Product Description

High-definition video cameras deliver incredibly realistic images that draw the viewer into an exciting new world, and proprietary Panasonic technologies have reached new heights in HD quality. The beautiful images recorded by a Panasonic high-definition video camera will bring back the emotion of the moment again and again, even years from now. A new peak in HD image quality. Experience it in DVD or SD/SDHC Memory Card style. The compact design makes the HDC-SD1 easy to carry about, and with its smart styling you'll want to take it everywhere. In the AVCHD format you can record onto an SD or SDHC Memory Card and get up to about 90 minutes of continuous recording. In Quick Start mode, the SD1 begins recording in just 1.7 seconds from the time the LCD is opened. This lets you shoot those sudden shooting opportunities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84574 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: HDC-SD1EG-S
• Released on: 2007-04-19
• Dimensions: 2.64" h x 2.91" w x 5.39" l, .95 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
High definition video
The remarkably compact HDC-SD1 records in high definition, giving you incredibly realistic images that are an ideal match for the latest generation of big screen high definition televisions. The 2.1 megapixel CCD is capable of recording at the full HD resolution of 1,440 x 1,080i and can capture still images at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Images are processed by Panasonic’s HD Crystal Engine for top results.

3CCD System
Most professional broadcast cameras use the 3CCD system. In a single CCD system all of the incoming light information is processed by the same CCD (Charged-Couple Device). The more advanced 3CCD system uses three distinct CCDs for processing, so there is absolutely no light loss. You can see the results in beautifully rendered images with vivid colour, fine detail and rich gradation.

Records to SD memory card
The SDHC/SD memory cards are just 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm making them small enough to slip into a pocket and take anywhere. Start-up time is very short too, since there are no mechanical components, so you can record at a moment's notice. These tough little cards are highly resistant to heat, light, impact and condensation, so they are safe to use in a wide range of conditions. You don't have to connect a cable or run a finalising process when transferring data to a PC if your PC has a card slot either, you simply plug the card in and everything is available immediately.

Mega O.I.S.
Panasonic's Optical Image Stabiliser system minimises the shake that can be such a problem with camcorders. Because Panasonic's system is an optical one there is no degradation in image quality. Zooming tends to increase the blurring caused by shake but with O.I.S. you’ll get crisp, clear close-ups too and your pictures will look spectacular even on a large-screen TV.

Leica Dicomar lens
Leica AG of Germany is the manufacturer of fine cameras and lenses favoured by photographers everywhere. Drawing on Leica's renowned optical technology, this advanced lens captures clear, crisp images with outstanding detail and contrast. Thanks to a multi-coating applied during the manufacturing process, the lens also minimises flare and ghosts.

Five microphones for 5.1 Surround Sound
Record the best sound possible with the five built-in microphones which gives you full 5.1 Surround Sound, capturing sounds from every direction so you get a truly lifelike audio track that’s a great match for the HD image quality. In Zoom mode the microphones are linked to the lens action so when you zoom in on a subject, the microphones focuses on the sound in that direction, minimising the capture of incidental sounds.

Easy to use
With the One-Touch Navigation you simply press the centre of the joystick to display an operating menu. The operations you use most often are right on the monitor, so it's easy to change settings or operate the camera without looking away from your subject. The Mode Dial makes selections easy, just rotate the dial with your fingertip to select the icon that corresponds to the mode you want.

Other features
The HDC-SD1 comes with a 12x optical zoom, so you can get closer without loss of detail, this is backed-up by a digital zoom of up to 700x. There is a built-in flash, night mode, IR remote control, 250,0000 pixel 3in LCD screen and much more. The HDC-SD1 combines compact size, high definition output and Panasonic’s initiative technology and ease of use for superb results.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

The Best Camera I Have Ever Bought
I am going to get the bad points out of the way first.

1. This camera doesn't come with any proper editing software.

Thats it, the rest is 100 great.

I have had the camera for just over a week now and after having a play around with it i realize that this is by far the best camera I have ever had, while it did cost me a bit more than any other cmaera I have ever bought I would say the quilty is worth it, its small and compact and looks just like any other tourist video camera however the images it can produce are fantastic. I was in London last weekend and I got some great footage from the London eye aswell as some great close ups.

I plan to use this camera to shoot my own internet series later this year, although there is only three software packages (Sony Vegas 7.0e, Corel's Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus and Pinnacle Studio Plus 11) out there that supports editing for AVCHD format I would still recommend getting this camera to anyone.

Very impressive
Wanted HD for ages but found everything else out there to bulky. This is by far the smallest HD camcorder I've seen thanks to SD card recording. But don't get me wrong, compaired to the normal lower res cameras this would be average size.
Picture quality is stunning compared to our old JVC dvp7 which was a top spec camera when we bought it.
Plugged direct into a High Def TV to view, the image is excellent and as we don't have any HD TV channels, our home made video is now better quality than normal TV.
I can also see why 3CCD systems are touted as best. The colours are vivid and clear.
On the down side you can't do anything with the footage. And I mean nothing! Once on the PC the only bit of software supplied lets you write it to a DVD which will only play on an AVCHD enabled High Diff player. The files aren't even recognised on the PC so you can't just click and view in media player (although I've only had it a day so it might just not be setup properly yet).
Good news though is AVCHD is the standard for HD video recording so better support should be just round the corner.
So apart from the software (which will be a prob with any camcorder) if you want a HD cam this is the one.

Brilliant camcorder - best i've ever owned
I have had this camera for just unter a month now and it just keeps on amazing me after owning mini dv cameras in the past the picture quality on this is absolutely brilliant and the camera is so quite so you dont get any annoying noises on the soundtrack

Very fast focusing and Light adjustment includes the usefull zebra mode to warn you of over exposure.

only word of warning is software provided is near to useless with basic editing and upload software.

on the other hand if you own a mac get yourself a copy of the new ilife'08 package and you are sorted. I am also reliably informed that a recent update to final cut studio 2 allows for the editing of AVCHD footage.

and for £603 this camera is a bargain :)