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  • Introduction

  • Video Review

  • Design

  • Front

  • Back

  • Left

  • Right

  • Top

  • Bottom

  • In the Box

  • Performance

  • Color

  • Low Light Color

  • Noise

  • Low Light Sensitivity

  • Low Light Noise

  • Low Light Color

  • Motion

  • Resolution & Frame Rates

  • Video Sharpness

  • Stabilization

  • Usability

  • Auto Mode

  • Auto Controls

  • Other Auto Features

  • Menus

  • Handling & Portability

  • Battery Life

  • LCD

  • Stabilization

  • Manual Focus

  • Manual Exposure

  • Miscellaneous Controls

  • Auto Controls

  • Audio Controls

  • Features

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Resolution & Frame Rates

  • Still Features

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • LCD

  • Connectivity

  • Battery

  • Media

  • 3D Lens

  • 3D Controls

  • Still Features

  • Other Features

  • Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison

  • Canon Vixia HF M52 Comparison

  • JVC Everio GZ-GX1 Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Video Review
  • Design
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • In the Box
  • Performance
  • Color
  • Low Light Color
  • Noise
  • Low Light Sensitivity
  • Low Light Noise
  • Low Light Color
  • Motion
  • Resolution & Frame Rates
  • Video Sharpness
  • Stabilization
  • Usability
  • Auto Mode
  • Auto Controls
  • Other Auto Features
  • Menus
  • Handling & Portability
  • Battery Life
  • LCD
  • Stabilization
  • Manual Focus
  • Manual Exposure
  • Miscellaneous Controls
  • Auto Controls
  • Audio Controls
  • Features
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Resolution & Frame Rates
  • Still Features
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • LCD
  • Connectivity
  • Battery
  • Media
  • 3D Lens
  • 3D Controls
  • Still Features
  • Other Features
  • Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison
  • Canon Vixia HF M52 Comparison
  • JVC Everio GZ-GX1 Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

Panasonic offers two versions of the HC-V700: one comes with 16GB of internal memory (the HC-V700M) and one comes without any internal memory (the HC-V700). The model we reviewed and scored was the HC-V700M, but the performance of the two camcorders should be identical. The only difference being the internal memory and a few related features (like the ability to copy from a memory card to the internal memory, or vice versa).

Video Review

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Design

If you're a fan of innovative, cutting-edge design... then it probably won't be love at first site between you and the Panasonic HC-V700. The camcorder just, well, looks like a camcorder. It's got that compact, rectangular shape that is specifically designed with handheld shooting in mind. The body of the camcorder is relatively sparse, with only a few buttons on the back, top, and inside the LCD cavity. Lastly, the V700 is available in just one, boring color option: black (with a bit of silver on the lens barrel).

Front

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Back

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Left

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Top

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Bottom

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In the Box

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The HC-V700 camcorder comes with the following accessories:

• rechargeable battery pack, model VW-VBK180
• AC adaptor
• AV multi cable (Composite and Component)
• USB cable
• shoe adapter
• software CD
• instruction manual

Performance

The HC-V700 can get you high-end video performance at a mid-range camcorder price. It's videos in bright light look crisp and smooth, and the new image sensor really helped the camcorder reduce noise in low light as well. Recording with the 1080/60p option gets you the highest image quality the camcorder offers, but it also creates the largest clips (and many video editing programs have difficulty working with them). Still, the HC-V700's regular 60i HD record modes do a decent enough job and the videos still look very good—just not quite as sharp as the 60p clips.

Color

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Like most mid-range and high-end HD camcorders, the Panasonic HC-V700 handled our color test extremely well. The color error measured at a low 3.74 and the saturation level was a solid 95%. Both of these scores are very good, but "very good" is basically what we see from most camcorders these days. The Panasonic TM90 had very similar numbers in this test, as did the Canon HF M52 and JVC GZ-GX1. More on how we test color.

You won't find any color presets on the HC-V700 camcorder, but there is a (somewhat hidden) picture effects menu that has a few options for tweaking the colors of your video. You can shift the saturation levels (color depth), alter the color temperature (white balance adjust), and manipulate sharpness. This is more control than you'd find on many camcorders in this price range, but you don't get any quick-and-easy color presets (like a vivid or natural mode) on the V700.

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Low Light Color

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Color results were also very strong for the HC-V700 in low light. The camcorder kept color error to just below 4.0 and the saturation level was right around 75%. These are good numbers, especially the color accuracy numbers, and it shows improvement for the V700 over last year's Panasonic TM90. Some users may be disappointed by the lack of punch in the V700's colors in low light, but remember, the camcorder does have a manual color depth adjustment option that lets you increase saturation on your own. More on how we test low light color.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Color Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Color Score", xLabel="Low Light Color Score"}}

Noise

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In bright light, the Panasonic V700 showed little presence of noise in our video tests. The average noise levels were 0.6%, which is lower than the noise we measured on the Panasonic HDC-TM90 last year. Basically, in bright light you aren't going to see much noise (if any) in your videos shot with the HC-V700. More on how we test noise.

