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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
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First impressions of New panasonic camcorder
Having sorted out the order problems I am now the proud owner of a Panasonic HC-X900M. So I thought it might be an idea to give very very first impressions so here goes even though I haven't used it yet so please excuse .
Ok first thing was to get the cashback offer which required proof of purchase and the bar code on side of camera box, easy enough to do but took time. Can be done on line which is handy.
Opening the box was the exciting bit and getting out all the bits and pieces and cross checking with the manual. Something well worth doing just in case something is missing.
Right now for the camera itself.
Its slightly bigger than the HDC-SD600 and definately looks more professional which is what they claim it as a pro/am camcorder.
Looking around the camera the viewing screen is much larger and better in my opinion and it has the added advantage of a eye viewer as well as a screen. Looked through the viewer and I thought "oh my god its all out of focus" couldn't find any dioptic adjuster (told you all I wasn't too bright). So dived into the manual and there is a tiny wheel exposed when the view finder is extended , yes it does actually extend. So got that sorted and plugged in the battery and the charger into the camera. The only way to tell if the battery is fully charged is when the red light stops flashing which is above to power inlet socket and can take up th 2.5 hours which isn't really good enough for a days shoot. Haven't checked if there is an on screen indicator yet, as I said it is only first impressions.
Have to stop here and mention I don't like the idea of having to charge the battery in situ there is no way to charge a spare battery, so advisable to purchase a spare battery with more capacity and an external charger. But on the plus side it comes with an editing suit, so I guess you can't have everything
Anyway to carry on ( which many complain I do too much) Basically it isn't that far different from my other camcorder, few of the button relocated elsewhere on the camera body and a larger lens, internal and external memory storage yet to get sorted as to how I want to use them.
The SD card slot isn't where one would expect at the bottom of the camera butI suppose they could only fit it where there was space.
Setting up the functions I haven't done apart from the time and place settings , something to go into at a later date.
So that's about it. Oh have to say this time I am not going to use fingers on the screen for controls, I have a plastic prong instead which has been omitted from this new camera accessories.
I shall try and give a better opinion later on but I would venture to say you could look like a professional movie maker especially with an external mike and floodlight fitted (my next purchase)
Bazza
Ok first thing was to get the cashback offer which required proof of purchase and the bar code on side of camera box, easy enough to do but took time. Can be done on line which is handy.
Opening the box was the exciting bit and getting out all the bits and pieces and cross checking with the manual. Something well worth doing just in case something is missing.
Right now for the camera itself.
Its slightly bigger than the HDC-SD600 and definately looks more professional which is what they claim it as a pro/am camcorder.
Looking around the camera the viewing screen is much larger and better in my opinion and it has the added advantage of a eye viewer as well as a screen. Looked through the viewer and I thought "oh my god its all out of focus" couldn't find any dioptic adjuster (told you all I wasn't too bright). So dived into the manual and there is a tiny wheel exposed when the view finder is extended , yes it does actually extend. So got that sorted and plugged in the battery and the charger into the camera. The only way to tell if the battery is fully charged is when the red light stops flashing which is above to power inlet socket and can take up th 2.5 hours which isn't really good enough for a days shoot. Haven't checked if there is an on screen indicator yet, as I said it is only first impressions.
Have to stop here and mention I don't like the idea of having to charge the battery in situ there is no way to charge a spare battery, so advisable to purchase a spare battery with more capacity and an external charger. But on the plus side it comes with an editing suit, so I guess you can't have everything
Anyway to carry on ( which many complain I do too much) Basically it isn't that far different from my other camcorder, few of the button relocated elsewhere on the camera body and a larger lens, internal and external memory storage yet to get sorted as to how I want to use them.
The SD card slot isn't where one would expect at the bottom of the camera butI suppose they could only fit it where there was space.
Setting up the functions I haven't done apart from the time and place settings , something to go into at a later date.
