Customer Reviews

Panasonic TA-1 Ultrathin HD Pocket Camcorder Enabled with Skype and iFrame (Dark Grey)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Arrived at Amazon August 17, arrived at my house August 19. Today is August 21, 2010.

Panasonic USA website still has this new camera on "Backorder" so Amazon seems to perhaps be the first place to have this! I placed a pre-order and have been waiting weeks for this . . .

What's in the box:
*Camera
*USB "Extension Cord" About 40-inches long
*"AV" Cable about 4-feet long (composite Video-yellow connector, mono sound--white connector)
*Attachable hand strap
*Manual, misc. addenda, warranty/return survey

Stuff I wanted to know and could not find on web:
*(Real) Compatibility with IPAD--no direct support (the highly touted Apple iFrame capability means nothing as far as I can tell as to easily shooting video and directly bringing it into the IPAD). Of course moving any video into the IPAD is a big challenge. I own the Apple CCK Camera Connection Kit and was hoping this would allow me to plug the USB plug of the camera into this CCK adapter or the SD-card itself and import the video into the Apple photo app. I did easily get the still photos into the IPAD and it seems maybe the video too--but the video won't play (so how good is that). I believe this is because the high def 1920x1080P I was using at 12 Mbps (VBR) over exceeds the Apple allowable spec. (And it did not work with the iFrame content I shot at 960x540/30fps (approx 24 Mbps) (VBR). Perhaps if I had used the 640x480/30fps (approx 3 Mbps) (VBR) it would have worked--but who wants to save their precious moments in low def? (I believe the IPAD max bit rate is limited to 5 Mbps in the published spec). But don't dismay, here is the workaround: you can watch your videos on the IPAD (at the highest quality setting) by bringing them in through iTunes, directly into the GoodReader app (you can buy on iTunes). It's a fairly hidden capability of GoodReader (probably not to upset Apple too much)--but GoodReader allows you to play videos AND at higher resolutions and bit speeds than the Apple specs . . . but shhhhh, don't tell anyone, don't think we are supposed to know this. I was also able to import the video into iMovie and FCP 7.

[Addition Aug 28, 2010: Been using the above GoodReader technique on my vacation. It works, but is not perfect. There is an occasional stutter. If you demand perfect, stutter-free video on the IPAD, you will need to transcode the 1080P content to an IPAD compatible resolution/bit rate, then bring it into the Video area of the IPAD.]

*How long can your really shoot--apparently the references to 29min 59 sec (startlingly low) are the "single clip" time. Once you click stop, you seem to be able to continue to shoot (perhaps a total of 45 minutes as described in the manual)

[Addition Aug 28, 2010: The battery MUST be charged in the camera hooked up to a PC. Purchased a USB car cigarette charger for my road trip and it does not work. Also purchased an iGo portable USB charger and it did not work. Confirmed with Panasonic Tech Support you MUST charge the battery connected to a computer. If you choose to experiment with other in-camera charging techniques and the battery starts showing weird amounts of power in the on-screen meter, you will need to pull the battery out of the camera and wait 1 minute for it to sorta reset--before trying again.]
[Addition Oct 21, 2010: See important new info below on a $13.38 knock-off battery available through Amazon . . .]

*The AV out (I believe is called mini-USB connector) is only composite--no higher def cables or instructions on using it for higher def.

*There is no external microphone jack

*There is no external earphone jack

*Lens has no screw threads for attaching other lenses (see Flip Ultra HD lens wide/macro hacks on net)

[Addition October 21, 2010: Purchased magnetic Wide Angle Conversion lens from Amazon seller New World Video Direct = Panasonic TA-1 (HM-TA1) 0.45x Wide Angle Lens (HD) Black Finish W/ Macro (Modification Style) Magnetic Type. $59.00 Worked great. See my review on its product page on Amazon. Includes magnetic rings which have peel-and-stick super glue of some kind.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041IWMPI/ref=oss_product

*Manual does not reference any other accessories other than a spare battery and SD-type memory cards (what I still found today on the Panasonic website).

*UW Housing - I am still dying to know if Panasonic will offer a low cost underwater housing for scuba diving (100 ft.)--and as of today, there is no sign that this may be a future offering.

