Panasonic HDC-HS300

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 touch-screen features that are a breeze to activate.

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 is a small product in comparison, but it also does not 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 does not 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 does not bother you, it is definitely worthy of consideration—especially since it is roughly half the price of the HDC-HS300.

	Comparison Specs
	Panasonic HDC-HS300	Sanyo VPC-HD2000
Price	£1,039	£449
Primary Recording Media	120GB internal hard drive	SD/SDHC Memory Card
Secondary Recording Media	SD/SDHC memory card	None
Image Sensor	Three 1/4.1-inch CMOS	1/2.5-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	2.07-megapixels (x3) video 2.65-megapixels (x3) stills	5.31-megapixels (video) 8.0-megapixels (stills)
Mic Input	Yes, 3.5mm	Yes, 3.5mm
LCD	2.7-inch with 230,400-pixel resolution	2.7-inch with 230,000-pixel resolution
Viewfinder	Yes	No
Weight	482g with battery	311g with battery
Dimensions	73 x 70 x 141mm	90 x 112.6 x 54.5mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	1080/60i, 24p (digital cinema mode)	HD: 1080/60p, 1080/60i, 1080/30p, 720/30p SD: 240fps (448 x 336), 600fps (192 x 108)
Compression	AVCHD	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Maximum Bitrate	17Mbps	24Mbps
Optical Zoom	12x	10x
stabilisation	Optical	Digital

Low Light (60 lux) Comparison
Panasonic HDC-HS300 100% Crop	Sanyo VPC-HD2000 100% Crop

Low Light Colour Score Comparison