Review: Panasonic HDC-SD5 AVCHD Camcorder


Back in late 2007, Panasonic took consumer high definition to the next level with its full-HD specification 3CCD AVCHD camcorder capable of recording 1920x1080i video and stills to high-capacity SD cards


Image of Panasonic HDC-SD5 with LCD Open
The HDC-SD5 is a consumer video camera capable of shooting superb quality digital video and still images which it saves to high-capacity SD cards (SDHC).

Furthermore, it's a camcorder that makes it possible to shoot high definition video in such a way that it conforms to the full 1920 pixels x1080 "Full HD" specification; with the camcorder connected to a suitable HD television display using either HDMI or the supplied Component Digital cabling, movie clips recorded with the SD5 can be displayed in their full high definition glory.

For those who are not yet equipped with HD ready TVs, it's easy to connect the HDC-SD5 to standard definition widescreen TVs for playback using the AV output cables supplied.

It's important to keep the target market in focus - and this is something that some other prominent reviews have singularly failed to do. If you're a home video user (or would-be user) who's looking for an easy-to-use video camera that fits perfectly in the hand and which offers a cost-effective means to shoot full-specification high-def video and audio, then you're exactly the sort of user Panasonic has in its sights. If, on the other hand, you're the sort of person who is likely to be finicky about physical manual control functions and who plans to shoot more serious video, then you'll need to look elsewhere (and have a higher budget). The HDC-SD5 is a consumer high definition camcorder - so keep that in mind.

First impressions


The HDC-SD5 comes in a choice of finishes - either silver or black. The shaping of the body is such that when hand-holding through the strap it fits the palm of the hand perfectly. The main power and function dial, plus the mini-joystick that's used to navigate menus and make changes to the manual settings during recordings, are all neatly positioned right under the user's right thumb, with the left side of the body sporting a lovely clear 2.7" colour widescreen LCD screen.

Image: Profile view of black Panasonic HDC-SD5

For those who prefer not to hand-hold through the strap but who - like the reviewer - prefer to clasp the cam around the body with two hands for added stability and fluidity in operation, its design lends itself perfectly to very stable and fluid shots when used in combination with Panasonic's excellent Advanced-OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) utility.

Inside the opened LCD screen recess is a single switch - the combined Auto/Manual and Focus over-ride that provides access to a full range of manual controls - and a Disc Copy button which is used in conjunction with Panasonic's optional VW-BN1 external DVD burner (pictured, with the HDC-SD5) which makes it possible to backup and clone the contents (or selected clips and images) of the SDHC card via a direct USB 2.0 connection between SD5 and DVD drive.

The SD5's menu system provides command control of all the related operations, including playback out to a TV display via either digital or analogue connections. A handy remote control is provided with the SD5 which means you can do all this from the comfort of your armchair, too.

Image: Panasonic HDC-SD5 showing SDHC card slot
The SDHC card slots in beside the battery, which itself is inserted after removing a door on the rear underside of the body. Last, but not least, the 2-channel Stereo microphone is mounted on the upper front of the body just behind the lens and - like its predecessor (the HDC-SD1), the mic points skywards. Unlike its predecessor, however, this model doesn't have a 5.1ch Surround Sound pickup system.

Features


In an obvious effort to shave costs in the face of ever-increasing competition from the likes of Sony and Canon, Panasonic has chosen to eliminate some of the features and functions that attracted many users to the HDC-SD1. At first glance, it appeared inconceivable that the company could rid the HDC-SD5 of such things as the external microphone input, headphone output and 5.1ch Surround Sound (among other things). Not only that, but this new model has been given three 1/6th inch CCDs (the colour imaging chips that generate the images, with one devoted to each of the red, green and blue primary colours) as opposed to the SD1's impressive and larger 1/4 inch CCDs.

Image: Panasonic HDC-SD5 showing rear control buttons and Pre-Rec
An immensely useful feature (well, it was found to be so in our tests, anyhow) is something called Pre-Rec; in order not to miss recording a piece of action that is likely to occur without warning (such as a football goal being scored or a cannon being fired), Panasonic has provided a feature which, when activated, will result in a looping 3-second recording to be made whilst the camcorder is in standby.

This "cache" will always contain the last three seconds of whatever is coming in through the lens.

As soon as something unexpected happens, all the user needs to do is to hit the Record button for the cam to then continue to write to the SDHC card after permanently committing the Pre-Rec cached clip to memory. That way, you've captured the very beginning of the event without trying.

Other useful features include Zebra pattern generation - very much a feature of professional video cameras in which a white-peaking guide in the LCD screen assists with manual exposure whilst recording, and also a Colour Bar generator - again, a professional-standard utility designed to aid calibration of playback and recording devices.

One of the most notable features of the SD5 is the inclusion of Panasonic's famed OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), which - when activated - is designed to produce very stable shots even when hand-holding and when zoomed in the full 10x Optical Zoom. We'll describe this in more detail shortly, but suffice it to say that it's very good indeed - and in our own tests it proved to be invaluable on some important home movie footage.

Finally, the inclusion of Auto Slow Shutter will entertain many users; it's a sort of pseudo slow-motion recording system that will attract those looking to have a bit of fun with their movies in addition to others looking for sports movement analysis. This, of course, can be achieved in computer editing programs at a late stage - but some users might wish to have instant playback, so it will undoubtedly come in handy at the recording stage.

