Introduction

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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In the Box

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The Panasonic TM40 comes with the following accessories:

• power adapter
• multi-AV cable
• rechargeable battery pack
• instruction manual
• software CD

Color

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The HDC-TM40 put up decent numbers in our color accuracy test, but the camcorder's image in bright light appeared somewhat dull compared to the competition. The camcorder managed a 4.3 color error in this test, which isn't bad for a budget model, but is worse than what we saw from the Canon HF R21 and the TM40's higher-end cousin, the HDC-TM90. The colors produced by the TM40 certainly weren't awful, but the 78.4% saturation level is lower than we like to see from a consumer camcorder. The colors lacked the pop and brilliance that we saw from the Panasonic HDC-TM90 and other consumer camcorders. More on how we test color.

The TM40 has a few color modes, but neither of them do all that much to alter the way the camcorder captures colors. The two options are Soft Skin Mode and Intelligent Contrast, both of which slightly enhance the TM40's video image. Soft Skin Mode will smooth skin tones (just as the title suggests), while Intelligent Contrast tries to create a better image in shadows and high-contrast situations (better dynamic range). You can see examples of both modes below, but it's hard to see much of a difference between the two modes and the TM40's regular auto mode. Neither of these modes offer manual control over their effectiveness, and the TM40 has no manual control for color depth or anything like that.

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Low Light Color

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The HDC-TM40 registered a color error of 4.65 in this test, which isn't much different than the camcorder's 4.3 color error we saw in our bright light test. This is a fair performance for the camcorder, and it's in line with what we normally see from a camcorder of this class. The TM40's low light image did appear rather dim, however, and it was somewhat darker than the competition. The saturation level in low light was around 71%, which isn't bad and is only a 7% decrease from the camcorder's bright light video. More on how we test low light color.

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Noise

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The HDC-TM40 put up very good numbers in our noise test, and, unlike its color performance, the camcorder was ahead of the competition in terms of overall noise percentage in bright light. The TM40 averaged just 0.5% noise in bright light, which is a good chunk lower than the noise we measured on the three camcorders we compared it to. More on how we test noise.

Part of the reason the TM40 did so well in this test, however, may come from the fact that the camcorder didn't produce a very sharp image in bright light. Without much detail, noise can often be difficult to detect within the blurred footage. As you can see from the crops above, the TM40's video image isn't overly blurred, but it's not nearly as sharp as what the Canon HF R21 and Panasonic HDC-TM90 were capable of producing (see the side-by-side comparisons to see what we're talking about). Overall, we'd rather have a bit more noise in our image if it meant a lot more sharpness and detail.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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Our low light sensitivity test determines how much light a camcorder needs to produce an image that is bright enough to be considered broadcast worth (that's 50 IRE on a waveform monitor). The HDC-TM40 didn't perform all that well in this test, as the camcorder needed 25 lux of light to capture an image that met the brightness standards of broadcast. This 25 lux measurement was obtained using a bit of optical zoom on the HDC-TM40, but we also performed the test without using any optical zoom so the TM40 could use its widest aperture setting. In that scenario the camcorder needed 16 lux to produce a suitable image—a very disappointing score as well. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Budget HD camcorders usually don't excel at this test, but the three models we used as comparisons in this review were each superior to the TM40 in this test. The Canon HF R21 and Panasonic HDC-TM90 put up the best numbers, followed by the JVC GZ-HM450 (which barely beat out the TM40 in this test). The HDC-TM40's sub-par results in this test suggest that it's a camcorder you won't always be able to rely on in low light situations. Thankfully, its color accuracy and noise levels in low light weren't half bad, just don't expect the camcorder to produce all that bright of an image when you're shooting without much light.

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Low Light Noise

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Noise levels measured at around 1.0% on the TM40's low light video. This is a better score than we often see from budget camcorders, and it sits in the mix with the three models we compared to the HDC-TM40. Unfortunately, like we saw in bright light, the HDC-TM40's low light video struggled mightily with sharpness and detail. So, the image may be low on noise, but its high on discoloration, artifacting, and interference—all of which lead to a blurred, murky image in low light. More on how we test low light noise.

Look at the crops above for a better idea of what we're talking about. Notice how dark and void of detail the TM40's image looks, and compare that to the sharper images produced by the Canon HF R21 and Panasonic HDC-TM90. The JVC GZ-HM450 and the Panasonic TM40 both have very blurred images in comparison. We're not saying the TM90 and HF R21 have perfect low light images—they too show the presence of noise and discoloration—but at least those camcorders still captured relatively sharp and detailed low light video.

