Panasonic HDC-TM41
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: HDCTM41H
- CNET Editor rating: 3.0 stars Good
- Design: 7.0
Features: 8.0
Performance: 6.0
Image quality: 6.0
Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars) - Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40.
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CNET editors' review
Panasonic HDC-TM41 price range: $174.95 - $204.99
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 10/16/2011
The good: They're compact and have manual controls, a zoom lens, and a video light, which is nice for the price of the Panasonic HDC-SD40, TM40 and TM41.
The bad: When it comes to video quality, you're getting what you pay for.
The bottom line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40.
Like their cheap competitors from Sony and Canon, Panasonic's budget-priced HDR-SD40, TM40 and TM41 are only nominally high-definition; where HD requires a minimum of 2.07-megapixel resolution, these and their ilk use lower-resolution sensors and algorithmically bulk up the video so the output has the requisite number of pixels. The result is generally poor video quality, though how bad it looks depends upon how you view it. And the trade-off is that you can get a zoom lens, and in this case, manual exposure controls for less than $250.
The SD40 version differs from the TM models only by built-in memory--it has none, while the other two have 16GB built in. The TM40 and TM41 are, essentially, identical; the TM41 is Sam's Club-specific model, which seems to have the option of increased digital zoom. But you shouldn't use digital zoom to start with, and in conjunction with such a low-resolution sensor, it becomes even more of a no-no-NO.
| Panasonic HDC-SD40/TM40/TM41 | HDC-SD80/TM80 | HDC-HS80 | HDC-TM90/SD90 | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 1.2-megapixel CMOS | 1.3-megapixel CMOS | 1.3-megapixel CMOS | 2.6-megapixel CMOS |
| 1/5.8 inch | 1/5.8 inch | 1/4.1 inch | 1/4.1 inch | |
| Lens | 16.8x f1.8-2.6 42.9 - 721mm | 34x f1.8-4 33.7 - 1240mm | 12x f1.5-2.8 35 - 420mm | 21x f1.8-3.5 28 - 729mm |
| Min illumination (lux) | standard: 1400 low light: 7 Color Night View: 1 | standard: 1400 low light: 7 Color Night View: 1 | standard: 1400 low light: 7 Color Night View: 1 | standard: 1400 low light: 4 Color Night View: 1 |
EVF | None | No | No | No |
| LCD | 2.7-inch 230,400-dot | 2.7-inch 230,400-dot | 2.7-inch 230,400-dot | 3-inch 230,400-dot |
| Primary media | 0GB/16GB/16GB flash; 1 x SDXC | 0GB/16GB flash; SDXC | 120GB hard disk; SDXC | 16GB/0GB flash; SDXC |
| HD recording | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 17, 13, 9 Mbps | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 17, 13, 9 ,5 Mbps | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 17, 13, 9 ,5 Mbps | AVCHD: nonstandard 1080/60p 28Mbps; 1080/60i @ 17, 13, 9 ,5 Mbps |
| Manual shutter speed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manual iris | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accessory shoe | No | No | No | Yes |
| Audio | 2 channels | 2 channels | 2 channels | 2 channels |
| Body dimensions (WHD, inches) | 2.0 x 2.3 x 4.3 | 2.0 x 2.3 x 4.3 | 2.6 x 2.8 x 5.8 | 2.0 x 2.5 x 4.7 |
| Operating weight (pounds) | 7.9 | 8.3 | 10.8 (est) | 10.1 (est) |
| Mfr. Price | $296.99/$359.99 /$339.99 | $349.99/$379.99 | $549.99 | $479.99/$499.99 |
| Ship date | March 2011 | March 2011 | March 2011 | March 2011 |
There are some circumstances under which the video looks OK. When it's shot in good light and displayed on a midsize screen (say, under 40 inches), or scaled down to half size, it's perfectly acceptable. Low-light video may also be acceptable when viewed like that. But when watching it on a big TV screen or even at full size on a 24-inch monitor, picky videographers will note the smeary detail rendering and compression artifacts in good light and even more of a loss of sharpness and color noise in low light. It also has the dynamic range of a budget model, with a lot of clipping in the highlights.
