Panasonic AG-HMC40 Professional 3MOS AVCHD Full-HD Camcorder

[fsxAIRLINEguy]

Anyone tell me what makes the hmc-150 better than the hmc-40? Looking to buy!

[1tube2u3]

My response to anyone thinking about buying the panasonic hmc150 is; DON'T! I owned the 150 for a short time after I had already purchased the hmc40 just to see what all the hoopla was about and was disappointed in the fact that it was not full high definition. You can check the specs yourself. My hmc40 looked way better than video from the 150. Needless to say I took the 150 back. I have heard people say that the hmc40 approaches video from the Sony EX-1.

[TVPlowbudget]

For the cost of this you could just go out and get a Canon t2i. Most of the sane features with almost 800 dollars less

[turbojeffro]

That's not an xlr input...

[ConsumerDV]

@turbojeffro No, this is not an XLR input. This an input for the AG-MYA30G XLR adapter, which has proper XLR inputs. The adapter is about $270 extra.

[snowzipp]

I have owned this camera for the last couple months and it works great! no problems on bumpy roads skateboarding, and rugged enough to take snowboarding. Definitely one of the best out there.

[Rekedens]

Can you take photos while recording without having the video pause or lag?

[omlink]

Thanks for that

[Kimchoc]

Updating a previous post. Just finished another deposition and after increasing the quality of the video the sound drops off right before the end of the file. So, its basically worthless for depositions or anything that requires shooting for more than 20 minutes. $1800.00 down the drain. I cannot recommend this camera for anything but Youtube now. I don't understand why they cant fix this FAT32 issue on vid cameras. Just a failure. Unless you want a $1800 camera for Youtube

[ConsumerDV]

@Kimchoc Dude, do you homework. You can stitch the files together with a simple "copy /b" command in Windows, or if you want fancy tools use tsMuxer. Before blaming the camera think about thousands of other shooters, how THEY are able to shoot pieces longer than 20 minutes.

[Kimchoc]

@ConsumerDV Yeah I did my homework. $1800 camera that you have to use DOS commands with? Its just plain stupid. When I pay a high value for something I expect MORE performance not LESS.

I suppose you think a $100,000 Mercedes would be a acceptable with drum brakes and 2 barrel carburetor ? Thats just plain ignorant.

I shouldn't have to use DOS commands to make a camera work in this day and time. Not everyone is shooting Youtube 10 minute wonders. Ridiculous.

[ConsumerDV]

@Kimchoc If you want uninterrupted playback and built-in metadata then buy the JVC HM100, it records in XDCAM EX. The HMC40 records in lowly AVCHD, which is not a proper recording format, it is a bastardized variant of Blu-ray. It works if you are willing to make an extra step. HD Writer supplied with consumer Panasonic camcorders can stitch files when importing video from a card. I don't know why Panasonic does not supply this program with its pro camcorders. Nothing is perfect.

[Kimchoc]

@ConsumerDV I agree. AVCHD sucks arse. I have worked out a method to stitch but that doesn't change the fact that for 1800 i should not have to do this crap. No one should. What I cant believe is that no one else seems to care. They rave about this camera. And Panasonic even claims it will do depositions in their ad media. Thats BS. I just hope that people realize what they are buying with this camera. 12 minute clips. I did much homeowrk on this including calling Panny. Was sure it would work

[Timcookie321]

she's pretty

[yellowman808]

@Timcookie321 so is the camera!

[Rickyyy001]

so is that usb port just life firewire?

[psycold]

that chick is hot but she seems out of place there, plus she makes it hard for me to concentrate on the nerd with all the good info, anyway I totally want this camera

[1tube2u3]

I was considering the 150 as well but I don't think the suttle distinction or difference between the 3MOS chips of the 40 compared to the CCDs of the 150 are worth all that extra money, so I'm sticking with my HMC40, besides, it's smaller and lighter weight than the 150 and attracts less attention.

[Kimchoc]

Anyone know if it uses FAT32 or NTFS? if fat32, then it makes many files and you have to sync them together. Usually the sound drops off and you are screwed. Not everyone is shopoting 10 minute Youtube videos. I;d like to shoot for 1.5 hours without losing the sound. Anyone? Fat32 card or NTFS?

Thanks,

[TheMovieMaker2]

If your that Precise you should know that the AG-HMC40 is a consumer camcorder in a bigger case. The lens and cmos chips are the same size as the HDC-TM300 which is a consumer camcorder.

I was going to get the HMC40 until i found out about this. Now i've turned my attention to the HMC150 its alot more money but is has a big wide angle lense and bigger ccd chips.

Keep this in mind if your buying this camcorder.