[Addition October 21, 2010: Discovered a cool looking Underwater Housing from Ikelite on Amazon $246.95. Have not purchased at this point. On the manufacturer's site they show you some cool looking tiny video lights which go with it.]
Ikelite Compact Video Underwater Housing for Panasonic HM-TA1 Camcorder

Pros:
*Video quality is awesome--what I'd expect from Panasonic (I own a Panasonic AG-HMC150--the AVCHD camera the Indie film makers love) and I am sorta a novice wanna-be indie video maker (it sometimes seems almost comparable in quality to images from this $4K-ish camera). Although this mostly automatic camera has few adjustment options, if you optimize lighting and other conditions it looks great. Certainly acceptable for point-and-shoot video kinda stuff. I am hoping I can use it for risky camera shots in future productions, where the camera might get damaged--then use the clips in "higher grade" productions.

*Still pics--seem good. Have not done extensive still pic study/comparison, but some quick looks confirmed they seem very adequate.

*Sound quality--seems good. Again note the sound is mono.

*Simplicity--more buttons that a FLIP, but they are logical/straight forward.

Cons:
*Design/build quality--disappointing for a Panasonic Camcorder. It has two user access doors: Battery/SD-card and USB connector ejector. Both are very "flimsy." They have what appears to be a thin rubber "string-like-thing" holding the door on. Now as I told my buddy, in the past on many devices these would break in a few days. But I've been noticing on more modern electronics, these are more frequently being used--but now seem to be made of higher-tech materials so they seem to not break. Time will tell. This is my biggest concern over the longevity of this device.

*EXPENSIVE BATTERY--This camera (of course) seems to have a proprietary and very expensive battery--almost half the price of the camera ($74.95 list on the Panasonic website VW-VBJ10)--this is plainly price gouging. Shame on you Panasonic. And the manual scares the heck out of you, if you are even thinking about a clone/equivalent battery (threats of potential explosions, etc.). I searched and searched for the closest equivalent, but when it arrive the specs seemed like a 98% match, but I am not an electrical engineer and afraid if I use this $14 battery I'll damage the camera.

[Addition August 28, 2010: According to Panasonic Tech Support you can purchase other equivalent batteries but they MUST be 3.6 V/940mAh. The charging time when connected to a PC is 4 h 10 min for "45 min actual recording time." If you plan to use it on a vacation where you shoot more than 45 minutes of video per day, you will probably need a second battery . . .]

[Addition October 21, 2010: Purchased from Amazon $13.38 Battery from by "Panasonic Digital Camera Battery" = "Battery King" and it worked great. 3.60V, 1000mAh, Li-ion.] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N6O02W/ref=oss_product

[Addition October 21, 2010: Purchased from Amazon $28.00 Charger for above battery "Synergy", ships from and sold by Super Deal = Yan Kwong Leung and it worked great.]
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001YHGPE8/ref=oss_product

*"Exposed" lens--The lens does not have any fancy barn doors to protect it, like many of the modern digital still cameras (wish it did). There may be some kind of protective glass over it--but this old fashion, perfectionist is nervous over this. I'd feel better if they would have at least had a protective lens cap.

*No lens hood capability(?)--I'd love to put some kind of lens hood over the lens to protect the lens from reflections/glare, but again, there does not seem to be provision to attach one. And yes I know this is a "low cost" camera.

*Software--Is preloaded into the Camera and is nothing impressive as far as facilitating the use of the video on mobile devices, etc. (transcoding/conversion, etc.)

Discussion:
The build quality of the Flip Ultra HD--far exceeds the quality of this device. The USB connector ejector slider should win the prize for "Best throwback to Plasticky Trash to come out of Japan since 1960." I am embarrassed for Panasonic. This is definitely the Panasonics equivalent to the Toyota debacle of 2010. Sliding this "slider" to pop-out the USB connector, inspires me to prayer every time I go to use it--I am terrified the slider itself will break off at the almost microscopic stem/mount.

The anti-shake feature was another concern--since the few of these style camcorders which seem to have it, have not implemented it very well. This seems to work ok, but I need to shoot more video with it. I also just bought a camera stabilizer for this camera--since I want rock steady shots and want to achieve some Hollywood crane/action style movement . . . check this out . . . had to buy it from the UK and it ended up costing more than the camera, but WOW this is soooo fun "Mini Motion-Cam" [...]
(You also need a special adapter piece for ultra light cameras . . .) I would expect that future reviewers will complain about the shakiness of their video from a small camcorder like this--ATTENTION, all video cameras need tripods if you want to shoot rock steady video. No small hand-held camcorder to my knowledge shoots rock steady shots, becasue our arms/hands move! So calibrate your expectations accordingly. (If you surf the web, you may find video shot on a Flip Ultra HD camera using a tripod--that had the production value/quality of a Hollywood/Indie production . . . the FLIP I believe produces 720P video--this does 1080P and the image is even better.)

