Panasonic HDC-SD1 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Other products by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 7 x 9 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000LO92EK
• Item model number: HDC-SD1PP-S
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,309 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)

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  #32 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Digital DVD
  #71 in	Camera & Photo > Camcorders > High Definition

• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Manufacturer Description The new HDC-SD1 records beautiful, detailed High-Definition video images and clear, high-quality sound that make for exceptional viewing on today’s most advanced home theater systems. The HDC-SD1 records directly onto high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This tough, compact model debuts as the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD High Definition video camcorder, and because there are no moving parts in the recording section, the HDC-SD1 is also exceptionally resistant to impact. You can count on reliable, virtually error-free recording.

HDC-SD1 Highlights

Superior color, detail, and gradation Most professional broadcasting cameras use the 3CCD system. In a 1CCD system, all of the incoming light information is processed by the same CCD. The more advanced 3CCD system uses three distinct CCDs for processing, so there is absolutely no light loss. You can see the results in beautifully rendered images with vivid color, fine detail, and rich gradation:

Beautiful color
Noise can greatly diminish picture quality. Panasonic's 3CCD system reduces noise by about 30 percent compared with 1CCD systems, helping deliver stunningly beautiful images with clear, natural colors.

Beautiful detail
Horizontal resolution in color is 150 percent compared with that of 1CCD systems. The greater color pixel density means that even finely nuanced colors are rendered distinctly.

Beautiful gradation
The dynamic range to express luminous gradation is 130 percent compared with that of 1CCD systems. This helps produce subtle contrast to create a wide palette of colors.

Suppresses hand-shake in both motion and still pictures Panasonic's O.I.S. minimizes the hand-shake that can be such a problem with handheld shots. Because Panasonic's system is optical, there is no image quality degradation. When you're shooting a still picture, the Mega O.I.S. system automatically activates, doubling the corrective power. With O.I.S. and Mega O.I.S., the HDC-SD1 is equipped for clear, beautiful shooting of both motion and still pictures.

Superior Leica-certified image quality Leica AG of Germany is the manufacturer of fine cameras and lenses favored by photographers everywhere. The Leica Dicomar lens featured in the HDC-SD1 was developed specifically for HD digital camcorders, these lens systems are made using a multi-coating process that prevents light reflection and glare, which can make colors bleed and images appear washed out. It also prevents rings of light, or "ghosts".

Special high-performance imaging engine The HD Advanced Pure Color Engine is a special image processing circuit for the 3CCD HD camcorder. Able to process large amounts of data with high speed and precision, this engine achieves truly superb color reproduction for high-quality pictures.

Get close to the action with 12x optical zoom

Pull distant subjects right up close with 12x optical zoom Distant subjects can be enlarged so they appear to be right up close. This allows dynamic shots of both motion and still pictures.

Experience real presence in sound Panasonic HD camcorders have five electret condenser microphones which separately record sounds from the front, sides, and back. When played on a Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theater system, the resulting sound is incredibly lifelike. When zooming in on a subject, the sound also focuses on the area right around the subject.

Shoot wide, view wide This model offers the high-quality wide images that make for beautiful, dramatic viewing on a wide-screen TV. The image is processed on 16:9 area of the CCD. Because the image decoded has the same proportions as your wide-screen TV, there is virtually no picture quality degradation. You get beautiful images and all the excitement and dynamism on either a wide 16:9 screen TV or a conventional 4:3 TV. This model also features a high-density, 250,000-pixel, wide 3.0-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you’re shooting in 16:9 mode.

Sharp focusing even up close with Tele Macro Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of 60 centimeters from your subject. This makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus.

Adjust the focus easily with Focus Assist This function enlarges the center of the image, making it easier for you to get a clear, sharp shot when focusing manually.

