The Panasonic HDC-TM60 HD PAL Camcorder is a mid-level high def camcorder for those looking to break into HD recording, without breaking the bank. The TM60 records its 1080i/50fps video files, and 5MP digital stills, to a 16GB internal flash memory and to optional SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards with the help of a 1/4.1" CMOS sensor.
Features such as 35x Intelligent Zoom and Power Optical Image Stabilization help to capture brilliant, detailed video, as do other functions like Intelligent Auto and the wind noise canceller. Of course the camera also has standards like face detection and smile capture functions to catch everyone in their best light.
Other notable features include an LED video light, composition guide lines, and focus assist. When you add in convenience features like a 2.7" touch screen display, pre-record, and relay recording, the TM60 is an excellent value that packs in numerous useful functions for recording memories that will stay with you for years to come.
1920 x 1080i HD Recording
The TM60 captures MPEG4 AVC/H.264 1920 x 1080i high definition video with stunning clarity
Memory Card Recording
The HDC-TM60 records to its 16GB internal memory and to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards for ease-of-use and portability
1/4.1" MOS Sensor
Panasonic's 1/4.1" MOS sensor is CMOS sensor that captures 1080i HD video and 5MP still images
2.7" LCD Display
The 2.7" LCD gives you an accurate platform on which to compose and play back your video and still footage. Touch screen icons displayed on the LCD let users operate a variety of functions intuitively without taking their eyes off of the subject they are recording
35.7mm Wide Angle Lens
The 35.7mm wide angle lens on the TM60 fits more people and more of the background into the frame than a conventional 44.1mm lens. This is especially handy when you want to take a group photo in a small room. It fits your subjects in even when you shoot from up close, and makes it possible to pick up even small sounds with the mic. It also gives you entirely new ways to enjoy your camcorder, like taking self portraits or capturing sweeping landscapes without losing the sense of scale
Power O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
The corrective ability of POWER O.I.S. has been increased by five times compared to previous models, allowing it to correct even slight hand-shake, something that wasn't possible with conventional O.I.S. Even high-power zoom shots, which are highly susceptible to hand-shake, now come out sharp and clear
Face Recognition
The Face Recognition function recognizes the faces of registered subjects, and automatically optimizes the focus and exposure for those special people. It continues to track the subject as he or she moves anywhere within the LCD frame, making it ideal for video shooting. It is extremely useful for capturing someone's face in a group. Names can also be registered and displayed on the LCD while shooting. A total of six people can be registered, and the names of up to three people at a time can be displayed in the shooting frame
VIERA LINK
Connect a Panasonic HD Camcorder to a Panasonic VIERA HDTV via an HDMI mini cable, and operate the camcorder using the TV's remote control and follow on-screen prompts
Auto Power LCD
Automatically adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen according to the shooting environment. In dark places, the screen brightness is reduced to 1/3 the normal level. In bright outdoor places, the screen brightness is double the normal level
iA (Intelligent Auto)
This powerful function senses the shooting conditions and automatically makes the settings and activates functions that will deliver optimal results. With both motion and still images, iA does the bothersome settings for you and makes it easy to capture beautiful, well-focused images
Wind Noise Canceller
New feature that automatically detects and suppresses wind noise to help ensure natural sounds with lifelike ambiance
AF/AE Tracking
Touch the LCD screen to indicate the subject, such as a person or an animal, that you want to focus on, and let AF/AE Tracking do the rest. The camera locks on the subject and follows it around, keeping it in sharp focus and properly exposed. It keeps tracking even if the subject turns to the side. This advanced function makes it easy to get a continually clear, beautiful shot of the subject in the scene you care most about
Intelligent Scene Selector
The Intelligent Scene Selector function analyzes the shooting situation and automatically switches the camcorder to the suitable scene mode that will give you optimal results
Face Detection
Face Detection automatically senses the ambient lighting and adjusts the exposure accordingly, so faces are bright and easy to see. The focus also prioritizes the faces, and skin tones are smoothed. Faces in the center of the frame serve as the reference for adjustments, but the function can detect up to 15 faces at once
