Panasonic HDC-SD1

A flash memory camcorder with joystick navigation, Panasonic's HCD-SD1 has a small design and boasts loads of shooting features with superb high-definition video quality

Generally high-quality video and decent stills; nice manual feature set

Sluggish autofocus; poor automatic white balance; uncomfortable design with some poor feature implementations

A solid SD-based camcorder, the Panasonic HDC-SD1 nevertheless suffers from a few performance issues and a difficult design

Eye-popping HD content in your hand.

>Three-inch screen, Simple to use, Great looks ,

Two-meg photos disappoint

A perfect home movie-maker to match your HD-ready flat panel

We were sceptical about a camcorder that records HD video onto an SD Card. The HDC-SD1, however, captures exceptional video for a sub-£1,000 model.

Very small size. Relatively high-quality video.

Few manual controls. No pro audio inputs. Limited editing support in major video applications.

Panasonic says the HDC-SD1 is the smallest HD camcorder yet, and it's certainly smaller than many standard-definition models, despite its larger-than-average, 3-inch LCD. The tube-shaped body measures roughly 6.5cm in diameter and 14cm long; it's very com...

The new format on the block allows Panny's slimmed-down AVCHD camcorder to save HD video to teeny SD cards

3CCDs. Slim. One-handed operation

Low-level noise. AVCHD isn't for all

The Panasonic HDC-SD1 high definition camcorder ditches tapes for SD cards - is the future of camcorders here?

The HDC-SD1 is a fantastic cutting edge piece of technology that finally does away with the need for tapes. It's small and light, delightfully easy to use and most of all takes superb high definition images. The AVCHD codec means that few editing applicat...

We were initially sceptical about the concept of a camcorder that records HD (high-definition) video to an SD (secure digital) card. Our doubts faded - the HDC-SD1 captures and stores video of exceptional quality.

The Panasonic is perhaps a little ahead of its time, and is currently quite hard to find in the UK. However, the technology works brilliantly and, as soon as there's some decent software available that'll allow you to make use of its fantastic facilities,...

Panasonic's HDC-SD1, like Sony's HDR-SR1, uses the new AVCHD recording format

Great picture performance in highest HD setting, Easy to use quickly, Dolby 5.0 channel surround sound

No SD mode or viewfinder

The Panasonic is remarkably comfortable in the hand, courtesy of a contoured design on the right flank that fits snugly into the palm. It's also easy to use as the main features are accessed via an onscreen menu and a joystick controller at the back of th...

This is a superb little solid-state, consumer-orientated, high definition video camera that will set the standard against which all other models will be compared for the forseeable future.

On the runway this year, the Panasonic HDC-SD1 ($1299 MSRP) is turning heads. It's small, sexy, and generates an appealing video image in bright light. The SD1 is also the first AVCHD camcorder to record directly onto bite-sized SDHC cards, and provides a...