My dream camera for this genre would feature two user selectable resolutions/ qualities. High to allow you to watch on a big screen TV and low for today's super small screen/mobile devices. They would both be shot in parallel, so the user would not have to convert/transcode for instant gratification on a mobile device. After all, isn't this camera a mobile device? It is sorta implied that these quick, point, shoot and watch cameras are all about this. "Fast watching."

Conclusion:
Would recommend this camera to friends and family without reservations. It does provide very high value and fun. Gave this 4 out of 5 stars due to the flimsy feeling doors/design/build quality and the outrageously expensive proprietary battery.

[Addition Oct 21, 2010: I am loving this camera more and more. None of the cheesy looking doors have given me any problems. The sound is pretty good. I took it to work and recorded a telephone conference call with it, then later transcribed the audio track. It was great--worked like a mini digital audio recorder. Also used it in this mode to record a narration for another movie I made. Pretty good quality sound--not as good as using pro microphones on a PC, but good enough for home movies. I've also learned about how to work with the MP4 files in FCP 7 Apple Final Cut Pro for editing. The MP4 files must be transcoded from the MP4 "capture codec" to Apple ProRes 422 (LT) "editing codec." Then, once you finish editing, you need to transcode again, back to an "output codec" (e.g. something which you can burn to a DVD or Blu-Ray disk, etc. I created a "Droplet" using Apple Compressor and now just drop my raw MP4 files onto it and it converts it to ProRes 422 (LT). Using the correct file format will save you from stuttering and hair pulling. And please use all video cameras on a tripod, hand-holding even with anti-shake still makes most people dizzy.]

Length:: 0:43 Mins

Much lighter than I thought comparing with my old FLIP. I really love this color and compact design!
Powerful 4x digital zoom and LED light work perfectly when needed.

I took a sample video using 1280x720/30 fps mode and edited two files using software built-in for you. Even without selecting the highest quality 1920x1080 mode (Full HD) in this camcorder, you can see the video quality is amazing!

I have been wanting a video camera for years to record and share performances and shows. Many of my friends have the Flip UltraHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL and I was excited to compare the two cameras. When I finally got my camera, I was disappointed to discover that I had to buy a specific kind of memory card to go with it (I purchased the Transcend 16GB Class 10 SDHC Card (TS16GSDHC10)). This would be slightly annoying after already paying so much for the camera itself. Incidentally, there is no clear indication on the product page that a card HAS to be purchased (unlike with the Flip camera that comes with 8 GB memory in the camera already) or suggestions for someone like me who isn't that familiar with memory cards on which type is best to buy BEFORE you get the product home. So -- without that memory card, the camera cannot be used directly out of the box.

When I was finally able to start playing around with the camera I found that it was a bit more complicated than the Flip, however Panasonic's buttons are clearly labeled and it is easy for anyone with some technical knowledge to use. As for the filming quality, for everyday filming the picture is very clear but when filming with bright stage lighting, the figures appear a bit washed out and fuzzy. I did notice that the Panasonic camera did a have a slightly higher video quality than the Flip.

Overall I am very happy with this camera -- it is small, has full HD, is easy to use, has a flashlight on the front, small but clear viewing screen and decent on camera volume. It is capable of taking both videos and pictures. It also has YouTube, Facebook, and Skype interfaces. A nice extra touch would have been if the product had come with a felt bag or protective case of some kind.

Rather than write a review right away, I decided to spend my time with my three little minivideo recorders (Flip minoHD, Panasonic HM-TA1, Flip ultraHD) and put them through the paces. Indoors, outdoors, dim lighting, bright, sunset, walking, driving, kids. It was fun.

The Flips are 720p video only recorders whereas the Panasonic is a 1080p video recorder & camera.

I thought all the cameras had their niches to fill. The older mino Flip is the most stylish and best built body of the three, though with the least picture quality. The ultra HD had very good PQ and the ability to use 3 AAA batts as backup (good for travellers). The Panasonic had the best resolution and most customization features of the three and a camera to boot.

The camera stills were okay - really best when outdoors with plenty of light. Fairly grainy, maybe blurry, when indoors. So while it is EXTREMELY convenient to have the ability to do video and stills in one device, the camera function should be a small consideration when deciding to purchase the Panasonic.

