Panasonic HDC-SD100 Camcorder Review

Having reviewed Panasonic's highly anticipated HDC-HS100, we thought it only fair to give equal treatment to its slightly less expensive model, the Panasonic HDC-SD100 ($1099.95 MSRP). Without the large hard drive bulking up the right side of the body, the SD100 is slimmer and lighter. Relying entirely on external SD/SDHC memory cards, the SD100 doesn't have the capacity of its hard drive cousin, but the differences really end there. Nearly everything we experienced with the HS100 in terms of performance, user interface, and features still holds true.

However, when compared to last generation's memory card camcorder, the Panasonic HDC-SD9, the differences are many. In short, the SD9 is more suitable for the strictly casual user, while the SD100 is more appropriate for the serious videographer. Panasonic has actually increased the size of the camcorder slightly—making the SD100 only fractionally less portable, but adding plenty of exciting new features, including a viewfinder, a couple new ports, and a shiny new multi-function lens ring. Internally, Panasonic has added some new automatic and manual controls, as well as some helpful new tool tips for making menu navigation easier. Most importantly, Panasonic switched over to CMOS sensors (they're the last of the major manufacturers to leave behind CCD), but maintained their design choice of using three small chips instead of a single large sensor.

Overall, Panasonic makes a solid effort in keeping up with the competition. Quite a few good solid state camcorders have hit the market this year, including the surprising Samsung SC-HMX20. With strong performance, good handling, and a great new method for operating manual controls, the Panasonic HDC-SD100 is a definite contender.

The Front (8.75)
The front of the Panasonic HDC-SD100 is an exact replica of Panasonic's most recent hard drive camcorder, the HDC-HS100. Both current-gen camcorders feature a 12x optical zoom lens—a step up from the 10x zoom on last year's models. The focal length also got an upgrade from the HDC-SD9: now 2.95mm - 35.4mm. The aperture range remains unchanged (f/1.8 - f/2.8), as does the option to attach an aftermarket lens hood or filter either in place of the small removable lens hood or in the standard 37mm threads.

The most significant addition you'll find on the HDC-SD100 is the multi-function ring perched right around the lens. The ring is a fantastic addition to the camcorder, allowing you to adjust zoom, focus, white balance, aperture, and gain with buttery smoothness. Both the HDC-SD100 and its hard drive cousin feature this solidly constructed gift to videophiles. While the ring is designed well, its implementation and incorporation into the menu system is less than intuitive. (See Manual Controls.)

Aside from the lens and accompanying ring, there isn't much of interest on the front of the HDC-SD100. As on its predecessor, there is a built-in flash for still photography and a remote sensor and recording lamp below the lens. One noteworthy addition is the microphone jack. As on the new HDC-HS100, the input is protected by a flimsy plastic cover, but this may be a case of "something is better than nothing." The two thin strips anchoring the port cover feel likely to pull out or snap over time, but the HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 had no microphone input at all—requiring the user to rely on the camcorder's unpredictable and under-powered built-in microphone.

The front of the Panasonic HDC-SD100
has one great new feature: the multi-function ring.

The Right Side (7.0)
The right side of the camcorder is usually a barren expanse of black plastic designed to hold a hand strap and nothing else. In the case of the HDC-SD100, this is largely true. The right side is mostly a smooth surface to grasp in your palm while recording. It's sleeker and less bulky than what you need for a hard drive camcorder like the HDC-HS100. The result is a great-looking design. The hand strap is the same padded affair Panasonic put on the HS100: a sturdier and more comfortable alternative to the flimsy hand strap from last year's models.

There are, however, a few key features that found their way to the right side. First and foremost is the mode dial, which was relocated from the back of last generation's SD9. The old horizontal sliding switch was finicky and took up otherwise valuable space on the back of the camcorder. This new dial is easy to use and is conveniently located under the operator's thumb. Plus, there are two controls that accompany the SD100's new viewfinder: a diopter adjuster for refocusing the viewfinder and a switch for toggling between viewfinder (EVF) and LCD. Both of these controls are simple, yet excellent features; the diopter adjuster is a boon to bespectacled camcorder users and the toggle allows you to use the viewfinder even when the LCD panel is open.

All three of these features (the mode dial and two viewfinder controls) are located on the back of Panasonic's bulkier hard drive model, the HDC-HS100. The result is a less elegant design than what you'll find on the HDC-SD100. We applaud Panasonic for daring to place controls on this traditionally bare surface.

The right side of the HDC-SD100 has a more comfortable grip than last generation's SD9	It's also the new location for the updated mode dial

The Back (5.0)
The mode dial is not the only feature from the back of the SD9 that has found a new home. Panasonic also relocated the SDHC card slot, which now lives within the LCD cavity. With the card slot and mode dial removed from the back, there's plenty of room for the addition of a viewfinder. This is no professional grade viewfinder—it doesn't extend from the body of the camcorder, pivot upwards, or include a rubberized cup around the eyepiece—but it's better than nothing. On sunny days, you'll be grateful to have an alternative to the LCD.

