2009 HDC-TM300 High Definition Camcorder
Outstanding Picture Quality with 1000-Line Motion/10.6M Still
New 3MOS system with larger sensor, Leica Dicomar Lens, OIS
32GB* internal memory 12x optical zoom 1.6 lux. low-light performance Advanced OIS Touch-panel 2.7" wide LCD Touch screen navigation .1 surround sound recording 5 with zoom mic Time lapse recording Highlighted playback Built-in MPEG2 converter 0 shots/sec burst 6 recording .6 sec quick start 0 (SD only)
Manual Ring, EVF and Mic Jack
More peripheral expandability with shoe, desired operating with manual ring and EVF
iA AF Tracking and Touch Panel
Pinpoint face designated by touch panel
2009 HDC-TM300 High Definition Camcorder Specifications
HDC-TM300 GENERAL Power Supply Power Consumption Weight (w/o Battery) Dimension (W x H x D) Media On-Screen Display Language IMAGE SENSOR Image Sensor Total Pixels Effective Pixels Motion Image Still Image LENS SECTION Lens Brand F Value Optical Zoom Digital Zoom Focal Length 35mm Film Camera Equivalent Filter Diameter CAMERA SECTION Standard Illumination Minimum Illumination Image Stabilizer Focus White Balance Shutter Speed Motion Image Still Image Iris Backlight Compensation MONITOR EVF Monitor (LCD) STILL IMAGE SECTION Recording Format Recording Image Size Still Picture Simultaneous Recording Still Image Flash DPOF PictBridge RECORDING SECTION Signal System Recording Format Recording / Playback Mode Audio Recording System Microphone Speaker Media Remaining Indication INTERFACES AV HDMI Microphone (stereo mini) Headphones USB Video Component OTHERS LED Video Light Accessory Shoe STANDARD ACCESSORIES AC Adaptor AC Cable DC Cable Rechargeable Battery Pack Video Component Cable AV Cable IR Remote USB Cable SD Memory Card Included Software *1GB=1 billion bytes. Usable capacity will be less. DC7.2V / 9.3V 6.8W approx. 385g (0.85 lb) 70 x 72 x 141 [mm] (2.75 x 2.83 x 5.54 [inch]) Built-in memory (32GB), SD/SDHC Memory Card Please refer to "OSD" sheet 1/4.1" MOS x 3 9.15 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x 3) 6.21 megapixels (2.07 megapixels x 3) [16:9] 7.95 megapixels (2.65 megapixels x 3) [3:2] 7.53 megapixels (2.51 megapixels x 3) [16:9] 6.96 megapixels (2.32 megapixels x 3) [4:3] Leica Dicomar Lens F1.8(WIDE)/2.8(TELE) 12x 30x-700x 4-48mm 44.9-539mm (16:9) [Motion Image] 41.3-496mm (3:2), 40.8-490mm (16:9), 45.0-540mm (4:3) [Still Image] 43mm 1400 lx 1.6 lx (1/30 Low Light Mode) 1 lx (MagicPix) Advanced O.I.S. [Optical Image Stabilization] Auto / Manual Auto / Indoor1 / Indoor2 / Sunny / Cloudy / White set [60i] Auto Slow Shutter ON: 1/30-1/8000, video flash: 1/30-1/500 OFF: 1/60-1/8000, video flash: 1/60-1/500 [24P] Auto Slow Shutter ON: 1/24-1/8000, video flash: 1/24-1/500 OFF: 1/48-1/8000, video flash: 1/48-1/500 1/2-1/2000, video flash: 1/2-1/500 Auto / Manual Yes Yes 2.7 Wide LCD (230,400 pixels) JPEG 10.6 megapixels (3984 x 2656), 7.0 megapixels (3264 x 2176), 4.5 megapixels (2592 x 1728) [3:2] 10.0 megapixels (4224 x 2376), 6.0 megapixels (3328 x 1872), 3.5 megapixels (2560 x 1440) [16:9] 9.0 megapixels (3520 x 2640), 8.0 megapixels (3264 x 2448), 5.0 megapixels (2560 x 1920), 0.3 megapixels (640 x 480) [4:3] 8.3 megapixels (3840 x 2160), 2.1 megapixels (1920x1080) [16:9] 2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16:9] Yes Max. 999 images Yes 1080 / 60i MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD standard compliant) HA (17Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) HG (13Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) HX (9Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080) HE (6Mbps / VBR), (1440 x 1080) Dolby Digital (5.1ch) 5.1ch Surround, Zoom and Focus Microphone Dynamic type Yes Out Yes (mini) Yes Yes 2.0 Hi-Speed Yes Yes (Cold) Yes Yes Yes min. 1250 mAh / Lithium-Ion Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Writer AE 1.0

