Panasonic HDC

Panasonic HDC Camcorders

The range of Panasonic HDC Camcorders is very large and there is a camera to suit everyone, from the beginner to the semi-professional person. Here we present you with a site where you can easily find the camcorder that will suit your needs. The camcorders are arranged in price, so you can find one that will suit your budget.

Use on of the following links to find the perfect Panasonic HDC camcorder to suit your need and to suit your budget:

• Up to S499

• $500 – $999

• $1000 – $1499

• $1500 and above

World’s First* 3D Compatible Camcorder with 3D Conversion Lens

Unlike previous 3D images that required complex, professional equipment to create, now you can shoot your own. Simply attach the 3D Conversion Lens to the SDT750 for quick and easy 3D shooting. And because the SDT750 features the Advanced 3MOS System, which has gained worldwide popularity, colors are vivid and 3D images are extremely realistic. Let the SDT750 save precious moments for you in true-to-life images.
* As a consumer camcorder with 3D conversion lens for the AVCHD standard (as of July 1, 2010).

Panasonic HDC History

The HDC-DX1 and the HDC-SD1 models were the first Panasonic AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) camcorders, released in 2006. The HDC-DX1 recorded onto a 8 cm DVD disc with maximum data rate of 12 Mbit/s, the HDC-SD1 recorded onto an SDHC memory card with maximum data rate of 13 Mbit/s. The HDC-SD1 became the first consumer high definition camcorder to record to solid-state media. Both models featured the ability to record 5.1 channel Dolby Digital sound. An external microphone could be connected but this only worked in 2 channel mode.

The HDC-SX5, the HDC-SD5 and the HDC-SD7 represented the second generation of Panasonic AVCHD camcorders. The HDC-DX5 was a hybrid model, which allowed recording onto either an 8-cm DVD disc or onto a built-in hard disk drive. The HDC-DX5 was the last Panasonic’s AVCHD camcorder to record onto DVD media. The HDC-SD5 and the HDC-SD7 used Secure Digital memory cards as recording media. The HDC-SD7 was the smallest high definition camcorder and at the time of its release.

In the process of miniaturization Panasonic reduced the size of the lens and of the sensor block compared to the first generation of AVCHD camcorders. The lens thread size has been reduced from 43 mm to 37 mm, the sensor size has been reduced from 1/4-inch to 1/6-inch, but the 3CCD setup has been preserved.

The HDC-SD100 and the HDC-HS100, released in 2008, signified Panasonic’s switch from CCD to CMOS technology. Traditionally for Panasonic, these camcorders used a 3-sensor setup, which was called 3MOS. As in the previous generations, the 1/6-inch sensors used pixel-shift technology, having 520,000 effective pixels each. Both camcorders recorded high definition video in AVCHD format. The HDC-SD100 recorded to a removable SDHC memory card only, while the HDC-HS100 was also capable of recording onto a built-in 60GB hard disk drive. These camcorders also feature a built-in viewfinder.

The Panasonic HDC-SD300/HDC-HS300 improve the Panasonic HDC-SD100/HDC-HS100 in two major aspects. The most important change is sensor size and resolution: three 1/4.1-inch CMOS sensors having 3 megapixels each. As such, using pixel shift technology is not necessary anymore to achieve high definition images. The camera features vastly improved resolution when used to take still pictures (up to 10.6 megapixels). The optical image stabiliser has been improved and now features two modes of operation for video mode and four for still photo mode.

Panasonic’s 2010 camcorders add 1080p60 or 1080p50 progressive recording mode (depending on region) by using a proprietary variation of the AVCHD format. The lens has been revised to provide a shorter focal length, though the optical zoom range remains unchanged. The focal length is now 3.45-41.4 mm instead of the 4–48 mm of the previous model (effectively a magnification of x0.85). The lens gains one third of a stop in speed at the wide angle end only as a result.