/// HD Camcorder Comparison

Picture ?

Manufacturer

Panasonic

Name

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

AG-HMC151

European name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

AG-HMC151E

US name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

AG-HMC150

lowest US price

(3499) $

3199 $

On the market since

November 2011

September 2008

Manufacturers URL

link to Panasonic

Test preview

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

Good

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode

Video

Video formats ?

AVCHD
MVC 3D

AVCHD

Recording Medium

SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card

SD Card
SDHC card

video resolutions EU ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/60p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/50p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/30p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/25p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/24p

video resolutions US ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/60p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/50p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/30p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/25p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/24p

Max Bitrate ?

28 Mbit/s

24 Mbit/s

Compression format ?

MPEG4

on-board memory ?

Optics

Optics Manufacturer ?

Panasonic

Leica

Optical Zoom ?

10 x

13 x

Wide Angle 16:9 ?

29,8 mm

28 mm

Filter diameter ?

- mm

72 mm

Image Stabilization ?

optical

ND Filter ?

Exchangable optics ?

Image Sensor

Number of sensors ?

Size of image sensor ?

1/4,1 inch

1/3 inch

image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?

3050000 Pixel

1100000 Pixel

Image Sensor Type ?

CMOS

CCD

Controls

White Balance ?

auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift

auto
manual
presets

Focus ?

auto
manual

Minimum shutter time ?

1/250

1/2.000

Maximum shutter time ?

1/24

Apperture control ?

auto
manual
AE-Shift

Infrared recording ?

Expanded Focus ?

Yes

Peaking ?

Yes

Signal Processing

Zebra ?

50-105%

Histogram ?

Yes

waveform

adjustable sharpness ?

Yes

Adjustable color ?

Yes

Cinegamma ?

Yes

Black Strech ?

Yes

Knee ?

Yes

Colorbars ?

Yes

Misc.

Shot Transition ?

Custom Presets ?

Yes

Set Time Code ?

Yes

Configuration

Connections

FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite

Out

YC ?
synonymous: S-Video

YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal

Out

HDMI ?

Out

DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394

USB ?

USB 2.0

Microphone / Audio input ?

XLR

Headphones ?

Mini-jack

Lanc ?

Time-code interface ?

Genlock ?

Accessory shoe ?

Standard

HD-SDI ?

Misc.

Weight (without battery)

1600 g

Weight (with battery)

Battery type

Panasonic CGA-D54s

Battery capacity

5400 mAh

Charger ?

external

Remote control

Yes

Size

Height

145 mm

Width

195 mm

Depth

350 mm

Relative Size ?

Viewfinder

Viewfinder available ?

Yes

Color Viewfinder ?

Color

Viewfinder format ?

16:9

Viewfinder pixels ?

1226880 Pixel

235000 Pixel

Display

Display available ?

Yes

Color display ?

Color

Display size

3,5 Inch

Display format ?

16:9

4:3

Display pixels ?

1152000 Pixel

210000 Pixel

Touch Screen ?

Yes

External controls

Manual Zoom ?

Rocker
Ring

Manual Focus ?

Ring

Manual Aperture ?

Ring

Wheel

Focus switcher ?

Yes

ND Filter ?

Yes

Exp Lock ?

Gain ?

Yes

White balance ?

Yes

Push AF ?

Yes

Audio Levels ?

Yes

Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons

Audio

Audio Formats ?

AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
2 channel PCM

Microphone ?

external XLR
5.1 Internal

external XLR

Audio Control ?

auto
manual

Audio levels ?

Viewfinder
Screen

Still

Recording Medium ?

Medium included ?

Effective pixels ?

Resolutions ?

Standard ?

Flash ?

Misc.

Specials

-in the US named AG-HMC150

Product Shots

View 1

View 2

Test results

Test pictures

luminance resolution

chrominance resolution

lens distortion

test small ISO image

noise / internal microphone

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?

Test image 12 lux optimized ?

slashCAM rating

Lowlight ?

Good

Satisfactory

Resolution ?

Excellent

Satisfactory

Color performance ?

Very good

Good

subj.Picture impression ?

Very good

Good

Optical Zoom ?

Sufficient

Satisfactory

Wide Angle ?

Very good

Excellent

Configuration / image ?

Very good

Configuration / sound ?

Excellent

Very good

Handling ?

Very good

Portability ?

Satisfactory

Photo function ?

Poor

Optics ?

Very good

Dynamics ?

Very good

Conclusion slashCAM

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

Good

Total score ?
(maximal 570)

440

395

Pros

+ Extreme manual control options
+ Very good image quality
+ Good 3D control

Good wide angle
+ Professional controls

Cons

- No ND filter
- Autostereoscopic display mode

- low sharpness due to pixel shift
- 4:3 display with low resolution

Conclusion

Even as a 2D camcorder the Z10000 is absolutely competitive thanks to the professional features and excellent image quality.The additional 3D capabilities are currently unique in this price range (and even much further) (as of 11/2011).

As it brings many important functions and operating controls the Panasonic AG-HMC151 is a solid choice for semi-professionals.We especially liked the clever layout of the buttons and switches as well as the 35mm adapter-friendly design with a lock-focus function and the integrated waveform monitor.The AVCHD images make an overall balanced impression.But buyers searching for maximum sharpness will have to look elsewhere.The display with its low resolution is no longer state of the art.

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