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MillimeterTest Drive: Panasonic AG-HMC70, Part 1
Jul 14, 2008 12:00 PM, By Jan Ozer
Camera Controls
As I mentioned at the top, the HMC70's camera controls are limited, and more importantly, relatively inaccessible. When you switch the camera to manual mode, you can manually white balance, set the shutter speed and aperture, and even manually focus—all performed via five small buttons and the menu system. Operation is simple enough, but you find yourself wishing that Panasonic had included at least one configurable-function ring on the lens like that on the HVR-HD1000, or even the easier-to-use joystick on Panasonic’s own HSC1U. In short, while you could customize these settings in a set-and-forget environment, if your shooting situation is at all dynamic, such as at a concert or other stage performance, you’ll find it awkward adjusting the iris or focus in realtime.
On the plus side, there are five “scene” modes for sports, portrait, low-light, surf and snow, and spotlight, the latter of which is a must for those of us who do stage work. There are also three guidelines you can display in the viewfinder: a rule-of-thirds grid, a 4:3 guide, and horizontal leveling stripes.
Usability
In addition to bench testing, I shot several family events with the HMC70, including my eldest child’s fourth-grade graduation party and a night out at the country fair and demolition derby to check low-light performance, the costs of which I’m sure are fully deductible as a business expense (but please don’t tell the IRS). I’ll discuss the qualitative aspects of the shoots in the next segment, but in terms of usability, the camera was evenly weighted and easy to handle, and the images were sharp and clear in both the viewfinder and the LCD panel.
I’m 6'1" and big-boned, and I found that I had to pull the viewfinder out to its limit to shoot comfortably. If you’re larger than I am, you may find the working conditions cramped—although the large, variable-speed zoom rocker was a joy to use.
While I was at the graduation, I had the following conversation with a fellow from Washington, D.C. that I briefly sat next to.
Him: How old is that camcorder?
Me (somewhat smugly): Oh, it’s brand-new, a high-definition model from Panasonic. Why?
Him: Well, I was going to tell you that I saw one just like it in the Smithsonian Museum in the antique camcorder section.
Me: Cute, very cute. How’d you like a knuckle sandwich?
At this point, he ran out of the room screaming, garnering a glower from the principal, who was speaking at the time.
Not really, of course, I just chuckled at his comment. Still, it’s a good observation about the appearance of this camcorder, which no one ever will accuse of being Apple’s first venture into camcorder design. Still, what’s big and ugly at a fourth-grade graduation is serious and professional-looking at an event or other for-profit shoot. If you’re looking for a camcorder to make a positive impression on a client, this is definitely it. In the next segment, we’ll learn if the video shot by the camera will make a similar positive impression.
