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Panasonic HDC-TM300 Review

Author	James Morris
Published	23rd May 2009
Manufacturer	Panasonic
Price	£765.17 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£879.95 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price	Click here

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When we reviewed the Panasonic HDC-HS300 back in February, it already showed potential as a hot contender for 2009, perhaps even the year's best camcorder. But we had to reserve our judgement slightly until we'd seen the new models from Panasonic's competition, in particular Canon's LEGRIA HF S10 and Sony's HDR-XR520. Now we look at the HS300's sister product, the HDC-TM300, with the benefit of having put the alternatives thoroughly through their paces. So which one should you choose?

The TM300 has essentially the same optics and sensor as the HS300. There's a Leica Dicomar lens and a trio of 1/4.1in CMOS sensors, each with a gross 3.05-megapixels. So far, so similar. However, there are a few important differences. Previously, Panasonic has offered two options with its camcorders - SD models which use SDHC flash memory cards, and HS models with hard disks as well. The new TM models have flash memory built in. With the TM300, this is 32GB. So that's quite a bit less than the 120GB hard disk in the HS300, but still enough for over four hours of footage even at the top quality setting, which records 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD at 17Mbits/sec. There's also an SDHC card slot available if you need a little more.

Thanks to the lack of an internal hard disk, the TM300 is 85g lighter than the HS300 and Panasonic has been able to redesign the chassis slightly too. The base dimensions are almost identical, but the handgrip side has a smoother, rounder contour which is a little easier to hold. The wheel for switching the camcorder on into video, camera or playback mode has been moved to the side, and can now be operated one-handed with your thumb. But more significantly, the zoom-telephoto rocker is now on the top of the main body, allowing it to be a much more sensible size.

Presumably because of the relocation of this rocker, there is no accessory shoe on top of the body. Fortunately, Panasonic still sees this as an important option and hasn't left it off entirely. Sliding a door on the side reveals a bracket, into which can be slotted an adapter that comes included in the box. This provides a standard accessory shoe. The door then slides back to neaten things up. Given the slightly annoying flap covering the accessory shoe on the HS300, we actually like this aspect of the TM300 better. On the one hand, you will have to remember this adapter or leave it attached, if you want to use it on a shoot. But if you don't, you can leave it behind and have a sleeker camcorder. Either way, minijacks are ready for headphone and external microphone near the accessory shoe location.

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Coolsmoke said on 28th July 2009

James,
Watched & absorbed a multitude of your precise & informative reviews. I am very glad to have found your web site. Put in an order for the TM300 largely bas... more

abbeydale said on 8th August 2009

CANON HFS10 v. PANASONIC TM300. IN SEARCH OF THE HOLY GRAIL. To JAMES MORRIS,
Many thanks for your great reviews. I am trying to decide between these 2 excellent cameras (HFS10 and TM300). I have done hours of research and swayed both ways. I have a CANON HV20 producing excellent results. Time for upgrade. INFOSYNC rates the Canon HFS10 at 86% and is their winner. They rate Pan HS300(TM300) as 74% in 8th position! They slate the HS300/TM300 and suggest they should scap the 3-chip sensors. They say the manual controls on the Touchscreen crashed and the camera could not perform. SLASHCAM (Germany) produced extremely informative review and comparison. They rate the Panasonic HS300/TM300 at 372/570. They rate Canon HFS10 at 344/70. Their published review can be seen at www.slashcam.com/slashcom/cam-test.html. 3 Camcorders can be analysed simultaneously. It was incredible to see the 1200 lux and 12 lux picture comparison. Both cameras were excellent in good light (1200 lux). The Canon suffered terribly in lowlight (12 lux). Their analysis covers 13 categories and some of those categories can involve up to 37 parameters! TRUSTED REVIEWS (James Morris) also produce a fantastic comparison/review and I have read your articles with great interest. At the end of the day, some guys may prefer greener grass or paler skin or bluer sky. As SLASHCAM states, the Panasonic HS300/TM300 has excellent Focus Ring etc. They state that the image quality is FLAWLESS and even adjustable. Canon is equally praised in most areas. DIGITAL TRENDS states HFS10 needs better wind noise reduction (not a problem with directional mic attached?). Other cons for the HFS10 is 2 channel stereo, LCD should be bigger. They say that the CANON HFS10 has outstanding video quality but it is not the HOLY GRAIL. The search for the HOLY GRAIL continues. My research findings are that the HFS10 and TM300 are fantastic cameras and perhaps the CANON has the slight edge over the PANASONIC in image quality. Most of the camcorder ratings show that the HS300/TM300 has better numbers CAMCORDERINFO gives the Panason HS300/TM300 268.43 (1st) and the Canon HFS100 (HFS10 sister) 253.91 (3rd). My overall conclusion is that I would prefer the PANASONIC TM300 at the moment (£300 cheaper and within a cats-whisker of quality). Now that the PANASONIC TM350(and the CANON HFS11) has been launched in Japan (and the CANON HFS11) it will be interesting to compare these 2. I think I will reserve my choice (probably TM350, or is the HOLY GRAIL TM350?). ANY COMMENTS would be appreciated. To JAMES, please, please, please give us a review of the TM350 and HS11 as soon as you can, plus any comments of my other observations.

I hope this evidence is helpful to readers in this dilemma of searching for the Holy Grail

CANON HFS10 v. PANASONIC TM300. IN SEARCH OF THE HOLY GRAIL. To JAMES MORRIS,
Many thanks for your great reviews. I am trying to decide between these 2 excellent cameras (HF... more

TDV said on 11th September 2009

@ abbeydale - Funny. I've just spent the last few hours going through those exact reviews you mention. Great summary, by the way..

I'm also torn between the Canon an... more

TDV said on 11th September 2009

Doh! It's me again.. Since I have to wait for moderation, I think I made a mistake in one of my URLs..

One of the YouTube links should've been for the TM300, NOT the... more

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