Reviews
Panasonic HDC-TM20 SD & HDD Camcorder
- Capture Full HD video; 1920 x 1080 resolution
- Records to Secure Digital card or 16 GB built-in HDD memory
- 16x Leica Dicomar lens with Optical Image Stabilization
- 9 lux low-light performance with built in video light
- 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel LCD
Product DescriptionHDC-TM20-S sivler SD & HDD camcorder. . . More >>
Panasonic HDC-TM20 SD & HDD Camcorder
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about 2 years ago
This camera is good for making home memories in not very challenging conditions, but is not suitable for anything more. It works great in auto mode. Although the camera has no viewfinder, LCD is bright enough even in the sunlight. The camera even can adjust the brightness of the LCD based on the lightning conditions. Power-up is very fast, automatic lens cover is very convenient.
Touch screen is useful for spot auto focusing, which is called AFAE tracking. It means that the camera attempts to recognize the object at the spot and track the object adjusting focus and exposure. Sometimes it fails to recognize the object but even then it does not fail to focus on the chosen spot. I wish sometimes it would be possible to disable spot AE and tracking, and do just spot AF. The only other brand that have such spot mode is Sony. On Sony cameras, spot AF and spot AE can be done separately, but there is no tracking.
Spot AF is important because manual focus is useless (which is true for most entry-level cameras). It takes about a minute to set the best possible focus, yet even then the image usually is visibly out of focus.
Low-level performance is suitable only for documenting events. Image quality is not enjoyable, but internal light is able to make visible closed objects. MagicPix greatly improves picture of unmoving objects, but movement looks terrible. It should be named SleepingKids because it is the best use for this mode.
Focusing in still picture mode is surprisingly slow. Although the camera always keep the image in focus, when the picture button is half-pressed, the camera tries to refocus and goes out of focus for half-second. Pressing the button fully at this moment result in very bad picture. Also, it should be noticed, that the sensor’s resolution is only 1. 17 megapixels. The picture, obviously, is digitally extrapolated to get 2. 1 megapixels.
The software that comes with the camera, HD Writer AE 1. 0, is hard to use even for simple editing, such as cutting unwanted parts. Converting to other formats is limited. Do the best when recording, because editing, if needed, will take more time than recording itself. If you record frequently, try not to record anything that you do not want to keep.
Rating: 4 / 5
about 2 years ago
The camera takes great video, battery life is good. I would recommend buying a wide angle lens and a SD card. The HD software that comes with the camera is not good at all. Windows does not support HD video format. You will need to purchase an edit software. I tried the trial version of Pinnacle Studio Premium Plus and then purchased the full version. It’s a simple and easy to use, similar to Windows Movie Maker but better. HD video uses a lot of processing power, have a good PC. Mac user just plug and play. Overall a great small HD camera and priced right.
Rating: 5 / 5
about 2 years ago
I’m not an expert in video equipment and I don’t have experience with the peers of this item.
However, I wanted image stabilization since I have a slight tremor in my right hand and I read in a few places that Panasonic’s Optical Image Stabilization is very good.
Other competitors have Electronic Image Stabilization which I am guessing is like digital zoom. . . not the real thing. Anyway, I wanted a hard drive AND an SD card slot, in case the hard drive ever fails. I wanted a nice zoom and 16X is pretty good. To get the 70x zoom. . . you must purchase the Standard Definition model and besides. . . to use anything over 16X. . . you need a tripod with you anyway. And I DID want HD!!! By the way, many camcorders say HDD on the side which stands for Hard Disc Drive, NOT High Definition, AND THAT confuses many people. Not only that. . . it has an SD slot, that can be confused with Standard Definition, which this camera is not. TOO many confusing abbreviations and acronyms!!! :>)
OK, I am happy with my purchase. The battery charges very fast (no more than 2-3 hours) and lasts 45 -60 minutes. I notice very little shake in the “video” (do you still call it video?). Sound quality is fantastic. Outside image quality is beautiful. With low-light, it is a bit grainy (not horrible). . . so you need to turn up the lights even with the built in light. I was worried that since this affordable model uses the cheaper sensor, that it wouldn’t look too good. . . but I was quickly satisfied. I guess I would have to spend at least $300 more to try and see if there is a difference. The touch screen is easy to figure out. The face detection is incredible. You point the camera at a group of people and there are squares around everyone’s heads! I pointed it at my Shih-Tzu. . . but it did not work
no dog snout detection system. It seems to have a lot of great features and I’m sure I won’t use them all anytime soon. But I will always leave it on the highest settings. I hate to shoot things only to realize I forgot to change it back to high.
The one thing I don’t like is that the zoom toggle is difficult to use positioned where it is. If my hands were dainty, it may be easier. But I think they’re all like that now. . . with the body so small. I also found myself not recording when I thought I was. I wish there was a more noticeable “record on” indicator. But I guess I will have to pay more attention.
Also, it weighs nothing. You get it and you’re like. . . “I paid how much for a piece of air?” But that’s what is being touted now. . . lightweight. These camcorders are so small now, you can easily fit them into the side pocket in cargo pants/shorts.
Hook this up to my Mac via USB cable and after a few moments it shows up and I can save clips easily through iMovie.
I would definitely recommend this camcorder to those who want high definition, a hard drive, a card slot and a nice zoom. I paid about $503 including tax after my $100 in Amazon vouchers.
There are sample videos on Youtube if you do a search on HDC-TM20. But remember, the quality is usually degraded when a person uploads them to Youtube unless they have a paid account. Once you compare an HD sample to an SD sample. . . you really want to spend the extra cash for the HD. There is a big difference.
One more thing, the red finish is really a nice deep dark metallic wine red. . . very attractive.
Rating: 5 / 5