Intelligent Contrast Control
Intelligent Contrast Control detects the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure accordingly, helping to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. You capture natural looking, highly nuanced images with proper contrast
Still Picture Recording at 5MP with Intelligent Resolution Technology
In Still Picture Recording mode, Intelligent Resolution Technology lets you record clear still images with resolution up to 5 megapixels. Also, when playing back the moving pictures you shot, you can capture 2.1MP still images of any scene you want
Smile Shot for Still Images
The iA function is active even when the camera is in still-image mode. When the Intelligent Scene Selector detects the shooting situation, it automatically switches to one of the five Scene modes for still-image shooting, and optimizes the settings for the still image
1 Second Quick Power On
Switch the power on and the HD camcorders are in standby mode in approx. 1.0 seconds, ready to shoot when you are. When the LCD is closed, the power automatically switches off. This fast startup and automatic shutdown also help reduce battery consumption
Relay Recording
The Relay Recording mode automatically switches from the built-in flash memory (once it's full) to the SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card and continues recording. You don't have to worry about missing an important shot while switching media
Pre-Rec Function
This smart function records three seconds of images even before you actually begin shooting. The images are held temporarily in the camcorder's internal memory, before recording begins. This helps ensure that you won't miss the start of a moment you want to record, such as when an event begins all of a sudden. For example, if you're waiting to snap a shot of a jumping dolphin, you can press the REC button after you've made sure that the dolphin has cleared the surface of the water. The camcorder will record the entire scene, from the instant of the dolphin's jump until it disappears again into the sea
Auto Power LCD
The LCD brightness can be adjusted manually to suit the surroundings. In Auto Mode, the LCD brightness is adjusted automatically in 16 smooth steps depending on the surroundings. In darker rooms it adjusts to a lower brightness, making it easier to frame the shot. Outside, it adjusts to almost twice the brightness for easy viewing even on sunny days
Wide Viewing Angle
The LCD has a highly detailed, 230,400-dots display and a viewing angle of 170°, both vertically and horizontally. Images are clear and bright even when viewed from an angle, so everyone can gather around the LCD to enjoy on-the-spot recordings. The wide viewing angle is also great for taking high or low-angle shots
Auto Ground-Directional Standby
The AGS linear motor system can detect when the camera is in an unusual shooting position - such as when you've inadvertently left it on in recording mode. In these cases, the camera automatically stops recording, saving both battery power and media storage space
60 Frames Per Second High-Burst Shooting
This function lets the camcorder snap up to 60 consecutive still images in a second, or up to 180 consecutive shots in 3 seconds. You can use it to analyze a golf swing, tennis stroke or other motion. You also can use it to get good shots of subjects in fast motion. Just fire off a number of shots without stopping, then keep the best ones and delete the rest
Focus Assist
This function shows which subjects are in focus by displaying their outlines in blue. You can easily check the focus on LCD when manually focusing, to ensure consistently clear, sharp images
Composition Guide Lines
With wide LCD monitors, it's hard to keep images perfectly level. The 60 series solves this by displaying horizontal and vertical composition guide lines that make it easy to keep the subject straight and level
Soft Skin Mode
When this function detects skin tones, it softens the focus in that area. This has a skin beautifying effect, which makes wrinkles and lines appear less noticeable. When turned on, this function makes blemishes and moles look less conspicuous, while preserving resolution in areas of the picture outside of the skin
Tele-Macro
You can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of 70cm from your subject. In addition, using the zoom at full magnification makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus
Crystal Engine Pro
