on and off.

Pre Record

Pre-Record constantly records three seconds of footage that is stored to an internal cache. The moment you hit the record button, the three seconds before you hit the Record button are added to the beginning of your clip. As long as the camcorder is pointed towards the action, it will compensate slightly for your slow reflexes.

Auto Focus Assist Lamp

On the front of the camcorder is a small auto focus assist lamp that helps with auto focus in low light situations. The lamp provides assistance in photo mode only and it is a feature commonly found on digital cameras.

Faders

A fade can be added to the beginning or end of your video clips. With the setting turned on, a fade will begin when you press the record button (both when starting and stopping recording). The fader can be set to white or black.

Canon Vixia HF S100 Comparison

The Sony HDR-XR520V is a solid camcorder and it put up similar numbers to the Panasonic HDC-HS300 in our testing. The Sony didn't fair nearly as well in low light sensitivity or bright light color, but it did have lower noise levels than the Panasonic and nearly identical video sharpness. The optical image stabilization worked very well on both camcorders and each camcorder includes an electronic viewfinder in addition to an LCD screen. The Sony does offer more storage space with its 240GB internal hard drive, but the 120GB drive featured on the Panasonic HDC-HS300 is also quite sizable.

The real difference between the two camcorders comes down to manual controls. The Sony HDR-XR520V doesn't allow for direct control over shutter speed, aperture, gain, and audio levels—each of which can be manipulated on the Panasonic HDC-HS300. The Panasonic also has a 24p recording option, which is absent on the HDR-XR520V. Both camcorders have well-implemented tools for making manual adjustments (a lens ring on the Panasonic and a control dial on the Sony), but its the amount of controls that are absent on the Sony that will likely scare off some would-be consumers.

Both camcorders utilize LCD touchscreen systems and offer a number of automatic controls that are simple to use. The iA features on the Panasonic HDC-HS300, however, bring automated controls to a whole new level. The AF/AE tracking, as well as its one touch spot focus and exposure features are impressive and useful for beginners. We also found the Panasonic to have simpler menus and more tools geared towards giving assistance to novice camcorder users. The Sony, on the other hand, does feature a large, 3.2-inch LCD screen, which may be something that is very attractive to beginners.

Overall, the Panasonic is the clear winner here. Both camcorders did very well in our testing, but the enhanced set of manual controls on the HDC-HS300, as well as its simpler design for beginners, gives it the edge.

Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison

Canon's high end consumer camcorder, the HF S100, is another good comparison model to the Panasonic HDC-HS300. The Canon records solely to SD/SDHC and does not contain any internal storage media. For this reason, it is $300 cheaper than the Panasonic HDC-HS300, although the two models offer similar recording quality and control options. In our testing, the Canon HF S100 had better video sharpness and stronger still image performance than the HDC-HS300. The Panasonic, however, excelled in low light performance—specifically in low light sensitivity, which was not a strong point on the Canon HF S100.

The Canon HF S100 has quite a few manual controls. It offers a shutter priority and aperture-priority mode, auto gain control limiter, a few color and image controls, audio level adjustment, and a variety of manual focus assists. These controls can all be manipulated using a small control dial located on the front of the camcorder, which offers smooth, precise adjustment. The dial isn't quite as well-designed as the lens ring on the HDC-HS300, however, and the Panasonic includes more manual control options overall—including direct control over aperture, shutter speed, gain, and numerous audio controls. While both camcorders offer a 24p record mode (in addition to regular 60i), the Canon HF S100 also includes a 30p mode for a slightly different motion aesthetic. One big omission on the Canon HF S100 is its lack of an electronic viewfinder, which may be a deal-breaker for many old-school videographers.

These two camcorders are both very strong contenders in 2009. We feel the Panasonic offers an easier experience for beginners due to its iA touchscreen functions and its informative menu design, but the Canon may appeal to users that don't have an affinity for touchscreens. If you're planning on filming a lot in low light situations, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 has a clear edge over the Canon HF S100. The Canon, however, did show enhanced low light capabilities when shooting with its 24p and 30p frame rates. It is a tough choice between these two models, but our testing suggests that the edge goes to the Panasonic.

Canon also sells an HF S10, a model identical to the HF S100 except it includes 32GB of internal flash memory and costs $1299.

COMP 3

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 is much cheaper than the rest of the camcorders in this set. Although not yet available in the US, the VPC-HD2000 is expected to retail for around $600 - $700. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is the first model we've tested so far this year that was able to match the Sanyo's performance in our low light sensitivity test, which says a lot about the two camcorders' low light capabilities. Both camcorders put up good numbers in all our tests, so as far as video performance goes, the two are very similar.

The Panasonic has a major advantage over the Sanyo in two categories: ease of use and handling. The Sanyo features a strange, upright design that may feel awkward to traditional camcorder users. It also does not feature an electronic viewfinder and its controls and buttons are poorly constructed. While the Sanyo does have many manual control options, implementing and adjusting them is a chore. The HDC-HS300, in comparison, has its well-designed lens ring, and its easy-to-use iA touchscreen features that are a breeze to activate.

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 is a small product in comparison, but it also doesn't include any internal memory. All video and images must be saved to SD/SDHC memory cards. The camcorder also has an enclosed battery compartment, which means you can't purchase a larger, longer-lasting battery like you can for the Panasonic HDC-HS300 (as well as most other high-end camcorders). Connectivity is also an issue with the VPC-HD2000 as the camcorder doesn't include any video outputs on its body. These ports are all located on a separate docking station (included with the camcorder).

With all the flaws and quirks of the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, it is still an excellent camcorder that captures a superb video image. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is clearly a better product, but if the strange design and cheap construction of the Sanyo doesn't bother you, it is definitely worthy of consideration—especially since it is roughly half the price of the HDC-HS300.

Conclusion

The Panasonic HDC-HS300 (MSRP $1399.99) is a strong camcorder all around. Its array of manual controls, along with the inclusion of a sleek lens ring, should appeal to experienced users and traditional videographers. At the same time, the new iA touchscreen functions are likely to impress those who are new to the camcorder scene. Its 120GB internal hard drive also provides plenty of storage space to capture high-quality HD video. In all, the camcorder represents a significant upgrade—in both video performance and ease of use—over last year's Panasonic HDC-HS100, and it has positioned itself as one of the best camcorders in 2009.

In our testing, there was really no arena where the camcorder failed to put up decent numbers. In low light sensitivity, the HS300 was able to match the impressive standards set by the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 earlier this year. In bright light, the camcorder scored near the top in every single category. We were a bit disappointed to find the HS300's 24p mode not having much of an effect in improving the camcorder's low light capabilities, but this is a minor grievance.

Since Panasonic has long been known for having extensive manual controls, it should come as no surprise that the HDC-HS300 excels in this category. What is unexpected, is how well the camcorder's new Intelligent Auto (iA) features work for beginners. The iA functions utilize Panasonic's new touchscreen system to provide, among other things, AF/AE tracking, face detection, and one-touch spot focus and exposure. The only group that may feel a bit lost with the HS300 are intermediate users, or people who like to experiment with one or two manual controls while leaving the camcorder mostly automated.

At just under $1400, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 isn't the most affordable camcorder out there, but you get excellent performance and lots of controls for your money. If you want to save a little cash, or if you don't like the idea of recording to a huge internal hard drive, the flash memory Panasonic HDC-TM300 is available for $100 less than the HDC-HS300.

Photo Gallery

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