Panasonics Cracker!

Author's Rating:

Pros: 3ccd optics, Leica Lens, Decent Quality Stills, DV/AV Inputs, Compact size.

Cons: No Manual Sound Level, No Zebra pattern, Electronic Image Stabiliser.

The Bottom Line: 
If this camera suits your budget, there is no reason to look elsewhere, to buy anything better would cost 50% more. It's not inexpensive, but it is great value.

Author's Review
For the price, this is a really great little camera, it isn't a full pro model, but neither does it pretend to be.

At the size and specification, even without the superior 3-chip assembly it would be decent value, with the 3ccd it is astonishing value for money, Sony & Canon should be very very afraid.

The camera features a full range of manual controls : manual white balance (with presets for daylight, tungsten & full auto over-ride), manual focus - with a focus ring round the lens barrell!!! (sorely missed on other cameras at this price point), manual exposure with an f-number & gain read out (Sony don't tell you when the gain has kicked in! so you unwittingly end up with colored specs in low light) & manual shutter speed (again Sony don't offer you this, they only give you auto shutter on or off).

The big selling point of this camera is the 3 chip assembly, most domestic camcorders have one ccd which operates on a wavelength filter system, this camera has a dichroic prism which splits the light into red green & blue channels, each with a dedicated chip. The benefit of this is that contrast ratio is slightly increased (exposure range) as is color tonal range and subtlety.

It's a pre-requisite for broadcast cameras so it's nice to see it trickle down to the high end consumer models.

The stills facility is ok, I always see these as add-ons - a bonus- rather than a selling point in itself, however this camera should give you photo quality prints at up to 7x5" (A5) size, average at this price point, but as discussed above the Panasonic has the full range of SLR style optical controls, and the video benefits of the 3-ccd system will also benefit the stills.

The camera also has a built in flash for stills, but being right next to the lens is bound to give red-eye problems.

One advantage over older models is that this camera now lets you download stills straight from the camera itself, via the usb connection, rather than a card reader (as on older panasonics).

The camera has all the connectivity you need from DV-in to AV in (so you can use the camera as a DV quality recorder either from your PC or via an older analogue camera or tuner). This is handy for digitising non-dv footage and for archiving your edited projects at dv quality.

The camera is a top-loader, so you can have it on a tripod and still change tapes, again this is the exception at this price point, the comparible sony cameras require to be loaded from the bottom, costing valuable time if you were recording a wedding etc.

The more expensive models feature a gyroscopic optical stabiliser, at the price of this camera, given that it's three chip, an electronic (inferior) system is acceptable.

The camera has the usual firewire & DV out, as well as analogue (through RCA Phono type connectors & with the S-video connection for better playback color quality with a compatible tv).

You can hook up a better quality mic via the mini jack and monitor sound with headphones.

One other unique feature is the 'in-line' "freestyle" controller, making it easier for people who are left handed to control the camera.

It would have been nice to see the zebra exposure monitor & manual audio record level on this cam, but again it is built to a price, and there is little to grumble about elsewhere.


Build quality is ok, Panasonics are always fairly well built and finished, it's nothing special, but it'll do the job.