Summary: Where to begin?
The Panasonic HDC-SD1 is compact, lightweight, and accepts SD-HC cards (and includes a 4 GB to get you started).
It is well shaped and almost a dream to use. Zoom is easily toggled each way while recording. Controls are within one-handed reach; usually you can get away with one-handed shooting, though two-handed is best, because it lets you stabilize and "guide" the cam more than using only one hand.
Tripod mount works well, though you cannot change the battery while it's attached. The included charger will either charge the battery or power the camcorder while at the PC, but will NOT do both simultaneously.
The quality of the videos are gorgeous. No artifacts that I could see, and it runs full screen on my monitor and looks simply stunning. I even took a video in street light on a moonless dark night, and most of the video was watchable, all without any external flashes.
The ability to skip back and forth on an SDHC is priceless when compared to the long waits and seeks and stops when compared to MiniDV or other tapes. Personally, I held out on buying a camcorder until I could get Hi-definition, and not feel like it's the 70s again, buying tapes.
Given the installation of the correct codecs, the videos shot by this cam are all set to have the PC play them.
The zoom is incredible, too. The lens itself is 12x, but with digital zoom, you can get it up to 30x, which is quite far, though beyond that, you definitely need a tripod to keep the cam from shaking. Unlike a camera's digital zoom, I did not see any problems with it, and, particularly if you're re-rendering for DVD, the video will be "resized" down, which means there's less likely the digital "zoom" will be noticeable, except, perhaps.
The Cam comes with a class 2 (slowest speed, but fine) 4GB SD-HC card, which will give you between a little under to a little more than an hour of recording, depending on the circumstances. This is about as much time as the battery can do, as well.
It does have manual focus, but I've left it on Auto and it's always done well, even with tricky light like sun coming through shades behind the subject in a dark room.
Oh, it comes with a remote control, as well, which is useful when you have it on the tripod. Reception is a bit picky, but it's fine if you hold the remote near the bottom and aim "up".
Audio. Sound is 5.1; I'd love to hear some movies like that; my speakers are only 2.0
Note: The power cable plugs in behind the screen, so you have to be careful it doesn't fall over, because if it would fall, the screen and parts could get damaged, since the screen must remain open the entire time. The HDMI is on the back (grip) other side, so nothing interferes, there, so you can connect it to a TV on your own battery's juice, with the cam NOT plugged in. It will also allow you to record while plugged in, even if you have already discharged its battery.
I tried a tripod and it works; the edit bag is great, too. I wish I could find a battery for under $50, though.
For editing, I use Pinnacle Studio 11 PLUS. Get Studio Ultimate, if you buy this cam. You can then output 5.1 audio to CD, too.
I am very happy with it. Enjoy.
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