Considering Panasonic TM300

[peterlimyk]

I'm looking at HD cam with very good video output. So far, TM300 looks good for me & not too expensive like Canon.

Canon has 24Mbps output in video quality. What's the difference compared to other lower Mbps?

Any experience with Panasonic TM300? Where can I get the lowest price? Best Denki offers S$1600 if I'm not wrong.

Thanks

[TsQ]

I got mine in pricejapan for ard $1310 sgd , incl DHL.. then ard $50 for tax... Best offer $1600 is TM200... TM300 is ard $1750-1800 if not wrong

performance wise i cannot compare to others since i dont hv one to compare.. but my brother whom is more pro on videos did mention that the quality is not bad.. on par with the Sony's higher end one

anyway, this is the cheapest HD camcorder in the space of "consumer grade high end models" .. its always canon vs sony vs panasonic and for the price, and the good performance of low light and IS.. i prefer the panasonic

[mm63]

Image sharpness --> Canon HF-S1xx series
Low light and image stablization --> Sony XR5xx series

TM300 is somewhat in between the 2 above though the low light samples I have seen indicate that it has the poorest low light performance.

If you buy from pricejapan, the XR520 is just slightly higher (US$100) in price to the TM300

[TsQ]

Sony low light is the best.. however, u hv to question urself if u want to pay the premium for additional low light performance or not.. dont forget Sony accessories is also rather pricey and i wanted something not too expensive (incl all needed accessories at the end like extra batt etc)

from what I read.. Sony image stabilizer is not as good as TM300 but better then Canon by a far margin.. I find that hard to believe as my previous Sony electronic image stabilizer is pretty good, almost the best I've seen ..

TM300 being the cheapest and hving the better/very respectable IS is what won me over as I am very very lousy in keeping my video stable.. haha..

I think getting the SOny wont go wrong... but u may want to test out their IS and sharpness, while i am sure they low light will performace very well.. do chk, as SOny uses their G series which is rather new from the previous models

[barricade]

i have just bought a Panasonic TM300 today ...just finish running through the features ... its great man ... i went to mustafa basement 2 the older building for shopping spree ...i was shock they sell electronics item too ... haha ... i bought this video camera for only $1799 as for best denki i check the price was $1999 ...i wish to buy 1 more for my sister wedding gift anyone intrested for a group buy ?

[TsQ]

congrates on ur purchase...

u'll need the larger capacity batt as the one that comes with it last 1 hr recording only..

[barricade]

really .the sales man gave me 2 extra batt he said 1 will at least last for 1 hr 45 min standby is 3 hours

[TsQ]

they gave u original or 3rd party? theres basically 3 size.. the one bundled with the camera is smallest... and theres no practical reason to get their highest capacity as its a external pack (ie a wire running to it) .. so the medium size one is the one most will need, which last almost 2hrs30min of usage..

and what is last 1h45m and standy 3hr? this one not handphone leh.. hahah.. normally ppl rate their batt hr:mm at "recording" and "playback" mode

[peterlimyk]

Originally Posted by barricade i have just bought a Panasonic TM300 today ...just finish running through the features ... its great man ... i went to mustafa basement 2 the older building for shopping spree ...i was shock they sell electronics item too ... haha ... i bought this video camera for only $1799 as for best denki i check the price was $1999 ...i wish to buy 1 more for my sister wedding gift anyone intrested for a group buy ?

Is that the cheapest u can get in Sg? I want to buy it this week & looking for cheaper price than Best Denki.

Any other places for buying camcorders?

[peterlimyk]

Originally Posted by TsQ I got mine in pricejapan for ard $1310 sgd , incl DHL.. then ard $50 for tax... Best offer $1600 is TM200... TM300 is ard $1750-1800 if not wrong performance wise i cannot compare to others since i dont hv one to compare.. but my brother whom is more pro on videos did mention that the quality is not bad.. on par with the Sony's higher end one anyway, this is the cheapest HD camcorder in the space of "consumer grade high end models" .. its always canon vs sony vs panasonic and for the price, and the good performance of low light and IS.. i prefer the panasonic

wow $1310 is cheap!! is that PAL? how about the warranty?

