Panasonic AG-HSC1U First Impressions Camcorder Review

Other Features
Scene Modes - Scene Modes are Panasonic’s name for AE modes optimized for specific lighting situations. The AG-HSC1U (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1975) includes: Sports, Portrait, Low Light, Spotlight, and Surf & Snow.

Fades - Fades can be accessed from page 1 of the joystick menu, and fade color (white or black) can be selected in Menu > Video.

Back Light Compensation - BLC is found on joystick menu page 1, and is represented by a sun icon on the AG-HSC1U.

Soft Skin Mode - Soft Skin Mode reduces sharpness in “skin-toned” areas, smoothing out wrinkles and blemishes. Soft Skin Mode will only function if your subjects are of lighter skin tones.

MagicPix - The MagicPix Scene Mode allows the shutter speed to automatically drop below 1/60 in for low light recording. This mode is the only slow shutter speed option available on the AG-HSC1U.

Tele Macro - Tele Macro is a shorthand route to placing the camcorder in telephoto mode.

Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound - The onboard microophone supports Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, allowing 5 channel recording, and independent level adjustment for each channel.

Zoom Microphone - When the zoom mic option is selected, audio gain is linked to the camcorder’s zoom, so that a telephoto shot will have higher audio levels than a wide-angle shot.

Wind Cut - Wind Cut, in Menu > Video, reduces the effects of wind noise on the built-in microphone by digitally filtering lower frequencies.