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Low Light Color

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The HDC-TM40 registered a color error of 4.65 in this test, which isn't much different than the camcorder's 4.3 color error we saw in our bright light test. This is a fair performance for the camcorder, and it's in line with what we normally see from a camcorder of this class. The TM40's low light image did appear rather dim, however, and it was somewhat darker than the competition. The saturation level in low light was around 71%, which isn't bad and is only a 7% decrease from the camcorder's bright light video. More on how we test low light color.

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Motion

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The TM40 didn't show us anything amazing in our motion test, but the camcorder was able to produce smooth video using its highest-quality 1080i record mode. Artifacting was present throughout our motion test, even in areas of the video without any moving subjects, and there was also a significant amount of pixelation and color fringing in our rotating pinwheels (see the video below for a better idea of what we're talking about). The TM40 offers no alternate frame rate options for recording HD video—it's all captured at 60i—but the iFrame mode uses a 30p frame rate to record standard definition video. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The Panasonic HDC-TM40 can record Full HD video, but in our sharpness test the camcorder failed to match the results produced by the other budget models we compared it to. The TM40 managed a horizontal sharpness of 550 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 500 lw/ph, both of which are significantly lower than the numbers we measured from the Canon HF R21 and Panasonic TM90's video image (the JVC GZ-HM450 put up similar numbers to the TM40, although the JVC was still ahead by a bit). So, if you're looking for a budget model that still captures tons of detail, the HDC-TM40 is not the product for you. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Ease of Use

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The HDC-TM40 is reasonably easy to use, especially if you don't like touchscreen LCDs. The camcorder's user interface is a throwback to the days when almost no manufacturers used touchscreens (now, it's actually hard to find a camcorder that doesn't). Still, the TM40's menu navigation system is far from perfect. The buttons on the left of the LCD panel aren't huge, and they don't offer the best tactile feedback, but, in all honesty, we prefer them to most of the touchscreen systems we've used. A crummy d-pad is better than a poorly-built touchscreen in our book.

Panasonic incorporated a help mode on the TM40 that is meant to provide bits of information about certain menu options and features. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Panasonic really thought out this help mode, as the information is displayed on the bottom of the LCD in scrolling text that moves hilariously slow. So, if you want to find out what Intelligent Contrast does, for example, you can turn on the help mode and wait 30 - 45 seconds for the "helpful" text to scroll by. Other, more complicated features may have more text, which means by the time you're done reading about the features you've probably missed your chance at getting a good shot.

Auto Mode

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You can put the TM40 into its dedicated auto mode by pressing the iA/manual button inside the LCD cavity. This button switches between Intelligent Auto (iA) and manual control of the camcorder, with iA being the TM40's dedicated auto mode. In iA mode, the camcorder features a truncated menu system, although you can still access the menu (some camcorders lock you out of that ability entirely when using the dedicated auto mode). It also puts all controls to automatic, so you can't make any manual adjustments in iA mode. The mode works fine, and we were impressed with the way the camcorder's automatic controls responded, but we do wish the option for Intelligent Auto mode was more front-and-center on the TM40. The little button inside the LCD cavity is both hard to find and hard to read—and the "iA" label doesn't really mean anything to someone who doesn't know what it stands for.

Auto Controls

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We liked the speedy, accurate adjustments the TM40 made to focus and exposure when the camcorder was in auto mode. Exposure changes were smooth and happened quickly, and we noticed none of the choppy, step-like changes that we've seen from many budget camcorders as we shoot at different lights sources. White balance was the least effective of the camcorder's auto controls, and we saw the color temperature shift frequently when we shot under indoor light.

In addition to the basic auto controls, the TM40 also has face detection, an auto slow shutter function, backlight compensation, and a 16.8x optical zoom. Don't ask us why Panasonic couldn't have just bumped the zoom up to 17x to make the spec sound better. The TM40 also offers a variety of scene modes: portrait, action, snow, spotlight, beach, sunrise, fireworks, landscape, night, and candlelight.

Handling

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If you read the portability section below, you'll find that the TM40 is very light and compact for a camcorder of its class. It's also rather comfortable due to its small size and ergonomic design. The slight curve to the top of the camcorder is both helpful for getting a good grip, and it gives you something to comfortably rest your curved fingers when you hold the TM40. The only problem with the right-side design, however, is the placement of the DC-input port, which is in the way if you want to hold the camcorder while it's plugged in to a power source.

