HMC40: Any gripes or grumbles
- Thread starter ggrantly
- Start date
Macfionn
Active member
Yeah, the low light issue tends to be a reoccurring theme.
There also seems to be a lot of posts where people are concerned of its apparent fragility. From what I read, it hasn't yet been an issue, but appears it 'could' be one.
Me? Im just complaining cause mine hasn't come in yet!
There also seems to be a lot of posts where people are concerned of its apparent fragility. From what I read, it hasn't yet been an issue, but appears it 'could' be one.
Me? Im just complaining cause mine hasn't come in yet!
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Bic Parker
Active member
Fragility is not an issue at all, really. It is pretty well built. I have been taking mine out into West Texas a few times now and it has fared very well.
Low light is only sort of an issue. It certainly isn't as some cameras (which cost a great deal more), but, at the same time, under most standard indoor lighting conditions, it does pretty well. I would highly advise having a lighting kit with this rig, though.
Low light is only sort of an issue. It certainly isn't as some cameras (which cost a great deal more), but, at the same time, under most standard indoor lighting conditions, it does pretty well. I would highly advise having a lighting kit with this rig, though.
Robert M Wright
Well-known member
The HMC40 isn't limited to only shooting outdoors, on cloudless days at high noon.
It's not a camcorder made for shooting in dim lighting, but I think a lot more has been made of the low-light limitations than is really warranted. Anyone expecting something akin to 1/3" imaging chip low light performance will certainly be disappointed, but the HMC40 performs reasonably well in low light for what it indeed is - a camcorder built around 1/4" imaging chips.
I can't really find a major flaw with the HMC40. The design is well thought out. Certainly, there are weaknesses, just like with every camcorder made by man, but nothing particularly notable really. I'd like to see a better viewfinder myself, but it's not like it's absolutely the worst out there either. I'd also like to be able to actually see the changes, on the LCD, while making adjustments to scene files, but I'm not about to pitch the camera in the trash because I can't.
It's not a camcorder made for shooting in dim lighting, but I think a lot more has been made of the low-light limitations than is really warranted. Anyone expecting something akin to 1/3" imaging chip low light performance will certainly be disappointed, but the HMC40 performs reasonably well in low light for what it indeed is - a camcorder built around 1/4" imaging chips.
I can't really find a major flaw with the HMC40. The design is well thought out. Certainly, there are weaknesses, just like with every camcorder made by man, but nothing particularly notable really. I'd like to see a better viewfinder myself, but it's not like it's absolutely the worst out there either. I'd also like to be able to actually see the changes, on the LCD, while making adjustments to scene files, but I'm not about to pitch the camera in the trash because I can't.
Barry_Green
Moderator
The more I use it, the more I like it. We did a comparison greenscreen shot against an HPX300, and the HMC40 held its own, and for $1850 it's really, really hard to argue with that.
I haven't encountered any fragility issues. I think Jan said the thing's made from carbon fiber, it's pretty tough.
I haven't encountered any fragility issues. I think Jan said the thing's made from carbon fiber, it's pretty tough.
Bic Parker
Active member
Truthfully, the only problems I have had in using the HMC40 were operator error (and a lot of them with more to come).
The touchscreen, btw, has actually been handier than I thought it would (that was my one bit of concern when I purchased the camera after doing comparisons). In practice, it has made getting to settings and adjustments a bit more intuitive and less kludgy than having an enormous amounts of buttons on each side of the camera (there are enough anyway, to spare). The focus touchscreen tool is way cool, btw, and has helped on setting up shots.
I would think as a B-Cam, this would be a good choice because it is: 1) quick and easy to set up out of the case; 2) small; 3) Can still deliver a quality image with a full range of HD resolution, frame speed, and image options; and 4) does all of that for a comparatively small cost.
The touchscreen, btw, has actually been handier than I thought it would (that was my one bit of concern when I purchased the camera after doing comparisons). In practice, it has made getting to settings and adjustments a bit more intuitive and less kludgy than having an enormous amounts of buttons on each side of the camera (there are enough anyway, to spare). The focus touchscreen tool is way cool, btw, and has helped on setting up shots.
I would think as a B-Cam, this would be a good choice because it is: 1) quick and easy to set up out of the case; 2) small; 3) Can still deliver a quality image with a full range of HD resolution, frame speed, and image options; and 4) does all of that for a comparatively small cost.
Robert M Wright
Well-known member
My biggest complaint: You can't lock down the zoom speed to a slow steady crawl. I'll get over it.