Aside from the viewfinder and handy Record Start/Stop button, the back is dominated by the SD100's battery. The battery slides in with a satisfying click and is deep enough to accommodate a larger battery with only slight jutting out, but the list of positives ends there. Panasonic continues to frustrate and confound us with their placement of DC power, USB, and HDMI ports within the battery chamber.

Problem #1: (This is our least favorite.) You can't switch from battery power to DC power without first removing the battery. If you're mid-shoot and the battery gets low, you'll have to take out the battery (powering down the camcorder), plug it in, and turn the camcorder on again. It's an easy way to miss baby's first steps... or whatever moments you're trying to capture.

Problem #2: (Almost as frustrating.) You can't use the camcorder and charge the battery at the same time. If the camcorder runs out of juice, you have to remove the battery and plug in the power adapter. The DC adapter doubles as a charging station for the battery but—get this—it won't charge the battery unless you disconnect the camcorder.

Problem #3: (Another small hassle.) You can't transfer files to your computer without removing the battery and plugging in the power adapter. (File transfer is done through USB.)

Problem #4: (A minor annoyance for some people.) If you want to view your clips on an HDTV, you'll probably end up using the component output. If you want to use HDMI, you'll have to remove the battery and plug in the power adapter.

We've shaken our heads over this for several Panasonic camcorders. It may seem like we're beating a dead horse. But until Panasonic fixes this infuriating design problem, we will continue to point it out.

The back of the HDC-SD100 looks innocent enough..	...until you see the cruel joke of hidden ports.

The Left Side (6.0)
From the left, the HDC-SD100 and its hard drive cousin are virtually identical: a great silver lens ring and a glittery-glossy black surface. Both models have moved the Auto/Manual switch to the lens end of the camcorder and have added a Cam Function button. These controls are intended to accompany the new multi-function ring: switch into manual mode to activate the controls on the ring and use the button and the ring to navigate the manual control menus. Unfortunately, these two controls can be difficult to access when the LCD panel is open, making an already unintuitive process a little more unwieldy. (See Manual Controls.)

On the rear end of the camcorder, above the LCD cavity, are the buttons for Instant Auto Focus and Pre-Record. Maybe these are the controls Panasonic thought users would most like to access with the LCD panel closed.

Flip open the 2.7-inch LCD screen, and you have an LCD cavity that is, again, an exact replica of the cavity on the HDC-HS100. The design is a cleaner version of what we saw on the HDC-SD9: the Auto/Manual switch is now moved to the front end, the "Power LCD Extra" button has been removed entirely, and the battery no longer encroaches on valuable LCD cavity real estate. One downside of all this space is that Panasonic chose to fill much of the cavity with small, wordy, text. (You can now read all about the trademarks of Dolby Laboratories and you can be warned that if the camcorder heats up during use, it is not a malfunction.)

However, the extra space also gave Panasonic the freedom to offer a better arrangement of buttons and to add in the SDHC card slot. The card slot is nestled right below the same nifty port compartment from the HDC-SD9: a little sliding door that covers the Component and AV/Headphone jacks. Nicely spaced in the rest of the cavity are the stumpy joystick, and the Disc Copy, O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization), Delete, and Menu buttons.

We weren't surprised to find the same miniscule "joystick" that Panasonic is using on the HDC-HS100. This is a flattened version of the joystick from the SD9. With the slightly larger and more texturized surface, the new control is surprisingly easy to use. Too bad this cool new joystick is tucked away inside the LCD cavity instead of on the LCD panel or the back of the camcorder, facing the shooter. The more we shoot with these Panasonics, the more frustrating we find the joystick placement.

The Top (6.0)
The top of the HDC-SD100 has one significant upgrade that was absent on the previous SD9: a cold accessory shoe. Panasonic has moved the playback speaker into the LCD cavity to make room for a place to mount your external microphone, video light, or other accessory. The thick plastic shield covering the shoe is attached by the same flimsy rubber strips that anchor several other port covers; they weren't made to withstand a lot of wear and tear, as we discovered when accidentally broke the shoe cover on the HDC-HS100.

The built-in 5.1-channel Dolby Digital microphone is mounted to the lens end of the camcorder, dangerously close to where larger hands might rest their pinky. (Without the added bulk of hard drive, hands are more apt to wrap around the top of the SD100.) Situated at the back end are the Zoom toggle and Photo Capture button, which we found to be conveniently located under the index finger of large and small hands alike. The toggle itself is a little oversensitive, making it hard to do a slow, smooth zoom. But it may still be a better alternative to the multi-function ring, which allows a nice slow motion when you aren't interrupted by the placement of the flash. (See Manual Controls.)

The top of the SD100 has a microphone, zoom toggle...	...and—new this year—an accessory shoe!