The videos themselves were pretty good when used outdoors, indoors, and even when outdoors at night I could get some passable shots with the built-in LED light (nice touch). The TA-1 also allows you to select 16:9 or 4:3 ratios & 1080p, 720p, 480p, iFrame, all at 30 fps.

I think for no-thought-to-use simplicity, the Flip ultraHD is probably the better choice. But if you're more willing to deal with a few more buttons and want a camera too, the Panasonic should be at the top of your consideration.

This is a slick little modern marvel. It is so easy to use, you hardly need the instructions. It does not come with a card and uses a SDHC, not the standard SD (for video), but they don't cost much. I purchased a 8GB card and that is enough for over 1.4 hours of recording and playback. The card will set you back another $13, about the price of one HDV tape. It is far from being the best camcorder on Earth, but what do you expect for $170? It's great!
I use Mac and was easily able to drag the files into Final Cut Pro, it also will import it's files into FCP Express and IMovie. No capture at real time, just drag the file in. Editing it was easy too, slick! The quality of the video was better than HDV with limitations. The main thing I noticed was the need for tripod use, and yes the little baby has a tripod screw. Handheld movement is impossible to eliminate, and the playback seemed to amplify this movement with almost a image distortion. If you use a tripod, the image is amazing, truly amazing! The audio is okay, again, what do you expect for this price? It is not hi fi, it's ACC or MP3 quality, certainly acceptable if careful. There is actually some software in the camera for PC use, I don't need it, but it's there...I would not expect it to be fantastic. It loads with the built-in USB connection. The camera charges with the same USB connection, or even a low priced USB AC powered hub (I discovered).
This little camera can obviously go anywhere with great results if you use common sense, tripod, and imagination. It is not a professional camera, but it is not a toy either. It is not packed wit features and everything is done automatically. The white balance and color is fantastic and automatic - no override. The audio has a gain boost - no override. It is $170, hey, but you get a lot for that money! You, with effort, could actually shoot some pretty terrific video with this, can comparable with high end cameras. I have worked with corporate video for a number of years and I find this worthy of serious use, within the limits of knowing what you are doing. It could also be used by a 12 year old if you teach them the basics of being steady with it. It was a lot of fun and I was blown away with the results. It needs that tripod though, this I can not stress enough. I love the little thing! What fun to own. Thumbs up for fun. I give it 5 stars because it's something I will use, knowing it is not professional, it's still darn good for many things.

Length:: 2:29 Mins

This is Panasonics answer to the FLIP Video and it surpasses and falls short at the same time. First, the quality of the videos is remarkable. Automatically set at the highest default of 1920 X 1080, on a 4GB card you can record 40 minutes. With an 8GB card, you can record 1 hour and 20 minutes. Honestly, unless you are making a movie project, keep it at the high default, as shorter videos tend to be less boring. The 'menu screen' is very intuitive for both Video and Camera. The camera settings should always be at 8M (8 megapixels/the default) which will give a perfectly fine quality photo. A poster it won't make, but a 10 X 12 is easily possible. The software is very easy to use and one of the best features is the capability to record a video and come back later and extract an individual shot from motion. When taking pictures in low light, there is a button that turns on a bright light that is alarmingly effective. Playback of video and photos is clean, crisp and easy on a nice screen the same size as a Flip Video's. The special effects function allows you to record in 'monochrome', 'sepia' or 'soft skin'. Another very cool feature for real electronic buffs is that this camera has SKYPE capabilities, so if you plug it onto your computer Playback of video and photos is easily done on a good size screen (same size as a Flip Video) you can talk to other SKYPE users.

Now for the not so great features - the construction of the camera. There are three access panels on the sides of the camera for:
1) Battery and SDHC card
2) An external A/V port
3) The USB port for access to your computer is a problem.

Yes, you can directly input it into your computer's USB port, but the flimsy cover dangles in the way. It felt like it might break off. These are thin plastic pieces that attach only with a thin plastic loop. Once in place over the compartment, they are secure, but this is probably the biggest flaw. Having to use an external cord to connect the USB port to your computer is just an extra unneeded hassle, but then again, I've been concerned about hanging a Flip Video on a horizontal USB computer port and the cord eliminates the fear of snapping the cover off.

Like most compact video/cameras, there is a mono microphone and speaker. Not a big deal.

Other important points to make is that Panasonic really suggests you use an (Secure Digital High Capacity) SDHC card Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6. This guarantees the ultimate in quality and performance. This is the only item not included in the package and they are not cheap. I did some research on the difference between cards which are linked just above.