The biggest frustration in using the TM40 is learning how to utilize the camcorder's various menu interfaces. There's the main menu system, which is very easy to understand and read, bu then there's a function menu that is used to adjust manual controls like aperture, focus, and shutter speed. This menu is alarmingly difficult to use and understand. All controls are adjusted using a combination of d-pad inputs, and the menu makes uses of abbreviations and confusing icons that require an instruction manual to decipher (or a bit of trial and error). Basically, if you're planning to use manual controls on the TM40, you shouldn't expect it to be a simple experience.

The hand strap on the HDC-TM40 is far from fantastic, but it's really no different than the straps we commonly see on camcorders in this price range. It's small and flimsy, but it is adjustable with its Velcro lining, and we felt it was comfortable and strong enough to allow us to grip the camcorder with ease. Our fingertips lined up well with the zoom toggle, record button, and shutter button as well.

The buttons inside the LCD cavity, as well as the directional buttons on the LCD panel, aren't very well designed. As we've said before in this review, if you hate touchscreens then you'll probably like the navigation controls on the TM40. Even though the buttons aren't great, the controls are more precise for those who like to actually hit a button rather than tap on a screen to make selections.

Portability

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The Panasonic TM40 is a basic budget camcorder with few frills and special features. Because of this, the camcorder has a compact design that might be just small enough to fit in your pocket (as long as it's a fairly large pocket). According to Panasonic, the camcorder weighs 169g without its battery pack, and we weighted the TM40 at 210g including its provided battery—not too shabby for a consumer camcorder. This puts the HDC-TM40 as the lightest camcorder out of the three models we compared it to, and it is one of the lightest budget camcorders we've seen that's not an ultracompact pocket-sized model.

Battery Life

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The TM40 lasted for a very long time in our battery test, with the camcorder making it 2 hours, 33 minutes of continuous recording on a fully-charged battery. This is a good 45 minutes longer than the Panasonic TM90's battery lasted in this test, and a whopping 70 minutes longer than the Canon HF R21 lasted. The JVC GZ-HM450 was more respectable, putting up a battery life that was just about 15 minutes shy of the TM40's. More on how we test battery life.

Along with the good battery life, the TM40 has an open battery compartment, so you can use larger battery packs with the camcorder if you want to purchase them separately. The camcorder also has a few power saving options that will dim the LCD to conserve battery life.

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LCD

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The LCD on the TM40 has fairly basic specs. It's 2.7-inches across (diagonally) and has a 230,400-pixel resolution. The LCD doesn't use a touchscreen interface, which makes the TM40 a great choice for those who can't stand touchscreen systems. The brightness and color display of the screen can be set manually, but be aware that doing so may show misleading imagery on the LCD while you're recording (for example, your video may look brighter or darker than what is actually being recorded).

Stabilization

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The HDC-TM40 has an image stabilization system that uses both optical and electronic effects to reduce the shakiness during recording. This is slightly different than what is offered on the HDC-TM90 from Panasonic, as that camcorder gives you the option of using solely optical stabilization if you want to. The TM40 does not—the only stabilization mode on the camcorder is "active" mode, which is an enhanced OIS system. More on how we test stabilization.

Those details probably don't matter to most people, however, and the fact that the TM40 did exceptionally well in this test is what's important. In our low shake test, the HDC-TM40 effectively reduced the shake by 77% with the image stabilization turned on. In our high shake tests, the results were nearly identical, with the camcorder reducing shake by 76%. These numbers are consistent with the best results put up by the Panasonic TM90, but, like we said, the TM90 gives you more control over your image stabilization choices.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Guide Lines

There are three options for displaying guide lines on the TM40: horizontal strips, horizontal and vertical strips that make a 9-sector grid, and an option for a checkerboard pattern with many lines. The lines won't end up on your recorded video, as they are meant to help you frame your shot.

Tele Macro

When you turn on the TM40's tele macro mode, the camcorder automatically zooms to its fullest optical zoom setting (which happens to be 16.8x zoom). From this position, the camcorder can then focus on ultra-close subjects that it wouldn't be able to focus on without the tele macro setting engaged. If you change the zoom at all, the tele macro setting cancels automatically.

