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What camcorder to buy?

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chubby3
Posts: 172 - Karma: 1,241

Im looking at buying a new camcorder for this season but i can't make up my mind. I've got a panasonic HDC-HS300 at the moment but want something with a much better picture quality. I've narrowed it down to 3.

*Sony HDR FX7

*PANASONIC AG-HMC40

*Or the (PANASONIC AG-HMC150) if the extra money is really worth it.

Im only really looking for best picture, not too fussed on other features. It will be mainly used for skiing but ill be filming surfing too.

Also if anyone has had any experience, is 3ccd worth spending the extra money on compared to 3cmos as far as picture quality?

May 24 2011 3:34AM
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chubby3
Posts: 172 - Karma: 1,241

Also if anyone has suggestions of different camera's i should check out, let us know. Thanks

May 24 2011 3:52AM
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dickhead1
Posts: 328 - Karma: 11
depends what your filming... if your all skiing and sports the HMC 40/150
if your doing a little bit of everything the HMC 40 or Fx7
honestly i had the fx7 and the picture quality was great but my friend had the hmc 40 and it was just all around a better camera... you doing have to worry about tapes or anything the only con about the hmc 40 is the colors are a bit saturated but it doesn't make a difference... the hmc and hmc 150 have 60p which you will want if your doing sports videos

go with the hmc 40... or look into DSLRS such as the t2i or the t31 save alot of money and get potentially better quality
May 24 2011 11:15AM
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chubby3
Posts: 172 - Karma: 1,241
Ok cool, thanks for your help.I was thinking about paying the extra for the hmc 150 cause i thought it might be worth the money, but if the picture quality is the same ill stick with the hmc 40.
May 25 2011 2:41AM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
You can't just base the camera off the picture quality.
1. the hmc150 has a ccd sensor, the other two have cmos sensors read the difference online
2. hmc150 has a wider lens
3. the hmc40 and 150 are more customizable in camera
4. the fx7 has a 1440x1080 uprezzed image i thnk but its interlaced, the hmc40 is true 1080p and the hmc150 has a 1280x1080(i think) pixel shifted in camera
May 25 2011 7:00AM
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@ScubaSteve
Posts: 378 - Karma: 822
love my fx7, but shits old school.
really with now that i would have bought an hmc-150
May 25 2011 1:52PM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
the hmc40 is also sharper than the 150
May 25 2011 3:20PM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
Technically yes, but in lowlight the hmc150 kills it.

May 25 2011 3:29PM
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chubby3
Posts: 172 - Karma: 1,241
Yer i've figured all the specs out since i've been looking into getting a new camera, but it's hard to choose when i haven't tested or used either camera. I would of thought that the hmc150 would of produced a better picture due to having 3ccd but now it seems like they are pretty similar. I've heard from reviews and you also said that the 150 is much better than the 40 in low light, do you think the 40 would still be ok in cloudy and overcast days? Or would the 150 produce a much better picture and be worth the extra money? Thanks for the help. 
May 26 2011 3:33AM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
The hmc40 will still be usable in cloudy and overcast days, but yeah also look into the downfalls of cmos sensors

May 26 2011 6:48AM
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