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Panasonic AG-HSC1U First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Apr 19, 2007 3:00 PM
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Conclusion
The AG- HSC1U (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1975) is marketed as a niche camcorder for professionals, and despite the fact that it records AVCHD video, we think there is a place for this unusual camcorder. Specifically, the mechanism-less design means it should be capable of operating without is hitch in extreme situations that would cause even tape- or HDD-based units to drop frames. The OIS system is truly impressive, and far outperformed anything we’ve tested this year, strengthening the case for the AG- HSC1U as an all-terrain performer. Flash media adds to the camcorder’s overall durability as it’s the most bomb-proof format commonly used on today’s camcorders. SD/SDHC cards are also easy to conceal, so it passing through hostile checkpoints is a concern, you can always seal your valuable footage in a rubber sheath and swallow it for recovery when the threat clears.
We do not think AVCHD is a good consumer format at the moment due to its lack of broad support. This should be less problematic for pros with a budget for the required plug-ins or hardware to decode AVCHD and convert it to an editable format like AVI or Quicktime. The performance weaknesses of AVCHD versus HDV should be considered, but the professionally calibrated color rendition and solid-state media of the AG- HSC1U are valuable attributed in and of themselves. Finally, the included DTE storage unit featuring transfer rates faster than 1GB/minute offers the camcorder a way to work in the field with a limited number of cards, and fast PC access via IEEE 1394 link. If video performance and adjustability are your primary concerns, this is not the camcorder for you. The Canon HV20 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $903) and Sony HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56) top the consumer field as full-fledged performers. However, if you need a camcorder that offers the speed and durability of solid state media, industry-leading OIS, and are not turned off by the quirks of AVCHD, the AG- HSC1U is an intriguing and unique option.