Intelligent Contrast

Intelligent Contrast attempts to improve the look of bright or dark scenes captured by the TM40. The mode won't always improve the look of your video, but it may help the camcorder capture more detail in mixed lighting, or help with scenes that may be too bright otherwise. The option can be turned on and off using the on-screen control menu.

Color Night Record

Color Night Record is the TM40's low light shooting mode, but using the mode will make your footage look very different. Color Night Record uses a very slow shutter to boost the brightness in low light situations, and this slow shutter gives your footage image trails and makes motion look choppy. The mode can be good to use, but you need to understand how it can have a detrimental effect on your videos.

Auto Controls

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We liked the speedy, accurate adjustments the TM40 made to focus and exposure when the camcorder was in auto mode. Exposure changes were smooth and happened quickly, and we noticed none of the choppy, step-like changes that we've seen from many budget camcorders as we shoot at different lights sources. White balance was the least effective of the camcorder's auto controls, and we saw the color temperature shift frequently when we shot under indoor light.

In addition to the basic auto controls, the TM40 also has face detection, an auto slow shutter function, backlight compensation, and a 16.8x optical zoom. Don't ask us why Panasonic couldn't have just bumped the zoom up to 17x to make the spec sound better. The TM40 also offers a variety of scene modes: portrait, action, snow, spotlight, beach, sunrise, fireworks, landscape, night, and candlelight.

Audio Controls

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Since it lacks an external mic and headphone jack, the HDC-TM40 certainly isn't the camcorder for someone who wants to capture professional-grade audio. But the camcorder has a few audio features that are impressive for a budget model. For starters, you can adjust the audio recording level for the built-in stereo microphone manually. You can also set the mic level to auto, or give it a slight boost while still having the mic adjust automatically. Additionally, the mic has a wind cut option to reduce the noise associated with shooting video in a windy environment.

Editing

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The TM40 ships with HD Writer LE version 1.0, which is a slightly different version of the HD Writer software that ships with Panasonic's higher-end consumer camcorders (the TM90, for example, comes with HD Writer AE version 3.0). Either way, the bundled software's main purpose is that it helps you import video clips to a computer, perform minor edits, and assist with uploading content to the internet. If you want to do extensive video editing, your best bet is to buy a good editing program like Final Cut, Adobe Premiere, iMovie, Avid, etc. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Compression

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To record HD video, the Panasonic TM40 utilizes the AVCHD compression system that allows for the recording of Full HD 1920 x 1080 content. The camcorder offers a variety of quality modes at various bitrates for recording HD video, and there's also a standard definition record mode called iFrame. The table below lists all of the TM40's record modes and their various attributes.

The iFrame mode uses a very high bitrate (28Mbps), but records a 960 x 540 video image, so the resolution is a lot smaller than the HD options. The purpose of iFrame is that the footage is easier to work with in post-production, and the format is specifically designed to be used in conjunction with Apple's iMovie editing software. So, if you're gonna do lots of editing, iFrame is an option you may want to check out—but remember, the footage you record in this mode won't be HD. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The Panasonic HDC-TM40 has 16GB of internal memory and a memory card slot that works with all types of SD memory cards (SD, SDHC, or SDXC). 16GB of memory isn't an unworldly amount, but it's enough to get you going, especially if you're not recording using the camcorder's highest quality settings. The memory card slot is necessary if you want to expand the camcorder's recording capacity beyond the built-in 16GB, but SD-type memory cards are getting cheaper every year, so it won't break the bank to buy a few of them to make the camcorder more versatile. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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Still features certainly aren't the TM40's strong suit. The camcorder can only capture photos at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is the same size as the Full HD video the camcorder records (2.1 megapixels). There are two quality setting options, a self-timer, and a dedicated photo shutter button. There's no built-in flash, no special photo features, and you can't even capture photos during recording of video (you can grab a still image during video playback, though).

If you have a cell phone, it's more than likely that it will take better still images than the TM40. At least in terms of resolution and sharpness. Yes, the TM40 has the ability to zoom and adjust manual controls, but the limited resolution of its still images makes the feature almost worthless.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Panasonic HDC-TM40 is outfitted with a small CMOS sensor that's just 1/5.8 inches. The total pixel count of the sensor is 1.5 megapixels, which, if you do the math, is less than the pixel count of Full HD video. So, to capture Full HD the camcorder must do something called "interpolating", which essentially means the image is increased in size without adding any detail. This is fairly common among budget camcorders, but it is never something we like to see. If you check out the performance test sections of this review (the next three pages), you'll see that the TM40 did very poorly in capturing sharpness and detail—likely a direct result to the interpolated Full HD image it records.

