Panasonic HDC-HS300

A Full HD camcorder that would have been perfect

3 MOS Sensor, 5.1 and micro camera mode 10 MP… all controlled by a touch screen, the HDC- HS300 is promising.

The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is a camcorder that shoots in Full HD ( 1920×1080 pixels ) with a 5.1 and taking pictures in ten million pixels. A nice device that is controlled through its wide touchscreen.

The expectations before test

With the HDC-HS300, Panasonic raises the curtain on a digital camcorder very promising, with sensor 3 Mos 10 million pixels, 12x stabilized optical zoom , 5.1 touch screen, video mode intelligent,  120 GB hard drive  and above definition video Full HD. Everything is there to make you dream . Knowing that it is still around  high price, should fall for this device?  The response to our test.

The reality

When one spends around 1,500 euros for a digital camcorder, we expect him to be very good or perfect. In terms of design as ergonomics, Panasonic HDC – HSS300 fulfills its part of the contract.

A flawless finish and ergonomics

Its black finish is excellent and the ergonomics is very satisfactory.  Tested by various users, the handling is considered strong , stable and keys fall well under the fingers. Nothing to report either side of the display quality of the viewfinder and the LCD screen . Being a touch screen of 6.9 inches diagonally, comfort is the rendezvous, as well as to control for filming the functions of the device .
However , in our tests , we found that these buttons below the screen , convenient to operate the camera at arm’s length , are somewhat hard or too sensitive . We see the consequences later .

A slow a bit tedious

A fault is quickly felt on the HDC – HS300 : it takes a good eight seconds to power up and start recording ! A flagrant slow , due in part to the opening of the electronic lens cover and is very unpleasant . Unable to enter an important moment on the fly.
Therefore , we are more inclined between two sequences , close the LCD screen , putting the device into standby. But again it takes three seconds to become operational . Not to mention that once the LCD closed , the camera eventually turn off automatically after five minutes …

Sure, it shoots in Full HD!

A quick tour of the options for the device to ensure that all settings are optimal and there the smile back on the face of the user. First good surprise, the menus are very simple to use. It adjusts its settings in a few clicks. From the first minutes of use , we appreciate not only the quality of display but also the efficiency of the optical stabilization. Of course , when you push the zoom to its maximum ( 12x ), it is impossible, unless you have a tripod to maintain a stable image . However, until 5x , it is very easy – based user – to film without the image does ” seasickness “.
As described above, these buttons below the screen are a little hard to handle. Specifically , this failure will be felt if you must shoot over a crowd at arm’s length or the lens placed one meter above the ground to be well in front of the youngest of the family. Typically, these remote controls to quickly show very practical. And yet with this camcorder Panasonic, this is not really the case. You have to press hard enough on those little keys for the command to respond. Thus, the pressure required to achieve a zoom , for example , affects the framing of the picture and you see clearly to read the video stutters slightly .

A focus ring and manual zoom

One of the strengths of the HDC – HS300 is the ring has on the front of the camera . Depending on the mode chosen , it comes to choice – of – focus or the zoom. In the first case , it can give interesting effects to your videos or to intervene where the autofocus loses the pedals .
For the zoom , the interest is debatable . Indeed , the trigger that can pilot the index is sensitive enough to make ” small zoom lenses . It is therefore not useful to go be bored to manipulate the device to the risk of handing over the lens.

A very convincing

It is clear that , connected to a TV 40 “Full HD footage in the outside are of excellent quality . The colors are true, vibrant and a perfect fluid . There is also a very good sound quality. In short , what a pleasure!
Indoors, do not hesitate to activate the intelligent camera (mode IA) which takes care of finding the best settings. The result is convincing , even if the piece does not bathe in the light . With a little time and application, the rendering can be improved by, among others , the white balance .

Correct for the camera

The photo function of this device also works well with the video mode with the photo mode. Only big difference with the video mode, the pictures are limited to a definition of 8.3 million pixels ( 3840×2160 pixels ) . The reason is quite simple: the 2.1 million remaining pixels are used to shoot in Full HD . It is possible to capture a photo while you are filming . With the camera mode , the trio of MOS is expressed freely and the resolution amounted to more than 10 million pixels ( 3984×2656 pixels) . Whatever the method chosen , if necessary , the torch is automatically flash very correct.
Once the images are transferred to the PC , you appreciate a more correct result for a camcorder. The photos still leave an impression of solid color and the colors are bland interior, where the flash fires. Correct without so …

The test and review conclusions

Panasonic makes a very nice device here . His finishing is excellent . Its ergonomics and outstanding gadgets like the wheel manual focus are real assets. The key is because at all add a high quality video and audio .
However, given the slowness of the device to the ignition of his touches on the edges of the screen difficult to handle and price, the choice of wording is not deserved. Too bad, because even at 1,500 euros, the HDC -HS300 does not go far from perfect.