Panasonic HDC-SD20 Camcorder Review

Panasonic HDC-SD20 versus Sony MHS-CM1
• The Sony is significantly cheaper and less feature-filled than the Panasonic • Panasonic is the better performer in most regards, especially in motion • Both are easy to use, but the Panasonic has more beginner-friendly bonus features
	Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison	(Page 14 of 17)	Conclusion

If you're left wondering whether the Canon HF20 is worth the $300 you would have to pay above the price of the SD20, also consider whether the SD20 is worth the $350 you would have to pay above the Sony Webbie HD MHS-CM1. For video performance, the SD20 certainly outperforms the Webbie in nearly every regard. The Webbie is quite a bit sharper, but the motion artifacting is pretty atrocious compared to the relatively clear video of the SD20. Even the huge 1/2.5-inch sensor does no better at producing brighter footage in low light. While both are easy to use, the SD20 comes packed with all those great iA technologies, like AF/AE Tracking.

If you're trying to decide between the Sony MHS-CM1 and the Panasonic HDC-SD20, you probably aren't all that interested in manual image adjustments like shutter speed and gain, but remember that you can always shoot in auto mode on the SD20; you can't add manual controls to the Webbie. For $350, you'll have incredibly superior video quality and the opportunity to learn more advanced videography in the future.

	Comparison Specs
	Panasonic HDC-SD20	Sony MHS-CM1
Price	$549	$199
Primary Recording Media	SD/SDHC memory card	Memory Stick PRO Duo
Secondary Recording Media	None	12 MB of internal memory (mostly used for internal software)
Image Sensor	1/6-inch CMOS	1/2.5-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	1.17 megapixels (video) 1.17 megapixels (stills)	2.07 megapixels (video) 2.07 megapixels (stills)
Mic Input	No	No
LCD/Viewfinder	2.7-inch LCD with 230,400-pixel resolution	2.5-inch LCD with 153,000-pixel resolution
Weight	327g (including battery)	210g (including battery)
Dimensions	67 x 64 x 127mm	43 x 61 x 105mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Optical Zoom	16x	5x
Frame Rates	1080/60i, Digital Cinema (24p) (not natively progressive)	1080/30p (native progressive)
Image Stabilization	Optical	None

	Close-Up Color Comparisons
	Ideal	Panasonic HDC-SD20	Sony MHS-CM1
Red
Skin Tone 2

Battery Life Comparisons