Panasonic HDC-HS9

Panasonic HDC-HS9
alaScore 83

93 reviews

May, 2013

  • No negative mentions yet

alaTest has collected and analyzed 93 reviews from magazines and websites. Opinions about the connectivity and design are generally positive. The usability and image quality also get good feedback, but there are some mixed reviews about the value for money.

portability, image quality, usability, design, connectivity

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Panasonic HDC-HS9 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 83/100 = Very good quality.

See all Panasonic Camcorders

Review analysis

(Based on 93 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (30% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (33% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (19% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (8% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (10% of reviews)
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Features

Portability
  Show positive (46%)Show negative (3%)(Show all)
Image quality
  Show positive (34%)Show negative (16%)(Show all)
Value for money
  Show positive (18%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)
Usability
  Show positive (45%)Show negative (15%)(Show all)
Design
  Show positive (40%)None yet(Show all)
Connectivity
  Show positive (23%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)
Memory
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Zoom
  Show positive (29%)None yet(Show all)
Resolution
  Show positive (33%)None yet(Show all)
Build quality
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
More features

Showing 65 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 65 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (34)

Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-HS9

 

Three years ago, the Panasonic HDC-HS9 would have been revolutionary, and its image-quality-to-price ratio would have impelled users to look past its limitations. Today, the camcorder is an also-ran on our comparison chart. Its most impressive features...

Compact size ; Affordable price

Disappointing image quality ; Poor low-light footage

This AVCHD camcorder’s lackluster performance is only partially offset by a low price.

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-HS9

 

Hi-def camcorders are shrinking so rapidly, they make singer Amy Winehouse seem positively plump. A great example is the new Panasonic HDC-HS9, a combination 60GB hard disk drive, SDHC AVCHD home video maker that weighs 15.8 ounces including the...

Ample HD storage; compact and lightweight

Poor video and still quality; menu and icons need updating; poorly placed joystick

Panasonic's quality doesn't compare to the other models out there.

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-HS9 Camcorder Review

 

Panasonic deserves credit for its attempt at the HDC-HS9 ($999 MSRP). Featuring a 60GB hard disk drive and a three-chip CCD imaging system, the camcorder's most attractive feature may be its small size. The design suffers for its slim figure, however,...

Overall, the Panasonic HDC-HS9 is a decent all-around camcorder, and has proved popular in the market, but fails to best address the needs of any particular audience. Better video performance can be found from the Canon HF10 and HF100 or Sony HDR-SR11...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-HS9

 

The HDC-HS9 delivers a decent image in bright light, but it's nothing to hold a parade for. Inside are three 1/6-inch CCDs, which is a downgrade from Panasonic's first-generation HDC-SD1, which had larger chips. Sharpness, color detail, and overall...

The HDC-HS9's Auto mode suits most well-lit shooting environments. However, in lower light settings we noticed the auto focus faltering. For shooters who want a modicum of interaction with their camcorder but may not have a lot of shooting experience,...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-HS9 Camcorder Review

 

The Panasonic HDC-HS9 ($1,099 MSRP) is another of the manufacturer's third-generation AVCHD camcorders. Nearly identical to the HDC-SD9, the HS9 adds a 60GB hard disk drive (HDD) and a hefty $300 price hike. It's a sleek, compact design that feels good...

The bottom line is there's just nothing exciting about this camcorder. Unless Panasonic gets its act together soon, the future of its camcorder dynasty could be up a creek without a paddle. Now is the time to dust off those old MiniDV blueprints from...

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Consumer review by:

Amazon review summary for the Panasonic HDC-HS9

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 24 user reviews of the Panasonic HDC-HS9 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other products on Amazon.com.

image quality, usability, portability, connectivity, design

value for money

62% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

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Consumer review by:

First digital camcorder

 

This is my first digital camcorder purchase. I was lucky enough to get it at a huge discount when Circuit City (sorry amazon) was closing its doors. After using it on a road trip: outdoors, indoors, in a moving car, in a cave - I would have gladly...

