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Panasonic HDC-HS100 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Jul 24, 2008 8:57 AM
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Ease of Use (7.0)The Panasonic HDC-HS100 straddles a strange line between hand-holding for beginners and controls so advanced, they're guaranteed to make the beginner run for the hills. In short, it's both easy to use, and not. Let us try to explain.
This camcorder hearkens back to Panasonic's MiniDV legend, the PV-GS400 (Review, Specs, $1099.00) (Review, Specs, $1099). A multi-function ring, fat batch of manual controls, accessory shoe, Mic and Headphone inputs, and viewfinder have been added to make the HDC-HS100 a contender in the extremely low budget prosumer class. This means there's no designated "Easy mode," at least not in the sense that Sony offers. You can set the HDC-HS100 into Auto mode, which disables all manual controls, but what happens when you need to make a slight Focus or Aperture adjustment? There are no Sony-like Spot Focus or Spot Meter functions, which allow the shooter to simply touch a portion of the screen they want to adjust.
However, Panasonic has done a fantastic job revamping the menu to offer scrolling-text explanations of every feature. Not sure what Backlight Compensation does? What about the Portrait scene mode? An explanation immediately appears at the bottom to educate you. Clearly, Panasonic wants shooters to learn more about how powerful the camcorder can be. But that very power means that there is so much to learn.
The HDC-HS100 records to either a 60GB internal HDD or SDHC cards, which are two of the most preferred forms of media on the market. HDD camcorders can connect to a computer via a USB cable and video and still files can be imported with ease. SDHC cards are compact, durable, and can hold a lot of video. However, since the HDC-HS100 records AVCHD video, you'll need a powerhouse computer with an editing program that supports the AVCHD codec.
Handling (7.25)
The HDC-HS100 called upon the fierce gods that created Panasonic's venerable PV-GS400 MiniDV camcorder. The PV-GS400 featured a multi-function lens ring, viewfinder, accessory shoe, and nearly every port imaginable and necessary at the time of its debut. The HDC-HS100 resurrected the lens ring, which governs all manual controls, including Zoom. We've been waiting for the lens ring to make a comeback, and the HDC-HS100 is the cream of the crop in terms of manual controls right now. Panasonic also bulked up the HDC-HS100 in terms of size compared to its predecessor, the HDC-HS9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $599.95). There's more comfort, more tools to help image adjustment, and an alternative monitor for blaring outdoor shoots. However, Panasonic also carried over some critical design flaws that bog the HDC-HS100 down. Idiotic port placement, a small LCD screen, and a relatively cheap construction in certain areas shove the HDC-HS100 farther away from the prosumer circle.
With all the additional controls, the HDC-HS100 is only slightly larger than the HDC-HS9. Holding the HDC-HS100 in hand is strikingly similar to the HDC-HS9. The HDD enclosure acts as the main grip for the fingers, which fall slightly atop the accessory shoe cover. If you have a long pinky, it might reach the built-in microphone, so be sure to shift your hand back in order to remain in the fly zone. The index finger will align naturally with the Zoom toggle and the thumb will hover over the Record Start/Stop button. To seal the deal, Panasonic bulked up the interior of the hand strap with twice as much padding as the HDC-HS9's. The surface area of the pad was also shifted backward to accommodate the back of the hand, which was sliced by the nylon strap on the HDC-HS9. This is a comfortable camcorder to hold, which in turn will make operation a highly inviting task.
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| The joystick - it's tiny! |
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We griped about the HDC-HS9's LCD cavity Joystick. It's too small and difficult to operate due to the awkward placement. Well, Panasonic went and lopped the Joystick off entirely, embedding a round Cursor Button in its place. The Cursor Button is unlike anything in the current consumer camcorder market--it's a fusion between and Joystick and a 4-way directional pad. To operate the Cursor Button, place your finger semi-firmly on its center and move your finger in the desired direction. To select a menu option, press the center of the Cursor Button. At first, this new navigation system will take some acclimatization, but it's fairly intuitive once you get the hang of its control. Still, reaching your finger in front of the LCD screen will block your vision, which is not so desirable.
Luckily, the Cursor Button does not navigate manual controls, as that task is the responsibility of the of the multi-function ring, located around the lens. Panasonic's resurrection of this superior control is a crucial selling point for Manual Control enthusiasts and advanced shooters. The ring even controls Zoom, in addition to Focus, Aperture, White Balance, and Shutter Speed. No other current camcorder on the market can contend with this system. Operating the multi-function ring will save you tons of time and frustration. The ring shifts as smoothly as freshly churned butter and allows you to feather the adjustment speed based on how fast you turn it. The HDC-HS100 is a killer Manual Control machine, thanks to the multi-function ring.
We're also happy to see an accessory shoe, Mic and Headphone jacks, and a viewfinder. Now shooters have the option to attach an external microphone and monitor sound using headphones. The viewfinder will come in handy for outdoor shoots when the sun is casting a relentless glare on the LCD screen. The viewfinder does not pivot upward or extend outward, but it serves its purpose and will get the job done. A larger 3.5-inch LCD screen would have been a nice touch on the HDC-HS100, but its diminutive size corks that option. One detrimental carry-over from the HDC-HS9 is the erratic and illogical port placement on the HDC-HS100. Three significant ports - DC, USB, and HDMI - are all tucked within the battery chamber, so you'll need the external power adapter no matter where you go. Panasonic needs to get their asses in gear and dust off those preposterous blueprints.
