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Which camcorder should I buy?? PLEASE HELP!!? - Which camcorder should I buy? Hey I want to buy a camcorder to produce homemade short films / student films. I'm in a dilemma between the Sony XR500V and the Panasonic TM-300. Which one is better? Which one should I get? I know the sony lacks manual iris and other manual adjustments but I got the impression that the Panasonic is unreliable.. After watching some clips on youtube it seems that the sony has a problem when the exposure changes often, the colors seem to change - not in all of them in some, specially if they try do make it in 24p mode through the editing software (another good feature by the panasonic) but on the other hand, again, many of those who got the Panasonic were not pleased at all. And most importantly, Why would you recommend the one that you choose? Thanks

Best Answer: Sony HDR-XR500V 120GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PY420O?tag=dcmb-20 Review: 1. Still capture at 12 megapixels is probably a waste of disk space (and the extra processing time that it takes to deal with the larger pictures). Unless there is something revolutionary about the way that the camcorder would interpolate the native 6.2-megapixel still capture up to 12 megapixels, I would use the interpolation capabilities of, say, Photoshop back at home and set the camcorder to grab stills at 6.2 megapixels (native). The trailing question is whether that 6.2-megapixel mode at 4:3 is actually native, without any scaling or interpolation; there is a 9-megapixel mode at 16:9 that is probably not native, but Sony does not clarify anywhere. 2. I cannot perceive any degradation in AVCHD image quality between (a) Steadymove ON; and (b) Steadymove Active ON. Is there any good reason to turn off Active mode (or Steadymove altogether)? 3. SonyStyle.com is notorious for sloppily recommending accessories. They do not associate the correct case with this camcorder. You will be very happy with the LCS-DAB model, which has a slot for the hand grip which allows for easy and safe removal. Unlike the almost-identical other versions, the LCS-DAB's slot is offset from center in a way that works with the location of the hand grip on the HDR-XR500V/520V. 4. Another ridiculous error on the SonyStyle.com site is the retail price on its newest compatible 37mm wide-angle lens. The VCL-HGE07A retails for $99 rather than $229, and is inferior to the VCL-HGA07 at $199. The newer model also doesn't come with a lens cap, which is ridiculous. 5. The NAVTEC maps are largely disappointing. Most consumer GPS devices only reserve 1gb or so for map data, thus Sony really cheaped out with the NAVTEC maps. Don't expect any more detail than city names and the very occasional major route number, even when zoomed in to the max. 6. Low-light sensitivity is extraordinarily good. I am anxious to read professional testing on this, but it is poised to beat professional cameras. This backlit CMOS invention might really be a no-brainer for all future camcorders. It is a simple re-shuffling of the layers in the CMOS sensor. 7. The flash works surprisingly well. I know that this comment could elicit grumbles, but I am quite seriously prepared to say that this device is a full-blown replacement for my non-SLR digital camera -- and, with geotagging to boot. 8. I cannot find any time-lapse feature. Not sure if manufacturers generally don't bother anymore, but this is a big disappointment. As for the slow-motion feature, which is locked into 3 seconds of footage slowed down to 12, it works okay but Sony is not forthcoming about the extent to which the signal degrades. It is certainly not equivalent to 1080/60i, though. What actually is it? 9. The camcorder comes with a "demonstration" video. It is stunningly corny -- and if it doesn't make you laugh, God help you! At least by the looks of the video, Sony created this camera for clean-cut, pudgy boomers who want to shoot videos of their children with "Hollywood production values." My favorite moment is when the daddy in the peach-colored cashmere sweater jumps up and down like a schoolgirl. He is one cheesecake slice away from some serious gut-bobbage. 10. As if the camera weren't already overpriced, it has inspired pricey new wish-list items for me: (a) that new Bluetooth microphone set which plugs into the proprietary Active Interface Shoe; (b) a wide-angle lens, maybe not the VCL-HGA07 if there is a better one for 37mm that's easy to use; (c) a Sony tripod with a remote-controlling handle which plugs into the A/V Control port; and (d) a Steadicam Merlin, of course! 11. It's confirmed: The only difference between this model and the HDR-XR520V is $200 less cost and half the hard disk space. However, with 120gb giving you many hours and the additional option of using removable flash memory, I don't see much reason to step up *************************************** Panasonic HDC-TM300 Twin Media HD Camcorder http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001P3P3C6?tag=dcmb-20 Review: bought this camcorder to replace a Sony DSR-PD170. I needed to switch to from miniDV/DVCAM to HD, and in the process I wanted to go to flash media. There are very few choices right now. Panasonic's AG-HMC70U is a gigantic monster compared to my DSR-PD170, and the new Panasonics and JVCs aren't getting the greatest reviews - so I looked at the consumer camcorders. I wanted 3CCDs and XLR inputs, but no XLR on a consumer camcorder, so I'm using a Studio One stereo mini to XLR box. The CCD vs. MOS isn't important to me, as long as I get 3 sensors. This is the only 3-sensor consumer camcorder using flash media I could find. The quality is good, and I would say it's at the top of the consumer camcorder heap at this point. AVCHD is great for good quality - DC

If I were you I would search both and read the reviews. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS345US345&q=Sony+XR500V&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16519907783730492402&ei=5Uf1SpumNYHCsQPRu_gK&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ8gIwAA&os=reviews#

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