Customer Reviews

Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6 MP Still and 12x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It was a long wait but finally got it last week and then took it for a trip right away, its performance it's outstanding, I got this camera for a TV show we are producing, after seeing a few options we decided to get this one because of several reasons:

- Size, the camera is very compact, for a camera that provides broadcast quality image the size is amazingly small.
- Construction, this camera has most of its body made out with metal panels, that makes it very solid and also makes it reliable, also the set up of the buttons are easy to access.
- Price, there are other models in the market that could deliver a similar quality or probably a little better but the cost is at least $1k more, if you think like I do "creativity is the main ingredient for a good production", spending the extra cash doesn't really make a difference as long as you are aware of the camera's capabilities and limitations, but there is always ways to improve performance in some conditions that could affect the correct functionality of your equipment.
- Tapeless technology, we bought another AVCHD camera a little less than a year ago, we use it mostly for action shots and underwater recording, the transition was effortless, the advantages and capturing time are reduced to minimal and the quality is amazing, with this model we found that its quality is even better than older models and editing is a lot quicker, also recording cost are cut to almost nothing with new SDHC cards that can be used over and over without loosing quality... Just this fact makes it a must buy!!!

After using it for this little time I have managed to work around its many controls and get exactly what I want from it, the response to low light is not the best but it's decent, you can always add a good light for little money and resolve that problem, also the sound quality is excellent, I didn't get the optional xlr adapter piece for it but I am using a 8mm wireless mic system that combined with this little fellow deliver great results!!

In short words: "the new Panasonic AG-HCM40 is not the best camera money can buy but ,to my opinion, it's the best camera money can buy for this price!!"

I just met this camera last week, little brother to the HMC150. The HMC40 brings several welcome upgrades to market. I'm an intermediate producer in training with lots of self study and attended a few great workshops. After two years of shooting 1920 HD on the low end I have to say this camera impressed me.

PROS:
1) MPEG-4. Shoots very good quality in a tiny light weight package. Just love it. Even has time-lapse capability which sure beats roto-ing in post for a time lapse effect.
2) You can squeeze two HMC40s in the same size carryon pelican case as the 150.
3) Start editing your shots on Mac in only 2-3 minutes without waiting for rendering. No transcoding required, no $600 P2 cards either. But you should use something faster than just class 6 SDHC media if you want to bump up the quality a little, otherwise you might get some artifacts (image problems) with fast motion and striped clothing. Same problem as any media recording slower than the camera.
4) I'm cool with renting HMC150 and redrock/letus for higher end projects if necessary. This camera is fine for making DVD projects or streaming HD.
5) Great looking shots with 4:2:0 sampling.
6) We produce our own stuff, make a profit and clients keep coming back. With a $1995 retail price tag I can finally afford to own two very nice HD cameras.

CONS:
A) Manual button lovers will need to learn the softkey menus. I love the softkeys with all the same features. No different than using an iphone.
B) Two choices for sound: Seperate sound (best) or get the panasonic/beachtek adapter for on camera. I like using seperate sound on a tascam or fostex digital recorder with four seperate channels (mic 1, mic 2, wild background). This gives you plenty of room to remix in post or replace sounds. Great sound is still 50% of the production.
C) It's not the same glass lens set as 150/170 so you may need different accessories.
D) No timecode jam sync between two cameras. This camera does have its own timecoding (HH:MM:SS:FF). Oh well, I've been living without timecode sync since I started. It just adds a little to the time in post for manually lining up shots and sound tracks. It's no problem to keep using a clapper board anyway. Clappers do give a kinda nostalgic flair for the crew and spectators.

I hope this helps. Upgrade cameras every couple of years while the resale value is still a good plan. After shooting a short this weekend I think this is going to be a good two year relationship. I wish you the best.

