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Panasonic HDC-HS9 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Apr 7, 2008 3:28 PM 
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Audio (5.5)
While the external audio options on the HDC-HS9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $0.00) leave much to be desired, the onboard audio options are some of the best within its class. Like the HDC-SD9 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $0.00), the HDC-HS9 has a 5.1 channel surround sound microphone that can record in three settings: Surround, Zoom, and Focus. With Surround recording, four discreet microphones are used—two front-facing and two rear-facing, while a composite fifth channel is digitally created. The Zoom setting allows the HDC-HS9 to follow the audio of a subject in tandem with Wide Angle or Telephoto travel. When a subject is far away, their audio gains decibels as the HDC-HS9 Zooms in. The Focus setting hones in on the front of the camcorder, which is ideal for talking head interviews.
The HDC-HS9 also allows you to set audio levels—Auto Gain Control (AGC), Set+AGC, and Set modes. In AGC mode the camcorder automatically adjusts the sound levels, which is the audio equivalent to Auto mode. AGC mode is most useful for most situations containing unpredictable sound levels. Set+AGC is used for sounds that are on the harsh side, allowing the shooter to lower or raise the decibel level to keep the levels out of the red zone. In Set+AGC mode, AGC is still present to reduce the amount of sound distortion. If you want to record sound in its most natural form, opt for the Set mode. All level control is done manually, without the safety net of AGC.
The HDC-HS9’s audio level meter is a nice tool to have, but it’s inadequate for most advanced shooters. There are simply not enough segments in the meter to allow for a fluid motion. Readings will be jittery, so we recommend sticking with AGC unless you’re a sound pro. When Set+AGC or Set is selected, a screen appears containing individual level meters for each of the five surround sound microphones—Center, Front Left, Back Left, Front Right, and Back Right. You can use the joystick to shift the dB input level up or down from -30 to +6 using the joystick, monitored by an onscreen decibel meter. A Wind Cut function rounds out the HDC-HS9’s audio offerings, but after all of the aforementioned audio control, Wind Cut is rendered essentially useless.
Playback (4.25)
The HDC-HS9 is set to Playback mode by shifting the Mode dial to the far right. When in Playback mode, a screen of icons appears. There are two tabs at the top to represent data stored on SD/SDHC card and HDD. The Joystick is used to scroll through each icon. You can browse by date and select either the Photo or Video tab to access pictures or clips. There is an Intelligent Scene Detection function that will automatically weed out the bad clips (underexposed, shaky, out of focus) and only display clips with proper exposure, color, and composition.
Press the center of the joystick while an icon is selected and the video clip or still will fill the entirety of the LCD screen. The joystick governs the Playback controls, and clip volume is adjusted using the Zoom toggle. For images, the joystick activates Slide Show and selects previous and next pictures.
The Video Playback menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button. The Video Playback menu contains the following options:
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Video Playback Menu |
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| Video Setup | Repeat Play, Resume Play, Scene Protect, Guide Lines |
| Edit Scene | Divide, Delete |
| Copy | HDD to Card, Card to HDD |
| Setup | Display, Date/Time, Date Format, Power Save, Beep Sound, LCD Set, Component Out, HDMI Resolution, VIERA Link, TV Aspect, Format HDD, Information |
| Language | English, Francais, Espanol |
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While in Photo Playback, the Administrative menu consists of the following items:
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Photo Playback Menu |
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| Pict. Setup | Scene Protect, Delete |
| Copy | HDD to Card, Card to HDD |
| Setup | Display, Date/Time, Date Format, Power Save, Beep Sound, LCD Set, Component Out, HDMI Resolution, VIERA Link, TV Aspect, Format HDD, Information |
| Language | English, Francais, Espanol |
The Photo playback mode
Connectivity (4.0)
One of the HDC-HS9’s weakest areas is its selection of ports. Panasonic also chose to carry over a bogus design flaw—placing crucial ports within the battery chamber. Nestled behind the battery are the DC and HDMI jacks, which are only available when the battery is, of course, removed. Say goodbye to continuity if you need to connect the external power supply in the middle of a shot. You also have to plug in the power cable to be able to connect the HDC-HS9 to an external monitor via HDMI. While we’re at it, Panasonic really needs to revamp its external power supply design. Two cables and an AC adapter are just too much. What happens when you need to review footage and charge the battery at the same time? The LCD cavity contains most of the HDC-HS9’s connectivity, housed by a rectangular plastic shield. The A/V out, Component, and USB jacks are all located here. There are no Mic or headphone jacks - the HDC-HS9 lacks an accessory shoe. The Canon HF10 and Sony HDR-SR12 (Review, Specs, $1399.00) have all three. That open expanse on the right side of the HDC-HS9 just beckons for more connectivity. At least it would obscure some of the hideous exposed screws.
Beneath the battery is the SD/SDHC card slot, which pops open by sliding a small tab.
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The DC power and mini-HDMI are |
The AV-out, component-out, and USB are |