HMC-40 and TM-700 basically the same camera?

Other than the sensors..I would say no. The HMC40 shoots 720 @24p, 30p, and 60p and 1080 @24p and 30p while the TM700s best quality is at 1080 60p(which the 40 does not do....because that mode falls outside of the broadcast standard. Also the HMC40 gives you a lot more control as far as adjusting the image - Gamma curves, detail coring, color, etc. I think they are both very sharp high quality cameras when shooting in good to moderate light but the HMC is a more fully rounded out camera for dealing with different types of shooting - IMO. I think the basic image may indeed look similar, but the added shooting options and control can take the HMC40 to a different level for those who want to adjust the look and style of the picture in camera.
 
The HMC40 has the lens from an older consumer line, the "300" (HS300, SD300). The "700" has a wider and faster lens (35 mm and F1.5 vs. 40 mm and F1.8). Also the "700" can do 1080p60 (or 1080p50) at 28 Mbit/s which the HMC40 cannot do. But the HMC40 has more controls and is overall much better to handle. Its 720p looks about as good as 1080p from the "700" on my TV. You can get the HMC40 for about $1,200 on eBay.
 
Nick Pompadelaquisio said:
Drill Bit - so the 700 should be a bit better in low light?
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From comparisons and users of both cameras I'd say the TM700 does do just a bit better in low light...it's one of the most highly reguarded consumer cams from this standpoint. It's probably that fast aperture helping there. The image adjustments on the 40 might help you get a better look in low light though with less noise ... through detail coring and other settings. Have you thought about the TM900. It adds a 1080 24p cinema setting and new NR tweaks, a better LCD than both the HMC40 and TM700, and a few other improvements...looks like a great camera.
 
Nick Pompadelaquisio said:
Drill Bit - so the 700 should be a bit better in low light?
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Just a bit if any. I have both the HMC40 and the SD600 (same lens and sensor as on the 700) so I might do a comparison someday.

pulpfiction007 said:
Have you thought about the TM900. It adds a 1080 24p cinema setting and new NR tweaks, a better LCD than both the HMC40 and TM700, and a few other improvements...looks like a great camera.
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The 800/900 use pulldown for 24p, just like the 600/700 before it and just like the 300 before it. Also, the 800/900 uses new battery form-factor which is not compatible with the older batteries. The 600/700 uses the same batteries that all prior Panasonic AVCHD camcorders use. The screen on the 800/900 is pretty much the same as on the GH1/GH2 with 460 Kpix, twice more than on the 600/700 and on the HMC40, but a far cry from consumer Sonys and Canons with their 900+ KPix screens.

BTW, the 600/700 and I think the newer models too have color peaking while the HMC40 has not. The HMC40 has image magnifier and a focusing bar that shows amount of high-freq information in the frame.
 
Other known differences favoring the TM900 over the TM700 is a better stabilizer and better cooling system.

It might even have better colors and low light capabilities but their aren't any real world comparisons concerning those yet.
 
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