Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Panasonic
Our Price: $1,789.44
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PanasonicRelease Date: 2009-11-30
Model: HDC-SD1
Color: Silver
Product features:
- Record HD video direct to SDHC cards; up to 1 hour on a 4 GB SDHC card
- 3CCD system delivers improved color, detail, and gradation
- Leica Dicomar lens with 12x optical zoom; built-in O.I.S.
- 5.1-channel audio recording; Zoom mic function adjusts audio to match camcorder movement
- 4 GB SDHC memory card included
- SanDisk 4GB SDHC card
- AmazonBasics 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card
- AmazonBasics SDHC Class 4 16GB Secure Digital Card
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to B-Male Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Mini-B Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Customer Review: Fantastic quality in a tiny device! Some limitations though.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a film student who has worked with a good many MiniDV cameras, a few internal hard drive cameras, and on one occasion a DVD burning camera. I did a lot of research before purchasing a factory refurbished HDC-SD1 online.
This camera is TINY! It is so tiny that it can be difficult to hold the device still, although the digital image stabilization feature can help quite a bit. The camera is lightweight enough to sit on one of those miniature tabletop tripods with the flexible legs that are often sold for photographic use.
It has also produced some of the highest quality video I have ever seen. When I got it I had never watched a blue-ray disk in my life, so the first footage I shot was indeed the highest quality video I HAD ever seen. It records interlaced video, so there are disconcerting scan lines that appear when viewing the footage on a computer screen. These are not visible when watching on an HDTV or viewing the footage off of a blue-ray or DVD.
The color is fabulous as the device utilizes three color chips (one for each of the primary colors, instead of just one for all three). Most 3CCD cameras are far more expensive and do not perform as well in low light conditions. The HDC-SD1 is indeed very good in low light. When the low light mode is on the light from my laptop monitor allows me to capture the contents of an otherwise completely dark room quite well. You can also toggle the intensity of the LCD back light to save battery in low light situations or brighten it when shooting in sunlight or under movie lights.
There are many nifty options such as being able to turn off the rec light and a "zebra mode" which outlines areas which are currently completely washed out (warning you of over exposed back lighting situations). You can also disable digital zoom so the camera will not zoom past 12x and reduce the image quality by doing so. You can also disable the zooming microphone if you want to record someone talking in the foreground while zooming in on something over their shoulder.
The lens housing is threaded so you can attach different lenses and lens filters to the device. The battery cover has a small rubber panel which can be moved to allow a cable to pass out of the battery compartment so you can use an external battery pack.
There are some drawbacks to this device:
The manual focus is barely usable unless you are filming from a stationary tripod and don't mind focusing slowly since you have to use the thumb-joystick to (slowly) adjust the focal length. The manual focus switch is, however, set up to easily allow you to briefly engage the auto focus and then return immediately to manual setting.
You can not use USB mode without the AC adapter being plugged in. This can be frustrating in certain circumstances when you might want to attach the device to a computer while running from the battery. Also for some reason the AC power port is underneath the flip-out LCD screen, so you have to have the LCD screen out while the camera is on AC power. The HDMI out, Component out, and Microphone ports are also situated underneath the LCD.
The device can only record files up to four gigabytes in size. Once you have recorded a file that big the camera stops recording and you have to press record again. A four gigabyte file is usually around forty minutes in length, but if you are trying to record an entire play, musical performance, or sporting event you are forced to stop and restart the recording after you have reached four gigs worth of continuous recording time. Of course, the camera only comes with a four gig card so unless you are planning on buying larger ones this problem doesn't arise.
The device does not have an accessory mount so you can not attach conventional shotgun microphones or camera lights to the top. It also can not provide phantom power to condenser microphones and only has a 1/4 inch mic jack.
Compared to the video quality, the quality of the still shots it takes are not so good, although you can take stills and shoot video simultaneously.
In extremely quiet environments the top mounted zoom toggle can be heard clicking in the recording. The cooling fan (the only moving part in the camera) is sufficiently quiet as to not be captured by the microphone.
Most of these drawbacks are simply the price you pay for such a compact video camera! Only in very certain circumstances do any of these issues cause much trouble, but I wanted to go over them thoroughly so nobody is surprised by them.
All things considered this is still one of the best solutions for a super-small digital video camcorder which can record 1080i video and 5.1 surround sound. I am quite happy with this device, and am even considering purchasing another unit to be able to shoot from multiple angles at once in matching quality.
More Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom reviews:
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Description of Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
The HD Advanced Pure Color Engine ensures all your photos and footage enjoy the beauty of High Definition. Your Panasonic HDC-SD1 takes rich, vivid colors to a beautiful new level. Process large amounts of data with high speed and precision with the 3CCD HD image processing circuit. O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses camera shake - you'll won't see any instability, even on a big-screen TV. Shooting video is easier and more convenient by recording to your SD/SDHC Memory Card. The advanced microphone captures the sound source and distance more accurately, for a true-to-life sound space that's a great match for the HD image quality. Uploading your precious memories onto your PC is quick and easy without the need to connect a cable or run a finalizing process when transferring the data. Records onto SD/SDHC Memory Card AVCHD recording Format F Values - F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele) 12x variable optical zoom Focal Length - 4.0 - 48.0 mm Filter Diameter - 43mm Optical Image Stabilizer Minimum Illumination - 2 Lux (Magic Pix) White Balance modes - Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, White Set Shutter Speeds - 1/60 - 1/8,000 sec. (moving & still pictures) Backlight compensation Manual Focus Ring Soft-Skin Mode MagicPix Images 5.1ch Surround Sound microphone - zoom mic & wind noise reduction 0.44 (183K pixels) Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) Trinlingual language display - English, Canadian French, Spanish DPOF - Max. 999 stills Built-in SD slot A/V and HDMI out USB 2.0 High Speed (mini B) PictBridge compatible Dimensions(HxWxD) - 2.92 x 2.64 x 5.40 Weight - 0.95 lbsCamcorders
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