Panasonic HDC-DX1 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Apr 4, 2007 7:00 PM 
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Still Features (7.0)
Unlike any other HD camcorder, the DX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99) offers only a single still photo resolution: 1920 x 1080. We don’t necessarily see this as a great loss since even the best video/still hybrids on the market like the Sony HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56) can’t compete with an entry-level still camera in terms of performance. However, we find it surprising that Panasonic has not included more than the most basic still photo options on this $1300 camcorder. At that price point, buyers should at least be given some additional options.
Panasonic’s AVCHD camcorders do not offer a dedicated still photo mode, but does allow for still capture both when the camcorder is paused, and during active video recording. The manual states that still photos captured during video recording are lower in quality than when the camcorder is paused because “priority is given to motion picture recording.” As on many digital still cameras, pressing the photo button on the DX1 halfway down causes the camcorder to focus and lock exposure in preparation for the shot. In Manual mode, the joystick can be used to adjust focus as when recording video. The options available in the Picture submenu include high and low picture quality, flash level, and shutter sound on/off.
Still Performance (9.6)
The Panasonic HDC-DX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99) is not loaded with options for still photo shooting. The 1920 x 1080 stills, however, tested rather well. To test color accuracy, we shoot a Gretag McBeth Color Checker chart and run those stills through Imatest imaging software. In order to produce the best image, we found it was better to tinker with the settings rather than leaving it in Auto mode. Unlike most camcorders, the HDC-DX1 does not have exposure compensation. Rather, you get fully independent shutter speed and aperture control. The best image for this test, lit in a bright, even light, proved to be an aperture of f/3.4 and a shutter speed of 1/100 (this held true for the HDC-SD1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99), as well). The color error, according to Imatest, was 6.25, and the noise percentage was 0.63%. Saturation levels were at 99.97%, meaning that it was incrementally under-saturated. All of these numbers mean that you can get a good looking, color-accurate still, though the 1920 x 1080 resolution leaves a lot to be desired compared to even low-end point-and-shoots.
Still Resolution (6.13)
The still resolution for the Panasonic HDC-DX1 was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder produced a horizontal resolution of 587.1 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a clipping of 2.3% and a 17.3% oversharpening, and a vertical resolution of 558.8 lw/ph, with a 0% clipping and a 4.11% undersharpening. This is a typical split for the sharpening between horizontal and vertical. Overall, the resolution is par for a 1920 x 1080 still. This score is statistically identical to the HDC-SD1.