It performs pretty typically for its class as well. That means pretty good but occasionally frustrating autofocus; I frequently had to "nudge" it to focus on the right subject rather than the background by focusing on something completely different, then moving it back to the desired subject. In auto mode, you have to enable backlight compensation or even shots that aren't really backlit will underexpose, but you don't always want that setting applied universally. For exposure, though, as long as you know how to use them the camcorder really benefits from the manual settings, which include shutter speed and iris control, as long as you know how to use them. You can also turn automatic gain control for the audio on or off.
| Canon Vixia HF R200/R20/R21 | Panasonic HDC-SD40/TM40/TM41 | Sony Handycam HDR-CX110 | |
| Sensor (effective video resolution) | 1.47 - 2.07-megapixel CMOS (depends on IS) | 1.2-megapixel CMOS | 1.35 megapixels |
| 1/4.85 inch | 1/5.8 inch | 1/4-inch | |
| Lens | 20x f1.8-3.6 49-980mm (depends on IS) | 16.8x f1.8-2.6 42.9 - 721mm | 25x f1.8-3.2 37-1075mm |
| Closest focus (inches) | 0.4 | 1.6 | n/a |
| Min illumination (lux) | recommended: 100 standard: 5 low light: 0.4 | standard: 1400 low light: 7 Color Night View: 1 | recommended: n/a standard: n/a low light: 5 |
EVF | None | None | None |
| LCD | 3-inch 230,000 dots | 2.7-inch 230,400-dot | 2.7-inch 230,000 pixels |
| Primary media | 0GB/8GB/ 32GB internal; 2 x SDXC | 0GB/16GB/16GB flash; 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC |
| HD recording | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ n/a Mbps; 1440 x 1080/60i @ n/a Mbps (also encodes 30p as 60i) | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 17, 13, 9 Mbps | AVCHD: 1080/60i @ 24, 17Mbps; 1440x1080/60i @ 9,5 Mbps |
| Manual shutter speed | No | Yes | No |
| Manual iris | No | Yes | No |
| Accessory shoe | No | No | No |
| Audio | 2 channels; mic, headphone jacks | 2 channels | 2 channels |
| Body dimensions (WHD, inches) | 2.4 x 2.4 x 4.8 | 2.0 x 2.3 x 4.3 | 2 x 2.3 x 4.5 |
| Operating weight (pounds) | 10.9 (est) | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Mfr. Price | $329.99/ $349.99/ $449.99/ | $296.99/$359.99 /$339.99 | $399.99 |
| Ship date | March 2011 | March 2011 | January 2010 |
The problem there, however, is that the screen and the controls on the bezel--menu, enter and four navigation buttons--are so small that it can be awkward using the menus or manual controls. Otherwise, it's easy enough to use. It's got a typical design; record button falls under your right thumb (when you hold it at eye level via the grip), and there's a zoom switch and photo button on top. A big switch on the right toggles between record and playback modes. Inside the LCD recess are the auto/manual, image stabilization, video light and power buttons, along with the SD card slot and USB, AV/Multi and HDMI connectors. There's also a manual switch for a lens cover.
The camcorder itself feels a little plasticky, but it doesn't feel fragile and that makes it quite light.
Conclusion
For a cheap camcorder with advanced features but nominally HD video, the price of the Panasonic HDR-SD40 can't be beat. If you can find the TM40 or TM41 for less than the cost of the SD40 plus a memory card, they're fine, too. But if you want decent HD video quality, you're still going to have to spend at least a couple hundred more.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: HDCTM41H
- Description: Marketing description is not available.