14 September 2009

By: Alex Vochin, Gadgets Editor
Panasonic HDC-TM300 HD Camcorder Review
A consumer device for prosumer videographers
Without a doubt, the future of video recording, whether we're talking about professional or consumer-grade home movies, is related to the concept of HD (or high definition). After all, even some of the most important video sharing web services, such as YouTube, Metacafe or Viddler, just to give a few examples, are starting to get HD video support, so the need for camcorders that are able to provide such a level of functionality is also becoming direr. Also, the fact that HD is becoming the norm even in the consumer world is leading to the appearance of a large number of entry-level/mid-range products providing HD-recording capabilities at a very affordable price point. And while that's NOT the case with the subject of our review, namely Panasonic's HDC-TM300 high-definition camcorder (since this thing is not very cheap, nor entry-level), the truth of the matter is that this device is able to deliver a very complex array of features, as well as a very good price-per-feature ratio. Released back in March 2009, the HDC-TM300 camcorder has managed so snag some official awards since then, but also proved to be fairly popular with consumers, due to its level of portability, high level of versatility and, last but certainly not least, the high quality of the videos it's able to record. Of course, you'll have to go through our entire review in order to learn exactly why this thing is worth your money and what you get for the roughly $1,300 you'll have to pay for it, but we hope to have provided enough info for you to have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this thing. Plus, we've also included some footage taken in various lighting conditions with Panasonic's HDC-TM300, as well as some sample photos, so that you'll also be able to see for yourselves exactly what this tiny and light, yet quite serious camcorder is able to do. [[BREAK=Aesthetics and Design]] Overall design features Similar to most other camcorders out there, the dominant colors in the case of the HDC-TM300 are black and silver, with a bit of red on the side. So, as far as the choice of colors is concerned, the Panasonic camcorder doesn't really manage to stand out from the crowd, looking, from a distance, like pretty much any other such product available on the market. However, things are a bit different as far as the materials this camcorder is built from are concerned. Hence, we've got plenty of plastic, both matte and piano black, but this is one of the few areas where the HDC-TM300 comes short. Practically, while there's absolutely nothing wrong with the glossy surfaces, the matte ones look just. cheap, at least compared to what we'd expected from a Panasonic camera. Sure, we're only talking about a relatively limited area, namely that on the right side of the camera (the handgrip area, where the little support cord can also be found), but it's nevertheless something that one will notice right from the moment when taking the camera out of the box.