Watching your videos and photos on your television (flat screen is awesome) or computer is a thrill when you witness the clarity. I do enjoy this camera and feel guilty to give it only 3 stars, but the construction of the access doors, the extra cord for computer connection and the non-inclusion of an SDHC card were the tipping points. Considering the price, it can still be considered a bargain. I suspect Panasonic will release a newer version that will blow away the competition.

I got this Panasonic HM-TA1 the first week of 2011. After extensive research and some advice from a YouTube video 'guru', I decided on this camera based on his recommendation and the $99 dollar price. This is my 1st HD video camera that is very easy to use and I have uploaded 19 videos to YouTube as of today.
I first filmed in 1920x1080 and it took over 3 hours to upload a 4 minute video.
I switched to 640x480 and now 10 minute videos only take about 10 minutes to upload. The video quality is very good and the sound is excellent. The only feature I will want on my next camera will be a flip around screen. Since this is my first video camera and I am very new to filming, editing and special effects do some research, I'm sure you will find a lot of help with which camera to buy.

My husband and I both tried out this camcorder. Here are his observations:

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I wasn't really looking for a camera like this, as I couldn't think of where I'd use it. Once I got it and started messing with it, it became a question of "where won't I use it?!"

The small size and light weight make it ideal for just throwing in your pocket and having along. It does have a standard mount on the bottom, so it is compatible with all of your regular camera gear. Unfortunately, I didn't get this until after the season was over, but I really look forward to mounting this in the car and getting some on-track video.

The USB port is a bit tough to open, and the power button is extremely sensitive when powering up, but otherwise it's pretty easy to use. The included software is okay; it didn't take me long to figure it out, but if you are planning on doing any "real" movie work then you should look for some additional software.

I put it through a pretty rigorous test of recording my commute while strapped directly to the frame of my bike. It handled things pretty well. There was some rippling in the video due to the vibrations, but the image was clear otherwise. Even my techy friends were pretty impressed at the capabilities of such a small camera and had good things to say about the quality even on their HD players.

HD, of course, makes for some incredibly large file sizes, so if you plan on doing a lot of HD, plan on getting a large card right from the start.
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Here are my own observations:
I was impressed with how simple it was to use the camera and keep it steady in my hand; plus, the controls are set up to be far enough from the lens that I don't risk accidentally getting my finger in the picture. I can see accidentally brushing or bumping the mike--for whatever reason, that's been an occasional issue with every camcorder I've ever used. The sound in the indoor video I did of our cat seems pretty clear, though.
I agree with my husband; it is extremely easy to bump the power button and accidentally turn the camcorder on. The same button turns it off, but we haven't had a problem with accidentally turning it off because you have to hold the button down longer for the off function.
I didn't try out the software; I used iMovie on my Mac. For some reason, iMovie doesn't recognize the camcorder as a movie camera, so iPhoto starts up automatically instead. If I select the camera's files from the desktop, though, I can just drag them into iMovie, and that works fine. The video loaded choppily on my husband's PC; I assume that has to do with the capabilities of our specific computers rather than Macs and PCs in general.
Yes, the commute video was wavy. I was relieved to see that videos that didn't involve the vibration factor were much smoother.
This camcorder may lack some of the features of bigger, fancier cameras, and I'm sure it won't run as long without charging, but it definitely also lacks the fuss. No tapes to deal with, it's pretty easy to use, and it's compact and lightweight.

I have a SONY camcorder but seldom use it cuz it's bulky and just mess to connect product to my apple laptop. But this product is simpler to use, connect built-in USB jack, and BAM! very handy with high picture quality recording in both still and video!
Especially video quality, both Full HD 1080P (1920x1080) and Standard (1280x720) are very crisp and precise. This comes with a bright LED light for dark scene recording which works very well indeed.
I am not freak for editing videos but simple uploading is another plus.
I bought this for my son but I end up using it for a while... I recommend this to everyone.
John

I got this from the amazon woot shop when it was on sale there.
Its good value for the money and the pictures and video are really good.
I got it just in time for the birth of my daughter and have been using this instead of my canon.
Low light video is also quite good in my opinion.

I am very pleased with it.
Only thing I would wish for is the ability to do 720p@60 fps and a wide angle lens.
The current lens results in too close a picture and you have to back away from the subject more than usual.
I am using a third party battery (maximal power) found here on Amazon for it. It works fine with this camera and does not have any compatibility issues.

Even with a class 4 microsd card, I am having great results.
Will soon switch to a class 10 sdhc card and see if it has even better results.