{{comparison_bars title="Noise Score Comparison", attribute="Noise Score", xLabel="Noise Score"}}

Low Light Sensitivity

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We expected better low light sensitivity performance from the Panasonic HC-V700M. Unfortunately, the camcorder managed mediocre sensitivity results, requiring 24 lux of light to illuminate our test chart properly. That result was obtained when we used zoom to frame our test chart. Without zoom, the camcorder still needed 12 lux of light to obtain an image bright enough for broadcast television. Guess what—both of those results are significantly worse than the competition from Canon as well as Panasonic's own HDC-TM90 from last year. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

The TM90 and the V700 both have the same f/1.8 lens with 21x optical zoom capability, and the V700 is loaded with a much larger image sensor than the TM90. Shouldn't that translate into better low light sensitivity? The answer is a complicated one, but our tests show the V700 is not as good as producing a bright image in low light as the older TM90. It must have to do with the construction of the new sensor and the fact that Panasonic loaded the larger CMOS chip with pixels. The chip has a total pixel count of 15.3 megapixels, which is a ton and is far more than what's required to produce an HD video image. Having such a high concentration of pixels means less light is hitting the sensor, which, in turn, makes for a worse low light sensitivity.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Sensitivity Comparison", attribute="Low Light Sensitivity Score", xLabel="Low Light Sensitivity Score"}}

Low Light Noise

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So the HC-V700 didn't live up to our expectations in low light sensitivity. Panasonic shouldn't pout for long, though, as the camcorder did a heck of a job in our low light noise test instead. The V700 measured just 0.77% noise in low light, which is well below the average 1.0% noise that we consider "good" for this test. It seems that larger sensor and huge pixel count is good for something after all! More on how we test low light noise.

If you look at the crops above you do notice the V700 has a cleaner image than the Panasonic TM90, and its video at 60 lux (which is what we shoot this test at) is brighter than both the Panasonic and Canon models we compared it to. This shows us that Panasonic decided to improve moderate low light performance on the V700, while letting the low light sensitivity drop a bit. So, if you're shooting at a bar or at dusk the V700 should produce decently bright images, but in scenes with very little light it will not be as good as the Canon HF M52 or the Panasonic TM90.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Noise Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Noise Score", xLabel="Low Light Noise Score"}}

Low Light Color

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Color results were also very strong for the HC-V700 in low light. The camcorder kept color error to just below 4.0 and the saturation level was right around 75%. These are good numbers, especially the color accuracy numbers, and it shows improvement for the V700 over last year's Panasonic TM90. Some users may be disappointed by the lack of punch in the V700's colors in low light, but remember, the camcorder does have a manual color depth adjustment option that lets you increase saturation on your own. More on how we test low light color.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Color Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Color Score", xLabel="Low Light Color Score"}}

Motion

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Like last year's HDC-TM90 and this years HC-X900M, the Panasonic HC-V700 did a very good job in our motion test. The 1080/60p mode captured smooth, sharp video images in which artifacting was kept to a minimum. Some noticeable trails were present in our motion test, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Honestly, our only big complaint about the camcorder in terms of motion is its lack of a 24p frame rate option. The V700 only records 60i or 60p video in HD, and the camcorder has a 30p standard definition option (iFrame recording). But if you're looking for that film-like aesthetic that you get with 24p, then look elsewhere. What bothers us most about this is that Panasonic used to have a 24p mode on its mid-range models in previous years (Digital Cinema Mode), but now it is only offered on the flagship HC-X900. More on how we test motion.

60i Motion Test

60p Dark Motion Test

Resolution & Frame Rates

Most record modes on the V700 capture Full HD video at a 1920 × 1080 resolution. The 1080/60p option is the highest-quality setting on the camcorder (making use of the highest bitrate), but the 60i record modes all make use of a 1920 × 1080 resolution as well. The iFrame mode is the only option that doesn’t record Full HD video. It records at a 960 × 540 resolution and uses a 30p frame rate, but it produces video files that are still quite large due to the mode’s high bitrate.

Video Sharpness

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The V700 has a new sensor, one of the biggest Panasonic has ever put in a consumer camcorder. Surprisingly, however, this new sensor, which is loaded with pixels, wasn't able to produce a sharper image than last year's HDC-TM90. In fact, objects in motion looked slightly less sharp on the HC-V700. In our test, we measured the horizontal sharpness at 700 lw/ph and the vertical sharpness at 750 lw/ph. Both of these numbers were obtained using the camcorder's 1080/60p record mode, which is the highest-quality option the camcorder offers. Shooting 60i video reduced the sharpness levels to 600 lw/ph horizontal and 575 lw/ph vertical.

Keep in mind, these are still very good sharpness levels and the difference between these numbers and the numbers we saw on the HDC-TM90 (800 lw/ph horizontally and vertically) are barely perceptible. We should also point out that the HC-V700 produced a much sharper image when the camcorder was not in motion. So, if you're recording landscapes or wide shots with little motion, the video will be even sharper. More on how we test video sharpness.