So that's about it. Oh have to say this time I am not going to use fingers on the screen for controls, I have a plastic prong instead which has been omitted from this new camera accessories.
I shall try and give a better opinion later on but I would venture to say you could look like a professional movie maker especially with an external mike and floodlight fitted (my next purchase)
Bazza
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
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Ok first photo totally unedited apart from resize from camcorder and first update as promised on what I think of the camera.
One thing I have noticed is if the screen is tilted the on/off button is obscured. I deliberately chose red as its the hardest colour in the spectrum for a camera to get right. I did notice that viewing in the screen prior to taking the picture the colour was well off but ok as you can see above. yes I could have zoomed in or got closer but then DOF wouldn't have shown up
AS for recording video say in 1085/p the information doesn't appear to remain on the screen, maybe I am not using it correctly will have to investigate further.
Panning in video is considerably smoother thank goodness, as for the wind noise
problem I had with the other camera I can't test yet as the air is still.
Just as a by the by the new editing suit Panasonics own HD writer AE 4.1 automatically captures everything off the 2.1 version which came with the HD-SD600 camcorder but it won't work the other way around
Just a quick mention, setting up each memory bank is very easy now I have looked at the menu, so the on board memory now stores stills and the SD card video
As I go along any thoughts about my postings most welcome
Bazza
One thing I have noticed is if the screen is tilted the on/off button is obscured. I deliberately chose red as its the hardest colour in the spectrum for a camera to get right. I did notice that viewing in the screen prior to taking the picture the colour was well off but ok as you can see above. yes I could have zoomed in or got closer but then DOF wouldn't have shown up
AS for recording video say in 1085/p the information doesn't appear to remain on the screen, maybe I am not using it correctly will have to investigate further.
Panning in video is considerably smoother thank goodness, as for the wind noise
problem I had with the other camera I can't test yet as the air is still.
Just as a by the by the new editing suit Panasonics own HD writer AE 4.1 automatically captures everything off the 2.1 version which came with the HD-SD600 camcorder but it won't work the other way around
Just a quick mention, setting up each memory bank is very easy now I have looked at the menu, so the on board memory now stores stills and the SD card video
As I go along any thoughts about my postings most welcome
Bazza
 Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Cork, Ireland
Posts: 7,578
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Very interesting! 
I know very little about camcorders, but that seems a reasonable image
xx
I know very little about camcorders, but that seems a reasonable image xx
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Kit 1 Nikon D800 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 Nikkor 105 mm f2.8 macro Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Nikon 70-300mm AF f/4-5.6G Nikon 50mm f1.8 |
Kit 2 Nikon D700 |
Other Kit View my profile to see my other kit! |
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My Compact/P&S: Fuji finepix bridge |
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
|
Zounds
That makes two of us who know very little
. its really a completely different field of photography and also very interesting as those who use the video on their duel purpose cameras may have found out. Just like taking a still picture with worrying about DOF- lighting- rule of thirds etc etc etc , using a video comes with similar things to think about such as panning too fast -keeping the camcorder steady ( my BIG failing) -what to edit out and continuity to name but a few.
The main thing I find is different is you can record movement-surroundings -sound (apart from the dreaded wind noise
) obviously, stupid of me stating that, but seeing things played back on video brings it more to life. With stills one can concentrate on quality of photo. Luckily I can indulge in both, the advantage of spending pension money.
Bazza
That makes two of us who know very little
. its really a completely different field of photography and also very interesting as those who use the video on their duel purpose cameras may have found out. Just like taking a still picture with worrying about DOF- lighting- rule of thirds etc etc etc , using a video comes with similar things to think about such as panning too fast -keeping the camcorder steady ( my BIG failing) -what to edit out and continuity to name but a few.The main thing I find is different is you can record movement-surroundings -sound (apart from the dreaded wind noise
) obviously, stupid of me stating that, but seeing things played back on video brings it more to life. With stills one can concentrate on quality of photo. Luckily I can indulge in both, the advantage of spending pension money.Bazza