LCD

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The LCD on the TM40 has fairly basic specs. It's 2.7-inches across (diagonally) and has a 230,400-pixel resolution. The LCD doesn't use a touchscreen interface, which makes the TM40 a great choice for those who can't stand touchscreen systems. The brightness and color display of the screen can be set manually, but be aware that doing so may show misleading imagery on the LCD while you're recording (for example, your video may look brighter or darker than what is actually being recorded).

Connectivity

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There are four ports and one memory card slot on the HDC-TM40, and most of the camcorder's ports are located in a one row strip inside the LCD cavity. Here you'll find the HDMI terminal, USB jack, and Multi-AV output that acts as both a Component and Composite AV output (using a proprietary connector). None of these ports are protected by a cover or door, but they are protected by the LCD panel when it is closed. The SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot is also located in this area, and it does have the protection of plastic door that flips open.

The lone additional port on the TM40 is the camcorder's DC-input that is used to charge the battery pack. This port is located on the right side of the camcorder, behind a small tab that remains tethered to the TM40 when it is popped open. Obviously the DC-input is very important, but we wish the terminal was located in a better position. Where it exists on the TM40, the port is very much in the way when you grip the camcorder by its right side. This means you won't want to be doing any handheld shooting while the TM40 has its DC power cable plugged in.

Battery

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Along with the good battery life, the TM40 has an open battery compartment, so you can use larger battery packs with the camcorder if you want to purchase them separately. The camcorder also has a few power saving options that will dim the LCD to conserve battery life. Find out how the performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The Panasonic HDC-TM40 has 16GB of internal memory and a memory card slot that works with all types of SD memory cards (SD, SDHC, or SDXC). 16GB of memory isn't an unworldly amount, but it's enough to get you going, especially if you're not recording using the camcorder's highest quality settings. The memory card slot is necessary if you want to expand the camcorder's recording capacity beyond the built-in 16GB, but SD-type memory cards are getting cheaper every year, so it won't break the bank to buy a few of them to make the camcorder more versatile. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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Still features certainly aren't the TM40's strong suit. The camcorder can only capture photos at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is the same size as the Full HD video the camcorder records (2.1 megapixels). There are two quality setting options, a self-timer, and a dedicated photo shutter button. There's no built-in flash, no special photo features, and you can't even capture photos during recording of video (you can grab a still image during video playback, though).

If you have a cell phone, it's more than likely that it will take better still images than the TM40. At least in terms of resolution and sharpness. Yes, the TM40 has the ability to zoom and adjust manual controls, but the limited resolution of its still images makes the feature almost worthless.

Other Features

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Fader

You can add fades to the beginning or end of your clips and the fades can be to white or black.

Pre Record

With Pre Record turned on, the TM40 records a few seconds of footage before you even press the record button. That footage is only saved if you do end up pressing the record button, however, so what this mode does is save you those precious seconds when you're trying to capture something "spur of the moment." Even if you don't press the record button quickly enough, the camcorder picks up the slack (as long as you are pointing the TM40 in the right direction).

AGS

Stands for Auto Ground Standby, this feature will automatically stop recording if the TM40 is pointed directly at the ground for more than a few seconds. Essentially, the feature attempts to eliminate those awkward, unwanted recordings where you forgot to hit the stop record button (of course, you also will want to turn this feature off if you actually want to point the camcorder at the ground for recording).

Video Light

The HDC-TM40 has a tiny video light on the front of the camcorder. The light doesn't help that much when you try to record in complete darkness, but it will provide a slight boost when you record in low light. Just make sure the subject you're trying to illuminate isn't more than a few feet away from the camcorder when you're shooting.

JVC Everio GZ-HM450 Comparison

At its release date, the Canon HF R21 was one of the more expensive budget models announced in 2011. The camcorder's MSRP is $449, but that includes 32GB of internal memory—twice as much as you get on the Panasonic TM40 (which had an original MSRP of about $50 less). The HF R21 can be found online for less than $400, but that's still a lot to pay for a "budget" camcorder. However, if you're willing to shell out that kind of money, the Canon HF R21 is one of the best models available in the entry-level class.

The Canon HF R21 not only includes more internal memory than the Panasonic TM40, but it also soundly defeated the Panasonic in our performance tests (especially sharpness). The TM40 had an advantage in stabilization, and it offers a few more manual controls (aperture, shutter speed, and gain), but we found the Canon HF R21 to be a lot easier to use. It doesn't have the confusing control interface that drove us crazy on the TM40.

