- Record HD video direct to SDHC cards; up to 1 hour on a 4 GB SDHC card
- 1920 x 1080 full-HD recording; HD Advanced Pure Color Engine
- Leica Dicomar lens with 10x optical zoom; built-in Advanced O.I.S.
- 2.7-inch wide-angle LCD monitor; 170-degree viewing angle
- Intelligent Contrast Control
Product Description
The HDC-SD5 hi-def camcorder can copy recordings from the SD Memory Card to a DVD disc, maintaining the original full-HD format, or use the included software to burn a full-HD recording from an SD Memory Card to a DVD disc on your PC.Images recorded by conventional HD camcorders have only 1,440 horizontal pixels, while full-HD camcorders have 1,920; that’s about 30 percent more recording pixels! The result is a level of detail and resolution that goes beyond anything you’ve ever experienced before. And because full-HD recordings contain a vast amount of picture information, they look beautiful not only on high-definition TVs, but on standard-definition TVs as well.Camera shake happens. Unsteady hands, shooting while in motion: these factors can reduce the quality of your video. But Panasonic has developed its best-ever built-in Optical Image Stabilization, which compensates for hand-shake and helps keep your videos crisp, steady and blur-free.The HDC-SD5 comes with a world-class Leica Dicomar lens, fashioned specifically for high-definition digital camcorders. The superior craftsmanship of Leica’s advanced lens system captures stunning images and colors that look magnificent in HD. Combined with Panasonic’s advanced 3CCD system, which uses three separate sensors to capture and process light, you can relive your memories in lifelike detail on your HDTV screen.
If you’re looking for a practical and tiny Camcorder then this is it !
It’s not a pro grade cam but still exceeds your daily “move & shoot” home videos with a great full HD resolution and clarity.
Highly Recomendnded for any AVCHD format shopper @ a reasonable price.
Don’t look any further , just go ahead and buy one…that’s what i did
Rating: 5 / 5
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The SD card is an HCSD and requires a special reader. An HCSD reader. You can get them here on Amazon for around $20 or as part of a bundle with a 4-16gb HCSD card.
As for editing the videos, I have the HDC-SD1 camera, this ones predecessor and I use Pinnacle Studio 11 Ultimate. It is the only program out there that will edit the raw .mts files. Nero will let you make a movie with them but not edit them.
One question. Can’t you have the camera burn a dvd in standard DVD format? A poster on another review said it was possible.
Rating: 5 / 5
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I have owned the camera for 2 weeks now and am returning it. I currently own 3 other video cameras, but this is my forst HD camera.
Everything about the camera is wonderful except for one MAJOR flaw, there is a high pitched whine when I play back the vodeo through the camera. It is quite noticeable to say the least and simply unacceptable for a camera in this range. There is no tape transport, no hard drive….in fact no moving parts at all, nothing I can think of to be making the whine.
Perhaps it is only the particular one that I have purchased, as the other reviews seem fine…..I did see a proffesional review somewhere that had the same problem………maybe I have that actual camera ….lol.
Rating: 2 / 5
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so, this camera is basically awesome.
the picture is great (yes, it’s true that it’s a little grainy in low lighting, but that’s just fine), it’s easy to use, a perfect size, and it’s super light, but not too light.
ont of the things i love most about it, though, is the image stabilization. this makes it so that you get the same, stable results you would get while using a tripod by just holding the camera in your hand (unless, of course, you have REALLY shaky hands for some reason), making it really easy to get a great shot anywhere.
the only thing, though, is the filetype. i had a LOT of trouble in the beginning figuring out how to get it onto my computer and in a filetype that i could work with. that part’s not that simple.
but other than that, a great camera. for everything from home movies with the family to amateur independent films. an AWESOME product.
Rating: 5 / 5
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I owned this camcorder not even two weeks and it broke. The door that houses the battery as well as the memory card is so cheaply made that the tiny piece of plastic bent and the door will not close. This should have been made better. You have to constantly open this door to: remove and charge the battery, to change the flash card, and to use the AC adapter. What a shame this camcorder seem to have everything I was looking for. I’m now checking out the Cannon HG10 and the Sony HDR SR8.
Rating: 2 / 5
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