Product Description

The SX5 features Advanced O.I.S. and the 3CCD camera system. Advanced O.I.S. prevents blurry images caused by unsteady hands as you shoot, so images are clear, sharp and beautiful on a big TV screen. The 3CCD camera system is used in most professional broadcasting equipment because it draws out the full potential of the camera's high image quality.One of the new functions, called Pre-Rec, simplifies shooting and prevents mistakes. Pre-Rec records the image for 3 seconds before you even start shooting, so you're sure to capture unexpected actions that you would otherwise miss. Intelligent Contrast Control helps render natural-looking, highly nuanced images with proper contrast.Images recorded onto an SDHC/SD Memory Card can be copied onto a DVD disc entirely within the SX5, thanks to a one-touch copy function. Prior to shooting, you can also choose to save the data in either AVCHD or MPEG-2 format to match your playback device.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4961 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: HDC-SX5
• Released on: 2007-09-15
• Dimensions: 3.70" h x 3.30" w x 5.90" l, 1.20 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Record HD video direct to SDHC cards and DVD
• 1920 x 1080 full-HD recording; HD Advanced Pure Color Engine
• Leica Dicomar lens with 10x optical zoom; built-in Advanced O.I.S.
• Intelligent Contrast Control; Pre-rec function-Reviews Give The Lens As 12X
• 2.7-inch wide-angle LCD monitor; 170-degree viewing angle

Manufacturer Description
Manufacturer Description The new Pansonic HDC-SX5 camcorder employs cutting-edge imaging technology to capture video recordings that are breathtakingly clear and vibrant, especially when viewed on a high-quality, large screen TV.

The HDC-SX5 uses the AVCHD format to record full-HD video with 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution. It employs Panasonic's original 3CCD camera system, a professional broadcast feature, which renders vivid, true-to-life colors, outstanding detail and rich gradation. It also boast Panasonic’s new Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), minimizing the effect of hand shake. This technology helps produce crisp, clear images, which is especially important for viewing on large-screen high-resolution TVs where image imperfections are easily visible.

The HDC-SX5 can record full-HD motion images onto both SDHC/SD memory cards and DVD discs. It can record up to 180 minutes of video on an 8GB SDHC memory card, and up to 60 minutes on a 3-inch DVD-R dual-layer disc. The combined media captures up to 240 minutes of full-HD recording. The SX5 can also copy recorded video from an SDHC/SD memory card to a 3-inch DVD disc internally with the touch of a single button, without connecting to a PC. Video can also be recorded on a DVD disc in standard-definition (MPEG2) format for playback on a DVD recorder/player.

Panasonic HDC-SX5 Highlights

1920 x 1080 full-HD recording While conventional HD recordings have 1,440 pixels in the horizontal direction, full-HD recordings have 1,920. And while conventional recordings have a total of around 1.55 million pixels, full-HD recordings have around 2.07 million -- about 30 percent more. In fact, full-HD has the most pixels of any HD format, and thus can render images with unmatched detail and resolution.

10x optical zoom moves you closer to the action

10x optical zoom Distant subjects can be enlarged so they appear to be right up close. This allows dynamic shots of both motion and still pictures.

Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) The SX5 features Panasonic's new and improved image-stabilization system. The system uses gyro-sensors to detect hand-shake, then shifts a lens and adjusts its optical axis to compensate. Called Advanced O.I.S., this system performs the compensation operation eight times more frequently than Panasonic’s previous system, thus achieving even greater precision and accuracy. Because this is an optical system, there is virtually no loss of quality, resulting in images that are captured in all their original beauty. Advanced O.I.S. reduces the subtle blurring that can be caused by even a slight bit of hand-shake, and it is truly necessary in an age of large-screen, high-resolution TVs, when every image imperfection is easily visible.

A 3CCD system results in superior color reproduction

3CCD camera system Panasonic has downsized its professional 3CCD camera system for use in consumer models. In a 3CCD camera system, the light received through the lens is split into its three primary color components (red, green and blue), and the signal from each is processed by one of the three CCDs. This system, in which three separate CCDs capture and process the light information received through the lens, helps reproduce high-resolution HD images with magnificent color.

The multi-coated lens (right) delivers clear images with no color bleeding

Leica Dicomar lens Photographers around the world know Leica Camera AG as a maker of superb cameras and lenses. This company's advanced optical technology has been fused with Panasonic's leading-edge digital technology to create the Leica Dicomar lens. The Leica Dicomar lens provided in the HDC-SX5 features 12 lens elements in eight groups, and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce the blurring of color. A special multi-coating process is applied to the 14 lens element surfaces to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting.

Pre-Rec function With many camcorders it is easy to miss capturing a critical moment, such as a goal being scored. The Pre-Rec function eliminates this problem. When this feature is activated, the camcorder continuously records three seconds of images onto an internal buffer memory. Then when the record button is pressed, the three seconds immediately prior are added at the beginning of the clip recorded.

Intelligent Contrast Control This intelligent new function continually measures the ambient light intensity and adjusts the contrast as it changes. Providing control over a wider range of lighting conditions than previous functions, Intelligent Contrast Control helps prevent a washed-out look in bright parts of an image and black-outs in shadowy areas. Images are captured with natural nuances, contrast and depth, even when shooting toward the light source.

