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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.Colour & Noise Performance
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03.Motion & Resolution Performance
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04.Low Light Performance
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05.Compression & Media
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06.Manual Controls
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07.Still Features
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08.Handling & Use
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09.Playback & Connectivity
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10.Audio & Other Features
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11.Sony HDR-XR520 Comparison
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12.Canon HF S100 Comparison
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13.Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Specs and Ratings
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17.Comments
Panasonic HDC-HS300
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IntroductionNext: Part 2
Colour & Noise Performance
Product Tour Summary
• 12x optical zoom Leica lens, with a decent aperture range and 43mm filter diameter
• Three CMOS sensor array, each chip measuring 1/4.1 inches with a gross pixel count of 3,050,000 pixels
• The large bulk of the hard drive and overall aesthetic aren't really pleasing to the eye
• The manual control lens ring and other switches/buttons lend the camcorder a more 'pro' look than some of the competition
Lens & Imaging System
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| The lens ring is one of the HDC-HS300's most prized features |
The Panasonic HDC-HS300 features the same lens as the Panasonic HDC-TM300, the twin flash-memory sibling to the HS300. Both models represent Panasonic's flagship 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.
| Lens | Sensor | |||
| Filter Diameter | 43mm | Type | CMOS x3 | |
| Focal Range | 4 - 48 mm | Size | 1/4.1 inches (x3) | |
| Focal Range (35mm equiv.) | 44.9 - 539mm | Pixel Count (Gross) | 3,050,000 (x3) | |
| Aperture | f/1.8 - f/2.8 | Pixel Count (Effective) | Video: 2,070,000 (x3) Stills: 2,650,000 (x3) |
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| Lab Tested Wide Angle* | 45° | |||
| * How We Test Wide Angle | ||||
Front
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Manual control ring for multiple functions |
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Flash for still photos |
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AF Assist Lamp |
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f/1.8 lens with 12x optical zoom |
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Right
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The hand strap is wide enough,
but not as comfortable as Canon's
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Hidden behind the hand strap are the headphone jack and mic jack |
Back
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| 0.26-inch viewfinder with a 113,000-pixel resolution |  |
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mode dial | |
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| Record on/off | |
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VW-VBG130 rechargeable battery pack |
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Left
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AV-out port |  |
cooling fan |  |
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card slot latch |  |
optical image stabilisation on/off |
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component output |  |
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| playback controls with secondary zoom and record on/off buttons |  |
SD/SDHC card slot |  |
USB |
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mini-HDMI |
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Top
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Accessory shoe |  |
Zoom toggle |  |
Still photo shutter button |  |
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Intelligent auto mode on/off |  |
Pre-record on/off |  |
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Built-in microphone |  |
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Bottom
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Battery release |  |
Tripod mount |  |
Latest News & Reviews
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10-Mar-2011
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Features
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