Panasonic HDC-TM300 front/angle view Softpedia
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Of course, there's also a practical explanation, namely the fact that the rougher material provides better grip, but that doesn't compensate the overall look. Nevertheless, that's pretty much the only design flaw we were able to spot. Otherwise, as you'll be able to see as follows, the button placement is nothing short of ideal, and the same goes for the other components of the camera. Also worth noting is that the leather support cord found on the right side is quite OK from the quality point of view, being able to provide a very good level of comfort even during longer video shooting sessions. Size and portability Given the fact that this is a consumer-grade camcorder, the HDC-TM300 was designed and built with portability in mind. Hence, the official specs sheet says that the Panasonic camcorder measures around 2.83 x 2.75 x 5.54 inches (7.18 cm x 6.98 cm x 14 cm), while the device is also surprisingly lightweight, namely just around 0.85 lbs. (or 385.55 grams). The main reason why the weight has been maintained at such a low level is directly related to the storage solution chose by Panasonic's engineers for the HDC-TM300, namely a 32GB internal flash module, accompanied by an optional SD card. However, this was indeed a very good decision, given the fact that carrying this thing around is in fact a surprisingly easy and pleasant task. Plus, the handgrip area is slightly rounded, which enables users to get a very solid grip on the camcorder, in pretty much any conditions. Control options This will probably be one of the longest segments of our review, given the fact that the HDC-TM300 offers users a very wide array of control options (as far as camcorders are concerned, of course). All of these options can be divided into two main categories, namely those provided via the physical buttons and those that can be accessed via the touchscreen display. The Panasonic HDC-TM300 camcorder offers users a fairly standard set of control buttons, with a few extras that you won't find in other models included in the same category. Probably the most important button is the control knob (or wheel, as you prefer) placed on the camera's right side, which allows users to choose the exact functioning mode they want. So, while the "Off" position is the default one, which switches the camera off, the three available modes are playback (the green arrow), video recording and photo recording. That's not a lot to choose from, but it's quite enough for this particular button, since all of the other recording (video and photo) and playback features can be customized either via the display or other buttons. As a precaution, there's also a tiny security switch installed on the knob, whose purpose is to ensure the fact that the camera will not be accidentally switched on. The recording button is set in the near vicinity of this control knob, and is perfectly placed for pressing with one's thumb, when the user wants to start shooting video. As expected, the camcorder also sports a zoom/telephoto rocker button, installed on the top side. The rocker can be very easily accessed by using one's fingers, is very responsive and has a specially-designed surface (featuring some small indentations), which should ensure the fact that one's fingers will not slip while zooming in and out. Also on the top side of the camera, in the immediate vicinity of the rocker, we can find the

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photo shutter button, which is also very easily accessible, whose main purpose is, quite obviously, to take still shots either while in photo mode or even while recording video. Next in line come the iA and Pre-rec control buttons, both of which are placed on the top/left side of the camera. The iA button switches on or off the Intelligent Auto feature, whose purpose is to automatically carry out the optimal camera settings and activate certain functions - but we'll further detail this feature in another chapter of our review. The Pre-rec button, on the other hand, activates the pre-recording function, which can really come in handy when recording fast-paced action scenes. Practically, by activating this function, the camera automatically adds three seconds of recorded video before the user presses the actual Rec button. This means that the camera works all the time, which, nevertheless, translates into a lower battery life. Another button found on the right-hand side is the one marked O.I.S, whose purpose is to trigger the Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) features, which we'll also detail a bit more in another section of our review. Now, while we'll detail the features accessible via the touchscreen display a bit later, it's important to mention that the display panel also sports a couple of physical buttons, used for accessing the Quick Menu, recording, zooming in/out (either the image or the microphone), accessing the full menu and, finally, the classic trash bin that represents the "Delete" button. [IMG=21] The last three control elements can be found on the front side, in the immediate vicinity of the lens (or, better said, around it). So, first of all, we've got a control ring, which allows users to either zoom in and out or focus, when in manual mode. Moreover, when using the eyepiece and electronic viewfinder (as well as the manual mode), the ring can also be used for cycling through the White Balance options, adjusting the shutter speed or choosing the right aperture for the camcorder's iris. Near the control ring, we can find the "Manual Focus" and "Function" buttons, whose purpose is to enable the use of the ring for some of the functions mentioned above. Connectivity options and memory cards As far as the connectivity options are concerned, we can say that the Panasonic HDC-TM300 is a fairly standard device, providing more or less the same standard features as most other cameras out there. So, first of all, it's important to mention that most of these interfaces are placed on the right/lower side of the camera, behind the display. Here, hidden underneath a plastic protective cap, we can find the AV jack, mini HDMI jack and Component interface. In the near vicinity, there's also a USB interface, used for transferring the videos to a PC. [IMG=23][IMG=24][IMG=25] Underneath the panel featuring all of the connectivity options mentioned above, we can also find the very important SD memory card slot, which can be used for virtually doubling the amount of storage space available for recording videos (given the fact that the camcorder supports SDHC memory cards with storage capacities of up to 32GB). Another two important jacks are found well hidden behind a plastic panel on the right hand side. So, upon removing the plastic cap labeled "Mic," you'll be able to find the necessary jacks for connecting an external microphone, as well as a pair of headphones, need be.

