Looks can be quite deceiving, and the Panasonic AG-HMC70 AVCHD Pro Camcorder certainly upholds this truth. It looks like a professional camcorder - it has a large form factor, just like a camcorder - but the price is more affordable than the real thing. The AG-HMC70 uses a 12X Leica lens with optical image stabilizing technology. The shoulder-mount form factor, coupled with the optical image stabilization makes for very steady video. It uses a 3CCD 1/4" progressive imager package, providing better color accuracy when compared to a single-chip design. It can record high-definition video at 1080i60 in the AVCHD format, onto SDHC cards. At the highest quality, it can record an approximately 160 minutes of video on a 16GB card. The bigger form allowed for a bevy of ports and connectors to be included. Also, the audio capabilities of the AG-HMC70 fall under the “pro” category that you won’t find in your standard small-format camcorder. It includes both a viewfinder and a 3-inch 251,000-pixel LCD panel. One problem posed by having the camera shoulder-mounted is that you’d need to rely on the full auto mode until you become good at button pushing. Also, the battery life was a meager 50 minutes of intensive use. The AG-HMC70 delivered clear, vibrant and naturally-saturated images right out of the box. With great video quality and top notch audio capabilities, the Panasonic AG-HMC70 is definitely worth the look.