Panasonic HDC-SX5 Camcorder Review

by Michael Perlman
Published on Oct 17, 2007 4:45 PM

 
Intro
 Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity Other Features
Comparisons / Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


The second generation of AVCHD camcorders have been rolling onto shelves in recent months, mostly offering mild upgrades or occasional downgrades. Panasonic is trying a different route. The HDC-SX5 combines the media from both of its first-generation models, DVD and hard disk drive (HDD). While the company managed to scale back from the monstrous girth of the HDC-DX1, it failed to address some of the fundamental problems with DVD load times and preposterous battery size. Even with a few new features tossed in – notably full 1920 x 1080 recording and an active accessory shoe – it still leaves us asking why we would choose this over the flash memory card-only HDC-SD5.






The Front (6.5)
What you see here is a slimmer, miniaturized version of the HDC-DX1’s façade. Panasonic took its first generation AVCHD DVD monster and placed it on a strict diet. Up front, the HDC-SX5’s 10x optical zoom LEICA Dicomar lens has a focal length of 3-30mm and aperture range of f/1.8-f/2.8. The lens has a 37mm filter diameter that bears threads for an attachment, such as a wide-angle or telephoto lens. If you choose to mount an attachment on the HDC-SX5, keep in mind it will obscure the built-in flash embedded to the left of the lens. Beneath the lens is the white balance sensor/remote sensor with a record lamp resting just below the Panasonic logo. A grill/outlet sits to the left of the sensors, allowing air flow for ventilation.

The Right Side (5.0)
While the HDC-DX1 looks like a massive paisley from the right side, the HDC-SX5 is more akin to a compact DVD camcorder. The giant, looming disc hatch wall has been truncated, and a reasonable portion of plastic bulk has been removed. Despite the renovations, two detrimental flaws have not been amended. We’re talking about the HDC-SX5’s whale-sized battery and sluggish disc hatch eject time. Nobody wants to wait up to 30 seconds for a disc to eject.

The HDC-SX5’s hand strap is an upgrade, though. It is wider and contains more padding than the HDC-DX1’s rigid oval strip. Another grill/outlet is located to the right, behind the flash.

The Back (4.75)
Be careful not to smack yourself in the face while swinging the HDC-SX5 around—its battery juts out almost two inches from the body of the camcorder. As if this wasn’t enough of a design room practical joke, Panasonic chose to embed the DC-in jack and HDMI terminal within the battery chamber, forcing the shooter to remove the battery from the camcorder to use external power or view recorded footage on an HD monitor. What happens when the battery is running low and you need to seamlessly switch to the external power supply so as not to disrupt the continuity of a shot? Panasonic leaves you high and dry.

Above the absurd battery pack is a viewfinder. It telescopes out, but does not flip up and does not have a rubberized eyecup. The viewfinder just barely clears the edge of the battery. The fan-shaped dioptric adjuster is located on top of the viewfinder shaft.

To the right of the viewfinder is a vertical strip of buttons containing pre-record, menu, and delete. The multifaceted mode dial/joystick rests midway along the right side of the back with the accompanying record start/stop button embedded to its left. Panasonic has succeeded in increasing the HDC-SX5’s portability factor by taking it to the chopping block, but the joystick shouldn’t have fallen victim to the trimming. Compared to the HDC-DX1, the head of the joystick has been lopped clean off, reducing it to a fraction of the size. Lastly, the disc eject switch is mounted to the bottom, to the left of the hand strap anchor.

The Left Side (3.5)
The left side is usually a camcorder’s money shot side, but the HDC-SX5’s jumbo battery pack sucks all focus away from the iridescent silver paneling and flashy logos. Once you flip open the 2.7-inch LCD screen, you’ll be greeted by a fairly drab LCD cavity. The Auto/Manual switch, Power LCD Extra, and disc copy buttons are the only controls available here, in addition to a small playback speaker and reset button. Surely Panasonic could have fit an HDMI terminal in here. The LCD panel itself is devoid of any controls or buttons. A flexible plastic strip containing three ports is located along the bottom of the left side. Here you’ll find the A/V, component-out, and USB ports. Next to the plastic panel is an SD/SDHC card slot covered by a spring-loaded plastic door. That’s all you get on the left side of the HDC-SX5.

 

The left side of the Panasonic HDC-SX5  from the exterior (left), and the LCD cavity (right).

The Top (5.0)
The HDC-SX5’s built-in 2-channel Dolby Digital stereo microphone sits at the head of the ship by the lens end. Due to the camcorder’s tall disc hatch, there is a slim chance for a finger to reach the microphone and cause unwanted sound. At the other end you’ll find the HDC-SX5’s zoom toggle and photo capture button. The zoom toggle is well placed and quick to respond. A hot shoe is located in front of the viewfinder – one of the few sensible upgrades from the HDC-DX1, which features a cold shoe.

 

 

 

 



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