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Panasonic's new AG-HMC40 packs tons of professional features into a small package, and an even smaller price tag. When Panasonic introduced its AVCCAM line of camcorders, it meant that AVCHD was going to be used in more than just consumer cams. The higher-bitrate recording of the HMC40 AVCCAM camcorder offers more color and resolution than other AVCHD flavors. This is a boon for the casual video producer and professional shooter alike. So, following in the tradition of it's older sibling, the AG-HMC150, the AG-HMC40 boasts full-raster 1920 by 1080 and 1280 by 720 line recording modes.

The HMC40's brains are in a 3MOS sensor array; that's Panasonic's implementation of three CMOS sensors working together. The beauty is in the 24p, 30p and 60i framerates available in a small camcorder. And the picture is sharp, really sharp. But the HMC40 does keep one foot in the consumer world by including a consumer-y touch screen and the option for unbalanced audio. Overall, the HMC40 is an extremely well-designed camcorder, created for the Pro or Semi-Pro shooter who wants a small, broadcast-capable camcorder.

First Look

Unboxing the HMC40 is easy and organized, thanks to Panasonic's smart packaging. We didn't misplace any parts or cables (and there are lots of them). Since this is a pro camcorder, some assembly is required. No, we didn't have to use a screwdriver but we do attach the included metal handle, lens hood and rubber eyecup. To attach the handle, we slide it into the accessory shoe and lock it down. But we haven't lost our place to mount our accessories like lights or mic receivers; there's another shoe integrated into the handle itself. We notice right off after picking up the HMC40 is that it looks and feels like a pro camcorder. It's solid and well balanced in-hand. It's all matte black in color. And every cable we'd need to shoot, charge a battery, and transfer footage are included. Especially BNC adapters, which allow the HMC40 to connect to a professional broadcast monitor during recording.

HMC40 Design

With such a small form factor, it should be difficult for a camera manufacturer to decide which features to put on the outside of the HMC40, and which to keep in the menu. Panasonic's placement of buttons and switches on the camcorder is excellent. In fact, many buttons that are typically found under a camcorder's LCD screen, are smartly placed around the closed LCD screen on the HMC40. This way, we don't put as much "wear and tear" on our LCD screen by flipping it open to use the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), Record Check, or Zebra features. Having these features at our fingertips adds a pro feel, as the HMC40 camcorder is manufactured by Panasonic's Broadcast division. Buttons and metal switches are marked with easy-to-see bold paint along the camcorder's left side. A single thin door clicks open to reveal the SD card slot; the HMC40 records video directly to SDHC media. A special switch near the front allows the large Focus Ring to act as a smooth Zoom Ring or Iris Ring. The lens cap is a rectangular shape that fits neatly in the rubberized lens hood, keeping fingers away from the lens.