Panasonic HDC-SDX1 HD Camcorder Review Discussion

[Jamison Cush]

Panasonic is touting its new HDC-SDX1 high definition camcorder as a versatile and extremely light device for good reason. It shoots both MP4 and AVCHD video, easily doubles as a webcam, and weighs less than half a pound.

The SDX1 also sports cool shooting features like intelligent zoom (digital zoom with optical zoom quality), programmable facial recognition (not face detection), and a hybrid optical image stabilization system that combines both optical and digital handshake correction.

We were huge fans of the last Panasonic high-definition camcorder we reviewed, the high-end TM700, and we are delighted  to see some of its nifty features make their way down the line to more the more consumer-friendly products. How well do those features fit with this entry-level HD camcorder? Also, how does the SDX1 video stack up against other camcorders in its price range? Read our review to find out.

Read the full content of this Article: Panasonic HDC-SDX1 HD Camcorder Review

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[leaftye]

Do you know what battery life is like? I can't seem to find it in the specs. It appears that it comes with a VW-VBK180 battery and that there is an optional VW-VBK360. I do like that they've retained a design that allows for big battery packs. I got a big battery for my last Panasonic camcorder, but unfortunately that got stolen. This may be my next camcorder.

[Jamison Cush]

Do you know what battery life is like? I can't seem to find it in the specs. It appears that it comes with a VW-VBK180 battery and that there is an optional VW-VBK360. I do like that they've retained a design that allows for big battery packs. I got a big battery for my last Panasonic camcorder, but unfortunately that got stolen. This may be my next camcorder.

I managed to squeeze about 90 minutes of continuous MP4 shooting out of the device, which is pretty average. I think one of the main reasons manufacturers like Panasonic and Sony keep going to 2.7 inch displays instead of 3 or 3.5-inch LCDs is to keep battery life over the 90 minute mark, in addition to keeping the device compact.

[leaftye]

Thanks Jamison. I think 90 minutes would do. This camcorder definitely has my attention as a replacement for my camera while hiking. I think it'll do a better job of capturing the essence of my trips, especially with wildlife. I almost want to capture a black bear bluff charge.

[dennisw1mac]

Thanks for the review; bout time someone finally got their hands on one. I was wondering about the dimensions you gave, "The SDX1 measures 1.8 x 1.0 x 3.0 inches..."

The rest of the literature on this cam gives, "51.5 x 57.5 x 107.5 [mm] (2.03 x 2.26 x 4.23 [inch])," which is quite a bit different.

I would love it to be what you say, but are you sure? Thanks.

[Jamison Cush]

It's impossible for me to say right now, as I don't have the camera in front of me. But the dimensions you cite (2.03 x 2.26 x 4.23 inches) seem to be correct.

Typically, the dimensions I list are provided by the company, and I bust out a ruler to double-check. Looking at the numbers I originally listed, 1.8 x 1.0 x 3.0 inches seems very small for a camcorder.

All that is a long-winded way of saying I'm 99% sure 2.03 x 2.26 x 4.23 inches are the correct dimensions and I'll make the change in the review.

[bertman]

Jamison,

As you've tested both the Panasonic HDC-SDX1 (yours is the only one I can find) and the Sony HDR-CX110, which would you pick if you could get the SDX1 for $300 with an 8GB SDHC card included vs. $380 for the CX150 (understand the only difference with CX-110 is 16GB internal memory)?

I'm leaning to toward the SDX1 (can buy a few SD cards for $80), and you seemed to overall rate it slightly better, but I'm concerned by the average video quality.

I currently have a Sony DCR-HC30 miniDV camcorder though (I want to replace because it is too time consuming to offload video from the tapes to a computer) so I'm thinking either should be better quality.

[bertman]

Jamison,

As you've tested both the Panasonic HDC-SDX1 (yours is the only one I can find) and the Sony HDR-CX110, which would you pick if you could get the SDX1 for $300 with an 8GB SDHC card included vs. $380 for the CX150 (understand the only difference with CX-110 is 16GB internal memory)?

I'm leaning to toward the SDX1 (can buy a few SD cards for $80), and you seemed to overall rate it slightly better, but I'm concerned by the average video quality.

I currently have a Sony DCR-HC30 miniDV camcorder which I want to replace due to video transfer times to a computuer and it requires Firewire which is hard to find on new computers. I'm thinking either of these should provide better video quality - Is this true?