Additional Features

• One-touch navigation and joystick control
• Quick Search and access with thumbnail view
• Instant on/off
• Prevent unintended shooting with AGS (Auto Ground-Directional Standby)
• 0 Lux Magic Pix High 6 Lux sensitivity
• Auto lens cover

About AVCHD

"AVCHD" is a new high-definition (HD) digital camcorder recorder format that Panasonic and Sony jointly established. This format allows for the recording and playback of high-resolution, digital HD images using 8cm DVD media or SD/SDHC memory card. The two companies have started licensing the format to extensively promote it throughout the industry.

The "AVCHD" is an HD digital camcorder format for recording 1080i and 720p signals onto 8cm DVD media or SD/SDHC memory card by using highly efficient codec technologies. The format employs MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) codec for video compression, and Dolby Digital (AC-3) or Linear PCM for audio codec. This makes it possible to develop HD camcorder recorders which achieve compact size as well as high-quality video and audio.

The MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) codec is a promising technology which is over two times more efficient than MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 codec technologies. By adopting this technology, an "AVCHD" camcorder recorder can record high-quality HD video images onto 8cm DVD media or SD/SDHC memory card.

Product Description

The HD Advanced Pure Color Engine ensures all your photos and footage enjoy the beauty of High Definition. Your Panasonic HDC-SD1 takes rich, vivid colors to a beautiful new level. Process large amounts of data with high speed and precision with the 3CCD HD image processing circuit. O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses camera shake - you'll won't see any instability, even on a big-screen TV. Shooting video is easier and more convenient by recording to your SD/SDHC Memory Card. The advanced microphone captures the sound source and distance more accurately, for a true-to-life sound space that's a great match for the HD image quality. Uploading your precious memories onto your PC is quick and easy without the need to connect a cable or run a finalizing process when transferring the data. Records onto SD/SDHC Memory Card AVCHD recording Format F Values - F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele) 12x variable optical zoom Focal Length - 4.0 - 48.0 mm Filter Diameter - 43mm Optical Image Stabilizer Minimum Illumination - 2 Lux (Magic Pix) White Balance modes - Auto, Indoor, Outdoor, White Set Shutter Speeds - 1/60 - 1/8,000 sec. (moving & still pictures) Backlight compensation Manual Focus Ring Soft-Skin Mode MagicPix Images 5.1ch Surround Sound microphone - zoom mic & wind noise reduction 0.44 (183K pixels) Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) Trinlingual language display - English, Canadian French, Spanish DPOF - Max. 999 stills Built-in SD slot A/V and HDMI out USB 2.0 High Speed (mini B) PictBridge compatible Dimensions(HxWxD) - 2.92 x 2.64 x 5.40 Weight - 0.95 lbs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

258 of 259 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best 1st generation AVCHD camcorder on the market today, March 27, 2007

By	Lewis Lee (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is my first Amazon review. In the past I've had two Sony Hi-8 camcorders, a, Sony Mini-DV (DCR-PC1) and two Panasonic 3-CCD Mini-DV camcorders (PV-DV953 and PV-GS120) and now this HDC-SD1 will be my 6th model. Having had the last 2 weeks now to familiarize myself with the ins-and-outs of the HDC-SD1, I'd like to pass on what I've learned of this little dynamo. There are some limitations I had to accept in order to feel confident about making a smart $1100 purchase. First and foremost, be warned that the MPEG-4 H.264 Codec is not currently supported by iMovie HD, Final Cut Studio, Vegas, or any other popular NLE, though revisions and plug-ins are expected probably around summer 2007. If you can live with that for now, then be prepared for the output from this machine to knock your socks off.

Personally I was willing to live with not being able to edit the footage for now because I wanted to capture the first months of our 7-week old infant in the best quality available, and this meant either going AVCHD using mini-DVD (Sony HDR-UX1), AVCHD using a hard drive (Sony HDR-SR1) or AVCHD using a chip (Panny HDC-SD1). HD camcorders recording to DVD were the first to be taken off the list because of its annoying disc formatting and finalizing times and the brevity of recording length. I took the tape-based HD camcorders out early on due to my own experience with the frustration of locating footage using a linear recording format. More on this later. I also did not consider HDV-based HD camcorders as ingesting HDV footage (MPEG-2) is onerously slow and no piece of cake for one's hard drive. To be fair, HDV is a mature (more dated?) technology while AVCHD is still relatively embryonic with a huge upside still to come. So after lurking through a few forums and thumbing thru @500 page views of info, I gave the nod to the Panasonic. Absolutely no regrets. Even with the just announced HDC-SD3 coming in a few months stateside, it didn't look much better spec-wise to the HDC-SD1 and my baby might already be walking by then so I'm glad I got this now. I'm also in the process of purchasing an 8th or 9th generation plasma to match the output (1080i/60) from this little wonder as my current set doesn't support 1080i.