{{comparison_bars title="Video Sharpness Score Comparison", attribute="Video Sharpness Score", xLabel="Video Sharpness Score"}}

Stabilization

The Panasonic HC-V700 has optical image stabilization, which is turned on and off via a dedicated button on the top of the camcorder. The feature worked very well for a mid-range camcorder, as it was able to reduce the shakiness of our test video by more than 50% in both our high-shake and low-shake tests.

In low shake, the HC-V700’s OIS setting cut down the shake by 57%. In high shake, the mode reduced the shakiness by 69%, which is a very respectable score. These numbers aren’t quite as strong as what we saw from the Panasonic HDC-TM90 last year, but they’re in the same ballpark. If you want an extra boost of stabilization support, the HC-V700 has an additional Hybrid OIS setting that can be turned on in the menu system (if the regular OIS is already engaged). But we found the regular OIS worked well enough that the Hybrid option isn’t really needed for most situations.

Usability

Panasonic has long been known for including lots of manual controls on its consumer camcorders, but over the past couple of years the company has gone to great lengths to improve usability for beginners as well. Some of these new features—like the auto exposure/autofocus tracking feature—are great for newbies. But others, like the silly "shooting guide" that displays somewhat meaningless messages while you try to frame your shot, are more annoying than helpful. The V700 isn't as portable as your smartphone or point-and-shoot camera, but it's still not that bulky. Keeping the camcorder in a small bag or purse doesn't add too much weight to luggage. And, while we weren't impressed with the comfort of the camcorder's hand strap, the V700 is a camcorder that won't tire out your wrist after a long day of shooting.

Auto Mode

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Central to the VC700's user interface is the camcorder's dedicated auto mode, called Intelligent Auto (iA). The mode is engaged by pressing the small button on the top of the camcorder, and, when engaged, the V700 displays a shorter menu system that locks the user out of adjusting most manual controls (focus, shutter speed, aperture, gain, and white balance). The mode works justifiably well, although some may prefer a simpler dedicated auto mode that locks you out of even more controls.

The iAuto mode button is difficult to find, but when you do find it the option for turning on the mode looks like this.

Auto Controls

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The smooth exposure and focus adjustments on the HC-V700 are among the camcorder's best assets in auto mode. We rarely noticed a situation where the V700 struggled to accommodate for changes in light levels and focal distances. The auto white balance was not quite on the same level, however, as the camcorder often needed a few seconds to calibrate properly under new lighting conditions.

If you're into scene modes, the HC-V700 has twelve different settings to choose from. There's also a dedicated low light mode called Color Night Record that will get you a bright image with just one lux of illumination. Color Night Record will destroy the quality of your video, though, as the mode boosts gain and uses extremely slow shutter speeds to obtain a bright image in dark scenes.

The camcorder is also loaded with zoom options. The optical zoom for the camcorder is listed at 21x, but the camcorder's Intelligent Zoom goes up to 46x. According to Panasonic, this extra zoom is obtained without any loss of image quality, but it's still using digital processes to get that extra zoom (it's not just optics). There's also a full-fledged digital zoom on the camcorder that goes up to a whopping 1500x (and turns your video into grainy muck in the process).

Other Auto Features

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Extra auto controls include a backlight compensation feature, Intelligent Contrast mode, and a shooting guide. Intelligent Contrast doesn't do much, but it adds subtle changes to your video, often enhancing the look of scenes shot under mixed lighting. The shooting guide is more annoying than helpful, as it displays warnings on the LCD when you are panning too quickly or doing anything else the V700 deems as unacceptable. Maybe some will find it helpful, but most will find it silly.

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The V700's menu will appeal to people who like big icons, large text, and simple layouts. It's not going to win any design awards, and it certainly looks dated, but it is easy to read and understand. Let's be clear, this isn't a slick menu by any means. You navigate not with fancy swipes or gestures, but by tapping up and down arrows to flip through menu pages.

The icon-based function menu, which is available on the left side of the LCD even during video recording, is more difficult to use. You need to be familiar with what the icons mean in order to access the features you're looking for, and the navigation system relies on very small buttons. It is the same system Panasonic has used for a few years now, and we think it's time for an update.

Handling & Portability

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The Panasonic HC-V700 suffers from numerous minor design flaws, none of which are inexorably bad, but are annoying none the less. Let's start with the hand strap. It's thin, uncomfortable, and it doesn't provide much of a grip. It seems with the shrinking in camcorder size manufacturers have decided that hand straps can be downgraded in quality (this is something we've seen from nearly all manufacturers). We'd appreciate a better hand strap for the V700, but the one Panasonic provides is certainly adequate. It's just not that comfortable.

Getting a good grip on the V700 wasn't difficult, despite the shoddy hand strap. Wrapping our fingers around the top of the camcorder resulted in a tight hold on the V700's body. Our fingers fit snugly with the shape of the camcorder, and our thumb and index finger lined up with the record button and zoom toggle respectively. One problem, though: our pinky finger seemed to rest on top of the built-in microphone whenever we gripped the camcorder in this manner. This is not good, especially if you're trying to record clean, un-muffled audio.

