Panasonic HDC-HS100 Expert Reviews

alaTest has collected and analyzed 49 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the usability. The appearance also impresses, but many are less positive about the interface.

Usability, Appearance

Interface, Viewfinder, Battery, Design

Experts rate this product 76/100 and users 82/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders, the Panasonic HDC-HS100 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

This Panasonic high-def camcorder offers great usability and control, but its image quality is merely decent.

Best-in-class handling and manual control

Flawed low-light performance ; Oversaturated color

On the software side, Panasonic bundles HD Writer 2.6E, a limited but functional Windows-only editing application. Mac users can edit the HS100's AVCHD video with iMovie '08. On either platform you'll want to use a computer built around a 2-GHz Intel ...

The Panasonic HDC-HS100 is a fairly compact camcorder that still satisfies the demands of a video enthusiast. While the storage capacity (a 60GB internal hard drive) remains unchanged since the HDC-SD9, most of the internal features have been updated ...

While the HDC-HS9 was designed for consumers looking for a compact, easy-to-use camcorder, the HS100 is built for semi-pros and people who want true control over their footage. The camera doesn't have the video quality of new models from Canon, Sony, ...

The Panasonic HDC-HS100 is a fairly compact camcorder that still satisfies the demands of a video enthusiast. While the storage capacity (a 60GB internal hard drive) remains unchanged since the HDC-SD9, most of the internal features have been updated ...

While the HDC-HS9 was designed for consumers looking for a compact, easy-to-use camcorder, the HS100 is built for semi-pros and people who want true control over their footage. The camera doesn't have the video quality of new models from Canon, Sony, ...

The Panasonic HDC-HS100, though it was announced only a few weeks ago, is an anticipated camcorder. Many years ago, Panasonic ruled the roost for power users and budget videographers. The Panasonic PV-GS400 was the king of them all, so loaded with ...

The Panasonic HDC-HS100, though it was announced only a few weeks ago, is an anticipated camcorder. Many years ago, Panasonic ruled the roost for power users and budget videographers. The Panasonic PV-GS400 was the king of them all, so loaded with ...

The Panasonic HDC-HS100 ticks just about every box for a camcorder. It's compact but still grippable, while boasting a roomy hard drive. It sports a number of high-end features while still being a piece of cake to operate and benefitting from ...

Manual lens ring ; clever automatic settings ; excellent video

Some grain in low light

Ticking every box -- compact frame, large capacity, high-end features -- the Panasonic HDC-HS100 delivers excellent high definition video in a package both acessible and powerful. The manual lens ring and viewfinder are nice touches in a very polished ...

Compact size, lots of manual controls, optical image stabiliser

Unwieldy joystick interface, sub-par image quality, too expensive for what it offers

If the images from Panasonic's HDC-HS100 equalled its great handling and usability, this model would be a clear winner. The HS100 provides the best controls we've seen in a small HD camcorder, but the images lag behind those of AVCHD camcorders such ...

The recent wave of affordable, tapeless HD camcorders has been very welcome, but somewhat lacking in features for video users previously accustomed to such things as manual focus rings, microphone inputs, dedicated outputs and viewfinders. Panasonic's ...

The definitive high definition camera? A serious camera at an accessible price.