New cams! 1080p60! Panasonic HDC-HS700 & HDC-TM700

ZuluTime said:
Earlier today, I had a chance to pop into a local camera shop and check out the HDC-TM700. So far, I'm pretty impressed with how much capability there is in such a small package.

After reviewing its specs in more detail, I'm finding myself kinda torn between buying it and the AG-HMC40, which is about $1000.00 more, but doesn't seem to offer a whole lot more capability beyond better zoom and manual focus controls and the ability to accept XLR mics - if you buy the optional XLR adapter and mic (which, by the way, sells for an outrageous $900.00 here in Canada).

One thing I don't understand is why Panasonic didn't use a higher-resolution LCD display instead. The one that's on the HMC40 now resolves only 230,000 pixels, just like the one on the TMC-700. I can understand a bit of cost-cutting might have gone on to deliver the HMC40 at a specific price, but not when it's being marketed as a pro camera. I mean, how much more money would a better LCD display have added to the price?
Click to expand...

IMO, the LCD display rez is OK. What I don't like about my TM700 is the touchscreen interface. Bo-hooooo on touchscreens. My full evaluation is still a few days away.

cheers
JohnG
 
AFAIK, the 50p/60p footage is encoded with Level 4.2. The ATSC spec includes 60p/50p modes coded with AVC Level 4.2, so these progressive modes are pretty much broadcast-ready.

http://www.atsc.org/cms/standards/a_72_part_1.pdf

Makes one wonder why more expensive Panasonic cams, like the recently announced HPX370, have no these full-HD modes.
 
OK, I've had the TM700 just enough to capture some clips. I did a bunch of handheld shots and the image (on the LCD) looks very steady even at max zoom. The OIS appears to work great when viewing the clips on the LCD. No obvious image jumps or stutters. :laugh:

That said, I haven't previewed the clips on a big monitor so my LCD preview might not be so definitive. To whit................ I haven't figured out how to convert the dot-MTS files into Apple prorez yet. MPEG Streamclip doesn't work and that was my previous method for converting the Sanyo 1080 60P MP4 files. I've read of a few other converters on creativecow but would like to get a recommendation from someone on this forum before I go off and invest my time and $'s in a new workflow/conversion process. I'm using FCP and prefer to edit in prorez.

thanks
JohnG
 
Cranky said:
http://vimeo.com/10663338

The attached image is a 33% percent quality JPEG produced by Photoshop. Still looks very, very good.
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Even at 33% quality the picture is Fantastic!.
Have you any possiblity to upload some raw still photos.
I have authored your tiger and the Ginza cat HDC-TM700 1080p test footage with the free AVCHD/Blu-ray Authoring program called MultiAVCHD & the results are
Super too!
 
So here's my question...
I thought the rule of thumb was the more megapixel the worse the low light sensivity was. So why not put a 3 or 6 megapixel sensor in here and take the market for low light shooting. Remember HD is really only 3 megapixels.

Jan, can you comment on this also?
 
David S. said:
ClipWrap2 works.

There's a demo
Click to expand...

Thanks David........... I'll give ClipWrap2 a good look-over!

I did download VoltaicHD and was successful in converting the dot-MTS files to ProRes 422. However, the converted files were "hitchy" in FCP 7 so I'm still trying to dial that workflow in.

regards
JohnG
 
B cams for new HMC80?

B cams for new HMC80?

I wonder how these would cut together with the HMC80 as B cam material or to setup and cover alternative unmanned angles for events like dance recitals, etc.?
 
Anyone have any idea where I can actually handle one in the San Antonio area? None of the big box names or even the local camera shop have them on display; online only.

Also, could anyone help with my question regarding 60p for slow-mo? How would I take the 60p footage and drop it into a 30p or 24p timeline w/out loosing frames?
 