The V700's touchscreen interface is another... ahem... touchy subject for us in terms of handling. It's not that Panasonic's screen is terrible, in fact, it's not really much different than that of the competition. But Panasonic's simplified menu system can take a long time to navigate using touchscreen buttons, and anyone that is used to a streamlined touch interface (like what you get on an iPhone or other high-end smartphones) isn't going to be impressed.

These dedicated buttons give you quick access to aperture and shutter speed controls.

Battery Life

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The Panasonic V700M was able to record continuously for 95 minutes on a fully-charged battery pack. That's in the same range as last year's HDC-TM90 camcorder (107 minutes) and it's a few minutes longer than the HC-X900M from Panasonic lasted int his same test. Frankly, it's not a fantastic showing for the camcorder, especially compared to the Canon HF M52's 128-minute battery performance. More on how we test battery life.

The HC-V700's rechargeable battery pack is the same kind of battery you're likely to find on most mid-range or high-end consumer models. The pack is removable and rechargeable, although we hate that you need to open the LCD panel to get access to the battery release switch. At least the battery compartment isn't enclosed, so you can use larger battery packs with the V700 if you so choose (and if you pay extra for them). Like most camcorders, the V700's battery must be inserted into the camcorder in order for it to charge. The camcorder does not come with a separate battery charging station.

Sinister Hands On Photo

It's surprising how natural it feels to use the Sinister's controls.

LCD

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Just like the previous HDC-TM90, the Panasonic V700 comes with a 3-inch LCD screen that uses touchscreen technology. Panasonic did, however, double the pixel count on the V700 up to 460,800 pixels (as opposed to 230k pixels on the TM90). These extra pixels make for a sharper image when you use the camcorder, and it should help people who like to use manual focus to fine-tune their videos.

The camcorder does not have a viewfinder, so you need to be aware that the LCD is the only way to frame and record your videos on the HC-V700. If you want a viewfinder you have to upgrade to Panasonic's flagship HC-X900 camcorder (or pick a flagship model from Canon or Sony).

Sinister Hands On Photo

It's surprising how natural it feels to use the Sinister's controls.

Stabilization

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The Panasonic HC-V700 has optical image stabilization, which is turned on and off via a dedicated button on the top of the camcorder. The feature worked very well for a mid-range camcorder, as it was able to reduce the shakiness of our test video by more than 50% in both our high-shake and low-shake tests. More on how we test stabilization.

In low shake, the HC-V700's OIS setting cut down the shake by 57%. In high shake, the mode reduced the shakiness by 69%, which is a very respectable score. These numbers aren't quite as strong as what we saw from the Panasonic HDC-TM90 last year, but they're in the same ballpark. If you want an extra boost of stabilization support, the HC-V700 has an additional Hybrid OIS setting that can be turned on in the menu system (if the regular OIS is already engaged). But we found the regular OIS worked well enough that the Hybrid option isn't really needed for most situations.

Sinister Hands On Photo

It's surprising how natural it feels to use the Sinister's controls.

Manual Focus

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All of the manual controls on the HC-V700, including focus, are adjusted using the touchscreen interface. No lens rings, no dials, not even physical buttons are used to set any manual controls (other than zoom). So, while you can set focus manually on the V700, the process isn't fluid. You tap or hold icons on the touchscreen in order to shift the focus, and that's a process that won't allow you to get smooth changes between focal planes. The camcorder does have a peaking feature that helps you figure out when your subjects are in focus, however, and this can be a useful function.

The adjustment dial makes accurate focus adjustments easy.

Manual Exposure

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The full suite of exposure controls—aperture, shutter speed, and gain—are all present on the HC-V700 camcorder. Like focus, these controls are all set using the touch interface on the V700's LCD. The controls can't be finely tuned with the twist of a lens ring, although for some of these functions that's not a big deal.

All of these exposure controls are found on the function menu, which is a vertical menu that lives on the left side of the LCD. Opening the shutter speed control brings up an interface that the bottom of the screen where you can change the shutter speed. You can't simply hold down the buttons to make a sweeping change to the shutter speed. Instead, you must tap each time you want to make a change; this isn't fun if you're going from 1/8000 to 1/500 of a second shutter speeds.

Aperture and gain are controlled in the same manner, although both functions are found under the iris control. Gain can only be set once the aperture is open all the way on the camcorder, which is an unfortunate limitation present on all Panasonic camcorders. All of these controls can be set during video recording. We're impressed with the V700's wide range of aperture values, but we wish the camcorder offered more slow shutter speeds that could be selected manually (1/30 is the lowest, and it is only available with the auto slow shutter option turned on).

There's also a basic exposure control on the V700, but the feature is buried in the main menu. It is located inside the Picture Effects submenu and it is not accessible during video recording.

