Panasonic Pro AG-HSC1U AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NAW2PS
• Item model number: HSC1
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,096 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

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  Camera & Photo > Camcorders > High Definition

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The new HSC1U records beautiful, detailed high-definition video images and clear, high-quality sound that make for exceptional viewing on today’s most advanced home theater systems. The HSC1U records directly onto high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This tough, compact model debuts as the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD high-definition video camcorder, and because there are no moving parts in the recording section, the HSC1U is also exceptionally resistant to impact. You can count on reliable, virtually error-free recording. The 40 GB portable hard disk drive is ideal for transferring and storing footage from your camcorder, and an included 4 GB SDHC card -- which can store up to one hour of high-definition video -- makes it simple to start recording right away.

Panasonic Pro AG-HSC1U Highlights

Imaginative design With a weight of about 1 pound, the AG-HSC1U offers incredible quality, portability and mobility. It can fit into compact spaces like a glove compartment. News stringers will find it useful as a quick back up for street shots. Unlike consumer counterparts, it’s specifically designed for professional use. The video image has been optimized (Chroma, Gamma, Knee) to match our professional cameras, and its sleek body is a non-reflective graphite gray color. Users who already carry heavy gear (soldiers, police and fire-fighters) will appreciate the AG-HSC1U’s light weight. The remaining battery life is displayed in minutes, making it a joy to use. With no tape or disc, its silent operation will definitely benefit the nature, scientific or surveillance markets. Skateboarders, fighter jet pilots and helicopter pilots have been asking for a small, high definition camcorder that is resistant to vibration and G forces. It can even be mounted on a helmet, robot or a small animal! Use your imagination -- the possibilities are endless.

Audio When recordings made with the AG-HSC1U are played back in a 5.1-channel studio system, viewers are surrounded by a clear, detailed sound that makes them feel as if they are right in the middle of the action. A Zoom Mic function links the microphone's action to the camera's action. While zooming in on a distant subject, the microphones also zoom in and record the sounds related to that subject. Scout movie locations and return with HD video and 5.1-channel surround sound instead of just still pictures.

Impressive lens The 12x Leica Dicomar lens featured in the AG-HSC1U has 13 lens elements in 10 groups, with 21 multi-coated surfaces, and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce chromatic aberration. This advanced lens also minimizes harmful reflections, so images are crisp, clear and free of flare and ghosting. The lens can provide slow, smooth zooms for remarkably professional playback.

Included "SD Store" media storage unit You can use the highly-portable 40 GB SD Store to offload your SD cards. It fits in a shirt pocket, yet it can hold ten 4 GB cards worth of data. Just insert the SD card and press the Copy button to transfer the material recorded on the SD card to the built-in HDD (transfer speed is 6MB/second, so a 4 GB card takes 11 minutes). The SD Store comes with an external AC adapter which powers the unit. More importantly, it also allows users to recharge the SD Store’s built-in battery, for use in the field.

Additional Features

3CCD camera records 1080/60i 16:9 onto SDHC and SD memory cards

12x Leica Dicomar Lens with smooth, slow zoom, and built in Lens Cap

F1.8 - 2.8 f=4mm - 48mm, (35mm equivalent 38.5 - 462mm), filter diameter size: 43 mm

Optical Image Stabilization suppresses camera shake without loss of image quality

No tape mechanism, heads, guides, pinch rollers or dropouts for trouble-free performance

Faster record startup. (only 1.7 seconds from the time the monitor is opened)

Records high-quality widescreen still images (even during video recording)

Fast, accurate Auto Focus with no hunting!

