Panasonic AG-HPX300 First Impressions Camcorder Review

Playback & Connectivity
	Handling & Use	(Page 8 of 12)	Other Features

Playback

Playback on the AG-HPX300 is similar to the system featured on consumer camcorders. A set of VCR controls is located in the audio control panel. There are hard buttons for rewind, stop, fast forward, and play/pause. There is also a set of directional buttons beneath the VCR controls that act as thumbnail navigation tools. Pressing the thumbnail button brings up small images of each stored clip on the camcorder's loaded P2 cards. The directional buttons allow you to sift through the thumbnails, while the VCR controls let you play back the footage.

The VCR controls and thumbnail directional-pad are located with the audio adjustment buttons.

 In thumbnail view mode, you have lots of control over the appearance of the video files on the AG-HPX300. You can change what thumbnail shows for a specific clip, you can organize them based on a variety of criteria, and you can add markers to specific points in each recorded clip. Text memos can even be added to video files to be used as reference or to keep track of important details. Read more about the text memo feature in the Other Features section of this review, 

Connectivity

The Panasonic AG-HPX300 has lots of professional connectivity options. In a cluster, near the back of the camcorder, are all the pro outputs. Located here is an SDI-out, Genlock-in, TC-in, TC-out, Video-out (via BNC) and Audio out (Ch1 and Ch2). Near the front of the camcorder, also on the right side is a microphone XLR input (designed for a front-mounted mic) and a 12-pin lens connector.

The cluster of professional outputs.		The mic-in XLR port and 12-pin lens connector

 More ports are located on the back of the camcorder, near the base. Going from left to right are: a DC-input, DC-output (12V), Ch1 XLR audio input, Ch2 XLR audio input, another SDI output, 10-pin remote connector, and the IEE 1394 port (firewire). There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack back here, located in the upper left corner (above the DC-input).

The camcorder's two USB inputs are located behind a rubber port cover, just above the collection of outputs on the right side of the camcorder. The first USB port is meant for a host connection, while the second is for connecting a device.

The ports on the back of the camcorder		The two USB ports