Semper fidelis,
David Cannon

This camera deserves "6 Stars" on image quality. I am a Realist when it comes to reviewing a product. First: we must consider the items price, $1995.00. In the "Professional Video Camera World", That is tantamount to saying a steal!!! I will not go into features and functions, the description of this Camera is given in detail on the product description portion of this page.

Second: Size and weight, Until very recently, a Pro Video Camera came in two sizes, large and super large. The additional problem here is that the general public became used to seeing these monstrosities at events, and broadcasts. Many Video Camera Professionals still look for these monstrosities simply to appease their clients visual expectations. This is the wrong approach, we should stop breaking our backs with our equipment, and instead educate the public of the technological advances that have benefited this industry. The video quality produced by this camera will please the most discriminating client.

Third: You have all this quality being recorded on SDHC cards (my advise is Class 10 30mbs or better). Recording on SDHC cards will be a liberating experience for people who used tape in the past. The Quality is much better. You cannot record over scenes by accident. It can be recorded on again and again, without loss of quality. It is not affected by altitude like hard drive consumer models. If you are thinking of getting this camera, Just get it.....think later!!!

This is the most exciting camera that I have ever owned. Not only is this an outstanding HD video camera but it is also an excellent still camera. While I am still exploring the possibilities of what this camera is capable of I have already come to appreciate the advantages that it offers in controlling the picture quality. The ability to accurately focus quickly as well as to control hot spots in the picture area with the manual f stop control is greatly appreciated. The touch tone screen control works effectively and the ability to choose any three settings for quick access is valuable. I've never seen a camera where the controls were be set up than this one. When hand holding the controls are in exactly the right spot. The ability to do Time Lapse photography is something I have always wanted in a camera and this one does a excellent job. The picture sharpness in the highest recording rate (Approx. 21 Mbps) is breathtaking. My only complaint would be that the instruction book comes only as a pdf file. I printed it off and use it all the time in teaching myself the ins and outs of the superb tool. This is a camera for the person who is serious about creating artistic works that go beyond just shooting a video record. While I'm sure that the Panasonic AG-40 would fit in well with professional TV applications I think that this camera will open up a new world for the serious non-professional who desires to create personal masterpieces. I would pick this as the video camera of the year!

If you are brand new to professional or pro-sumer camcorders or figure its about that time to step up from your handycam days into the world of professional audio/video, there is no better "starting gate" than the Panasonic AG-HMC40. Its smaller form factor will be a familiar "path" in terms of handling and control but will also give you some more real estate to play with the included on-camera controls. Most of this stuff are things within the menus os high-end consumer camcorders but they have been placed on the camera body for quick reach and control. This enabled a lot of on-the-fly adjusting that was simply not possible with lower end consumer camcorders of today.

Then they add manual adjusting with a focus ring, an iris dial control, three different user-controlled buttons and a wole host of other goodies that will propel your experience into the real of professional videography use.

The included battery that comes with the HMC40 is actually the MID-RANGE model that provides about 3 hours of juice at full charge. Most models of camcorders like this (including the older brother HMC150) usually come with the smallest size 1-hour battery but the fact that Panasonic decided to include the 3.5 hour battery in this kit is simply fantastic. The 8 hour extended battery is always recommended but this three hour long model is definitely a welcome addition that will help offset the cost of buying an extended battery, especially if you don't need longer than a 3 hour model (you can use the money saved for on-camera external microphones, the optional XLR adapter, or external lighting).

Speaking of extras, the optional Panasonic XLR adapter is a MUST if you wish to use a good quality XLR shotgun or omni-directional microphone. External lighting is something you DEFINITELY will need if you plan on filming in low light as this camera's low light recording capabilities are mediocre at best without a decent light.

