June 8th 2011 -
Panasonic HDC-TM900
Panasonic’s camcorders have topped our list for videomaking fans for a couple of years now, with the HDC-TM700 and HDC-TM300 before it. The progression has not been a massive one between every step, but when the core features are all present, there’s not so much to improve. The HDC-TM900 is another incremental enhancement, however it does have features to make it worth choosing over its forebears.
The most serious difference is the power to shoot 3D. Whereas Panasonic’s first 3D-capable buyer video recorder, the HDC-SDT750, was a full package including the 3D converter, with this generation Panasonic has turned over to selling the VW-CLT1 attachment separately, and merely built in compatibility to key models from its latest range. These include the HDC-SD90 we looked at recently, and the HDC-TM900 on review here. The lens attachment will set you back a reasonably large ?280, but this still makes the mixture cost around ?200 less than the HDC-SDT750 did when it was released.
The same downsides apply, though. Calibration is advisable every time you remove and reattach the adapter, and this takes around 30 seconds. Just about all the manual features are disabled in this mode, too , including the zoom. So you’re left with a single framing option and automatic exposure. Video is recorded in the side by side format without delay onto the sensor, effectively using half its area for each of the two stereoscopic portions, so low light sensitiveness is halved too. Nevertheless, in acceptable lighting results are decent, with a clear sense of depth, and good colour fidelity, though the level of detail is slightly diminished over 2D footage.
Aside from its compatibility with the 3D attachment , however , the HDC-TM900 is far more of a mild improvement to the HDC-TM700 than a groundbreaking new model. It is very slightly bigger and heavier, but this is virtually entirely because of the inclusion of a 3.5in LCD rather than a 3in one, which is a trade-off we’re quite willing to accept. Within, the TM900 has identical directions to the TM700. It’s built around a trio of quarter .1in CMOS sensors, each with 3.05Mpixels. The lens has the same specification as well , providing a 12x optical zoom and 35mm equivalent wide angle, so that you can capture more of the action at close quarters.
Panasonic camcorders