Tech Blog

[#1]

I like Panasonic camcorders. Over the past ten years I've owned two of them. Panasonic does a great job of packing a massive amount of really useful technology into elegantly designed bodies with great optics. That, in a nutshell, is why the HDC-TM700 is a great buy.

There are three elements that make a camcorder worth owning: the optics, technology that makes the picture look better, and technology that makes the camera easier to use. The TM700 has all three elements. I put it to the test over the course of three weeks and I'm very happy with the quality of video I produced. Let's take a look at some of these features.

Optics.

The TM700 uses, like many other Panasonic products, a LEICA designed lens. Panasonic actually produces this LEICA DICOMAR lens, but it is produced to LEICA's exacting specifications and standards. I've personally always been happy with the performance of my LEICA-equipped Panasonic camcorders, so it was no surprise to me that the lens on the TM700 produced crisp images throughout the entire focal range. If you want to go hands on with manual controls, you can, but I think that the majority of users are going to let the camera take care of the heavy lifting. The TM700 sports a 35mm wide-angle lens and a relatively bright aperture; it will perform well in most conditions.

Technology that improves picture quality.

At the heart of the TM700 you'll find the 3MOS triple sensor. Panasonic camcorders used to use 3 CCDs to capture colour, the shift to CMOS sensors (one for Red, Blue, and Green) produces images that are richer than ever. Because the light is split across three sensors this can have a negative effect on lower-light conditions, which is why it's nice to have the flash/light built into the front of the camera. It's close enough to the lens that you don't get shadows, and it will light up spaces up to seven feet away reliably. Panasonic refers to the 3MOS system as "broadcasting technology" as their flagship HD cameras use a similar set up. The quality is good and it's nice to see professional technology trickling down into the consumer space.

The TM700 records video in AVC-HD, an efficient format that's good for playback through Blu-ray players and in some televisions with SD card slots. You can also use the optional Panasonic DVD burner to burn AVC-HD discs (or DVDs, if you don't mind the loss of resolution). The image recorded is 1920x1080, as 60 progressive frames per second. If you do copy the file to disc (instead of connecting the camcorder up directly or plugging the card into your TV) it will be downconverted to 60i. I found the 60p video to be quite beautiful, with excellent motion, no blur, and a verifiable true-to-life feeling.

Other features that "just work" are auto contrast, auto focus tracking, and auto exposure. The image quality from the TM700 really does illustrate the difference between it and my 3 CCD Panasonic camcorder. Contrast is better, it tracks moving subjects with focus through the entire frame without a problem, and it adjusts exposure extremely quickly.

Technology that makes your life easier.

There's a host of tech that Panasonic has included to make getting great video even better. Power O.I.S. is the evolution of Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. (the O.I.S. stands for optical image stabilization; superior to digital image stabilization). Power O.I.S. is capable of tracking and eliminating multiple sources of camera shake/vibration and does a great job of producing smooth, natural video. The iA scene detection did a smart job of picking what it was I was shooting when I used it, shifting quickly from foliage to beach mode as I panned through the seaside scenes at Stanely Park in Vancouver. All of the controls are easy to access, they're just one button push away.

The TM700 has a sizeable 3" flip-out LCD that's easy to see even in direct sunlight. On the other side is an optional shoe for accessories - while I didn't have anything to put into the shoe, I was impressed with how it connected. There is the possibility that the small door here could get jammed and rub on the lens ring, so be careful as you slide the shoe-bracket in.

All together.

All of these features together make the TM700 a fun camera to use, and the quality of picture that it produces makes it a smart choice for building memories that will last a lifetime. There's a 14.2 megapixel camera built-in; it produces decent results but it won't be replacing my DSLR any time soon. The TM700 is a touch heavier than some of the lighter fare that you'll find in the low-end of HD camcorders, but that may be due to a higher quality of construction and materials.

You'll find 32GB of storage built-in as well, which is phenomenal for average use. The high efficiency recording mode will capture up to 13 hours of video on that 32GB, with quality well above many camcorders out there. You've got the option of adding up to 64GB SDXC cards, giving you access to unlimited storage, should you choose to buy multiple cards. Needless to say: you won't ever have to deal with capacity issues if you plan in advance.

Battery life is also good with the included battery. If you're going to be shooting for long periods of time I'd recommend picking up another battery, possibly even a high capacity model if it's available.

Playback was relatively simple. I tried both connecting the TM700 to my Panasonic plasma and plugging the SD card into my TV. Both methods worked extremely well; my remote controlled playback in both instances. The camcorder worked flawlessly with VIERA Link over HDMI, so I was able to use my TV remote to play, pause, rewind, and fast forward easily.

If you're looking for a camcorder that's a step above most of the HD fare available, the Panasonic TM700 gets a hearty recommendation from me. I liked it, I liked the video it produced, and I would definitely use it again in the future.