choice of camcorder: Canon Legria HF G10 vs Panasonic HDC-TM700?

I own the HF G10 and the SD-9. Compared to the TM700, the HF G10 is defintely a better camera, but not by much. Don't take my word for it ... look at the side by side comparison in detailed testing between the two in the HF G10 review on www.camcorderinfo.com. It is a very thorough test and review. It's the top camcorder this year. It is a multi-page review with tons on tests and info. Toward the end they compare the two. The low light capability of the G10 is the best of the best this year. The compression tech on the Canon is superb at 24Mbps ... far better than even 2 or 3 years ago. I have two pro Sony cameras as well, and the little HF G10 rivals them. The HF G10 has a PF24 and PF30 frame rate as well as a real native 24P mode on the sensor. The glass on the lens is awesome ... very good in low light. And the focus ring itself is pure silk. Best wishes.

stephen

The SD-9 is a fine little camera from several years back. Its claim to fame was its small size and early use of SD cards. I think its highest bit rate was only about 15Mbps however. The G10 uses a bigger sensor, much more advanced compression processing. Honestly, when I have clips from my pro Sony HVR-Z5U HD camcorders on the timeline next to clips from the G10, it is very hard to tell the difference. The G10 is actually much more color accurate than the pro Sonys.

Furthermore, the G10 is a breeze to connect to the computer and use the Import from Camera in FCP X. The G10 comes with 32GB built in with two SD slots to go beyond that. I also have the HF M41 that uses the same sensor and has 2 SD card slots, but I never even have to use SD cards on the G10 unless I want to add them. It has a automatic relay mode that goes to the next storage SD slot when it has filled up the previous one. Thus you can use the internal 32 GB with a couple of other 32GB SD cards to get over 12 hours of the highest quality (24Mbps) video recorded. You can even specify to record to both SD cards at the same time so you have an automatic backup of your work.

Check out the detail on that review site I gave you. It's the best ... I'm not a cheerleader for it ... just stating the facts. I am very, very impressed. One of the best buys I have ever made in video work. Best wishes.

stephen

Hi Stephen

I wonder if you could help me with a question I have.

I have Sony FX1000 (consumer version of Z5) and i have been looking for a B-cam.

Earlier i bought the Panasonic TM700 and I can´t match the colors with my Sony so i am thinking of getting another smaller camera to go with my Sony.

I´ve been looking at the G10 and what i have seen so far from the camera have really impressed me.

Do you think that the colors from the G10 match the Sony so good that you could use it as a B-cam

Cheers

Hans

Hans,

I do use the G10 as a B-cam ... and the G10 is probably the most color accurate camera I have seen. It's color looks almost exactly like reality to the eye. Any two cameras are not going to look exactly alike in their color processing, but the color corrector in FCP X allows me to fine tune the clips from the two cameras quickly and easily. If you use the FCP X match color function, it gets it really close most of the time. Just select the clip you want to change, then choose Match Color in the Inspector, then choose the clip you want to match the color of in the Event Browser. Then I can adjust color easily in the Color Corrector in the Inspector to make it perfect. The FX1000, as you point out, is identical to the Z5U in lens and sensor and processing (it's a great camea) ... so I would think your experience would be the same as mine. I would think that using the G10 as a B-cam would be a great addition to the FX1000 for news, documentary, etc. If you are doing some feature film work, the more important aspect would be getting the lighting right for each camera before you press Record. IMHO. Best wishes,

stephen

Thank you very much!

cheers

Hans