No noise from a tape or disc transport to get into the on-board microphone

5.1-channel surround sound audio recording with 5 microphones on board (Dolby AC-3)

Super directivity Zoom Mic function. 2-channel external mic input (3.5mm phone plug)

3-inch widescreen LCD side screen (251,000 pixels); Digital Zoom Off, 1-30x, 1-700x

Uses the latest compression scheme (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)

Five program AE modes in manual mode; fades to black or white with audio fade

Three Audio modes: Auto, Manual, Manual + AGC audio levels

Directional keys make it easy to navigate the on-screen menu (center button is enter key)

Color reproduction optimized for the professional -- natural and accurate

Graphite body color suppresses reflections

One-year parts and labor warranty

Product Description

The new HSC1U records beautiful, detailed high-definition video images and clear, high-quality sound that make for exceptional viewing on today’s most advanced home theater systems. The HSC1U records directly onto high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This tough, compact model debuts as the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD high-definition video camcorder, and because there are no moving parts in the recording section, the HSC1U is also exceptionally resistant to impact. You can count on reliable, virtually error-free recording. The 40 GB portable hard disk drive is ideal for transferring and storing footage from your camcorder, and an included 4 GB SDHC card -- which can store up to one hour of high-definition video -- makes it simple to start recording right away.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite camera yet - I love it!, November 11, 2007

By	Thomas Tomchak (Wheaton, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm an editor by trade, so for me the work flow and support for this format was very important. If you work with iMovie use of this footage is fast and seamless. And if you prefer Final Cut Pro (as I do) it works flawlessly with that as well now, providing you have the current FCP 6 (which is part of the Studio 2 release). So where some have complained about being able to edit with this format, I don't see that as a problem anymore.

The included battery powered HD works great (it's larger then it looks in the picture though). It's a great way to download your footage while you shoot. It works well.

The image quality is amazing. Really amazing. My previous camera was a Sony DV Camera (just a consumer model) and it was great but this is so much better.

The camera is very easy to use and you get used to just having it with you. I take it to more locations then I normally would, which means I actually shoot more footage.

One thing to consider in the big picture is where you will store all of this footage. Because I already work with tapeless footage at my office I have the necessary hardware to not only edit with the footage, but also back it up for long term archival purposes. If you don't have this, you will probably want to get the optional DVD burner that allows you to burn a card directly to a DVD. But even DVD is not a good long term solution. Personally I use LTO-3 tapes because they have a 30 year shelf life, but this is not something most consumers will have. Blue-ray is probably another good format to back up to. The point being, don't just think about how easy it is to shoot, think about the whole process from editing to final long term storage of your footage. This way of working does require a little more work along the way to stay organized and to be able to find your footage.

I purchased this model over the 5 or 1 model (I can't remember the rest of the letters but if you've been looking at this camera you probably know what i"m talking about) mainly because of two reasons. One is that it has a line in for a wireless mic, which was important to me even if I don't use a wireless mic all the time. Also, the gamma of this camera is better matched to Panasonic P2 cameras, making it a slightly (and I do mean slightly) better choice if you need to match this footage to a more professional camera.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

Update Saturday; January 26, 2008 - If you would like to see a sample video that was cut from the footage shot with this camera, use the link below. Keep in mind this is not the full quality, but you'll see how sharp the picture actually is. It also shows how weak the camera is in low light situations.

[...]

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PanasONIC AG-HSCIU AVCHD CAMCORDER, January 3, 2008

By	M. Daley "Baypharm" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After reading many reviews of this camcorder and others, I decided to make the jump for this one. I had previous experience with other panasonic professional camcorders so I had some idea going into this what to expect. I rate it a full five stars because of the outstanding image quality, ease of editing, small form factor, and because it uses SDHC cards which are readily available and affordable. The high definition image quality is nothing short of fantastic. There is fineness in detail. When shooting into bright light with people between me and that light, it compensates very effectively so everything is naturally exposed. There is a film-like quality to it that looks fabulous. In bright sunlight I always use an ND and polarizer filters. This camera turns on instantly and I am ready to start shooting. It has a good selection of manual controls. There is no manual focusing ring. Why they left that off, who knows. I use a step up ring to use readily available 49mm filters. Battery life is excellent but get another one or two- that goes without saying. Better safe than sorry when you are in the wild. It is small, lightweight and easy to operate. I use it handheld most of the time with a flash bracket I bought in a second hand shop for $3. This bracket allows me to better hold the camera more steadily. I also use cinesaddles instead of tripods and fluid heads. The built in OIS works great. I like the variable speed zoom servo. I can get silky slow zooms and fast ones if needed. It is still photo capable and I have used it but it's of lesser importance to me.