General
- Product Type Camcorder - 1080i
- Image Color Disclaimer The image of the product displayed may be of a different color
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 1.5 megapixels
- Effective Video Resolution 1.19 megapixels
- Digital Zoom 1500 x
- Effective Photo Resolution 1.19 megapixels
- Camcorder Interpolated Photo Resolution 2.1 megapixels
- Camcorder Media Type Flash card
- Optical Sensor Size 1/5.8"
- Optical Sensor Type MOS
- Min Illumination 1 lux
- Analog video format NTSC
- Digital Video Format iFrame,
AVCHD - Image Stabilizer Optical (POWER O.I.S. with Active Mode)
- Min Shutter Speed 1/30 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec
- Shooting modes Digital photo mode
- White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Cloudy,
Sunlight,
Indoor - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Aperture-priority - Image Recording Format JPEG
- Widescreen Video Capture Yes
- AV Interfaces HDMI,
Composite video/audio Lens System
- Type 16.8 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6
- Lens aperture F/1.8-2.6
- Features Built-in lens shield
- Optical zoom 16.8 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 2.9 mm
- Max focal length 48.7 mm
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 42.9 - 721 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 1.6 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Built-in Light Yes
- Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
- Additional Features Intelligent Auto (iA),
USB charging,
Face detection,
Auto Ground-Directional Standby (AGS),
Built-in speaker,
Pre-Rec function,
Intelligent Contrast Control,
YouTube capture mode,
Backlight compensation,
Auto power save,
Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording,
Intelligent Scene Selector,
USB 2.0 compatibility - Software Panasonic HD Writer LE 1.0,
Drivers & Utilities - Included Accessories Component video cable,
USB cable,
Power adapter,
Audio / video cable Display
- Type 2.7 in LCD display
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x HDMI output,
1 x Hi-Speed USB,
1 x Component video output,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x DC power input - Memory Card Slot SD card
Microphone
- Microphone Features Wind noise reduction,
Sensitivity control,
Zoom Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Memory / Storage
- Media type Flash card
- Supported Memory Cards SD Memory Card
- Internal Storage 16 GB Flash
- Included Memory Card 16 GB
- Image Storage JPEG 1920 x 1080
- Video Capture AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 17Mbps,
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 13Mbps,
AVCHD - 1920 x 1080 - 9Mbps,
iFrame - 960 x 540 - 28Mbps - Video Recording Modes HX,
HG,
HA
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows XP SP3,
MS Windows 7,
MS Windows Vista - Peripheral Devices USB port,
CD-ROM drive Battery
- Supported Battery Panasonic VW-VBK180
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1790 mAh ( Included )
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Features Rotating
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts - 1 year,
Limited warranty - Labor - 90 days Physical Characteristics
- Width 2 in
- Depth 4.3 in
- Height 2.3 in
- Weight 6 oz
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Camcorder
-
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: MOS,
6 oz,
4.3 in,
2.3 in,
zoom,
16.8 x x 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6,
Panasonic HDC-SD40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card,
2 in -
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: MOS,
6 oz,
4.3 in,
2.3 in,
16.8 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6,
Panasonic HDC-TM41 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card,
2 in
Accessories
- KATA DPS Series DC-431 - carrying bag for camcorder (34931292)39.89
- Veho Waterproof case - marine case for camcorder (35095149)35.32 - 59.99
- Lowepro Clips 140 (32640977)34.95
- Sony SH-L32W - LCD screen hood (33418369)39.13 - 59.99
- JVC VU-VM90K - camcorder accessory kit (32959163)0.01 - 79.99
- Canon BP 514 camcorder battery (30791985)35.33 - 41.35
- Canon Multi-Camcorder Starter Kit - camcorder accessory kit (32981313)28.07 - 50.99
- Cokin DIGI-HOODS lens hood (34746436)34.63
- GoPro Replacement HD Housing - hard case for camcorder (34859462)27.99 - 39.99
- JVC VU-VF80K camcorder accessory kit (34913414)39.99
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Panasonic products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Panasonic
- Address:
One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 - Phone: 800/662-3537