The manual exposure controls are only found on the Contour app, not on the camcorder itself.

Miscellaneous Controls

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White balance is the most important other manual control on the HC-V700. Not only can you set white balance manually (by pointing the camcorder at a white card and hitting the manual WB button), you can also choose from one of four white balance presets: sunny, cloudy, and two fluorescent light options.

The aforementioned picture effects menu, which is where the basic exposure bump control is located, also has options for color depth adjustment, sharpness control, and a white balance shift setting. These are good controls to have, but we wish they weren't so difficult to locate on the camcorder.

Lastly, the camcorder has a tele macro setting for close-up shots, guide lines to assist with framing, and an xvYCC color mode called Digital Cinema Color. Remember, you'll only be able to see the enhanced colors if you view your videos on an xvYCC-compatible television.

Auto Controls

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The smooth exposure and focus adjustments on the HC-V700 are among the camcorder's best assets in auto mode. We rarely noticed a situation where the V700 struggled to accommodate for changes in light levels and focal distances. The auto white balance was not quite on the same level, however, as the camcorder often needed a few seconds to calibrate properly under new lighting conditions.

If you're into scene modes, the HC-V700 has twelve different settings to choose from. There's also a dedicated low light mode called Color Night Record that will get you a bright image with just one lux of illumination. Color Night Record will destroy the quality of your video, though, as the mode boosts gain and uses extremely slow shutter speeds to obtain a bright image in dark scenes.

The camcorder is also loaded with zoom options. The optical zoom for the camcorder is listed at 21x, but the camcorder's Intelligent Zoom goes up to 46x. According to Panasonic, this extra zoom is obtained without any loss of image quality, but it's still using digital processes to get that extra zoom (it's not just optics). There's also a full-fledged digital zoom on the camcorder that goes up to a whopping 1500x (and turns your video into grainy muck in the process).

Audio Controls

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On the top of the V700 is a built-in stereo microphone, and in the camcorder's menu system you'll find a number of controls that can be applied to this mic. There's the common wind noise canceler feature, a zoom mic function, and microphone level adjustment. We're upset that the camcorder won't let you change mic levels during recording, but we're happy the feature is there nonetheless. If you don't want to use the on-board mic, there is a 3.5mm mic jack on the left side of the camcorder where you can connect your own mic. But be forewarned: the V700 has no headphone jack for monitoring your audio during recording. Probably not a huge deal for most people, but if audio is of utmost importance to you, this lack of a headphone jack is going to draw your ire.

Features

Panasonic didn't skimp on recording options with the HC-V700, offering a plethora of Full HD record modes, including a 1080/60p record mode that is among the highest-quality options available in today's consumer camcorder market. The camcorder only has one standard definition record mode, though, and its the Apple-developed iFrame setting that was created for use with the iMovie software. Plenty of manual controls are found on the V700, including full focus, aperture, shutter speed, and white balance adjustment, as well as a gain setting that is controllable when the aperture is opened to its widest setting. Despite this large set of controls, the HC-V700 does not have a sophisticated method for adjusting these controls, leaving the user too often stuck with the frustrating touchscreen interface as their only option for altering manual controls.

Compression

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Panasonic makes use of the AVCHD compression system on the V700 and the camcorder is compliant with AVCHD 2.0 (progressive) standards. This means the 1080/60p mode on the camcorder makes use of the AVHCD compression system. It's still hard to find compatible editing software to work with 1080/60p clips, though, and certain programs become dysfunctional when you attempt to import 1080/60p clips. We've had success with Adobe Premiere Pro, but Apple's Final Cut software and iMovie are not currently compatible with 1080/60p video shot with the V700.

The camcorder's regular AVCHD recording modes, which make use of 60i frame rates, are compatible with any programs that can import AVCHD clips. The iFrame setting on the V700 is also designed to work smoothly with iMovie, as the compression format was developed by Apple itself.
Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Sinister Hands On Photo

It's surprising how natural it feels to use the Sinister's controls.

Media

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There are two ways to store your video content using the Panasonic V700. First, there's the camcorder's 16GB of internal flash memory. This memory is built-in, so it's not removable, but it is always there wherever you take the camcorder. Of course, it still fills up pretty quickly, and if that's the case then you have to either delete content or move onto the V700's second media option: memory cards. On the bottom of the camcorder is card slot that works with regular-sized SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Resolution & Frame Rates

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Most record modes on the V700 capture Full HD video at a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The 1080/60p option is the highest-quality setting on the camcorder (making use of the highest bitrate), but the 60i record modes all make use of a 1920 x 1080 resolution as well. The iFrame mode is the only option that doesn't record Full HD video. It records at a 960 x 540 resolution and uses a 30p frame rate, but it produces video files that are still quite large due to the mode's high bitrate.

Still Features

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The HC-V700 may be loaded with over 15 megapixels on its image sensor, but the camcorder's still image size options only go up to 6 megapixels. This leaves us to wonder why Panasonic decided to make a sensor with so many pixels in the first place. The effective pixel count of the image sensor is just 3.55 megapixels for stills, so even the 6-megapixel photo option is somewhat interpolated. It's just a 3.55-megapixel photo that's stretched to 3024 x 2016 without adding any detail.

