Panasonic HDC-HS100 Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Jul 24, 2008 8:57 AM

Intro Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity
 Other Features
Conclusion & Comparisons
  • Photo Gallery
    		•
    Specs and Ratings  


    Audio (9.0)
    Some clutch upgrades were added to the HDC-HS100, nudging the camcorder further into the advanced shooter and low budget prosumer crowds. The previous generation HDC-HS9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $599.95) offers a weak set of audio options with no Mic or Headphone jacks, and no accessory shoe. The built-in 5.1-Channel Dolby Digital Surround microphone is the HDC-HS9's only sound pickup, which irons the HDC-HS9 into the consumer fray for good.

    The new HDC-HS100 is equipped with the same built-in Dolby Digital mounted to the top of the camcorder, though it's a square shape rather than a dome. The HDC-HS100 also has a Mic jack, Headphone jack, and a cold accessory shoe mounted on top. Now shooters won't have to rely on the camcorder's onboard audio--an external microphone can be attached via the 1/4-inch jack mounted to the front and mounted to the accessory shoe on top. Headphone monitoring greatly reduces the tendency to record sound that is too loud or soft.

    In addition to headphone monitoring, the HDC-HS100 has a mic level meter that appears on the LCD screen. The level meter contains eight increments, the second to last being red in color to indicate decibel levels that are too high. Although this is a nice little tool to have, it doesn't contain enough steps for a truly accurate reading. The levels simply jump all over the place, so headphones remain your best bet. Canon's level meter offers Left and Right channels and includes far more steps for an accurate reading.


    Mic Levels in action

    There are three primary audio recording modes on the HDC-HS100--Auto Gain Control (AGC), Set+AGC, and Set. The camcorder automatically adjusts the sound levels in AGC mode, which is essentially just an Auto mode for sound. AGC is best suited for most situations containing unpredictable sound levels, like a parade. For harsh sounds, Set+AGC allows you to lower or raise the decibel levels in order to keep the levels out of the red zone. AGC is still functioning in Set+AGC mode, in order to reduce the amount of overall sound distortion. Set mode will allow you to record sound in its most natural form. In Set mode, all level control is executed manually, without the help of AGC. When you select Set+AGC or Set, a screen containing 2 front, 2 back, and 1 center microphone levels will appear. A decibel meter is located in the center of the screen, allowing you to adjust the sensitivity from -30 to +6 decibels.

    The HDC-HS100 also has Zoom Mic capability, which enables the mic sensitivity to increase in tandem with the action of zooming in and out. This comes in handy when a subject is far away but you want to catch the audio as well. A Focus setting concentrates all sound pickup on the area directly in front of the camcorder, which is ideal for talking head interviews. Lastly, Panasonic tacks a Wind Cut feature on the HDC-HS100.

    Playback (4.25)
    In order to engage Playback mode on the HDC-HS100, shift the Mode dial to the left, selecting the green Playback option. An Index screen will appear containing a series of icons representing individually recorded video clips. In order to access stills, shift up to the top tabs with the Cursor Button and over to the Photo icon. An identical screen will appear, only with icons that represent still images. In order to select a video clip or still, press the center of the Cursor Button and it will fill the LCD screen. Playback controls are governed by the Cursor Button: Up is Play/Pause, Down is Stop/Return to Index, Left is Rewind, and Right is Fast Forward. When a clip is paused, the Left and Right actions choose Next and Previous clips. The Zoom toggle controls sound volume. In Photo Playback, Play/Pause begins and pauses a slide show.


    The video playback screen. Choose your clip to view.

    An Intelligent Scene Detection mode is available, which functions by automatically weeding out all scenes that the camcorder deems are unusable (poor exposure, shaky, out of focus, etc.). This is useful for scenes that were accidentally recorded while walking around, unaware that the Record button was engaged. You can also browse for scenes by Date, which will come in handy if you have hundreds of clips to wade through.

    The Video Playback menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button from the Index screen. The Video Playback menu contains the following options:

    Video Playback Menu
    Video Setup
    		 Repeat Play, Resume Play, Scene Protect, Guide Lines
    Edit Scene
    		 Divide, Delete
    Copy
    		 HDD to SDHC card, SDHC card to HDD
    Setup
    		 Display, Date/Time, Date Format, Power Save, Beep Sound, Power LCD, LCD Set, EVF Set, Component Out, HDMI Resolution, VIERA Link, TV Aspect, AV Jack, Format HDD, HDD Status
    Language
    		 English, Francais, Espanol

    Connectivity (9.0)
    Just when we thought Panasonic's port architecture couldn't get any worse, the HDC-HS100 nullifies that theory. We'll start right off with the elephant in the room--the DC, USB, and HDMI ports stuffed within the battery chamber. On the previous generation HDC-HS9, the DC and HDMI jacks were located in the battery chamber, but we had no idea Panasonic would regress even further on the new HDC-HS100 and toss the USB terminal in with the bunch. This means you must have the AC adapter with you at all times if you want to transfer footage in the field--you cannot have the battery attached. Also, if you're in the middle of recording and the battery is about to die, you can't simply plug the AC adapter in--you have to remove the battery. Ports in a battery chamber are cumbersome and pointless--there's plenty of open real estate within the LCD cavity and on the right side of the camcorder. Check out the connectivity on the Sony HDR-SR12--that's what port placement should be.


    The cold accessory shoe offers a spot for any accessory.

      The LCD cavity houses the Component and AV/Headphone jacks. These ports are secured by a sliding door that shifts up and down to open and close. This is an example of a GOOD port placement and design. The AV jack shares its home with the Headphone jack, just like some Canons. Be sure to manually switch between AV and Headphone connectivity, or you might get an electrifying blast in the ear drums when attempting to hook up your headphones. The SDHC card slot is also located in the LCD cavity, shielded by a spring loaded hatch that opens via a small Open tab. This design is strikingly similar to Canon's on the HF10.

     The SD/SDHC card slot in the LCD cavity
    		   Also in the LCD cavity,
    a Component-out and AV/Headphone jack
    The mic jack is located under the lens in front The dreaded ports stuck in the battery cavity:
    DC-in, USB, and HDMI

    The Mic jack is located beneath the lens and is housed by a covert plastic enclosure. This is not the burliest cover, so go easy on the yanking. You'll have to make sure your Mic cables are routed correctly so they don't obstruct the view of the lens. On top of the HDC-HS100 is the cold accessory shoe, guarded by a thick plastic cover anchored to the body via two plastic strips. Be sure not to tug hard on this cover--the strips will never slide back into the body of the camcorder--don't ask us how we know this.



    << Handling and Use | Other Features >>