Panasonic SDR-H60 Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Nov 18, 2008 1:20 PM

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


Audio (3.5)
The Panasonic SDR-H60 audio options are limited, which is standard for camcorders in this price range. There is a built-in stereo microphone located in the front, under the lens. There is no microphone jack, no headphone jack, and no accessory shoe. The H60 does offer a "zoom mic" that works in tandem with the optical zoom to shift the emphasis of the audio recording field. There is also a "wind cut" feature that reduces the low rumble of noise passing over the mic.

Playback (4.25)
Playing back your video clips is simple and straightforward. Once the playback mode is engaged, via the mode dial on the back, your clips appear as easy to view thumbnails. Select the clip then push in on the joystick to begin playback.


The screen as it looks in Playback mode

The actual playback controls could have been designed better. Play/Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind, and Stop are all controlled by the joystick, but because there are no hard labels printed anywhere, it can be hard to remember how it all works. We prefer Canons, which typically feature hard plastic, clearly labeled buttons along the bottom of the LCD screen.

The Video Playback Admin menu contains the following options:

Video Playback Admin
Edit Scene Lock Set, Delete
Media Select HDD< SD Card
Setup Resume Play, Display, Date/Time, Date Format, Format Card, Power Save, Beep Sound, Power LCD, LCD Set, TV Aspect, External Display
Language English, Espanol, Francais


The Admin menu in Playback mode The Edit Submenu

Connectivity (4.0)
The Panasonic SDR-H60 seems to have addressed some of our past complaints about port placement on Panasonic camcorders. On most of its models, many of the ports are hidden behind the battery, making it impossible to access them while you're recording.

The H60 works around the problem by placing the battery in a cavity that loads from the bottom. Also at the bottom is the SD/SDHC card slot. On the back of the body you'll find a plastic port cover that masks a USB port and a proprietary-fit AV cable.

The DC power connection is annoying, as it often the case with Panasonics. There is no traditional port to plug in the power. Instead, there is a battery-shaped block that fits into the battery slot; a wire sticks out of one end and plugs into the large battery charger/transformer base. Irksome? You bet, and it gets worse. You cannot charge the battery and power the camcorder at the same time. The battery will only charge if the cable between the camcorder and the battery charger/transformer base is unplugged. This design proves to be a real time-waster when you need to edit or import video, but do a quick charge of the battery at the same time.


The USB and AV-out ports on the back.





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