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Finally, we'll also have to mention the power connector, which is quite well hidden behind the battery, and whose main purpose is to keep the camcorder alive (albeit connected to a power adapter) while the battery is being recharged. Shoe and tripod screw mount Besides the connectivity options mentioned above, most of which are being used for showcasing video on a TV, powering the device or transferring data, the Panasonic camcorder also sports a shoe adapter, used for attaching some external accessory, such as an extra light or microphone. [IMG=26][IMG=27][IMG=28] However, for reasons of available space and ergonomics, the cold shoe is not exposed, but rather becomes available via a special adapter included in the package. The adapter attaches to a slot found on the right side, behind a sliding plastic cap, which, it its turn, is opened via a slide switch (yeah, lots of sliding involved here). [IMG=29][IMG=30] Of course, besides this shoe, the camcorder also sports a tripod screw mount installed on the bottom side, whose purpose, quite obviously, is to allow users to attach the camcorder to a tripod, thus granting it more stability (plus, this is the safest way to shoot videos of oneself while being in some outside location, for example, where plain areas on which to place the camcorder are not readily available). Battery The standard Panasonic HDC-TM300 uses a 7.2V, 1250 mAh, Li-Ion power pack, which is inserted in the rear side of the camera when in use and recharges via an external charger. Battery life is an issue that we'll discuss in a forthcoming segment of this review, but I can really tell you that this accounts for a lot of the camera's overall weight. [IMG=31][IMG=32][IMG=33][IMG=34] Remote control Given the fact that the camcorder can be very easily connected to an HDTV, the sales package also includes a remote control. However, the remote control offers control over a much wider range of functions than just the playback ones. Hence, one can also employ it for taking photos, recording videos, controlling the camera's zoom and even accessing the menus. Plus, it's thin and slim enough to be very easily carried around, wherever the user might go.   Microphone and speakers Now, the fact that this thing packs a microphone and speaker is not really something even remotely surprising, given the fact that, after all, pretty much every camcorder does. However, the microphone of the TM300 (which can be easily viewed on top of the camcorder, in the immediate vicinity of the lens) is noteworthy, given the fact that it also provides audio focusing features, beside 5.1-channel audio recording and audio zooming capabilities. [IMG=35][IMG=36][IMG=37][IMG=38] Also, the camcorder sports a dynamic type speaker, installed near the O.I.S. button mentioned earlier, on the left side of the camcorder. Eyepiece and electronic viewfinder

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In order to make recording easier, the camcorder also sports an EVF (electronic viewfinder), accessible via an adjustable eyepiece, installed on the rear side of the TM300. And "adjustable" is in fact an understatement, since users can fiddle with the length of the eyepiece itself, besides adapting it in order to match their eyes (or various problems they might have). Display The Panasonic camcorder features a 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen display (230,400 pixel resolution), which is used both for photo/video reviewing purposes, but also for controlling the camera and shooting (albeit the EVF is more appropriate for that purpose, from what we've been able to notice). [[BREAK=Tech specs and menu navigation]] Tech specs [IMG=39][IMG=40][IMG=41][IMG=42] MEDIA Records Onto - Built-in Memory (32GB), SD/SDHC Memory Card; Recording Format - MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD standard compliant); JPEG (Still Image). LENS Image Sensor (Total) 1/4.1-inch CMOS x 3; Image Sensor (Effective) - 6.21 megapixels (2.07 megapixels x 3) [16:9] [Motion Image]; 7.95 megapixels (2.65 megapixels x 3) [3:2]; 7.53 megapixels (2.51 megapixels x 3) [16:9]; 6.96 megapixels (2.32 megapixels x 3) [4:3] [Still Image]; Total Pixels - 9.15 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x 3); F Value - F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele); Optical Zoom - 12x; Focal Length - 4.0 - 48.0 mm; Filter Diameter - 43mm; 35mm Film Camera Equivalent - 44.9-539mm [16:9] [Motion Image] 41.3-496mm [3:2], 40.8-490mm [16:9], 45.0-540mm [4:3] [Still Image]; Lens Type - Leica Dicomar Lens 1; Image Stabilizer - Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization); Still Picture Recording - Yes; 10.6 M (3984 x 2656), 7 M (3264 x 2176), 4.5 M (2592 x 1728) [3:2], 10 M (4224 x 2376), 6 M (3328 x 1872), 3.5 M (2560 x 1440) [16:9], 9 M (3520 x 2640), 8 M (3264 x 2448), 5 M (2560 x 1920), 0.3 M (640 x 480) [4:3]; Minimum Illumination - 1.6 Lux (1/30 Low Light Mode), 1 Lux (Magic Pix); Focus - Auto/Manual; White Balance - Auto/Indoor1/Indoor2/Sunny/Cloudy/White Set High Speed Shutter - 60i Auto Slow Shutter ON: 1/30-1/8000, OFF: 1/60-1/8000, 24P Auto Slow Shutter ON: 1/24-1/8000, OFF: 1/48-1/8000 [Motion Image] 1/2-1/2000, video flash: 1/2-1/500 [Still Image]; Iris - Auto/Manual; [IMG=43][IMG=44][IMG=45][IMG=46] Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) - Yes; LCD Monitor - 2.7" Wide LCD (230,400 pixels); Manual Focus Ring - Yes;

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MagicPix Images - Yes; Simultaneous Motion Video & Still Picture Recording - Yes; 8.3 M (3840 x 2160), 2.1 M (1920 x 1080) [16:9] Creating Still Picture from Motion Picture 2.1 M (1920 x 1080) [16:9]; [IMG=47][IMG=48][IMG=49][IMG=50] Speaker - Dynamic type; Microphone - 5.1ch Surround, Zoom and Focus Microphone; On-Screen Display - Language English, French, Spanish; Digital Zoom - 30x - 700x; LED Video Light - No; Flash - Yes; [IMG=51][IMG=52][IMG=53][IMG=54] Video Recording Format - MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD standard complaint); Recording Modes - HA (17Mbps/VBR) (1920 x 1080), HG (13Mbps/VBR) (1920 x 1080), HX (9Mbps/VBR) 1920 x 1080), HE (6Mbps/VBR) (1440 x 1080); Playback Modes - HA (17Mbps/VBR) (1920 x 1080), HG (13Mbps/VBR) (1920 x 1080), HX (9Mbps/VBR) 1920 x 1080), HE (6Mbps/VBR) (1440 x 1080); [IMG=55][IMG=56][IMG=57][IMG=58]   Audio Recording Format - Dolby Digital [5.1ch]; Still Picture - JPEG; 10.6 M (3984 x 2656), 7 M (3264 x 2176), 4.5 M (2592 x 1728) [3:2], 10 M (4224 x 2376), 6 M (3328 x 1872), 3.5 M (2560 x 1440) [16:9], 9 M (3520 x 2640), 8 M (3264 x 2448), 5 M (2560 x 1920), 0.3 M (640 x 480) [4:3] SD CARD FEATURES [IMG=59][IMG=60][IMG=61][IMG=62] Built-in SD Slot - Yes; DPOF - Max. 999 stills;  PictBridge Compatible - Yes; JACKS [IMG=63][IMG=64][IMG=65][IMG=66] Video Component - Yes; HDMI - Yes (mini); Audio Output - Yes; USB 2.0 - Yes; Hi-Speed Microphone (stereo mini) - Yes; Headphone (Stereo mini) - Yes; Accessory Shoe - Cold; AV Out - Yes; GENERAL [IMG=67][IMG=68][IMG=69][IMG=70] Power Supply - DC 7.2/9.3 V; Power Consumption - 6.8W; Dimensions (H x W x D)  - 2.83'' x 2.75'' x 5.54''; Weight Approx. 0.85 lbs. Main functions and menus OK, so we've seen the numbers, now, let's check out how some of the main functions this camcorder has to offer handle, how to activate them and just how they're able to contribute to the video recording process. [IMG=71][IMG=72][IMG=74][IMG=75] First of all, I'll have to mention the fact that, unlike other camcorders we've played with over