Perhaps the best part is that it records 1080i/60 directly onto SDHC cards. No tape mechanism to jam. After shooting you pull out the card and place into your computer for fast and easy transfer. iMovie '08, Final Cut Express 4, Adobe Premiere CS3, and other software titles work flawlessly in handling the high definition footage. Editing is quick and easy. It does come with a handy self-powered 40gb HD for transferring footage in the field from the SDHC card. Very thoughtful of Panasonic to include this. It means you only need one or two cards to shoot with. An 8gb card will hold 83 minutes of HD footage or a 16gb card will allow you to shoot for two hours and twenty minutes. Remember don't forget spare batteries! The LCD viewfinder is large and bright. I have no trouble using it on the brightest of sunlit days. The 5.1 audio works great and does an excellent job when shooting interviews. I just love this camera and would not go back to tape ever again. We will be putting up sample footage on our website www.kineticimagefilmgroup.com soon.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive little pocket camcorder, April 27, 2008

By	Bo Lorentzen "Photographer" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

The AG-HSC1U is a VERY small camcorder, for my particular use the size and solid-state recording was a big part of the choice.

Once in use the camcorder impressed with beautiful pictures, however for interviews one need to mount a bracket to hold the microphone, I got one with 2 shoe mounts for a video light to pop the faces and also a microphone, it would be nice to have a headphone jack, but there is no such thing, instead there is a recording level indicator on the screen, I was a bit apprehensive about this starting out, but in practical everyday use this works well.

This camcorder is a "Pro" version of the older Panasonic SD1 camera, the colors have been tweaked to match the look of other professional cameras, this works well and I find the shots to play nicely with much more expensive panasonic pro cameras.

Unlike most serious camcorders this camera is mostly menu driven, there is no exposure-compensation. however there is a small joystick which makes it easy to adjust the lighting. the most common used adjustments are accessed by sliding the mode slider to Manual and then pressing the joystick once, this will let you toggle through the settings one at a time, you can select a option by moving the cursor sideways - once selected you can move sideways to increase or decrease a setting such as aperture, gain, or shutter speed, press downwards to exit a option. in practical use this works easy and are simple to figure out, I use the aperture all the time and it is the first option when I turn on manual because it was used last. The camera have zebra stripes so it is easy to judge exposure.

The camera could possible have a bit more dynamic range, but I have not found it being a problem, I typically shoot outdoors interviews with a graduated ND filter to control the sky and use a reflector to pop some light in the top of the face which also is in the ND filter, the result look great and do not look like something from a cheap camcorder.

The lens is longer than the other SD cameras with 12x zoom, which really is about as long as you can hold still any way, I use this camera mostly on monopod or handheld in the cockpit of airplanes. The lens is sharp and with no vignetting.

The AVCHD files edits well with Vegas Pro 8, I have not tried the economy compression and only use the best quality setting which looks beautiful on the screen. A added bonus is the 40gig portable harddrive which ships with this camera model, the drive is battery powered and I have successfully dumped 5 days worth of cards to the drive with no recharge required.

Generally the camera performs well and overall I am very pleased with this purchase, it plays well with other cameras and I am about to pick up a second for the company. In my personal opinion this camera is highly recommended as long as you realize that have have some limitations it will serve you well and deliver images you can use for production. Ultimately, only you can determine if this camera will "do the trick" for you, based on your needs and the performance vs price of the camera, you can find larger cameras with more features at the same price, but they are pretty darn hard to stuff in the pocket in the cockpit.