Panasonic HDC-HS300 Camcorder

Here comes one of the favorite camcorder in 2009. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 (MSRP $1400) is something that you want if you're looking for a high-end prosumer camcorder. Panasonic's very popular lens ring for making adjustments is there, a retractable electronic viewfinder is there also, and there's a new touchscreen LCD system for Panasonic. It has 120GB internal hard drive, and the HD video performance is excellent. Overall, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 is a first-class camcorder.

But wait. Don't get too excited yet. This camcorder maybe an excellent choice for beginner users, as the LCD touchscreen features will help them a lot. Also, what is unexpected, is how well the camcorder's new Intelligent Auto (iA) features work for beginners. The iA functions utilize Panasonic's new touchscreen system to provide, among other things, AF/AE tracking, face detection, and one-touch spot focus and exposure. But intermediate users might have a little bit of problem, for it implements an all-or-nothing approach to using manual controls. But hey, if you're looking for a camera that can catch very good quality video, here's your choice. You'll have to adapt a little bit and you'll be doing just fine.

Since Panasonic has long been known for having extensive manual controls, it should come as no surprise that the HDC-HS300 excels in this category. The only group that may feel a bit lost with the HS300 are intermediate users, or people who like to experiment with one or two manual controls while leaving the camcorder mostly automated.

Overall, at just under $1400, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 isn't the most affordable camcorder out there, but you get excellent performance and lots of controls for your money. The camcorder performs exceptionally where it counts—video performance—and its overall functionality is very strong. The total picture is very strong, making the HDC-HS300 one of the best camorders of 2009.

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