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time, the TM300 is, in fact, extremely easy to work with, its menus being readily accessible and offering access to the device's various functions in a fairly simple and straightforward manner. Of course, you'll have to go through quite a lot of menu pages (due to the small size of the display), but that won't stop you from finding exactly the setting you need to adjust quite fast. Plus, once you've settled for a couple of favorite settings, it's very likely that you won't even use the menus that much. [IMG=76][IMG=77][IMG=78][IMG=79] The menus can be divided into several different categories, since they differ depending on the functioning mode. In other words, you'll be provided with a different set of functions and features when you're in video recording mode than when you're in playback mode, each set of available features being tailored to best suit the current activity. There is one serious downside, however, namely the fact that, if one starts wandering around the menus while shooting, it's very likely that clear vision of the subject(s) being recorded will be impeded by all the menu options. [IMG=80][IMG=81][IMG=82][IMG=83] Another important thing worth mentioning here is the fact that the control method of the HDC-TM300 can be described as a hybrid between the control buttons and the touchscreen, since using one without the others (or vice-versa) is almost impossible. [[BREAK=Real-life experience - test videos]] Now that we've talked about just what one can expect from Panasonic's HDC-TM300 high-definition camcorder in terms of design, features and most important functions, it's about time to tell you exactly what you can expect from this thing in practical terms, namely in real-life conditions. Video recording Well, quite obviously, since video recording represents this camera's main area of activity, this is exactly what we'll focus on right now.
So, as you've been able to see from the specs list, the TM300 can record videos at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30 fps and 17 Mbps, saving the files in MPEG4-AVC/H.264 video format. Now, as far as the quality of the recording is concerned, we can really say that it's absolutely astounding, with very few (if any) artifacts, especially in strong daylight. Plus, the built-in microphone does its job very well, the recorded audio (close proximity or distant sounds, depending on the chosen zoom level) representing a very good side-support for the HD video clips. All of the videos we've taken in full HD mode were quite remarkable, providing both vivid colors and crisp details. Plus, especially when the O.I.S is engaged, one can forget about any worries as far as hand shaking or quick panning are concerned (and users can also choose between 2 O.I.S modes, depending on just how much they believe they'll be moving around).

Similar to most other HD camcorders, the TM300 doesn't really do such an impressive job
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when recording in low-light conditions; nevertheless, the fact that it sports a minimum illumination level of around 1.6 lux is visible in the videos. Additionally, the on-screen histogram will certainly prove in handy for shooting the best possible videos in pretty much any situation. Given the fact that I also work with a DSLR for photos, the control ring we've talked about earlier also comes quite in handy, especially if you're going to do some slight zoom adjustments (for fast zooms, the rocker button is a better choice). Of course, the ring can prove to be a lot more useful in auto mode, but since most people won't go manual and stick with the pre-set options, it's very likely that zooming will be the preferred use for the ring.
Another major feature worth talking about is auto-focus tracking, which works like a charm and prompts the device to follow a certain subject (chosen by the user by simply tapping on the LCD display) and focus on him/her/it moving around the scene. Other important functions available in auto mode are spot AE and AF, backlight compensation, intelligent contrast, fade, soft skin mode, telemacro, and MagicPix night mode. The camcorder's zoom level is also something worth talking about, since this thing sports a 12x optical zoom and, if you decide to sacrifice a bit of the video quality for shooting at a longer range, you can also go for the 30x - 700x digital zoom. However, if you're planning to zoom afar, we strongly recommend using the EVF rather than the display, in order to get a clearer picture of what you're doing. And, given just how comfortable the EVF can prove to be, you might opt to use it more frequently.