Also, don't be fooled. This camcorder records perfectly in it's highest quality mode with a GOOD QUALITY Class 4 SDHC card. As long as the SDHC card you plan to use is a good brand such as Transcend, PNY, Lexar, SanDisk, or other quality brands, a class 4 (with MINIMUM 4MBps write speeds) records perfectly. This camcorder records at a MAXIMUM of 24Mbps (That is MEGABITS per second, which equals 3MBps -MEGABYTES PER SECOND-) and a quality Class 4 SDHC cards writes at a MINIMUM of 4MBps (MEGABYTES per second). The ONLY reason you would want a Class 6 or 10 speed SDHC card if if you wanted a higher transfer speed (which is good when offloading the data off the card onto a computer. A Class 6 or 10 card should have a minimum write speed of 6MBps and 10MBps respectively, with good quality SDHC cards even having a minimum write speed of 16MBps - 30MBps (Lexar, Transcent, SanDisk being my favorites). I've heard bad things with ADATA cards and this camcorder so please be aware in case you plan on using lower quality SDHC cards as you might get distortion, pixelization, ect.

I hope this helps you in your purchase of this great professional Panasonic camcorder!

My husband and I run a wedding photography & videography business. We recently purchased the HMC40. For the price range, this camera delivers excellent image quality, both in daylight, and lowlight. Camera gain (noise) is excellent on lowlight situations. Many people have complained that this camera does not perform well in low light, but cameras are all about light. Illumination is key to any shooting scenario. Wedding photography & videography requires on-location illumination (lights and light stands), and on-camera lighting. With just on-camera lighting, this camera delivers superb images. Controls are easy to use, reachable, and well placed. We use this camera as our main camera, and so far, it has delivered excellent results. Lightweight is a plus. Sharpness is very good. If you seek to run a small videography business, this camera will keep your prices affordable, and your video quality high.

Do consider that for professional uses you need to complement the HMC40 (and any other expensive camera) with the following: on-camera light, at least 1 extra light on a light stand (fluorescent is good), and an external microphone.
I use the following with my HMC40: Varizoom on-camera light, 2 fluorescent flood lights (50W), and the Rode Stereo Mic, plus 1 Audio Technica wireless mic to use at the ceremony.

Needed a HD camcorder that would replace my dead JVC HD7. The JVC had better manual controls in terms independent controls of Shutter and Aperture. Manual Zoom was okay on the HMC40, handling was okay (very light weight), top handle is removable (but sometimes had to put back in -- screws don't align with socket). The image quality was okay too (not too saturated compared to the HD7). Auto White Balance is okay, but not great -- just do a manual white balance. The touchscreen is a nice novelty (has dedicated record/ Zoom/ quick menu/ full menu/ Erase buttons at bottom of screen), and there are 3 independent USER1,2,3 buttons to customize the camera. It's only 12x zoom.

Converting AVCHD to DVD MPEG2 is a bit lacking -- I get super pixelated results. On the internet, they recommend a high end encoder because the Adobe Media Encoder or Vegas Video don't do a good job. The Optical Stabilizer is Excellent compared to the JVC HD7's terrible stabilizer. Over a good camera, you just need a fast PC/Mac to do post-processing. In the CD disc, there is a utility to convert the AVCHD files to HDV, MPEG2, and Canopus DV codec. Still testing that utility...

I recommend Class 6 SDHC card to record, although the manual said I can use Class 4. On a 16GB SDHC card with Highest Quality recording, you can record up to 1hr 30min. Stock Battery last about 90min. I highly recommend the extended battery from Panasonic -- records up to 7hr with LCD screen open!

I did not get the XLR adapter, but was satisfied with the RODE Video Mic connected to the HMC40's miniplug. Also I like the option to connect to a pair of headphones. Overall a nice cam for less than $2000. Get this cam if you're starting out or on a tight budget or just need a second camera.

Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6MP Still and 12x Optical ZoomPanasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6MP Still and 12x Optical Zoom

The Panasonic AG-HMC40 camcorder provides most of the features and the look of a full professional camcorder, with the convenience and light weight of a consumer camcorder. What sets it apart from something like a palm sized camcorder is the image quality and the amount of manual control. The main thing missing that would make this an excellent pro camera is the full manual lens. While the HMC40 does have a manual focus ring, it controls the focus electronically and not mechanically. Also, there is no dedicated manual zoom or iris ring on the lens, although the focus ring can be programmed to control these functions one at a time.

