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Panasonic HDC-HS9 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Apr 7, 2008 3:28 PM 
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The Panasonic HDC-HS9 ($1,099 MSRP) is another of the manufacturer’s third-generation AVCHD camcorders. Nearly identical to the HDC-SD9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $0.00), the HS9 adds a 60GB hard disk drive (HDD) and a hefty $300 price hike. It’s a sleek, compact design that feels good in the hand, but the size reduction brings some handling troubles. Performance is generally improved over previous Panasonic AVCHD models. When compared against the competition, however, the HDC-HS9 does not fare well. The Canon HF10, in particular, offers far superior image quality and a more powerful set of features for the same price. In the cutthroat world of consumer HD camcorders, the HDC-HS9 has a hard time making a case for itself.
The Front (6.75)
Up front, this pint-sized HDD cam mirrors its fraternal twin, the HDC-SD9. With just a lens and a side-mounted flash to speak of, it’s apparent that Panasonic has opted for simplicity and compactness rather than extra features. The HDC-HS9’s 10x Optical Zoom lens has a focal length of 3.0mm to 30mm and an aperture range of f/1.8 to f/2.8. The lens is equipped with a removable knurled lens hood and has a 37mm filter diameter. The HDC-HS9’s flash is faulty for a couple reasons— its off-kilter placement is not conducive to attaining even lighting, and the lens hood obscures the flash at certain angles. Based on the HDC-HS9’s menial still features, you probably won’t need to use the flash much, anyway. Below the lens is the HDC-HS9’s remote sensor and built-in tally lamp. That’s all, folks—riveting, huh?
The Right Side (5.75)
This right side expanse is even more vast than the front, offering a hand strap and the exterior of the HDD enclosure. Before we talk about grip, let’s hone in on a minor cosmetic flaw—something that makes the refined videographer grimace. Check out the HDC-HS9’s exposed screws lining the perimeter of the HDD enclosure. You can count six in total. We’re not knocking design here, but aesthetically, the right side of this camcorder takes “fugly” to the next level.
The HDC-HS9’s hand strap is thin and made of cheap material, though the padding is sufficient to comfort the back of the hand during a shoot. The HDC-HS9 will stay glued to your hand because the strap is anchored on a downward angle toward the lens end. A large raised crest conforms to the palm of the hand as well, but will only fit certain types of hands. Toward the front, the hand strap has a tendency to pinch your hand while adjusting tightness, so beware. Compared to the smaller HDC-SD9, however, we really appreciate the extra real estate for a gripping surface.
The Back (4.75)
There isn’t much in the back of the HDC-HS9 because the battery pack hogs most of the vicinity. While this design works for Sony and Canon, the side-loading battery design on the HDC-HS9 just looks awkward. More importantly, Canon and Sony use the LCD panel as the point of contact for menu interface, so the rear of the camcorder doesn’t have to offer much. But it stings to know that Panasonic used to feature unbeatable rear-mounted joysticks, which have now been relocated to the LCD cavity, completely out of sight.
Furthermore, Panasonic has succeeded in placing the DC in jack and HDMI terminal within the battery chamber to make connectivity that much more of a pain in the behind. This needs to end, Panasonic! You have a barren right side on the HDC-HS9 just beckoning for ports and yet you choose to stuff ports in a highly inconvenient area.
Above the battery you’ll find the Face Detection and Pre-Record buttons. Below the battery is the memory card slot, secured by a latched door that swings out from the bottom of the camcorder. The door is responsive and springs out with vigor. At the top right lies the round, chunky Mode dial that shifts by pressing a small safety tab embedded at the top. Below the Mode dial is the Record Start/Stop button, which aligns perfectly with the thumb.
The Left Side (6.0)
With the 2.7-inch LCD screen closed, the HDC-HS9 looks nearly identical to the HDC-SD9 in all its iridescent gunmetal and black glory. When your pry open the LCD screen, you’ll be greeted by a barrage of buttons, controls, and ports. The LCD cavity contains the Auto/Manual/Manual Focus Switch, situated next to the HDC-HS9’s joystick. Just like the HDC-SD9, we’re not fans of the joystick’s new placement. The rear-mounted joystick was a Panasonic trademark that offered rapid menu selection and convenient one-handed camcorder operation. Alas, no more! The joystick is now as awkward and uncomfortable as a blind date.
Below the Joystick you’ll find the following buttons: OIS, Menu, Disc Copy, Power LCD Extra, and Delete. The OIS button is a nice touch—instant stabilization lies at your fingertip. Below the cluster of buttons is a rectangular panel that houses the AV, Component, and USB terminals. The panel is easy to access, but is stubborn to fit back into place.
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The Top (5.0)
The top of the HDC-HS9 hosts the built-in 5.1 Surround Sound microphone, which features a Zoom capability and independent levels control. At the back is a slimmed down version of the HDC-SD9’s chunky Zoom slider with accompanying Photo Capture button residing behind it. The HDC-HS9’s Zoom toggle shifts fluidly and offers great control compared to most tiny rocking levers.
