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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 & Sharpness 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.Canon HF S21 Comparison
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12.Sony HDR-XR520 Comparison
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13.Panasonic HDC-HS300 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Specs and Ratings
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16.Comments
Panasonic HDC-TM700
Previous: Part 11
Canon HF S21 ComparisonNext: Part 13
Panasonic HDC-HS300 Comparison
Panasonic HDC-TM700 versus Sony HDR-XR520
• The HDC-TM700 is the better camcorder here, but the HDR-XR520 can be found at bargain prices right now (it is a 2009 model).
• The HDR-XR520 did a good job in our testing (not nearly as good as the TM700), but it doesn't have too many manual controls.
• Sony HD camcorders all have the ability to record standard definition video as well.
The HDR-XR520 was one of Sony's high-end models from 2009, so it is a bit outdated at this point. What this means is that you should be able to find the camcorder at a reasonable price. The HDR-XR520 is definitely not a superior camcorder to the Panasonic HDC-TM700, but getting it cheaper makes it worth a look.
The HDR-XR520 has almost seven times the amount of memory than the Panasonic HDC-TM700 but both camcorders have a similar weight and size (the Sony is actually a bit smaller). The XR520 did fairly well in our performance testing, but it didn't come close to matching the overall numbers put up by the HDC-TM700. The HDR-XR520 also doesn't offer any alternate frame rates other than a low-quality slow motion mode.
The only huge benefit of the HDR-XR520 is its ability to record both HD and SD video. Most HD camcorders do not have this option, but Sony includes it on all of its consumer HD models. So, if you're not yet ready to fully commit to HD, then the Sony HDR-XR520 can be a good transition model to ease yourself from standard to high definition.
| Comparison Specs | ||
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| Panasonic HDC-TM700 | Sony HDR-XR520 | |
| Price | £930 | £1,199.99 |
| Primary Recording Media | 32GB internal flash memory | 240 GB HDD |
| Secondary Recording Media | SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card | Memory Stick PRO Duo card |
| Image Sensor | Three 1/4.1-inch CMOS | 1/2.88-inch CMOS |
| Effective Pixel Count | 7.59 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x3) |
4.15 megapixels (video) 6 megapixels (still) |
| Mic Input | Yes | Yes |
| LCD | 3-inch with 230,400 pixels | 3.2-inch with 921,000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 440g with battery | 490g with battery |
| Dimensions | 66 x 69 x138mm |
62 x 65 x 133mm |
| HD | Yes | Yes |
| Frame Rates | 50p, 50i, 25p (Digital Cinema) | 50i (and low quality slow motion mode) |
| Compression | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVCHD compliant, except for 50p mode) | AVCHD |
| Maximum Bitrate | 28Mbps (1080/50p) 17Mbps (1080/50i) |
16Mbps |
| Optical Zoom | 12x | 12x |
| Stabilisation | Optical with Power OIS mode | Optical with Active mode option |
| Scores | ||
| Panasonic HDC-TM700 | Sony HDR-XR520 | |
| Colour | 11.99 | 7.68 |
| Noise | 11.27 | 6.21 |
| Video Sharpness | 13.57 | 10.59 |
| Low Light Sensitivity | 6.3 | 3.77 |
| Low Light Colour | 7.36 | 6.92 |
| Low Light Noise | 11.91 | 11.02 |
| Stabilisation | 11.47 | 10.82 |
| Battery Life | 107 minutes | 92 minutes |
| Bright Light Noise Comparisons | |
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| Panasonic HDC-TM700 100% Crop |
Sony HDR-XR520 100% Crop |
| Video Sharpness Score Comparison |
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