But the HF R21 has a few glaring weaknesses: it's enclosed battery compartment won't fit larger battery packs, its stabilization system didn't work very well, and its battery life was almost half that of the Panasonic TM40. If those three things don't bother you, the Canon HF R21 is a good choice for anyone looking at entry-level camcorders. The quality of the images captured with the R21 were impressive, despite the camcorder's basic specs and reasonable price tag.

Panasonic HDC-TM90 Comparison

The JVC GZ-HM450 did surprisingly well in our video tests, although its numbers weren't as good as the Canon HF R21 overall. Still, the camcorder edged the Panasonic HDC-TM40 in nearly all categories (except stabilization), which was not something we anticipated. The GZ-HM450 is an incredibly affordable camcorder, with an original list price of $300, and with numerous retailers selling it for $250 at this time (the end of 2011).

Like the Panasonic TM40, the JVC GZ-HM450 was terribly frustrating to use at times. JVC's new touchscreen LCD was sluggish, unresponsive, and annoying to use for adjusting controls and navigating menus—all similar complaints that we had with the TM40's manual controls system as well.

In our overall scoring, the Panasonic HDC-TM40 came out ahead of the GZ-HM450, but only by a very small margin. The TM40 has more internal memory and a few more manual controls, although the HM450 had the edge in performance (particularly sharpness and color accuracy). Neither of these models are great, but camcorders that cost less than $300 rarely are.

COMP 3

Comparing the TM40 to the TM90 isn't entirely fair, as the Panasonic TM90 is the more expensive and far superior camcorder. But what this comparison illustrates is how much of a better camcorder you can get if you spend a bit of extra cash. The TM90 started off with a launch price of $549 early this year, but Panasonic has dropped this price down to around $415 at this time (and you might be able to find it elsewhere for even less). So, the camcorder isn't hugely overpriced compared to the $359 TM40. In fact, the TM90 is an excellent deal if you can find it around $400.

Here's what is better about the HDC-TM90: improved sharpness and motion performance, much better low light capabilities, better handling, and better manual control interface, and more features. The TM90 has the option of record 1080/60p HD video, which is a feature not found on many 2011 consumer camcorders (but is getting more and more common every year), and it has the ability to record 3D HD video if you purchase an optional 3D lens converter.

The buttons on the TM90 are a bit awkward to use, just like the buttons on the TM40, but the HDC-TM90 uses a touchscreen interface instead of a d-pad for menu navigation and control adjustments. Both setups have their issues, and it's really a personal preference as to which one you like better. Overall, however, the TM90 handled much better as a camcorder, although it is a bit larger and heavier than its cheaper cousin.

The HDC-TM90 is one of the best mid-range HD camcorders we reviewed this year, and it's certainly one of the best values we've seen (especially considering it's recent price drop). It's a very good camcorder that holds advantages over the TM40 in nearly every category imaginable—other than price. If you can afford to spend the little extra cash to move up from the TM40 to the TM90, you'll certainly be more pleased with the end product.

Conclusion

In a time when few people are willing to shell out tons of money for a camcorder, we're happy to see Panasonic launch the HDC-TM40 with a wallet-friendly price tag of $399. Since the release of the TM40, however, plenty of better camcorders have dropped in price. Because of this, the HDC-TM40 is no longer the bargain it may have originally appeared to be in early 2011.

We had a lot of issues with the TM40's design and performance. The camcorder's tiny sensor and small pixel count do allow for Full HD video recording, but that 1920 x 1080 image is actually interpolated by the camcorder since the internal sensor only allows for the capture of 1.5 megapixels (Full HD is around 2 megapixels). This made for a disappointing result in our sharpness test, as well as some poor quality in low light recordings as well.

We also took issue with the TM40's convoluted menu system that is used to adjust the camcorder's various manual controls. Yes, the TM40 has more features and controls than most camcorders in its price range, but the controls are so frustrating to adjust that we doubt most users will ever attempt to even try to use them. For just a bit more money, you can get the Panasonic HDC-TM90, which includes just as many (if not more) manual controls than its cheaper cousin. Not to mention, the TM90 did far better in our video performance testing. And that's our overall impression with the HDC-TM40—it's a cheap, decent camcorder, but for just $50 - $150 more, you can get a model that is better in nearly every category.

Photo Gallery

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