David S. said:
Actually, ClipWrap/Divergent Media just released version 2.1 of the utility.
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Hi David

I tried the Clipwrap 2.1 demo and it worked. I purchased it straight-away and have been pleased with the results. Clipwrap doesn't have all of the bells-n-whistles of MPEG Streamclip (Clipwrap is pretty bare bones actually) but the important thing is that IT WORKS! The 60P Prores 422 clips that Clipwrap generated were gobbled up by FCP. Sweet! ~~~~~

More comments on the cam:
The OIS looks to be quite good and the electronic eyepiece is VERY low res........... i.e. although it does make the cam usable in bright sunshine (without an LCD shade) the eyepiece is really pretty cheesy.

cheers
JohnG
 
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azonicbruce said:
Anyone have any idea where I can actually handle one in the San Antonio area? None of the big box names or even the local camera shop have them on display; online only.

Also, could anyone help with my question regarding 60p for slow-mo? How would I take the 60p footage and drop it into a 30p or 24p timeline w/out loosing frames?
Click to expand...
I just received my TM700 and I played some 1080p60 videos of the kids in slo-mo on my PS3 by loading the videos in a "VIDEO" folder on a SDHC card and putting the SDHC card in the SD/SDHC card slot on it. My PS3 has the latest 3.21 firmware and you might have to edit the audio setting while it's playing to get the audio correct.

Here is a test video of my TM700 18x zoom and Rode Stereo VideoMic :
http://vimeo.com/11021284
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyV4lX831-8
IMGP2787.jpg


IMGP2781.jpg
 
joe1946 said:
I just received my TM700 and I played some 1080p60 videos of the kids in slo-mo on my PS3 by loading the videos in a "VIDEO" folder on a SDHC card and putting the SDHC card in the SD/SDHC card slot on it. My PS3 has the latest 3.21 firmware and you might have to edit the audio setting while it's playing to get the audio correct.

Here is a test video of my TM700 18x zoom and Rode Stereo VideoMic :
http://vimeo.com/11021284
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyV4lX831-8
Click to expand...
Joe, thanks for posting. I am almost certain to get the TM700 and considering the Rode SVM. I have seen raving reviews of the Rode, but I was wondering how it compares to others of its type. Have you compared the Rode to other stereo microphones? I know it is not a shotgun microphone, but does it have good sensitivity to sound within 20 feet or so? Also, I don't see a lens hood on your TM700, but I thought I read that it comes with a hood. Thanks!
 
joe1946 said:
John, the Rode Stereo VideoMic is the only mic I have been using with my Pentax K-7 and TM700 and I like it so far. You could see my other video tests with it on youtube and Vimeo :

http://www.youtube.com/user/jogibajr#g/u
http://vimeo.com/user531575/videos/sort:date

The hood is very small and it is on my TM700 in the photos. Here is a stock photo without the hood:
Click to expand...
Thanks, Joe. At closer inspection, I can see the small lens hood. I usually use a hand-held mic, which has more flexibility than an on-camera mic in that you can get it close to your subject's mouth for maximum pickup of voices. It seems to me that the Rode SVM would be excellent in capturing 'wider sound,' such as a live band. But are there times you wish it was a shotgun or hand-held mic?
 
The Rode SVM has worked very well so far and I have not really had a desire to use a shotgun or handheld mic. BTW the TM700 has some nice features for the mic settings since it's only a consumer camcorder.
TM700Micsetuppage73.jpg


AGC.jpg
 
I received my HS700 this afternoon from B&H Photo, and over all I am quite impressed with this little consumer beastie. But there is one issue that I am struggling with right now...

How the heck do you lock the exposure in manual IRIS mode so that the exposure does not change during the full optical zoom range?

I want to be able to adjust the IRIS to the correct exposure at the widest end of the zoom, and then zoom in all the way ( 12x ) and have the exposure remain locked.

On my HMC150, I would just set my IRIS to say F 4.0 at the widest end of the zoom, and then I could zoom away with no change in exposure.

With this HS700, I set the exposure in manual IRIS mode while zoomed to the widest setting, then if I zoom in all the way ( 12x ) the exposure appears to drop by more than one stop.

I really wish that the IRIS and dB Gain settings were on separate controls, so I could do something like set the aperature to F 4.5, with a Gain of +6 dB, and have these remain locked over the full range of the optical zoom.

Am I asking too much from a consumer cam ?
 
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