That being said, the image quality of this camcorder is excellent, even when compared to prosumer camcorders costing double. The lens maintains crisp focus right out to the edges, with no noticable chromatic aberration (false color fringes around objects). The lens on my similarly priced Sony FX7 had this problem.

Low light capability is very good. It does get a little grainy at 36 db gain but the image still remains sharp. At 18db gain, the image is crisp with very little grain. Changing the various video settings from default in the menu can lower the grain and bring out more contrast. Outdoors, or indoors in bright light, the image is simply stunning. Colors are very true and well saturated, and you can add more or less saturation in the menu setup. In a dimly lit room like a wedding reception, you can get by without lights if you have to.

There are hundreds of combinations of image adjustments in the menu system, and if you are new to prosumer camcorders, some of these terms may not be familiar. The camcorder has a cinema gamma mode, a native 24 frame progressive mode, cinema matrix, skin tone softener, detail coring, manual DRS and three preset Knee controls. When you combine these settings, you get a very film-like image. You'll need to read the online manual, or just experiment with different settings in different light until you see what you like. There's enough settings to keep you playing for days. One in particular, the waveform monitor, is very useful in setting up the manual iris for the brightest possible exposure without hot spots.

The internal mike and switchable audio level controls and the ability to turn AGC on or off provides good audio for most purposes. With AGC on, the audio will not overload even when a few feet from the speaker blast of a loud DJ. The AGC is gentle, without the harsh pumping action found on consumer camcorders. An XLR shotgun mike and XLR audio adapter with better manual audio level control is optional and plugs into a dedicated audio port on the camera. It does not simply convert to unbalanced 1/8 inch jacks as many of these adapters do. It's truly a balanced line or mike input all the way through, with or without phantom power. You'll need the XLR adapter and a good boom mike for film production, of course.

Battery life is three hours with the included battery, and six hours with an optional pack. Enough to get you through the day.

The camcorder uses the AVCHD format, which is a better compression technique (at the 24 meg mode) than the MPG 2 of HDV tapes. You can set it for 1080 60i 1080 24p, 1080 30p, 720 24p, 720 30p and 720 60p. There are four data rates. 5 meg/sec, 13, 17 and 24. The differences are minimal from 13 to 24. The image is slightly softer and slightly blocky at the 5 meg setting when there is a lot of motion in the subject, but even at that setting you can still create an excellent image for making a DVD. It's a good choice for recording long programs on smaller memory cards when there isn't much motion, like a speech.

The best feature is recording to inexpensive SD and SDHC cards. There are no moving tape transports or hard drives to fail, so this camcorder will last until you drop it on the sidewalk or into a swimming pool. Image quality will probably not improve much in newer camcorders in this price range for some time to come. With ever increasing memory size SDHC cards getting cheaper every week, this camcorder's recording capacity grows by the month. It's a great choice for recording events for hire as well as smaller TV station news departments.

Rick Bennette, FineArtVideo dot com

My Panasonic HMC40 came with Berry Green's HMC book and Edius editing software, adding an extra $250 worth of value to my investment. I just finished reading the book and can assure you that it's packed with valuable information beyond what you will find in the user manual. I would also recommend others to join online user groups like [...] and do some research on this camera, editing software, and work flows people are using. Editing AVCHD is extremely challenging - even for some of the pro's with state of the art software and computers.

Coming from a standard definition Canon GL2 prosumer camera, I figured it wouldn't be too challenging to learn the functions of this camera, but I admit, it's a bit more technical than I thought it would be. Sure, you can shoot in full automatic and get pretty good results, but the amazing results come when you learn to use some of the camera's more professional features. (This camera was developed by Panasonic's broadcast division, not their consumer division.)

