Panasonic HDC-HS300 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Kaitlyn Chantry
Published on Jan 9, 2009 3:49 AM

 
Intro
Audio
Compression & Media Manual Controls
Still Features Handling & Use
Playback & Connectivity Other Features
Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings



Audio Features
The HDC-HS300 carries over the same excellent range of audio options that we saw on last generation's HDC-HS100. For audio recording, the HS300 comes equipped with a built-in 5.1-Channel Dolby Digital Surround microphone on the top of the camcorder, but also has a microphone input on the left side of the camcorder. There's an accessory shoe up top and a headphone jack for properly monitoring sound levels.

In addition to headphone monitoring, the HDC-HS100 has a mic level meter that appears on the LCD screen. Although this is a nice little tool to have, it doesn't contain enough steps for a truly accurate reading. Headphones are still the best way to attain a truly accurate reading.

The HDC-HS300 also has Zoom Mic capability, which enables the mic sensitivity to increase in tandem with the action of zooming in and out. 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 on a Wind Cut feature for reducing noise on gently breezy days.




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