Camcorder News

The Panasonic HDC-SD1

The Panasonic HDC-DX1

November 8, 2006 – Today Panasonic's Japanese division announced their entrance into the consumer HD camcorder market with the HDC-SD1 and the HDC-DX1. The first is a SD-card-based camcorder; the second is a DVD camcorder. Both use the new AVCHD high definition codec that Panasonic co-developed with Sony. Panasonic is one of the last major manufacturers to jump into the consumer HD market.

The HDC-SD1 is Panasonic’s third camcorder to use SD cards as their primary recording medium, following the standard definition MPEG-2 models, the SDR-S100 and the SDR-S150. The HDC-SD1’s design is a departure from those models, adopting a compact horizontal look akin to the PV-GS500 DV camcorder.  The company’s SDR-S150 used a highly compact upright, pistol-grip design.
 
The compression used by the HDC-SD1 is also quite different. While the standard definition models were capable of recording only about 50 minutes of the highest quality video to a 4GB card, AVCHD compression is far more efficient. The HDC-SD1 will be capable of capturing 90 minutes of HD footage to a 4GB card (included). Expectant Panasonic fans may be disappointed to hear that the SD1 will offer a maximum bit rate of 13Mbps, still shy of the 18Mbps codec ceiling. Sony’s HDD-based HDR-SR1 which also uses AVCHD compression offers a slightly higher max bit rate of 15Mbps.
 
The second of Panasonic’s releases today, the HDC-DX1, is a DVD camcorder offering the same 13Mbps max bit rate. Both camcorders, however, may offer advantages in picture quality over Sony’s AVCHD models. The HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1 feature 3-CCD imagers, each measuring 1/4" with a gross pixel count of 560K. By comparison, both the Sony HDR-SR1 and the Sony HDR-UX1 feature a single 1/3" CMOS sensor with a higher gross and effective pixel count. If Panasonic’s previous 3-CCD camcorders are any indication, these new models should produce excellent color reproduction and sharpness.

The AVCHD format was first announced in May of this year, a joint creation of Panasonic and Sony. The companies stated, though, that they would develop products implementing the technology independently, ostensibly to compete for customers in the same market. Sony’s models hit the shelves first around October, garnering favorable reviews for their video quality and manual control set, including a multifunction control ring and desirable audio features like a mic input and headphone jack.
 
Both the Panasonic HDC-SD1 and the HDC-DX1 will also include mic jacks, and presumably will offer the same high level of manual controls that Panasonic routinely outfits on all their consumer camcorders. They will also support Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound recording, an audio option that was previously available only on some Sony camcorders, including the HDR-SR1 and HDR-UX1.

The new Panasonics include HDMI terminals, as well as AV and component jacks.  The LCD screens measure 3" with a resolution of 251,000 pixels, and the .44" EVF (electronic color viewfinder) has a resolution of 183,000 pixels.  The optical zoom power is 12x while digital zoom ranges up to 120x.  
 
Part of AVCHD’s strength is that, unlike Blu-Ray or HD DVD, the format is compatible with existing media that is already well established in the marketplace. Hence, Panasonic was able to apply AVCHD technology to their SD camcorder line, Sony to their HDD line, and both companies to their DVD lines. The new Panasonic HDC-DX1 can record to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), and DVD-RAM.

The HDC-SD1 is scheduled for a December 1st release in Japan at an MSRP of approximately 180,000 yen (approximately $1,527). The HDC-DX1 has a December 15th release in Japan and will also retail for approximately 160,000 yen (approximately $1,358).  No information has been given on a US release so far.

For more information, see the official press release.