With so much choice out there, it's hard to figure out which video camera to buy. Do you go for the small, cute and cheap one? Or the hefty and expensive one that the sales assistant unconvincingly promises will be worth it in the long run?
I have to admit that I know very little about video cameras as I've always relied on other devices to capture quick snippets here and there, so I was excited to review the Panasonic HX-WA10 - catchy, huh?
I prefer cute, bright and colourful gadgets, but at the end of the day I'm ridiculously clumsy, so I often have to consider whether what I'm buying will really last being dropped a few times and accidentally kicked along the pavement on a night out. The reason I particularly wanted to review the HX-WA10 was because it looked good and promised to be really robust at the same time.
Waterproof
Not only is the camera pretty hard-wearing, but it boasts waterproof casing too, so as long as you give it time to dry off a little after, this amphibious little device can record for up to 60 minutes under 3 metres of water, making it ideal for someone into extreme sports or for a beach holiday. The fact that it's water proof makes it all that more attractive for the clumsy, as I know if I happen to throw it into any kind of water I won't get that heart sinking feeling that I've quite literally thrown a couple of hundred pounds down the toilet.
Design
One of the first things that strikes me about the Panasonic HX-WA10, or 'tough cookie frog camera' as I've now renamed it, is its design. I'm used to seeing compact video cameras which look like a mobile phone, such as the Flip, but this is pretty different and makes you look like you're holding some kind of gun, I'm told the official terminology for this is "pistol-grip". Although it may seem a bit weird at first, it's a really intuitive way of holding this kind of device and I found it was less likely to fall out of my hand, which is good considering the device is all about fun, adventures and clumsy people.
Quality
A lot of focus is put on the camera's robust exterior, but the pictures are of a really high quality too. The HX-WA10 takes 16 megapixel stills and records HD video with 1920 x 1080 resolution, although there are a lot of different recording formats to choose from as well. The camera also has impressive zoom functionality without sacrificing too much on the quality, which is 5X optical zoom.
Plus, if you plan on taking the camera out at night, but it has a special kind of backside illuminator technology, which essentially means it's still really effective when recording video or taking photos in low lighting as well.
All video is recorded in MP4 format, which makes it easy to transfer to your computer and make any necessary edits by using an SD card or USB port, as it comes with all of the necessary cables.
Pros and Cons
As you can tell I'm a big fan of the HX-WA10, but my only criticism would be that the buttons on the side, which operate the different functions and the menu, feel a little fiddly and too shiny for my chubby thumbs to press in properly. However, I'm assuming the buttons are designed that way so the device stays waterproof, so swings and roundabouts.
I reviewed the silver / grey version of the camera, but it also comes in a few other colour ways too, such as bright orange and my personal favourite, metallic blue.
There are cameras on the market that are more compact without the same steep price tag, so if you're looking for a super simple camera to catch video here and there and you aren't too fussed about quality, then the Panasonic HX-WA10 won't be right for you. However, if you're travelling or want something that feels robust and accident proof, you like your video to be a really high quality, but you still want something that doesn't feel awkward to carry around, then the tough cookie frog camera would be ideal.
The Panasonic HX-WA10 is available now for £299.99 from the Panasonic website.
For more information about the camera and for more detailed technical specifications, visit the Panasonic website.
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer. She also writes for a number of international tech blogs, including Popgadget and The Future is Entertaining. You can read her personal blog beccacaddy.com or watch her rant on Twitter @beccacaddy.