The Crystal Engine PRO instantly processes the huge amount of data that goes into HD images, and further enhances HD quality. It produces smooth, high-resolution zoom shots even when the range exceeds the limit for optical zooming. Crystal Engine PRO clearly delineates even the tiniest details of your subject, with extremely natural beauty. New Noise Reduction (NR) Technology minimizes noise when recording in low lighting conditions, and Intelligent Resolution Technology ensures sharp and crisp pictures, resulting in bright and beautifully colored motion images. The HD 60 Series also achieves 1.3 times higher resolution than conventional camcorders, with 2.1 million effective motion image pixels and 1,080 TV lines of resolution
Intelligent Resolution Technology
The Intelligent Resolution Technology incorporated in the new Crystal Engine Pro uses edge detection technology to confirm the edges of objects within the image, then emphasizes the edges for optimal clarity. For example, it brings crisp definition to patterns and the outlines of objects like flowers. Conversely, it reduces noise and enhances the natural smoothness of parts without edges, like the sky. The increased sharpness is especially effective for images with delicate details. This highly advanced technology maximizes the beauty of HD images
Face Highlight, Highlight, and Time Frame Index
The index function has been enhanced with the addition of a feature that divides each recorded scene into a number of smaller scenes, and displays thumbnails for each. This makes it much easier to find a particular part of a scene without having to fast-forward
HA/HG/HX/HE Mode
Even with its compact body, the 60 series let you shoot for hours. The TM60 is equipped with a built-in 16GB memory, and can be used together with a 64GB SDXC Memory Card to shoot for up to 34 hours 10 minutes. Choose the recording mode that matches your intended use - HE mode for maximum recording time, or HA mode for optimal image quality
LED Video Light
When the camera determines that the ambient lighting is insufficient, it automatically switches the light on. This illuminates your subject for shooting. The LED (light emitting diode) has low power consumption, a long service life, and the safety of a low operating temperature
Color Night Rec/Color Night View
Leave the light off. Color Night Rec/Color Night View gives you images with color even in dim lighting (1 lx)
World Time
Setting the time is as easy as selecting a city from the displayed map. The World Time function lets you set the time for two cities, home and destination. You don't have to figure out the time difference at your destination, and it's easy when you get home
Auto Lens Cover
When the power is turned on, the lens cover automatically opens. When the power goes off, the lens cover closes. You don't have to keep removing and replacing a lens cap - or worry about losing it
Highlight Playback
Select the days of the recordings you want to see, and this innovative function automatically selects the most exciting scenes, arranges them, and plays them, with music. It decides how exciting a scene is, based on zooming, panning, and scene changes, and whether there are faces. This gives you a quick, easy way to view the most exciting scenes all together. In addition, the newly added Face Highlight Playback mode detects the subjects who have been registered for the iA Face Recognition function, and plays only the highlights of scenes that include those subjects. This lets you easily select and play only the most exciting scenes, or the ones that include special people
Intelligent Shooting Selection Playback
The HD Writer AE 2.0 software automatically detects and deletes scenes that are determined unnecessary by the camcorder (such as blurry images due to hand-shake, etc.)
Easy Connecting, Easy Viewing
Just connect your HD camcorder to an HDTV and get ready for an incredible high-definition video show. If your TV is HDMI compatible, a single HDMI mini cable is all you need. When using a video component cable, you need a separate audio cable
Connect your HD camcorder to a VIERA or compatible Blu-ray Disc Player via an HDMI mini cable, and you can control both units in synchronized operation with a single remote control. This kind of simple, easy operation makes it enjoyable to view your recordings
Just slip the SD card from your camcorder into the VIERA Image Viewer card slot on your VIERA TV, and you're ready to view full-HD moving images recorded
Archiving and Playback
The HD camcorders have a USB Host function that lets you connect directly to a DVD burner via a USB cable. Then just press a button and you can copy the moving images you recorded from the SD card, Built-in Memory, or HDD to a DVD disc
You can make a copy either in the original high-definition AVCHD format, or in the standard-definition DVD-Video (MPEG-2) format. Choose the one that matches your playback equipment
To view the disc you just burned, simply connect the HD camcorder to an HDTV via an HDMI mini cable
Editing, Archiving and YouTube Uploading
HD Writer AE 2.0 software, included with the camcorder, makes it easy to play or edit videos on your PC and have more fun when the shooting's done