This is my first digital camcorder purchase. I was lucky enough to get it at a huge discount when Circuit City (sorry amazon) was closing its doors. After using it on a road trip: outdoors, indoors, in a moving car, in a cave - I would have gladly...

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Consumer review by:

Great camera, but no support

 

Great camera, but no support

This camera does not do well in dim lights at all. Best shooting is outside. However my computer no longer recognizes the usb, and I have purchased a new cord and tried on three different computers. The customer service is beyond terrible, and they...

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Consumer review by:

video camera

 

video camera

This arrived just in time to take to a Robotic Competition our son was in with a team from school. We had one day to learn how to use it. That was no problem, as this camera was easy to use. It has a lot of functions, but it also recommends which to...

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Consumer review by:

Average hardware, horrible software makes a painful combination

 

Average hardware, horrible software makes a painful combination

The video taken by the camera is good, but doesn't stand out from that taken by any other HD camcorder. The software (HD Writer 2.5), on the other hand, is outstandingly bad. In the digital realm, software is inseparable from hardware (one is useless...

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Product Specifications

The HS9 introduces Panasonic's first Face Detection function for use in recording moving pictures with a camcorder. Face Detection automatically locates any faces in the picture and adjusts the exposure, contrast and skin tone to achieve optimal results. Even when the faces are backlit or the lighting is low, the recorded faces are clear and easy to see and not lost in the shadows. With Face Detection, there's no longer a need to use different correction functions in different kinds of shooting situations. To maximize the advantage of Full High Definition 1920 x 1080p (25fps), users must shoot top quality footage. Errors in shooting the footage can often lead to dissapointment. The HS9 assist users and the results are less mistakes. Intelligent Shooting Guide detects when shooting conditions are poor such as when the camcorder is panning too quickly or tilted, the user's hand is swinging, the subject is backlit, or the lighting is too low - and displays operating advice in the LCD. Users become aware of a potential problem before they shoot, rather than later when reviewing or playing back the recording. This gives them a chance to correct the settings and get good, error-free results every time. 3CCD camera system works by splitting the light received through the lens into its three primary color components (red, green and blue), and the signal from each is processed by one of the three CCDs. Compared with conventional 1CCD camera systems, Panasonic's 3CCD system provides more vivid, true-to-life colors, greater detail and richer gradation.

Audio Input

Microphone Operation Mode:Surround
Type:Microphone

Battery

Battery Form Factor:Manufacturer specific

Camcorder Features

High Definition Video Support:1080p
Low Lux / Night Mode: Yes
Widescreen Video Capture: Yes

Camera Flash

Type:Built-in flash

Digital Storage Media

Type:Hard disk drive

Dimensions & Weight

Depth:5in
Height:2.9in
Weight:13.8oz
Width:3in

Display (Projector)

Diagonal Size:2.7in
Diagonal Size (metric):6.9cm
Display Form Factor:Rotating
Technology:TFT active matrix
Type:LCD display

Exposure Parameters

Shooting Programs:Low light / Portrait mode / Sports mode / Spotlight / Surf & snow

Header

Manufacturer:Panasonic
Model:HDC-HS9
Packaged Quantity:1
Product Line:Panasonic

Lens System

Lens Aperture:F/1.8-2.8
Max Focal Length:30mm
Min Focal Length:3mm
Optical Zoom:10
Type:Zoom lens

Optical Sensor

Camcorder Effective Video Resolution:520Kpix
Camcorder Sensor Resolution:560Kpix
Optical Sensor Size:1/6"
Optical Sensor Size (metric):4.2 mm ( 1/6 ) / 4.2 mm ( 1/6" )
Optical Sensor Type:3CCD
Sensor Qty:3CCD

Optical System

Built-in Optical Image Stabilizer: Yes
Image Stabilizer:Optical (Advanced O.I.S.)

Storage Floppy Drive

Type: None

Video Input

Digital Video Format:AVCHD
Digital Zoom:700
Face Detection: Yes
Media Type:Flash card / Hard disk drive
Shooting Modes:Digital photo mode
Still Image Format:JPEG
Type:Camcorder

Viewfinder

Viewfinder Type: None
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