BobDiaz
The Professor
#1 on my list: the Panasonic PASS website. :kali:
Boy if the HMC40 was anything like this website, I'd be banned from this forum. :happy:
It's next to impossible to figure out what to click to download the software want and when I find it, the system won't let me download it without a user name and password. OK, I had to give that to get to that point, so I give it again and the system rejects my entry. Maybe this is a problem with Firefox, try Safari ... no luck, boot Windows and try Internet Explorer and that fails too. :badputer:
Good thing Toast does have a AVCCAM viewer, but I'd sure like to download the latest versions from Panasonic to see how it works....
Bob Diaz
Boy if the HMC40 was anything like this website, I'd be banned from this forum. :happy:
It's next to impossible to figure out what to click to download the software want and when I find it, the system won't let me download it without a user name and password. OK, I had to give that to get to that point, so I give it again and the system rejects my entry. Maybe this is a problem with Firefox, try Safari ... no luck, boot Windows and try Internet Explorer and that fails too. :badputer:
Good thing Toast does have a AVCCAM viewer, but I'd sure like to download the latest versions from Panasonic to see how it works....
Bob Diaz
Barry_Green
Moderator
What's the problem with the PASS site?
Log in with your username and password. In the "what's new" section at the top, click on the "AVCCAM Viewer Mac", and then click on the link to download the software...
Log in with your username and password. In the "what's new" section at the top, click on the "AVCCAM Viewer Mac", and then click on the link to download the software...
Macfionn
Active member
I have to agree with Bob in that it is hardly intuitive.
Barry_Green
Moderator
But why? I mean, I figured it out in three seconds. Log in, and look at the newest releases, and it says "AVCCAM Viewer for Mac". Click it, and it takes you to the download page. So what's missing?
it is a known fact that HARDWARE people are not good SOFTWARE people.
i.e. Microsoft...good software :windows 7(Arguably) bad hardware: ZUNE
Apple..good hardware iPHONE...bad software: Mac OSX Snow Leopard
ShugPro Digital Studio
Active member
"Yeah, I'm just going to have to go ahead and sort of disagree with you on that one..."
Re: Bob vs Barry re: the PASS site.
Bob, the having to log in 10 times to get anything done is definitely a problem with the website.
Barry, if you're looking for something easy to find, the site is easy, if you're trying to do more, it's not so easy.
Verdict: usable, but certainly lame as far as websites go.
any site that requires the same login more than once to perform the task in short order is frustrating.
Go to pass website (could you have provided a link on the CD?). Log in. Click on my products (or something like that), and login again. Click "I need an Edius 2 serial number" Log in again. Click I need Edius 2 Neo BOOSTER from the three choices, login again. Each of these is opening a new window (ever hear of tabbed browsing? If you have to open something new, please just a tab...).
That is simply not good web development.
The camera, however, I am liking a lot.
Go to pass website (could you have provided a link on the CD?). Log in. Click on my products (or something like that), and login again. Click "I need an Edius 2 serial number" Log in again. Click I need Edius 2 Neo BOOSTER from the three choices, login again. Each of these is opening a new window (ever hear of tabbed browsing? If you have to open something new, please just a tab...).
That is simply not good web development.
The camera, however, I am liking a lot.
BobDiaz
The Professor
OK, I get there, click to download the software and a pop-up window appears asking for my user name (email address) and password. I give it the information that worked for logging in and the system rejects this and asks again. This goes into an endless loop of rejection that forbids me from getting past that point to download the software.
The same endless rejection loop happens with Firefox, Safari, and Windows Explorer.
I just don't understand why the tight security on the software, would it kill Panasonic if someone had a copy of it that didn't own any Panasonic cameras?
Very frustrating.... :kali::badputer:
Bob Diaz
Jan_Crittenden
Veteran
Hi Bob,
I have logged in to the Pass website without equipment and yes that does restrict me from some areas, but it doesn't keep me from downloading the AVCCAM viewer, which is why I logged in under my personal email. I wanted to see if I had to own in order to get it.
If you would please, send me your name as regiseter along with your serial number on your camera and I will have the US manager take a look at what might be the problem. I grant the site is a little kludgy but by and large it does work. Send this via a pm.
Thnaks,
jan
I have logged in to the Pass website without equipment and yes that does restrict me from some areas, but it doesn't keep me from downloading the AVCCAM viewer, which is why I logged in under my personal email. I wanted to see if I had to own in order to get it.
If you would please, send me your name as regiseter along with your serial number on your camera and I will have the US manager take a look at what might be the problem. I grant the site is a little kludgy but by and large it does work. Send this via a pm.
Thnaks,
jan