[Kimchoc]

I'ts not a matter of precision, just common sense. If FAT32, how the heck do you shoot a scene that lasts over an hour. at high resolution without it making 5-6 files?? Truthfully i could care less about the lens or the chip. I just want one damn file without having to stitch them together and going backwards to digital tape, which is only 80mins at that.

[TheMovieMaker2]

Well your better contacting the panasonic

[ricci777]

@TheMovieMaker2 Speaking of precise: maybe the same size chips (1/4"), but NOT the exact same lens, NOT the same codec, NOT the same image processing. Glad you got the 150, of course it is better, it should be for 2X the cost. But, let's not misinform people, there really is not a current competitor for the HMC40 in its price class. 99% of shooters would not have any need for the end difference in image between 1/4" and 1/3" chips.

[StuartHaight]

@TheMovieMaker2

The chip and glass isn't necessarily the determining factor for consumer, prosumer, or pro. Think about it, with a prosumer camera, you've got lots of buttens on the body of the camera itself, it's that that makes it a bigger difference. So there is a difference between the TM300 and the HMC40, you said it yourself, it's the body that's bigger which enables the user to have tons of buttens on the body for on the fly shooting without fiddling with a menu.

[Nethfel]

@Kimchoc I'm not sure what editing technology you're using, but I've used FCP with AVCHD (from a different camera) footage recorded to a 16gig fat32 SDHC card with lengths up to 2 hrs (pretty much filling the card) and haven't had a problem with audio dropouts. AFAI understand it, there is overlap in the multiple files within the AVCHD hierarchy that when properly joined is removed and everything should be in sync - I know it has been in FCP when it logs and transfers the footage.

[Kimchoc]

@Nethfel The Problem was the JVC Everio camcorder. I now have the HMC40 with FAT32 file system and have no sound issues. So the JVC camera is simply a bad deal. The actual reason for the dropout is only something that the real JVC camera software engineers will know. Maybe they just screwed up when they wrote the technology that makes the camera work, who knows? But they admit it and said, "Tough shit", we aren't going to do anything about it. I was very concerned before I bought the HMC40.

[Nethfel]

@Kimchoc Now that sucks big time. I mean, there's no point in having  a camera that can record hours and hours if it's going to have audio dropouts each time a new file is created. Seems I hear a bunch of complaints on JVC cameras (at least at the consumer / pseudo pro-sumer level, never really looked at the higher end stuff as it's just way outside of my budget ever) - I currently have a Canon HF100 and am working at getting an HMC40.

[Kimchoc]

@Nethfel The best thing about this HMC40 is the work-flow. From the camera to the SD card to my card reader on my editing computer. Done. No waiting to "capture" DV tape. The time/date/stamp is a must in depositions. The mic in/headphone out is a must. Its got more features than I will EVER use. The low light issue is exactly that. Better get a light or set up your own. I don't shoot in darkness so who cares. This camera well worth the money. With the JVC I just record separate audio and synch

[somekindofafroperson]

@Kimchoc so what would be the amount of video you could fit on a 32gb sd? 16gb?

[Kimchoc]

@somekindofafroperson , Well it depends on the reso. I have mine set at 720 60p. That gives me good enough reso and and I get 3hrs 17mins on 32gb card. I bought 2 cards. I also have 2 16gb cards. If you set it on the lowest reso you can get 12.5hrs on the 32gb. But its near horrible for TV viewing quality. The audio does stitch together without dropping off but even their manual says that on some editors it will drop out. So its a crapshoot. Not the best, but it works for my application.

[TylerSaysTV]

@Nethfel if you dont want any audio drop outs which doesnt actually happen too often with this camera then buy a shotgun mic. yes it is extra money and more expensive but if it matters that much its worth it

[xTurnipTimex]

I am going to buy this camera from JR soon..

[ktisallred]

I love this camera.

[tbhnbikes1]

does it upload to a macbook pro using final cut express well?

[amt521999]

using the log and transfer mode, it will convert straight from the camera

[christopherhernandez]

can you attach a lens to this???

[TheLurkersDelight]

@christopherhernandez well fisheyes, yes. it has a 43mm lens, and an opteka, and century wide angle can fit on it, without spacers or anything

[mamkskate]

yes

[mwegener2]

I have this camera and I love it! Has all the bells and whistles you would ever need. The only thing that you have to get used to is using the touch screen instead of dedicated buttons but that takes about 5 minutes. If you like I've thrown up some demo videos here on YouTube check them out.

[TheMovieMaker2]

I was going get this camcorder but the lens and cmos chips are the same as its consumer models so im saving up for the 150.

[breackonthrough]

nice stuffs as always, i wish to live in the US ans specificly in NY LOL and of course have money or at least a decent work to buy on your store hehe :) cheers all