Camcorder Panasonic HC V500: customer reviews

Panasonic in the video equipment market for a long time. The company is trying to cater to users' requests, issuing flagship and budget models. However, sometimes they get the devices that are difficult to attribute to a certain class. One of the recent - Panasonic HC V500. The model combined almost flagship parameters and budgetary cost. Externally, it looks much more expensive than its price, which attracts to buying. There is a Panasonic HC V500 and flaws, which you will find out below.

Equipment

A video camera is delivered in the usual box for the company. It shows the model and some of its characteristics. Inside everything is standard: a camera, a set of wires, the necessary drivers and manuals. The bundle can not be called generous, but for a full-fledged operation of the device you do not have to buy anything.

Appearance

The first thing to note is the lack of threads for screwing in third-party lenses. The disadvantage turns the Panasonic HC V500 into an apparatus for doing only amateur shooting. It is not possible to install other filters. The chamber is made of high-quality plastic, and there are no complaints against it. It's simple, but tasteful. The plastic does not collect fingerprints and scratches, which allows using the Panasonic HC V500 in any conditions. In general, the camera makes it clear that it belongs to the middle class and does not pretend to be the flagship. However, it is not very budgetary to call it up. Dimensions allow you to carry it everywhere with you. It is quite light and small, fits in a small purse. It is easy to take off with one hand, the camera is easy to grasp and hold. The edges have smooth lines and do not cut the palms.

Controls

The video camera Panasonic HC V500 has a number of buttons that allow you to easily configure. Start is from the front, where the lens of the model is located. Above it is a small LED bulb that performs the function of lighting when shooting at night. I must say that it is bright enough and shines a long distance. Under the lens there is a grille that hides the microphone from the eyes. The sound is recorded in stereo. Also, there are no problems with it. The video camera Panasonic HC V500, reviews about which are positive, received a lens with automatically opened curtains. Who does not know, in budget devices, you have to open and close them manually. The mechanism works properly, the sounds do not irritate.

Interfaces

The developer did not deprive the user and various interfaces that are harmoniously located throughout the body. The adapter port is located under the strap. It is covered with a small rubber stopper. The rear side received a button to start recording, as well as a slider for switching shooting modes. Here is the indicator. Below is the battery pack.

The most interesting camera Panasonic HC V500 hides under the LCD display. Here is a small grille built-in speaker. The sound from it is quite clean and loud, so the footage can be viewed immediately after recording. At the bottom is a small button, which is responsible for forcing the device to turn off. Separately, there is a USB port, HDMI, as well as a universal input for audio. The memory card slot is located at the bottom of the camera, near the battery. The card is removed by a slight tap.

Autonomy

The battery allows you to shoot up to 150 minutes. Of course, the quality of the recording affects the duration of the work. For the average user, the capacity of this battery should be sufficient. Otherwise, you can separately purchase special batteries that allow you to shoot for a longer time. Fully charges the battery for 2.5 hours. For a device of this class, such autonomy is acceptable.

Video

The camera acquired optical and electronic stabilization, which, in general, is not surprising. Today, such a set is present in each more or less suitable apparatus. At once we will tell that it is not necessary to count on excellent quality of record, as in more expensive video cameras. The developer saved on the matrix, which received a fairly small work area. Hybrid stabilization allows you to make the rollers smooth, but they are still significantly worse than those obtained on the top camera from the same Panasonic.

There is an optical and digital zoom (38x / 100x). Allows you to focus on distant objects. However, it is very difficult to achieve a clear picture that will not twitch. This is partly solved by shooting using a tripod.

At night, the camera relieves confidently. There are practically no noise, which is already encouraging. However, the detailing is at a low level. Adding light raises the clarity of the movie, but it can not completely solve the problem.

"Honest" FullHD give the camera does not work. The reason is that the same small size of the matrix. It happens that even when shooting in a lower resolution you can see the fuzzy outlines of some objects. This is especially noticeable in remote figures.

The same problems suffer and photos. You can take pictures in several resolutions. After that, the footage is stretched by the software of the video camera, which significantly reduces the quality of the photo.

In general, the camera can be described as a good amateur device for shooting family holidays and other events. For serious video shooting, the model is unlikely to fit, even if you really want to.

BY

The camera software received the same as other Panasonic devices, which were released in 2012. The interface is simple and straightforward, even a beginner will understand. Elements are large in size, so it's almost impossible to miss with a finger. The menu is made logical and organized so that the user is not confused. In the kit there is a disk with licensed utilities.

Camcorder Panasonic HC V500: reviews

The camera is rated at 4 points out of 5. The model could not get the maximum evaluation because of the small size of the matrix. The owner likes its design, practicality and wide functionality. Also, the purchase attracts affordable cost. From the Panasonic camera series introduced in 2012, many users advise choosing this model.