[TsQ]

Originally Posted by peterlimyk wow $1310 is cheap!! is that PAL? how about the warranty?

cheap but comes with some condition... as its a Japanese set.

so if within the year it spoils, u need to sent back to Japan (Cost ard $80) .. but with a saving of like SGD400 .. u can sent in few times for warranty already

and ofcos, u can also get panasonic SG to fix it.. again with the saving u already hv, it can hv the money to act as a buffer for u to go get it fix..

these daysm buying japanese made stuff, and with this item hving less moving parts.. its low chances to hv one that spoil within 1 yr.. i feel its a risk worth taking...

[peterlimyk]

Originally Posted by TsQ I got mine in pricejapan for ard $1310 sgd , incl DHL.. then ard $50 for tax... Best offer $1600 is TM200... TM300 is ard $1750-1800 if not wrong performance wise i cannot compare to others since i dont hv one to compare.. but my brother whom is more pro on videos did mention that the quality is not bad.. on par with the Sony's higher end one anyway, this is the cheapest HD camcorder in the space of "consumer grade high end models" .. its always canon vs sony vs panasonic and for the price, and the good performance of low light and IS.. i prefer the panasonic

Hi, how did you pay the tax? is it included in the payment?

[TsQ]

Originally Posted by peterlimyk Hi, how did you pay the tax? is it included in the payment?

DHL pay for u then collect from u when the package is delivered. on top of that, a $10 service change also for them clearing custom and paying it for u 1st

[stevei]

Hi.... Im interested in buying the HF S10.
Have you had any NTSC issues playing your movies on your TV?

[peterlimyk]

Originally Posted by TsQ cheap but comes with some condition... as its a Japanese set. so if within the year it spoils, u need to sent back to Japan (Cost ard $80) .. but with a saving of like SGD400 .. u can sent in few times for warranty already and ofcos, u can also get panasonic SG to fix it.. again with the saving u already hv, it can hv the money to act as a buffer for u to go get it fix.. these daysm buying japanese made stuff, and with this item hving less moving parts.. its low chances to hv one that spoil within 1 yr.. i feel its a risk worth taking...

Did you have flickering problem when shooting indoor?? Heard that NTSC has flickering problem in PAL world

[TsQ]

Originally Posted by peterlimyk Did you have flickering problem when shooting indoor?? Heard that NTSC has flickering problem in PAL world

u mean u want to convert NTSC to pal after editing?

I asked the same question last time, and i was told during editing, u dont change the pal-ntsc then it will be OK.. i not sure also.. but i am sure its not such big problem since if the japanese can use it, why not us? they are very particular with thier AV stuff then us..

[barricade]

PAL will be better ... mmmm any way i check the price around for the same video cam i bought in mustafa ... Panasonic TM300 still Mustafa cheapest ...peter if u intrested u can look for the salesman there called shawn ... basement 2..... they have other sales man but they either show me sony jvc or canon only .... well i guess this brand give them good money the guy i mention he compared all ... and i really like his explanation ...sorry for late reply

[TsQ]

i made some close up shot with the TM300, playing with DOF on a flower.. then playback via a panasonic BR player with SD slot on a 1080P Plasma in my fren's hse

this is the 1st time i see it after using it for months (as i no 1080P TV) ..

it was really awesome !!! seriously... it will shut those people that say 720P is sufficient.. and it will make those Xacti 720P camcorder looks sh1t .. hahaha..

later i try to upload and show u guys..

[TsQ]

Ok here's a very short clip i made .. definitely not anything u expect from a pro person.. but i think if its in the hand of someone good, it shld look better.. if u guys want more, i try to upload more..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9TYHpAMkZA&fmt=22

video by other ppl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB24rCL5_8A&fmt=22

[donnyyeo]

I have the Panasonic HDC-TM300.

My comments are:

Cons:

1. must remove the battery to plug-in the DC input

2. the zoom slider is not so smooth

3. no LANC port

4. no option to record MPEG2 format

5. cannot adjust exposure while recording (except in manual mode)

6. no touch screen spot metering and focus like in Sony's

7. menus are harder to use compare to Sony's

8. AF/AE tracking does not work in manual mode

9. wierd side mounted accessory shoe adapter

10. manual control lens ring harder to use than Sony's manual control dail. Reason, using the larger lens ring, more prone to have a finger blocking the lens.

11. the rubber port cover not realy good compared the Sony's sliding port cover.

Pros:

1. small and light

2. LCD is much brighter compare to Sony HDR-SR12E