But all this talk about photo size options isn't even that important, because if you truly care about image quality, you should be taking photos with a dedicated camera—not the V700 camcorder. Save the camcorder for video, that's what it's good at. This didn't stop Panasonic from including plenty of still features on the HC-V700. There's are three aspect ratio options, a high-speed burst mode, a self-timer, and a built-in flash with red-eye reduction and intensity settings. All of these options are found on the V700's dedicated still image mode, but you can also snap photos in video mode as well (your options are just more limited).

Lens & Imaging System

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Much has been said about Panasonic's new image sensor on the HC-V700. It's a 1/2.33-inch CMOS chip, which may be the largest imager Panasonic has ever put in a consumer camcorder. It's almost twice as large as the CMOS chip in last year's HDC-TM90 camcorder (1/4.1-inch), and the V700 has a single large chip instead of a three-chip system that is found on Panaosnic's flagship camcorders (like the HC-X900). Additionally, the V700's image sensor is loaded with 15.3 megapixels, although only 3.55 of those megapixels are effective for video recording.

The lens on the camcorder is also impressive, although it is the same lens found on the Panasonic HDC-TM90 from last year. It is a 21x zoom lens with an f/1.8 aperture and a 68.5-degree viewing angle. That field of view is much wider than what you get on the Canon HF M52, which is something you definitely have to keep in mind if you like to record in tight spaces.

Pair of earbuds
Credit: Sony

How We Test Wide Angle

LCD

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Just like the previous HDC-TM90, the Panasonic V700 comes with a 3-inch LCD screen that uses touchscreen technology. Panasonic did, however, double the pixel count on the V700 up to 460,800 pixels (as opposed to 230k pixels on the TM90). These extra pixels make for a sharper image when you use the camcorder, and it should help people who like to use manual focus to fine-tune their videos.

The camcorder does not have a viewfinder, so you need to be aware that the LCD is the only way to frame and record your videos on the HC-V700. If you want a viewfinder you have to upgrade to Panasonic's flagship HC-X900 camcorder (or pick a flagship model from Canon or Sony).

The LCD is 3-inches in size, but it got an increase in pixel density over the screen on the TM90.

Connectivity

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Panasonic does a few things different than other manufacturers when it comes to ports and inputs, but it's also got your basic connectivity features. Opening the LCD cavity you will find the mini HDMI terminal, an AV-multi port, and a mic input in a row near the base of the camcorder. The AV-multi port is proprietary, but it works as an AV and Component-out port with Panasonic's provided cable.

In the same vicinity, but closer to the top of the camcorder, there is a USB port next to a "shoe adapter release" switch. This shoe adapter idea is something that is unique to Panasonic camcorders, and it's the way Panasonic chose to include accessory shoes on its compact consumer models. This switch works in conjunction with the rectangular slot on the back of the V700. That's where you can fit the shoe adapter unit that comes with the HC-V700. When inserted, the camcorder is outfitted with a regular cold accessory shoe that can be used to mount mics, lights, or whatever you have that fits in a regular accessory shoe. Obviously, to remove the shoe adapter you press the release switch and then pull the adapter from its enclave. It's good to see Panasonic include a feature like this, but we have to admit that it's not something we'd use often (if ever). The shoe adapter is easy to lose, and you have to remember to bring it with you whenever you want to attach it to the camcorder—two things that you wouldn't be able to say about a built-in accessory shoe.

Flipping over to the right side of the V700 and you'll find the DC-input connector for charging the camcorder's battery or running the camcorder off of wall power. The bottom of the camcorder is where you can find the memory card slot, which fits SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards.

Battery

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The HC-V700's rechargeable battery pack is the same kind of battery you're likely to find on most mid-range or high-end consumer models. The pack is removable and rechargeable, although we hate that you need to open the LCD panel to get access to the battery release switch. At least the battery compartment isn't enclosed, so you can use larger battery packs with the V700 if you so choose (and if you pay extra for them). Like most camcorders, the V700's battery must be inserted into the camcorder in order for it to charge. The camcorder does not come with a separate battery charging station. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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There are two ways to store your video content using the Panasonic V700. First, there's the camcorder's 16GB of internal flash memory. This memory is built-in, so it's not removable, but it is always there wherever you take the camcorder. Of course, it still fills up pretty quickly, and if that's the case then you have to either delete content or move onto the V700's second media option: memory cards. On the bottom of the camcorder is card slot that works with regular-sized SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

3D Lens

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Just so no one is still confused we should clarify: the Panasonic HC-V700 does not come with a 3D conversion lens. It's an accessory, called the VW-CLT2, that must be purchased separately (although you may be able to find it packaged with the V700 from certain retailers). So, for most of you, shooting 3D video with the V700 is only a possibility, not something that you can do right out of the box.

