| |
Model
|
| Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | Panasonic 
| Panasonic
| Sony
| Manufacturer |
| Name | HDC-HS300 | HDC-SD300 | HDR-CX305V | Name |
| European name ? | HDC-HS300EG | HDC-SD300EG | HDR-CX305VE | European name ? |
| US name ? | HDC-HS300K | HDC-SD300K | HDR-CX305V | US name ? |
| lowest US price | 877 $ | 950 $ | (799) $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | March 2009 | March 2009 | March 2010 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Panasonic | link to Panasonic | link to Sony | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
 | Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
| AVCHD
| AVCHD
SD MPEG2
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | Built-in hard disk
SDHC card
| SDHC card
| SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/25p
| AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/25p
| AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/24p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/24p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 17 Mbit/s | 17 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG4
| MPEG4
| MPEG2
MPEG4
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | 120 GB | | 16 GB | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Leica
| Leica
| Sony
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 12 x | 12 x | 12 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 45 mm | 45 mm | 29,8 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 43 mm | 43 mm | 30 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | optical
| optical
| optically and electronically
| Image Stabilization ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
| No
| Exchangable optics ? |
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 3 | 3 | 1 | Number of sensors ? |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/4 inch | 1/4 inch | 1/4 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 2070000 Pixel | 2070000 Pixel | | image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CMOS
| CMOS
| Image Sensor Type ? |
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
presets
| White Balance ? |
| Focus ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Focus ? |
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/8.000 | 1/8.000 | 1/auto
| Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/25 | 1/25 | auto
| Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | No
| No
| No
| Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | No
| No
| No
| Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | 100% | 100% | No
| Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
| No
| Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | No
| No
| No
| Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
| No
| Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | No
| No
| No
| Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | No
| No
| No
| Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
| No
| Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| Out
| FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | No
| No
| About Special Equipment
| YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out mini
| Out mini
| Out
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | - | - | - | DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0 OUT
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| No
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | 3.5 mm mini-jack
| 3.5 mm mini-jack
| No
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | No
| No
| No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | Standard
| Standard
| AI
| Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 385 g | 385 g | 310 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | 445 g | 445 g | 360 g | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | Panasonic VW-VBG070
| Panasonic VW-VBG130-K
| Sony NP-FV50
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | 1250 mAh | 1250 mAh | 980 mAh | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | internal
external
| internal
external
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 70 mm | 70 mm | 52 mm | Height |
| Width | 72 mm | 72 mm | 64 mm | Width |
| Depth | 141 mm | 141 mm | 112 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 7 | 7 | 3 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | Color
| Color
| - | Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | - | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | | | | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 230400 Pixel | 230400 Pixel | 230400 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Rocker
| Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Menu
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Ring
Menu
| Menu
| Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | Menu
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Menu
| Menu
| Manual Aperture ? |
| Focus switcher ? | Yes
| Yes
| No
| Focus switcher ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exp Lock ? | No
| No
| No
| Exp Lock ? |
| Gain ? | No
| No
| No
| Gain ? |
| White balance ? | No
| No
| No
| White balance ? |
| Push AF ? | No
| No
| No
| Push AF ? |
| Audio Levels ? | No
| No
| No
| Audio Levels ? |
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons | No
| No
| No
| Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| Audio Formats ? | AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
| Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | Viewfinder
Screen
display
| Viewfinder
Screen
| No
| Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| Recording Medium ? | SDHC card
| SDHC card
| Memory Stick Duo
built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | No
| No
| No
| Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | 2100000 Pixel | 2100000 Pixel | 3540000 Pixel | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 2304 x 1728 - Max
| Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| Standard ? |
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| Specials | | | - | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| luminance resolution | | | | luminance resolution |
| chrominance resolution | | | | chrominance resolution |
| lens distortion | | | | lens distortion |
| test small ISO image | | | | test small ISO image |
| noise / internal microphone | | | | noise / internal microphone |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | | | Test image 12 lux optimized ? |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Good | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Very good | Very good | Good | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Very good | Very good | Good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | Sufficient | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Poor | Poor | Excellent | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Very good | Very good | Sufficient | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Poor | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Good | Good | Good | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Photo function ? |
| Optics ? | Good | Good | Good | Optics ? |
| Dynamics ? | Good | Good | Good | Dynamics ? |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
| Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
Total score ?
(maximal 570) | 372 | 372 | 370 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + Sharpness and colour at the upper AVCHD limit
+ Many manual controls
| + Sharpness and colour at the upper AVCHD limit
+ Many manual controls
| + focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good low light performance
| Pros |
| Cons | - No wide angle
| - No wideangle
| - no microphone and headphone jacks
- display resolution only average
- little manual control
| Cons |
| Conclusion | Finally camcorder in the 1000 Euro range which allows for a manual control of iris, shutter and gain (not by joystick) while indicating meaningful parameters in the display. Add to that a focus ring and useful helpers as focus zoom, zebra and histogram.Since it also offers a flawless (and even adjustable) image quality, the Panasonic SD300 can almost be recommended without any hesitation.It only leaves you wanting more external controls, a display with higher resolution and, above all, a wide angle lens.Also the low light performance is only average. | Finally a camcorder which allows for a manual control of iris, shutter and gain (not by joystick) while indicating meaningful parameters in the display. Add to that a focus ring and useful helpers as focus zoom, zebra and histogram.Since it also offers a flawless (and even adjustable) image quality, the Panasonic SD300 can almost be recommended without any hesitation.It only leaves you wanting more external controls, a display with higher resolution and, above all, a wide angle lens.Also the low light performance is only average. | Too bad Sony still does not offer any manual control on their medium-class camcorders.Because the camera actually delivers an overall good image for this price range.The wide angle lens with its almost 29mm (kb) surely makes it attractive to some buyers, since competing models offer nothing of the sort.On the other hand the camera has a spicy price tag, which makes it look somewhat less good compared to the new Panasonic series (HDC-XX60).Hence, in its price range it recommends itself only to those who need a generous wide angle without any manual control or connectivity. | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Panasonic HDC-HS300 | Panasonic HDC-SD300 | Sony HDR-CX305V | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests |  reviews.digitaltrends.com
| | | external reviews/tests |
| Comparison | Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Canon HF20
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Canon HF M41
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Canon HF M36
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Canon HF100
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to JVC GZ-HM1
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to Canon HF S11
Panasonic HDC-HS300 compared to JVC GC-PX10
| Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF21
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF M41
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF M36
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF100
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to JVC GZ-HM1
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF S11
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to JVC GC-PX10
Panasonic HDC-SD300 compared to Canon HF S200
| Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M31
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF20
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M41
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF M36
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF100
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to JVC GZ-HM1
Sony HDR-CX305V compared to Canon HF S11
| Comparison |
| Forum posts | Should I return the Panasonic HDC-HS300EGK?
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SonyXR500 or Panasonic HS300?
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HDC SD300 s.Laptop via Firewire
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Panasonic HDC SD300 image quality just "ok" what I do wrong?
Panasonic SD300 - otg.Bridge
Panasonic SD300 25p (import, Cinema mode) with Final Cut Express?
HDC SD300 and SDHC Card class 4
Replacement - Batteries for Panasonic SD300 and SD cards. Experience
Zoom Remote for PANASONIC SD300
SonyHDR-or XR500V Panasonic SD300??
Panasonic SD300 and 25P (; Cinema mode)
Panasonic SD300 Lowlight at 1440x1080
| | Forum posts |
| |