Connectivity


The HDC-SD5 offers a choice of Digital outputs - an HDMI connector is provided for full HD playback on a suitably-equipped HDTV display, with the alternative of a Component Digital output also being provided with devices that don't have HDMI. For the latter, a connecting cable is provided (though you'll have to buy your own HDMI connection). For those wishing to view as analogue only, Panasonic also includes an AV output, complete with the necessary cabling, to enable playback on a standard definition TV set in widescreen.

Image: HDMi and USB 2.0 connectors on Panasonic HDC-SD5

Note that the USB 2.0 socket (which accompanies the HDMI socket and which is located under a neatly contoured door behind the hand-strap) enables transfer of AVCHD movie clips and JPG still images to a Windows or Apple Mac computer. This socket can also be used to connect an optional Panasonic VW-BN1 USB external DVD burner, and to which direct backups can be made from the SDHC card in the camcorder to a variety of DVD format discs. With the camcorder connected to a TV display (using either HDMI, Component or AV connections), the internal menu system is capable of managing the playback of 8cm discs in the VW-BN1 via USB 2.0, this eliminating the need for a standalone DVD drive.

Image: Control buttons inside LCD recess on Panasonic HDC-SD5


Note that, unlike its HDC-SD1 predecessor, the SD5 has neither a Headphone output nor a Microphone input socket. There's no accessory shoe on this model, either.

Performance


Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Too many reviews of consumer camcorders contain criticism of low-cost and even medium-cost consumer products on account of their failing to offer either the features or - more importantly - the performance normally associated with professional products costing ten times as much. Not only is that clearly stupid, but it's also irresponsible and misleading in that it sets up unrealistic user expectations.

To begin with, let's look at the camcorder's ergonomic properties. Pick up and hold the camera and it feels good. Body styling and mass is perfect for the sort of movie-making that many users will engage in. Everyone who handled it loved the design and handling - and most of them expressed surprise at how few buttons and controls were featured on the body itself.

Image: Clip thumbnails on Panasonic HDC-SD5's LCD screen

Switching into Record mode (movie and stills) is very easy, and it's possible for a complete beginner to start recording immediately - if there's no SD card in the camera you'll be alerted to the fact in the LCD screen. Once the supplied 4GB SDHC Class 6 card is inserted into its slot within the battery compartment, you're able to start recording immediately.

The Panasonic Advanced-OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) is very good indeed, it must be said. When activated, it's possible to zoom into the full 10x optical zoom magnification whilst hand-holding and retain a steady shot. It still requires a steady hand (and careful breathing technique is useful, too, as every professional cameraman knows) but the effect if the OIS is exceptionally good - so much so that it should be considered as one of the SD5's most outstanding features. Although we're not the best supporters of digital zoom (produced my electronically magnifying the pixels rather than by achieving the zoom through optical means), it has to be said that the 25x zoom is reasonably good, and produces pictures that are quite acceptable in many circumstances. However, it's difficult to recommend the maximum 700x digital zoom factor due to the blocky and unusable pictures it produces. Even with a superior quality lens such as the Leica Dicomar lens included here won't help digital zoom imagery beyond 120x at best, in our experience, and its inclusion is therefore superfluous.

Image: Surround Sound mic on Panasonic HDC-SD5


Last, but not least, sound. Unlike the SD1, which was blessed with a built-in 5.1ch Surround Sound microphone pickup array (something that Panasonic engineers were proud to show off at its original launch), the SD5 (and its sister product, the SX5) has been given only an upward-facing stereo mic. One can assume the reasoning to be either that consumers aren't that bothered with surround sound in their video clips or that it's merely another cutback to enable the SD5 to hit required price-point out there in the market. Either way, the Dolby Digital 384kHz stereo audio produced by the mic is perfectly okay in the majority of settings - it's pleasant to listen to on a good speakers and provides good definition, stereo separation, etc - it does suffer the effects of even light wind buffering, so care is needed. Mic level can be controlled manually, too, so that's some consolation.

Conclusion


The HDC-SD5 is pitched at the home movie maker who's looking to shoot and playback high definition movie clips in all the usual domestic situations such as recording the development of a new baby to capturing events like holiday vacations, holiday celebrations, birthday parties, sporting events and all the stuff for which families identify there to be a need for a good, user-friendly, camcorder that shoots video and stills with the least hassle. Given that increasing numbers of consumers now have HD TV displays in their homes, it's reasonable to ssume that they now favour compatible high definition camcorders as well.

Image: Vista of Ronda, Spain, taken with Panasonic HDC-SD5

Not only does Panasonic's HDC-SD5 satisfy all those criteria, but it also eliminates the need for users to mess around with tapes or even DVDs; the SD5 is a truly tapeless solid-state recording and playback system that does justice to a good HD television display. It's an absolute joy to use, its user-friendly menus and comprehensive control systems make access to settings a complete doddle and - most important of all - it produces excellent full-specification High Definition pictures and sound. Whilst it's true to say that media costs (ie: high capacity SDHC Class 6 cards) are still very high at the time of the SD5's release, there's no doubting the fact that they're coming down quickly to the point where it will be less of an issue in the coming year.

Whilst the purists and hyper-critics will bemoan the smaller 1/6th CCDs and lack of connectors that were a feature of its predecessor, there's no escaping the fact that for its intended market Panasonic's AVCHD camcorder is (at the time of review) the best in its class.

If you're looking to buy a cost-effective, state-of-the-art camcorder you need to be thinking in terms of (a) high definition and (b) solid-state media recording and playback at an affordable price - in which case look no further than the HDC-SD5.


Reviewed by: CB. September 2007. Please note that the HDC-SD5 was superceded in February 2008 by the Panasonic HDC-SD9 HD Camcorder.