Panasonic has been on the video market for a very long time. The company is trying to cater to the needs of users by releasing flagship and budget models. However, sometimes they get devices that are difficult to attribute to a particular class. One of the recent ones is the Panasonic HC V500. The model combines almost flagship parameters and budget cost. Outwardly, it looks much more expensive than its price, which attracts to the purchase. The Panasonic HC V500 also has disadvantages, which you will learn about below.
Package
The camcorder comes in a box familiar to the company. It shows the model and some of its characteristics. Inside, everything is according to the standard: a camera, a set of wires, the necessary drivers and manuals. The bundle is not generous, but for the full operation of the device you do not have to buy anything.
Appearance
The first thing worth noting is the lack of threads for screwing in third-party lenses. The disadvantage turns the Panasonic HC V500 into an apparatus for conducting only amateur photography. Other filters cannot be set. The camera is made of high-quality plastic, and there are no complaints about it. Everything is simple, but tasteful. Plastic does not collect fingerprints and scratches, which allows you to use PanasonicHC V500 in all conditions. In general, the camera appearance makes it clear that it belongs to the middle class and does not claim to be a flagship. However, I really don’t want to call it a budget one. Dimensions allow you to carry it everywhere with you. It is quite light and small, fits in a small handbag. It is convenient to shoot with one hand, the camera is easy to grab and hold. The edges have smooth lines and do not cut the palms.
Controls
The Panasonic HC V500 camcorder has a number of buttons that allow you to easily make settings. It’s worth starting from the front, where the lens of the model is located. Above it is a small LED light that serves as a backlight when shooting at night. I must say that it is quite bright and shines for a long distance. Under the lens there is a grill that hides the microphone from the eyes. Sound is recorded in stereo format. There are no problems with it either. The Panasonic HC V500 camcorder, which received positive reviews, received a lens with automatically opening shutters. Who does not know, in budget devices you have to open and close them manually. The mechanism works properly, the sounds are not annoying.
Interfaces
The developer did not deprive the user of various interfaces that are harmoniously located throughout the body. The adapter port is located under the strap. It is covered with a small rubber plug. The back side received a button to start recording, as well as a slider to switchshooting modes. Here is the indicator. Just below is the battery pack.
The most interesting camera Panasonic HC V500 hides under the LCD. There is a small built-in speaker grille here. The sound from it is quite clear and loud, so the footage can be viewed immediately after recording. At the very bottom, a small button is hidden, which is responsible for the forced shutdown of the device. Separately, there is a USB port, HDMI, and a universal audio input. The memory card slot is located on the bottom of the camera, not far from the battery. The card is removed by light pressing.
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 enough. Otherwise, you can purchase special batteries separately that allow you to shoot for longer periods of time. The battery is fully charged in 2.5 hours. For a device of this class, such autonomy is acceptable.
Video
The camera has acquired optical and electronic stabilization, which, in general, is not surprising. Today, such a set is present in every more or less suitable device. Let's say right away that you should not count on excellent recording quality, as in more expensive camcorders. The developer saved on the matrix, which received a rather small working area. Hybrid stabilization allows you to make videos smooth, but they are still much worsethose that are obtained on the top camera from the same Panasonic.
Optical zoom and digital zoom available (38x/100x). Allows you to focus on distant objects. True, it is very difficult to achieve a clear picture that will not twitch. Shooting with a tripod partly solves this problem.
At night, the camera shoots confidently. There is practically no noise, which is already pleasing. However, the level of detail is low. Adding light improves the clarity of the video, but cannot completely solve the problem.
"Honest" FullHD can not be issued by the camera. The reason for this is the same small size of the matrix. It happens that even when shooting at a lower resolution, you can see the fuzzy outlines of some objects. This is especially noticeable on distant figures.
Photos suffer from the same problems. You can take pictures in several resolutions. After that, the footage is stretched by the software of the camcorder, 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 filming, the model is hardly suitable, even if you really want to.
software
The camera software is the same as other Panasonic devices released in 2012. The interface is simple and clear, even a beginner will understand. Elements are large, so miss your fingeralmost impossible. The menu is made logical and organized so that the user does not get confused. Comes with a CD with licensed utilities.
Camcorder Panasonic HC V500: reviews
Users rate the camera at 4 points out of 5. The model could not get the maximum rating due to the small size of the matrix. The owner likes its design, practicality and wide functionality. Also, the affordable price attracts to the acquisition. From Panasonic's line of camcorders introduced in 2012, many users advise choosing this particular model.