Unique advantages compared to other models in its competitive set:
+It has a high design aesthetic and is the smallest 3-CCD HD consumer camcorder on earth. It's as long as a dollar bill and just as wide. (I measured)
+With the Quick Start mode activated, the camcorder fires up and starts recording in about 2 seconds after the screen is opened. Never miss your baby's first steps with this guy.
+Built-in option of having virtual guidelines superimposed on the display for better compositions and more level horizons. The camera gives you three choices, horizontal lines only (my favorite) a big grid, or a small grid (egg crate) for the truly anal.
+German designed Leica Dicomar lens contains three aspherical elements that keeps chromatic aberration in check, with almost all surfaces multicoated.
+Simplicity of button layout and U.I., even though most advanced functions still there and easily accessible, like iris and shutter controls, fades, etc.
+Optional color bar indicator for tonal checks on your TV for calibration, normally seen only on professional broadcast camcorders.
+An option called 'zoom-mike' that focuses the sound on the area that you've zoomed into up 12X, great for surveillance work I guess. Or stalkers.
+Built-in HDMI to connect right up to an HDTV with no signal degradation, with one cable handling both HD video and 5:1 Surround Sound if connected thru an HDMI receiver.
+Weighs about one pound with media and battery. The girth and weight of the HDC-SD1 is almost exactly the same as a 16-ounce can of Coke.
+Package includes a 4 Gb SDHC class 2 media card that can hold between 40 minutes and 90 minutes' worth of footage depending on compression, when most camcorders don't even come with a $5 tape.

Unique disadvantages compared to other models in its competitive set:
-The multifunction joystick is on the small side and can be confusing in use. For some people I can see how this might hamper recording effectiveness. On the other hand, it's no better or worse than the joystick on the Panny PV-GS400/500.
-USB 2.0 is nice but the the lack of a firewire/iLink connection is a bit of a bummer.
-Camcorder battery will not recharge in-camera, nor will it recharge if AC adapter is utilized (plugged-in) at the same time.
-Included software that handles rudimentary editing functions works only on PCs.
-Resolution of still images taken is below par when compared to other models in its competitive set (like the Sony HRD-SR1 or Canon HV10/20)
-No tactile focusing ring if you like to verify the focus, a distinct advantage with the Sony camcorders in general and even its brother the Panny PV-GS500.

A quick vent. What bugs me with tapes, whether Hi-8, Mini-DV, etc is the time needed to peruse through vast amounts of media to get to a specific footage. It is entirely possible to spend up to 5 or 10 minutes jogging back and forth on an 60-minute tape to find the 30-second clip of something you're actually looking for. Recording to either HDD or an SDHC card, not only can clips be played at a glance in any order, erasing a clip is just as easy. For example, you have two 15 minute clips of primo footage with a 15 minute clip of some pointless recording in between. With a tape, it is much safer to keep all 45 minutes of footage to retain the good 15 minutes' worth on the end. With an SD card, the middle 15 minutes can be deleted like a photo in your digicam, and you're left with another 15-minute chunk of space for better footage. The analogy I can make between the HDC-SD1 and its HDV rivals would be akin to comparing an HD camcorder spawned from the iPod (flash memory) and an HD camcorder fathered by a Walkman (tape-based) and I personally would never go back to using my Sony Walkman when I can slip a Nano in my pocket. I probably sound like an anti-tape nut by now but it's only because I have over 50 Mini-DV tapes in our collection that nobody has touched in the last couple of years. I mean, why not settle for true random access if it's available? Good luck to all in your purchasing.