If you do purchase the VW-CLT2 3D lens converter, you'll find that its capabilities aren't all that fantastic. The converter allows you to shoot low-quality 3D video using a special side-by-side 3D record mode. This recording option has a lower bitrate and produces lower-quality 3D video than the AVCHD 3D setting available on the Panasonic HC-X900 camcorder.

The second built-in lens is what lets you record video in 3D—without any tricky calibration.

One of the downsides of using a 3D lens converter, as opposed to a built-in dual-lens 3D system, is that the attached lens requires calibration. With the VW-CLT2 lens converter this means you must go through a series of calibration steps before you can shoot good 3D convent with the camcorder. The calibration isn't difficult, but it's strange. It's an odd mix of rotating dials and using the lens cap to align things properly. Lose the lens cap for the 3D lens converter, and you lose the ability to calibrate the lens properly (and that sucks).

You can adjust a variety of controls—including zoom and focus—in 3D record mode.

3D Controls

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With the 3D conversion lens attached, controls are limited. There's no optical zoom available, the aperture of the lens locks at f/2.4, and the camcorder requires a lot of light to record a usable image. The V700 also gets a lot heavier (the conversion lens alone weighs 189g), and it ads a couple of inches to the front of the camcorder, which makes handling the V700 very unbalanced with the VW-CLT2 attached.

Still Features

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The HC-V700 may be loaded with over 15 megapixels on its image sensor, but the camcorder's still image size options only go up to 6 megapixels. This leaves us to wonder why Panasonic decided to make a sensor with so many pixels in the first place. The effective pixel count of the image sensor is just 3.55 megapixels for stills, so even the 6-megapixel photo option is somewhat interpolated. It's just a 3.55-megapixel photo that's stretched to 3024 x 2016 without adding any detail.

But all this talk about photo size options isn't even that important, because if you truly care about image quality, you should be taking photos with a dedicated camera—not the V700 camcorder. Save the camcorder for video, that's what it's good at. This didn't stop Panasonic from including plenty of still features on the HC-V700. There's are three aspect ratio options, a high-speed burst mode, a self-timer, and a built-in flash with red-eye reduction and intensity settings. All of these options are found on the V700's dedicated still image mode, but you can also snap photos in video mode as well (your options are just more limited).

Other Features

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Pre Record

Ever been at a soccer game where your kid kicks the winning goal, but you miss it with your video camera because you weren't fast enough hitting the record button? Pre Record is designed for exactly those situations. It works like this: when engaged, Pre Record allows the V700 to store three seconds of video continuously in the camcorder's buffer memory. So, when you do hit record, the camcorder has already captured the three seconds of video prior to you hitting the record button. As long as you're pointing the camcorder at your kid, you won't miss any of the unexpected action. Warning: this mode does eat battery life faster than usual.

Faders

Faders are present on plenty of camcorders these days, but it is also very easy to add fading effects to your videos in post production. If you want to use a fader in-camera on the V700, you just hit the fade button the function menu. Then, when you hit the record button, your video will be accompanied with a fade-in. You can fade out by hitting the fade button again, antytime before you hit the record button to stop your recording.

Auto Ground Standby (AGS)

Auto Ground Standby (AGS) is a feature that is mainly found on Panasonic camcorders only, and we're not that impressed by what it does. AGS is designed to eliminate those embarrassing times when you've finished recording video, but you forgot to actually stop recording by hitting the start/stop record button. When AGS detects that the camcorder is pointed towards the ground for an extended period of time, the camcorder will automatically stop recording and turn off. But what happens if you actually want to be recording the ground? Thankfully, you can turn AGS off manually if that's the case.

Video Light

On the front of the V700 is a small, underpowered video light that will help you record in the dark, but you shouldn't expect it to perform miracles. The light doesn't illuminate much, so you should only rely on it if you're very close to your subject in a dark environment.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison

With the HC-V700, Panasonic underwent a major overhaul compared to last year's HDC-TM90 camcorder. While the two models have the same lens, the HC-V700 is equipped with a brand new, much larger image sensor than the TM90. The V700 also has a few design upgrades, including a higher-res LCD, but the camcorder comes in a larger frame than its predecessor.

Here's what we saw from the new image sensor on the HC-V700 as compared to the HDC-TM90: The V700 had lower noise levels across the board, so its image looked cleaner in both bright and low light.The TM90, however, did a bit better with sharpness and low light sensitivity. We wouldn't say the V700's improvement in video performance is huge, but the lower noise levels are significant. We're unsure why the TM90 scored better in image sharpness, but we must say the difference between the two models in this category is negligible.

Controls and features for the two camcorders are also very similar. Both have the ability to record 3D video with the purchase of a separate adapter, but the two camcorders aren't compatible with the same lens adapters. Panasonic changed the connectors ever so slightly, so the HC-V700 requires the VW-CLT2 3D converter instead of the VW-CLT1 that works with the TM90. Again, the difference is negligible.

