Panasonic HDC-SD9

Let me just say that I love this camera. Excited as I was to be getting my first 3-chip videocam, thereby putting me in the ranks of more professional standards, I have to admit I was a little worried when… I opened up the package and saw how small this thing really is. But they've packed quite a package into this little frame. You don't realize it, but with a history of using regular videocams, you get used to your files just sort of making an approximation of the color of something. With the final vids from this, I was amazed to finally have video that captures the actual complex colors of things exactly as they are in front of you. And the video quality is pristine, beautiful. If you do a lot of video editing (I use Sony Vegas) on a PC, please bear in mind that the included software is virtually useless if you would like to keep the quality standard to what this cam is capable of. As of now, the only programs I know of capable of converting the AVCHD files to something that feeds into most these programs (WMV, for instance) are 1)AVS Video Converter and 2)VoltaicHD. Both of these programs cost a small bit of money, but it is worth it, so just keep that in mind. I think the vid quality of AVS is ever-so-slightly better than the Voltaic. From what I hear, for Mac users, the latest QT update will just make your programs read the stuff. I have put this cam up against a much bigger, more high-end, over the shoulder, professional-level 3-chip cam, and I definitely liked the video that came from this better. Granted, the uber-professional thing might have more options and intricacies, like external mic hookup and a few custom tailored options, but just on base vid quality alone... well, this thing impressed. Yes, it does better in better light. But any videographer knows that setting up good lighting in the first place is an integral part of any videographer's job. As far as the complaints about not having a mic input... the mics on the unit sound really great, and for getting closer in/booming in something, it is easy enough just to buy a Zoom H2 or something of the like, and just having an additional audio source. No problem! I have a 8 gig card, and that gets a little over an hour recording time. What a relief not to have to transfer any DV or tape info, at this quality-level. And if you are using the beforementioned file conversion programs, the whole battery pack issue people are mentioning on here is nill. You just pop open the SD card and read it. I hope this review helps. I love this cam for the money, which was much less than many other comparable units.

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This is the first camcorder I've owned, so my rating is based on my personal satisfaction and not comparison to other cameras. Good: - 3ccd: The color depth and saturation are very good. - Optical image… stabilization works really well. - 5.1 surround sound: It's actually very good when you're watching your videos with a good pair of headphones--it really adds dimension to the sound. The sound quality is also good. Bad: - Low resolution sensors: The 1080p resolution is pushing the 1/6" sensors beyond their capacity. - Compression: if you have an eye for picture quality you can see the compression in the videos, even at highest quality. It's not something the average viewer would notice though. - Grainy indoors. I don't know how it compares to other cameras, but my wife and I both noticed how grainy the picture is in anything but full sunlight. Conclusion: I'm satisfied with the camera for the price I paid. If you can't stand compression artifacts and graininess indoors, get a more expensive camera.

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I've had this camcorder for a few weeks now. If you are looking for a reasonably priced entry level high-definition camcorder that doesn't use tape, then the Panasonic HDC-SD9 is a great buy. It is by no… means a perfect camcorder, but if you want a camera that produces better video, expect to pay at least $250 more. The Panasonic shoots spectacular video outdoors. It is compact, easy to handle, and easy to use for beginners. My one complaint (and many reviewers have already pointed this out), is that it performs poorly in low light conditions. Video shot indoors tends to be noisy and lackluster. So if you need a camera that will shoot beautiful high definition video indoors, you may want to buy a (condiserably) more expensive camcorder, or opt for a comparably priced HDV (digital tape) camera. The other issues that reviewers have mentioned are not insurmountable problems. Yes, the joystick menu button is in an ackward place, but you will get used to it. The location of the ports makes absolutely no sense and hooking it up to a PC is a clumsy process. But this need not be an issue - you can simply take your SD card out of the camera and pop it directly into your PC's SD card reader. I haven't plugged my camcorder into my PC once. Also keep in mind that the camera shoots in AVCHD format. Many of the leading video editing software now supports this format (I personally use Pinnacle 12), but older applications may not support it, since it is a relatively new format. The Panasonic doesn't shoot particularly great still photos, but neither do most reasonably priced camcorders. Some strong points worth mention: -Great image stabilization -Decent battery life -A pre-record mode that continuously shoots (and then records over) several second of video, so you won't have to miss those spontaneous and unexpected moments. -on screen tips that give you shooting pointers on the fly (i.e. turn on smart contrast, "panning too fast", etc). There are no other high definition camcorders that record to SD cards or hard drives within the Panasonic's price range, except for those low end "youtube ready" cameras. So if you want high definition and you hate using tape, this camera gives you great bang for the buck.

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I'm quite happy with the camcorder, ease of use is what I expected for the form factor. Menu navigation is somewhat tedious, but I don't find it to be all the needed once you're shooting. SD memory… medium is great - I love the fact that the camera is silent, small, and lightweight. It gets intriguingly warm when shooting for extended periods. Only complaints are the avchd file types and lack of good free editing tools. Overall great value and I'm pleased.

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I purchased this HD Camcorder and I have been using it for around three months. Yes, I agree in low light it really doesn't have the greatest picture however. What I paid for this is around the same as I… paid for my old JVC and this thing blows it away. 16/9 widescreen. The stills look great. The video is most of the time crystle clear. I've had a couple of time when the color was a bit over saturated but I believe it was most likely the way I set it up and not the cameras fault. I believe this is an awesome consumer HD camcorder for the money I really don't think you'll find anything better.

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