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panasonic HDC-SD1PP, February 27, 2007

By	John Woods "TObject" (San Diego, CA, United States) - See all my reviews

This camera delivers great picture quality and is very easy to use.

If you are looking forward to editing and publishing your videos taken with this camera please note, at the time of North American release, software packages that can handle AVCHD digital format encoded using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (m2ts) are only starting to show up.

The software included with this camera, Leadtools HD Writer Ver 1.0E for SD1, is capable of only basic operations such as scene preview, split, merge, and delete. Using this software you can backup your videos on a DVD-R disk, but you won't be able to play it back, unless you have one of the new Blu-ray disk players.

The software situation will improve with time, and there will be more high definition video options in the future.

To hookup this camera to a high definition display you can use provided component cables or the HDMI output (HDMI cable is not included). Standard audio, video output is also available for older TV sets (cable included).

The computer interface is USB (cable supplied); it works only when the camera is hooked up to the AC/DC adapter (included). By the way, the battery will not charge inside the camera; charge it on the adapter disconnected from the camera.

Videos and pictures are stored on an SDHC card (some SD cards can also be used, but SDHC class 2 or better are recommended). A 4 GB SDHC card (one included) is good for about 40 minutes of recording in the highest quality HF setting; this is also about as much as the stock VW-VBG130 battery can handle. For more power on the go an optional VW-VH04 battery pack holder can be used. You can use additional SDHC cards, or dump data to a laptop computer via USB cable, or use optional VW-PT2 or similar SDHC media storage device.

The battery is loaded from the bottom. When using the camera on a tripod, load the battery first.

In addition to videos, this camera can also take still pictures. The quality of still pictures is so-so with some digital artifacts showing up; but it is fine for occasional snapshots. On the positive side, the still picture trigger on this camcorder functions like on real picture cameras: you can pre-focus depressing the trigger half way.

Thanks to the powerful 3CCD sensor architecture and optical image stabilization the videos this camera takes are very good, even in sub-optimal light conditions. There is an automatic mode, and a manual mode for more advanced control. One of the features I especially like is the Grid that can be displayed for better shoot composition.

HDC-SD1 is one of the first consumer high-definition cameras from Panasonic, it's a great start and sure to please customers looking so save the moving pictures of unforgettable moments in life.

71 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Camcorder, February 27, 2007

By	Clickwired - See all my reviews

This is an excellent piece of camcorder. I was blown away by the Video Quality of it. Here are some of the Pros and Cons

Pros
1. Excellent Video Quality and Auto White balance - I can see the exact color in my video in good light. Low light performance is also not bad.

2. 3 CCD chip - Excellent colors and saturation, I compared my old Sony HC40 and Panasonic SD1 side by side shooting the same scene at the same time in Auto mode mounted on Tripods and Panasonic has great colors & Sharpness

3. Leica Optics - Optics are much better on this one
4. Manual Options - Can set White balance, Iris, Shutter Speed to get more manual control, has separate option for backlit subjects.
5. High Definition - I don't have a high definition TV, but video looks sharp on my computer and TV. I am completely satisfied with it.
6. Size - Perfectly sleek and light
7. Comes with separate charger and remote control

Cons

1. No iLink inside the Camcorder
2. No View Finder
3. Video Outputs (except HDMI & USB) are not available outside without lifting/bringing the LCD Screen out. LCD screen can break if camera accedentaly falls and i want my LCD panel to be closed when I am watching the video
4. Comes with filter thread, but the filter hood should be purchased separately
5. HDMI cable is not presented
6. Only 40 Mins video at highest quality on 4GB SDHC Card.
7. I was not able to copy using media copiers to backup and download this card which i can use to backup my digital images while I am on the field.
8. Joystick on the camera can be better, You have to get used to it.
9. Less/Complex Editing options as this is AVCHD

Every camera has a drawback and is not 100% perfect. I consider Panasonic a very good buy for people looking for 3-CCD, and a little manual control.