As mentioned above, the TM300 can record videos either in its internal memory or on an additional SD card, supplied by the user. As far as the amount of recording space is concerned, the built-in 32GB will probably prove to be enough for recording around 256 minutes of HD video at the best possible resolution, which translates into roughly 4 hours. So, if you also go for an SD card on the side, you're likely to wind up with up to 8 hours of HD videos, which is not too bad by any standards. Of course, we would be able to talk a lot more about the differences between the manual and auto modes, as well as the fact that one is supplied with enough adjustment options to avoid going into the deeper customization options (which, nevertheless, are there, especially for prosumers), but there are also other areas that we must cover, so let's move on to the issue of photo shooting. Taking photos While the Panasonic HDC-TM300 is great for recording video, things are a bit different in the case of taking photos. I mean, sure, the photos taken either in the dedicated photo mode (10.6 megapixels, 3984 x 2656 resolution) on when also recording video (8.3 megapixel, 3840 x 2160 resolution), are pretty good, but they're still rather far from the quality provided by a Lumix dedicated digital camera. [IMG=84][IMG=86][IMG=87][IMG=88]

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However, if you don't have any other means to take a snapshot available at hand, you can also use the TM-300 for such purposes, but don't expect the best possible results out of it. Video and photo playback Once recorded, the video clips and/or photos from the HDC-TM300 can be viewed either directly on the device's 2.7-inch display, on a TV set (by hooking up the camcorder via one of the numerous available connectivity options) or on a computer display (by transferring the files to the computer). [IMG=89][IMG=90] Users are provided with a quite a few interesting organization and playback options, including the possibility of highlighting certain scenes or creating some sort of slideshow, as well as collages, with accompanying music (provided by the camera itself). [IMG=91][IMG=92] The Panasonic camcorder is accompanied by the HD Writer software, which, despite providing a fairly extensive list of options (including the possibility of burning Blu-ray discs or even uploading to YouTube), is not exactly the friendliest piece of software ever. However, it's very likely that you'll manage to get the job done with it, especially if you plan to employ another application for later processing. Battery life The standard battery that comes with the TM300 offers an estimated functioning life of around 105 minutes, which is not exactly fantastic, but rather average for flash-based camcorders. However, since pretty much every person out there who purchases a camcorder also goes for a spare battery, it's very likely that you'll be able to fill up the available storage space with just two batteries' worth of juice. [[BREAK=Conclusions]] The Good Panasonic's HDC-TM300 is indeed one of the most impressive flash-based camcorders out there, being able to record very good quality videos with pristine audio, especially in good lighting conditions. Moreover, it's small and light, at the same time delivering a host of useful functions and features. One major plus is represented by the manual mode (which works very well with the zoom ring placed in the front side of the camera) that delivers more customization options for those users who've already gone above mainstream (prosumers, in general). The presence of the cold shoe accessory is also a plus, and the same can be said about the numerous connectivity options. While most shooting features and functions are what you'd expect from such a high-end device, the AF tracking feature pushes it ahead of many of its competitors, especially since, as we've been able to see for ourselves, it manages to do a pretty good job out of tracking subjects as they move around. The Bad While there aren't that many bad things to say about the Panasonic HDC-TM300 camcorder, we can't help but comment a bit on the fairly high price tag, which might deter quite a few users from going for it. I mean, spending about 1,300 US dollars on a camcorder

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is not exactly easy these days, is it, now? Of course, the features and level of video recording quality the camera provides are quite impressive, but that doesn't make it less affordable. [IMG=93][IMG=94][IMG=95] The camera's photo shooting capabilities are also not exactly what one might call extraordinary, and the same goes for the battery life, which, at around 105 minutes, is pretty standard. Overall Impressions Overall, we can really say that the Panasonic HDC-TM300 was a very special camcorder to work with, and users who have a change to take it for a spin will most likely confirm this. It's small, light and portable, yet able to deliver some pretty serious video and audio punch. It offers a wide range of recording options for both mainstream users and prosumers, including here extensive customization options in manual mode. [IMG=96][IMG=97] Furthermore, it delivers quite an OK amount of storage space (32GB), which can be doubled by adding an SD memory card. Battery life is pretty standard and photo taking is not the greatest ever, but, then again, this thing's primary goal is video recording and nothing more. The only downside is the rather high price point, but I guess users might look away from this issue, given the overall level of quality this product is able to deliver. Sales package - Battery pack; - Video Component Cable; - AV Cable; - USB Cable; - IR Remote; - Software - HD Writer AE 1.0; - AC/DC Cables.
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