Panasonic HDC-HS250 Digital Camcorder

Camcorders — By Ricky on June 17, 2009 at 5:51 am

Panasonic HDC-HS250 Camcorder is an easy to use a camcorder for the classes

Panasonic has unveiled three high end and three entry level camcorders into the market. The Panasonic HDC-HS250 and HS 300 are two high end models. The new models have 120 GB hard disk that holds up to 50 hours of footage at the lowest quality settings. The main difference between the two models is that HS 300 offers manual controls, an electronic view finder, and the ability to add an external microphone while HS 250 is a slimmed down version that offers none of these options

Panasonic is flaunting its HDC HS 300, HDC HS 250, and HDC TM300 as excellent low light performers. They claim that the new high def camcorders have the highest pixel count of any consumer camcorder. The main feature of the new Panansonic camcorder is that all the three new models capture 10.6 mp images while shooting stills and can save 8.6 mp still images while shooting video. They incorporate the same 12X zoom f1.8-2.8 lens the same lens as the HS100/SD100–as well as the same trio of 1/4.1-inch 3-megapixel 3MOS sensors, with an effective resolution of 2.07 mega pixels each for 16:9 video. The different ranges of camcorders have different designs because of different media, but they have similar features and same video quality. Panasonic offers the highest video quality of 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution at 30fps at 17 megabits per second, and can record about 8 minutes of video per gigabyte of storage space or almost 16 hours of video on the hard disk.

panasonic hdc hs250 Both the Panasonic models features Intelligent Auto Mode for automatically optimizing footage based on shooting conditions, touch screen controlled subject tracking and auto focus and optical image stabilization.

The Panasonic models are perfectly designed with dimensions of 2.9 inches wide by 2.7 inches high by 5.0 inches long, which makes it comfortable to hold especially with the slight upward curve toward the back that makes the zoom switch and photo button easier to reach. This model weighs a little more than a pound and is not the lightest model and even a little large than its market competitors Cannon Vixia Hf 20.

Most of the controls of these models are operated by a touch screen interface and only the optical image stabilizer and Manual buttons live inside the LCD recess. We found within the recess and under hard covers, are all the connectors–AV, component video out, mini HDMI, and USB–and the SD card slot. (Panasonic recommends a Class 4 card.).

The traditional mode dial is situated right under your fore finger and have options for power, video, and still recording and playback. We found the zoom and record controls, and delete and Menu buttons on the LCD bezel and the Intelligent Auto and 3-second prerecord button on the LCD body.

You can select options such as where to record from the menu option. There are many options available on the menu options such as options for Digital Cinema (24p) mode, mic options (surround, zoom, or focus) video quality, picture size, onscreen display options, LCD brightness, and guidelines. Primary operation occurs through the touch-screen menus, which fly out from a small icon in the lower-left corner.

The HS 250 shares quite a few features of its expensive sibling. You find many options on the auto mode such as AE and AF, backlight compensation, intelligent contrast, fade, soft skin mode, telemacro, and MagicPix night mode whereas in the manual mode you can opt for white balance options, and shutter speed and iris are as broad and flexible as you’ll get on an entry-level pro model.

The HS 250 has 2.7 inch LCD which is fairly good but is not as effective as the touch screen and also on the HS250, which lacks a focus ring, using the up/down arrows on the screen to focus isn’t very fluid. However the performance is relatively well, though like most hard-drive camcorders, it doesn’t start very quickly on power on because it has to read the hard drive. It does have a Quick Start standby mode, though it does consume some power. We found the zoom quite precise and easy to control and the audio sounds a tad thin, but acceptable and Panasonic’s optical stabilization works solidly out to the end of the zoom range. The HDC-HS250 offers full support for Apple Macintosh computers, and in fact allows easy file transferring so that files may be edited in iMovie

Panasonic HDC-HS250 has improved its video quality in comparison to its older models and hence this model features good quality video. However even though the video is sharp it looks a little softer when you compare it to other competing models like Sony, Cannon etc. The color and exposure live up to the mark of the expectation for a camcorder in this price range. The audio was good with adequate volume and microphone coverage.

Overall you can conclude that Panasonic HDC-HS250 is a high-definition camcorder recommended for new or intermediate users who desire an easy-to-use camcorder that can still produce top-notch, vivid video worthy of sharing with friends and family and has good features such as a Leica Dicomar lens with a 16x optical zoom, a 40x digital zoom, auto focus tracking, a 2.7” wide LCD, and automatic LCD brightness adjustments. It also features touch-screen controls with icon-based menus, an auto power LCD, and a quick 1.9 second power-up so that users can more easily catch spontaneous moments on video. The only drawback that was seen was the annoying touch-screen interface holds back what is otherwise a solid prosumer HD camcorder that effectively competes with its competitors like Sony and Cannon. If you are short on budget or if you do not need the electronic view finder accessory shoe, or mic input, and you don’t do a lot of manual focusing, then the Panasonic HDC HS250 is a good option