Overall, the HDC-HS100 is a killer in terms of handling.
Menu (6.5)
The Panasonic menu system is one of the best in the industry. It's highly intuitive and well laid out, with items grouped in corresponding categories. JVC's revamped GZ-HD40 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $0.00) menu system is the opposite, where options are clumped into massive lists with no distinct categories or titles. The HDC-HS100's Cursor button will take some getting used to, but it's fairly easy to navigate after a little time spent shifting through the menus.
Panasonic's Administrative menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button. Shift up and down on the Cursor Button to select a different option and shift left and right to choose a subcategory or return to the previous page. The Administrative menu contains the following options:
| Administrative Menu |
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| Basic |
D. Zoom, Set World Time |
| Record Setup |
Face Framing, Rec Mode, Fade Color, Mic Setup, AGS, Flash, Flash Level, Red Eye, Shtr Sound |
| Advanced |
Rec Lamp, Shooting Guide, Digital Cinema Color, |
| Media Select |
HDD, SD Card |
| Setup |
Clock Set, Display, Date/Time, Date Format, Power Save, Quick Start, Beep Sound, Power LCD, LCD Set, EVF Set, Component Out, HDMI Resolution, VIERA Link, TV Aspect, AV Jack, Initial Set, Format HDD, Demo Mode |
| Language |
English, Francais, Espanol |
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| Clockwise starting above: 1) Top level of Admin menu 2) Advanced submenu 3) Record Setup submenu |
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The Joystick menu (referred to as the Cursor Button menu by Panasonic) is accessed by pressing the center of the Cursor Button. Three pages of options will appear, unlike the typical 5 pages on Panasonics with Joystick Manual Controls. The Cursor Button menu consists of the following options:
| Joystick Menu |
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| Page 1 |
Fades, Backlight Compensation, Info |
| Page 2 |
Self Timer, Intelligent Contrast, Face Detection |
| Page 3 |
Soft Skin Mode, MagicPix, Tele Macro |
Portability (8.25)
Despite the addition of a multi-function ring, viewfinder, and accessory shoe, the HDC-HS100 is only slightly larger than the HDC-HS9. We're now looking at dimensions of 74mm x 76mm x 138mm (2.95 x 2.9 x 4.96-inches) and a weight of 482g (0.997 lbs.), which is mere millimeters and ounces greater than the HDC-HS9. The HDC-HS100 is not the type of camcorder that can be pocketed easily. You'll need a small camera bag with a couple pouches for cables and accessories. Since the HDC-HS100 records primarily to an internal HDD, there's no need to clutter the camera bag with DVDs and tapes. You will need to tote the AC adapter around no matter where you go, thanks to the DC jack being lodged within the battery chamber.
LCD and Viewfinder (6.0)
The HDC-HS100 received the same 2.7-inch LCD screen found on the HDC-HS9. The LCD screen flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. Panasonic retained the colorful, sharp 300,000-pixel resolution, which is the highest out of any other 2.7-inch LCD screen found within the consumer camcorder market. An LCD Set function allows you to adjust the color or brightness of the screen, but that will simply alter your perception of what the image actually looks like. The Power LCD Plus feature lets you brighten the LCD screen up to two steps, but this will also interfere with attaining the most accurate shot you can manage. Just leave these settings off if you plan on making a lot of manual image adjustments. Unfortunately, each time the HDC-HS100 is powered off and back on again, the Power LCD Plus kicks in automatically. You'll have to manually disable this feature every time the camcorder is powered on, which is ultimately lame.
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| The viewfinder has a hard eye cup, and it doesn't pivot up or extend |
The 2.7-inch LCD is just fine |
Panasonic added a viewfinder to the mix with the HDC-HS100. The viewfinder does not pivot upward or extend outward. The viewfinder is also devoid of a rubberized eye cup to boost the comfort factor. Despite its shortcomings, the viewfinder will come in handy on outdoor shoots when the sun is blasting a glare on the LCD screen. Panasonic added an unconventional diopter adjuster - a wheel rather than a cheap slider tab, which should facilitate tighter control. Overall, it's great to see a viewfinder on a camcorder these days. Panasonic's next step should be to add a rubberized eye cup and pivoting/extending capabilities.
We tested the life of the HDC-HS100's VW-VBG130 rechargeable battery pack by recording continuously in manual mode with the LCD flipped open and OIS disabled. Since the HDC-HS100 has a 60GB HDD, there was no need to swap media. The HDC-HS100's battery lasted 111 minutes and 50 seconds (1 hour, 51 minutes, and 50 seconds). This performance falls short of the HDC-HS9, which lasted 117 minutes and 4 seconds. Regardless, the HDC-HS100 is an decent performer. We still recommend a couple backup batteries for longer shoots.
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