HD Advanced Pure Color Engine To match the newly developed full-HD CCD, Panasonic has further enhanced its acclaimed Advanced Pure Color Engine image processor. A new noise-reduction circuit combines with the new Intelligent Contrast Control circuit to boost image quality while reducing power consumption. Offering superior images and longer battery life, the HD Advanced Pure Color Engine takes camcorder performance to new heights.

Shoot from any angle with the wide-view LCD

Wide-angle LCD monitor The SX5 incorporates a new LCD that has 300,000 pixels and a wide 170-degree viewing angle both vertically and horizontally. The wider viewing angle is a big advantage in high-angle and low-angle shooting. It's a big benefit in playback too, allowing several people at the same time to enjoy viewing a video clip.

Power LCD Extra The brightness of the LCD can be set to either of two levels to match the ambient light condition. At the brighter setting, the LCD provides clear, easy viewing even when shooting outdoors on a sunny day.

Playback EZ Sync The SX5 is compatible with Panasonic's EZ Sync. Simply connect it to a Panasonic TV via an HDMI cable and follow on-screen prompts to operate the camcorder using the TV remote control. This adds extra ease and convenience to the fun of viewing the full-HD video.

Focus Assist in action

Focus Assist This function enlarges the center of the image, making it easier for you to get a clear, sharp shot when focusing manually.

Direct viewing with SD card slot The SDHC/SD memory card can simply be taken from the SX5 and slipped into the card slot of select Panasonic plasma TVs to view full-HD images recorded in the AVCHD format. Images saved as JPEGs can be viewed using the SD memory card slot in select Panasonic models as well.

One-button dubbing The SX5 is a hybrid camcorder that can record full-HD motion images onto both SDHC/SD memory cards and DVD discs. It can copy data from a memory card to a disc internally, without requiring use of a PC or other equipment. This provides a quick, easy way to copy recordings onto a DVD disc for storage and archiving. By simply connecting the SX5 to a TV with an optional HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable, the SX5 can also play back the images copied to the DVD disc. Result: easy viewing on a TV without having to use a DVD player.

Editing Software "HD Writer 2.0" Full-HD video clips can be easily edited with the software provided or copied onto a DVD disc. The video data can be saved in either the AVCHD or DVD-VIDEO format, depending on how it will be played back. Recordings saved in the full-HD AVCHD format are suitable for playback with a Blu-ray Disc player, while DVD-VIDEO (standard definition) recordings can be played back with a DVD player.

Customer Reviews

Very happy!
Sure, it's not perfect, but for the price, you simply cannot beat this. Pick up a couple of 8GB memorycards and you are good to go (they are cheap!).

Pluses:
-Optical Image Stabilizer
-HD!!!! (1920x1080i) - Good Quality in daylight/normal light indoors
-SDHC cards (cheap and high capacity)
-DVD burner if you want to make Standard Def captures and burn for regular dvd playback. (can also be used to store HD content, but needs special players for playback)
-Battery Capacity is very good
-Nice LCD Screen
-Prerec, if activated, it continously records the last 3 seconds, so when you hit record, it will remember and store the previous 3 seconds as well. Good if you are a bit slow to start recording..

Minuses:
-A bit large and clumsy (partly due to inclusion of dvd burner and large capacity battery!)
-Noisy picture in low light situations

Note: Works well with PS3, if you have the 80GB version, stick the SDHC card in directly, if you own the 40GB version, buy a cheap USB adapter that supports SDHC.

A good HD camcorder at a great price!
Well worth the price and then some. I'm tempted to give it 5 stars due to price but the low light picture is not good enough and AVCHD is too annoying at this time.

Pros:
- HD Camcorder with 3 CCD and O.I.S. (prevents blurry images)
- 2 Good and inexpensive media options (mini DVD and SDHC)
- AVCHD Should have a long future ahead with Blu-Ray winning the HD war
- Easy to use
- All the features I need and more
- Crisp vivid footage outside and in bright lighting
- Price (About half that of similar camcorders)

Cons
- Not the best HD image in low to standard indoor situations (Even in low light it is much better than my standard def camcorder but not 'crisp')
- Not as 'cute' as some other smaller camcorders
- AVCHD is all but impossible to edit easily with today's h/w and s/w. (I anticipate this will get better)
- You need a Blu-Ray player to play AVCHD. (You can use the camcorder to play the movies until the ps3 or blu-ray players prices drop.. or if new DVD players get the codex for AVCHD)

Over all I am quite happy. Once I get a Blu-ray player and a better PC to edit the video it will be great. But for now the picture is great and the remote that comes in the box makes using the camcorder as the player easy. I figure could wait for the prices to drop on blu-ray and better AVCHD editing to come out... but I might miss a couple of years of HD family movies so I'll deal with some inconvenience today for better video for tomorrow.

Its What you need!!
I have been playing with this camcorder for a day and I am impressed!! The image stabilizer makes my shots look like the camera was on a mount. After a few sec. of playing around with it or a few min. of reading the manual its a sinch to use. Very user friendly and definatly worth the money. I have previewed many other camcorders and this fits the bill.

The only down side is you have to buy SD cards and Miny disks. If it had an internal hard drive It would be an A++ But then again the price would be alot higher and there would be a lot of noise. This thing is SILENT! Its small and there are plenty of thing you can buy to go along with it. For the price and A- rating you wont beet it!! PS.Get the 8GB card with it. You are going to buy it any way so why wate?