Panasonic boards the HD train
Previewed on 16 Dec 2006

Videophiles must be loving the significant developments taking place in the world of High Definition digital recording. Until very recently Sony had the HD marketplace more-or-less to themselves; now they face increasing competition that is shaking them out of monopoly and forcing them to work even harder to remain competitive. Well bad news for Sony, but delightful news for consumers, especially those that are more a fan of Panasonic's products.

In November, Panasonic's Japanese division announced their glorious entry into the consumer HD camcorder market with two exciting new models which both adopt the new AVCHD high definition codec that Panasonic co-developed with Sony. Recognising the continued evolution in video toward larger TV screens and higher definition video content, Panasonic has dived straight into this thrilling field of recording with the HDC-SD1 and the HDC-DX1.

The HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1 both feature 3-CCD imagers, each measuring ?quot; with a gross pixel count of 560K. By comparison, Sony's successful HDR-SR1 and HDR-UX1 models incorporate a single 1/3" CMOS sensor with a higher gross and effective pixel count. And if Panasonic's previous 3-CCD camcorders are anything to go by, these new additions are guaranteed to deliver unrivalled colour reproduction and sharpness.

The HDC-SD1 is Panasonic's third camcorder to use the high-capacity, solid-state SDHC memory cards as their primary recording medium. This tough, compact model debuts as the world?s smallest and lightest 3-CCD High Definition video camcorder (as of Dec. 6, 2006). Since there are no moving parts in the recording section, the HDC-SD1 is also remarkably resistant to impact, so users can be certain of reliable, virtually error-free recording.

If you find memory cards baffling or you simply prefer that "instant factor", the HDC-DX1 records conveniently onto DVD discs. Rewinding or fast-forwarding is not required, giving users the freedom to play back a scene immediately after recording. For exceptionally easy storage, video image and sound data are recorded directly onto the disk.

As expected, these two new models incorporate Panasonic's revolutionary Optical Image Stabiliser (O.I.S) that minimises the effect of the slightest shake of hands, resulting in crisp, clear images. The 12X optical zoom Leica Dicomar lens on each camcorder further enhances clear image quality by reducing chromatic aberration and harmful reflections. And Panasonic's latest engineering marvels conform not only to the highest visual standards as they also each include the world's first 5.1-channel surround sound system with 5 microphones. A Zoom Mic function links the microphone's action to the camera's action for optimal audio quality to match the spectacular visual experience.

With the HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1, Panasonic reaches new image and sound quality standards, which other models will undoubtedly struggle to keep up with. These two cameras are expected to be unleashed early in the New Year, and we can't wait to see the first production run of Panasonic's AVCHD 1080i 3-CCD camcorders firsthand.

The HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1 will be available to buy from DigitalRev soon. Please check back for updates on their arrival.