In our opinion, the HC-V700 is the better camcorder, but not by as much as we would have expected. We thought the larger CMOS chip in the new V700 would blow the TM90 out of the water, but, in reality, it didn't change things all that much. Yes, it did help the camcorder capture a cleaner image with less noise, and for that reason (as well as the design upgrades) we give the V700 the win. But, by all means, if you can buy a TM90 at a steep discount then you should get it. It's still a very good mid-range camcorder.

Canon Vixia HF M52 Comparison

There's a heated battle going on between these two models, both of which are vying for the top rank in the mid-range camcorder class. There are four key things that separate these two models:

Price — The Canon HF M52 costs more than the HC-V700. A lot more. The M52's original MSRP was $750, but you can find it online for around $700 right now. The Panasonic started at $600, but it's dropped significantly. You can find an HC-V700M (with internal memory) for as low as $400 online—that's a difference of almost $300 bucks compared to the Canon. Yes, the HF M52 comes with double the internal memory (32GB), but that's not enough to justify that kind of price difference.

Lens — The Panasonic has a wider lens by roughly 20 degrees, and its lens has more than double the amount of optical zoom as Canon's. Basically, the V700's lens is more versatile, more powerful, and more useful than the one on the HF M52.

Low Light Performance — Here's where Canon knocks it out of the park. The HF M52 can handle situations with very little light just fine, while the Panasonic V700 starts to struggle in very low light scenes. In bright light, the two models are more or less equals in most categories (although the Panasonic did do better with image stabilization).

Frame Rates — The Panasonic has 1080/60p recording, but it doesn't have a 24p mode for recording cinema-like video. The Canon has the opposite: no 60p setting, but it has the 24p and 30p frame rates that cinema-lovers want.

Both camcorders have adequate controls and both have roughly the same weight and dimensions. The Panasonic seems to be tuned a bit more towards beginners, while the Canon feels and looks more sophisticated. These are both very good mid-range camcorders, but with the HC-V700 priced so competitively right now, it would be difficult not to recommend it over the Canon. Until the price of the HF M532 starts to come down, which will probably happen around the holidays, the Panasonic V700 is the smarter buy.

JVC Everio GZ-GX1 Comparison

JVC has been a disappointment this year, a point that is made clear by the fact that its flagship GZ-GX1 is positioned behind both the Panasonic V700 and the Canon HF M52 in our rankings. Yup, the top-line JVC is being beaten out by two mid-range camcorders right now.

It's not that the JVC GZ-GX1 records video that looks awful, that's certainly not the case. The camcorder did very well in our bright light tests and its videos looked exceptionally sharp with strong colors. In low light, the camcorder had some issues with noise and sensitivity, although the numbers weren't awful. JVC's real downfall with the GX1 has to do with cheap design and terrible user interface. The touchscreen on the GX1, for example, was one of the worst we've ever seen, and it made changing settings and navigating menus a terrible chore. This, combined with sluggish performance from the camcorder's processor, led to a terrible user experience.

The GZ-GX1 is priced competitively (around $850) compared to other flagships, but its quality and build is more comparable to that of a mid-range model. Save yourself some cash and buy a Panasonic HC-V700 or a Canon HF M52 instead. They're much better camcorders than the GX1.

Conclusion

If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck on an HD camcorder, the Panasonic HC-V700M should be near the top of your list. It's a mid-range model, so it doesn't have high-end features like a viewfinder or lens ring, but it's got solid performance and enough controls and features to keep most users satisfied.

The new 1/2.33-inch CMOS imager in the V700 gave the camcorder a boost in our noise tests, but it did also limit the low light sensitivity a bit (at least compared to last year's HDC-TM90). Unless you're obsessed about image quality, or you're going to be shooting video in a lot of dark places, the HC-V700 is not going to disappoint. The camcorder's 1080/60p mode produced sharp, high-quality video that went toe-to-toe with Panasonic's flagship HC-X900M.

The lens on the V700 is wide and powerful, with Panasonic offering 21x optical zoom and up to 46x using "intelligent zoom". Zoom Lovers, you can start your party now. Controls, as usual for Panasonic, are plentiful, but the main difference between the V700 and the step-up HC-X900 from Panasonic is the way these controls are adjusted. The V700 relies on the touchscreen LCD far too much, so adjusting controls is not a smooth or precise experience. If you're looking for a control dial or lens ring, you're going to have to upgrade to a flagship model.

Even at launch the Panasonic HC-V700M's $600 price tag was very competitive. Right now, the model is available for even less. We saw a few units online for as low as $400 bucks, and we expect the camcorder's price to fluctuate in the $400 - $600 range until the end of the year. If you can find the V700M for less than $500 bucks it's a bargain. Anything lower is an absolute steal.

Remember, the HC-V700 comes in two versions. One has 16GB of internal memory (the HC-V700M, which is the model we reviewed), and one has no internal memory (the HC-V700). Prices will differ for the two models, but usually by not that much. Compare prices for both models and if you factor in the cost of a 16GB memory card, the HC-V700M with its internal memory may often end up being the better buy.

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Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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