I believe the HMC40 received a bum rap from people worried about the "jello effect" of 3MOS sensors (google it). It took a while for people to figure that out before sales took off. I generally shoot in 720 60p mode at 1/60th shutter and unless I really try to make this effect happen...it doesn't cause me an issue. All cameras have their strengths and weaknesses and some people obsess over them rather than learn to operate their equipment within its bounds.

At the time I purchased my HMC40 it was clearly the leader of the pack in its price-point. Sony has recently come out with a model to compete against it for around $300 less, but after reviewing its specs (far inferior), unless money is your deciding factor, I would still recommend opting for the HMC40.

I gave the battery life 4 stars because, like most batteries, it is a bit small and you always have to purchase another battery. I gave 4 stars for ease of use because, even though the manual is pretty good, it's not easy to use unless you already have plenty of experience with pro or prosumer level equipment. I gave it 4 stars for image quality due to being a bit weak in low light. Fortunately, you can add more gain on this camera than you can get away with some other cameras to make up some of the difference, but Panasonic should have engineered this for better low light performance, especially when they knew full-well this would be used as an event camera (like weddings)where low light ability is critical. Other than that, the image is great when properly exposed. On manual controls I went 4 stars because of how they buried some basic functions in the touch screen menus making it inconvenient to make quick changes on the fly.

Obviously, to earn 5 stars this camera would have to be its big brother, the HMC150 at a cost substantially higher. But, for the money, this camera is a very good investment.

So, I was thinking of "going tapeless" for awhile now. I've had a Sony HVR-A1 basically since it came out, and it's served me well, but tape has been such a drag. I briefly owned a Hitachi Blu-Ray camcorder, but found the low quality on AVCHD at the time too limiting. Last year I bought a cheap Sanyo, an FH1, and while you could still see artifacts, it was pretty obvious that tapeless was really starting to exceed tape in quality. It had already won in popularity.

Which brings me to the HMC40... what a crazy value. Ok, unlike the Sony, the XLR module is extra, and I consider it a must-have, but it's not horrible that it's unbundled. Some folks have decent off-camera 1/8" mics, which will work perfectly with this camera. I already have a nice XLR-based Rode shotgun mic, so I was really glad not to have yet another bundled mic that I probably won't use.

The camcorder itself it just about ideal. My Sony was a bit on the small side, too many things had to be done via menus, the lens ring was functional but a bit small, etc. The HMC40 addresses this... it's large enough to have a decent array of real controls, the focus/zoom ring is silky smooth, the zoom rocker allows a great range of zoom control. Don't worry about the handle... it looks questionable, but it's aluminum, not plastic.. it won't break.

One big potential win for tapeless hasn't always been realized in tapeless models -- different formats. The HMC40 wins big on this: 1080/60i, 1080/30p, a native 1080/24p (eg, not stored as 60i), 720/60p, etc. No SD mode, but I found I was always shooting in HD with my Sony, even if the target was DVD or some other SD output.

And the bottom line: quality... the video quality is superb. And handy.. I can play the SDHC card directly on my PS3 (if you don't have a PS3, you missed that model, but many Blu-Ray players can also play back directly from SD cards) if I want to see the video immediately.... and this is the best I've seen from any camcorder I've owned.

Naturally, SD cards and AVC may not be for everyone. Tape has the nice fact that's it's always backed up. But I've established backup and archive practices for digital still photo, so video's not all that different, particularly given the falling price of BD-R discs. But if you don't have a good backup strategy, you might want to stick to tape until you do. You'll also need a really fast PC for even basic editing on AVCHD files directly. My Q9550 (Core 2 quad, 2.83GHz, 8GB DDR2 DRAM) is good, though I'd love an i7 system. You can do easier editing via an intermediate CODEC... I use CineForm Neo ($100-ish) for this, and Panasonic has a free download that does some kind of conversion to high bitrate MPEG-2 or something (haven't used it yet myself). So there are solutions.