HMC-80 spec sheet out

It is really sweet. I've spent quite a bit of time with it and I really, really liked it. For the price, the images it delivers are fantastic, and it's like a better HMC40. The size, the switches and buttons, the outputs, the DV mode... I think the HMC80 is a pretty darn amazing deal. Only drawback is like on the HMC40, the sensitivity -- but if you can overcome that with a light, it's really good.
 
According to one of the engineers at NAB, the HMC80 uses the same lens and chips as the HMC40, so the image quality should be the same.

The HMC80 has the advantage of the larger camera, access to buttons (rather than menus), and the DV recording modes.

Bob Diaz
 
Right, it's the same chips and same image. But the size and the buttons make a significant difference in the usability (to me, at least). I love the HMC40, it's a great little package, but setting the shutter speed or the syncro scan is rather a pain, and fiddling around with three different menus on the touchscreen calls for some deft memorization to figure out - wait, is the function I want in the Quick menu? Or the regular menu? Neither? Oh, yeah, it's in the Function Navi...

The HMC80 makes pretty good use of the larger body. Heck, just having a dial to control the headphone volume is sweet enough, trying to adjust headphone volume through the quick menu on the 40 isn't the most intuitive.

But there's no arguing the size and functionality of the 40, it's a great package at a great price. All I'm saying is -- the HMC80 does step it up. It's not just the same thing jammed in a bigger body, they really thought it through and made that bigger body work for them.
 
I also find the HMC40 a pain to keep sturdy. I use a camera brace that I can shoot with hands free if I want to but it still isn't perfect. The camera is so light that it still ends up bouncing around no matter how hard I try to stay still. If I just stand there it is ok but if I try to walk it bounces. Now of course I do not have the best brace in the world but it should be at least equal to a shoulder mount camera. I "hope" the HMC80 would help in this area big time. In my opinion there is nothing like a good shoulder mount camera. I have always felt I had the most control of my cameras when they were shoulder mount. I know without trying it this may not make sense but it really does make a difference. I have always used shoulder mount cameras including my old trusty Canon XL1. I do not work with a lot of video anymore so I did not want to spend a lot of money on a camera but boy I wish I had the HMC80 instead of the HMC40 right now.

Oh yeah lets not forget actually having a place to put your microphones. We used to always slap velcro to the sides of our cameras but with the HMC40 that has been pretty challenging. With the HMC80 there will be plenty of space to accessorize your camera.

I really wish Panasonic would move to a 1/3" design but oh well we can't have everything I guess.
 
I also find the HMC40 a pain to keep sturdy.
Click to expand...

+1. I never thought I'd complain about a piece of gearing being too lightweight, but really, at anything over 50% zoom, it can be tough to handhold without additional weight or support of some kind!

That said... it's nice and balanced for handheld or shoulder mounted shooting with my Letus35 Mini + rods + shoulder pad + handlebar grips... so I guess it works out: no complaints here. lol

The HMC80 looks like a nice form-factor for event videographers, but for what I shoot with my own gear (indie/documentary film making and run 'n' gun for-fun projects), if I'm spending that amount of money ($2900ish) on a camcorder that's going to be that large, I'd spend the extra couple of bucks and "graduate" to the HMC-150 ($3200ish new?) with a cheap 3rd party shoulder mount like the Spider Brace (under $100ish). The extra control surfaces look very nicely placed though... well done, Panasonic!

Just my $0.02 as a very happy HMC-40 owner at home, and HVX200/HVX200a user at work!
 
Given that the image between the two should be identical, shooters get to choose their form factor. The HMC80 is an intriguing cam given the shoulder mount form factor. In the case of the HMC40, I purchased it specifically because it is small and light. Hand held it is a challenge, but I try to use a monopod when possible. It is the ultimate guerilla cam with a great image, and a serves me as a B-Cam also. If it weren't for the low light issue, I would think about ditching P2 and go with one of each.

Grant
 
I just noticed the HMC80 is about 7lbs compared to around 2lbs for the HMC40. This should help weigh it down a bit more and keep it a bit more sturdy. It isn't as solid as my old SONY DSR500 which weighed 15 lbs but then again that was a bit too heavy. Since it is centered (I hope) on my shoulder adding my accessories such as a 1lb light and mics should actually help as opposed to making it even more front heavy.
 
The HMC80 is very front-heavy (well, I mean, it's a featherweight for a shoulder-mount so ... can it even be called front-heavy?) But what I mean is, what little weight there is, is largely on the front. There's no big Anton Bauer battery in the back to counter-balance it, so you end up resting the back end of it on your shoulder, and your hand/wrist does support some of its weight.

Anything you can add on the back will help weigh it down and counter-balance it.

I mean, don't take this the wrong way -- it's not like it's a big heavy thing, it's about half the weight on your hand as compared to an HVX200 (I'm not making a scientific observation, just guessing) but ... you do have to support the front of it, you can't just let it balance on your shoulder because it doesn't have an even front/back weight distribution.
 
The interesting thing is that at DV Expo, Jan did talk about the possibility of the HMC80 being used for small TV Stations. Then she talked about having an Anton Bauer battery battery to provide a rear weight to balance the camera. I wish I had thought to ask how that would be adapted to the camera.



Bob Diaz
 
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