I am looking to purchase a Panasonic AG-HMC40 camcorder and was wondering how people felt about them and what was comparable, but still solid state recording in the 1800 dollar price range give or take 200 dollars.
I like the idea of solid state because I do not enjoy using DV tape. Unless someone could talk me out of it.
I would be using the camera to record documentaries, music videos, shorts, etc. at a college/semi professional level.
If the AG-HMC40 did not use AVCHD compression to create MTS files it would be a fine camcorder because everything else about it is quite good.
Because of the AVCHD piece, I would much prefer the HDR-FX7 (plus an XLR adapter) DV/HDV to miniDV tape. But that also means your computer has to have a firewire port. If it does not – and one cannot be added, then flash memory is your only other option – so the AG-HMC40 is about it.
Your computer needs a LOT of RAM, a really fast CPU. AVCHD is more of a pig than HDV is. Take a look at what the bigger dogs use – and I will even limit the list to flash memory camcorders:
Panasonic AG-HVX200
Sony HVR-Z7
JVC GY-HM100
Red Scarlet and Red One
Silicon Imaging
No AVCHD.
Now let’s add in the others:
Sony HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5
Canon XH series; XLH series
Sony XDCAM and HDCAM series
No AVCHD – all digital tape.
How are you planning to archive the video – as in, what if you want the original video in 5 or 10 years or more? MiniDV tape is the archive when the tape is not reused. But again, if your computer can’t handle firewire, then flash memory is the only other viable option. Then the follow up question is, can your video editor handle the MTS files?
I like the idea of solid state, too – especially from the power consumption standpoint, but the post production process flow is immature and not yet ready for prime time.
If the AG-HMC40 did not use AVCHD compression to create MTS files it would be a fine camcorder because everything else about it is quite good.
Because of the AVCHD piece, I would much prefer the HDR-FX7 (plus an XLR adapter) DV/HDV to miniDV tape. But that also means your computer has to have a firewire port. If it does not – and one cannot be added, then flash memory is your only other option – so the AG-HMC40 is about it.
Your computer needs a LOT of RAM, a really fast CPU. AVCHD is more of a pig than HDV is. Take a look at what the bigger dogs use – and I will even limit the list to flash memory camcorders:
Panasonic AG-HVX200
Sony HVR-Z7
JVC GY-HM100
Red Scarlet and Red One
Silicon Imaging
No AVCHD.
Now let’s add in the others:
Sony HVR-Z1, HVR-Z5
Canon XH series; XLH series
Sony XDCAM and HDCAM series
No AVCHD – all digital tape.
How are you planning to archive the video – as in, what if you want the original video in 5 or 10 years or more? MiniDV tape is the archive when the tape is not reused. But again, if your computer can’t handle firewire, then flash memory is the only other viable option. Then the follow up question is, can your video editor handle the MTS files?
I like the idea of solid state, too – especially from the power consumption standpoint, but the post production process flow is immature and not yet ready for prime time.
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JVCs are far better on all counts
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