Because of Sony's not using SDHC I couldn't record any video or stills.

At the show when I learned movie mode was full auto, I rejected the HDX1 out of hand. Thinking about it -- I'm not so sure I should have.

The lack of Power Zoom on the GH1 is a really big negative. And, if it costs 3X the Sony -- that's not helpful because we all know over the next few years there will be dozens of new models.

Also, AVCHD (from the Pana) typically needs to be converted to an intermediate format, while h.264 does not. Sony uses h.264/AVC.

Reading the Sony specs:

1280 x 720 (Approx.30fps, Progressive) <<< should be FINE?

1280 x 720 (Standard) (Approx.30fps, Progressive)

1440 x 1080 (Fine) (Approx.30fps, Progressive)

1440 x 1080 (Standard) (Approx.30fps, Progressive)

VGA (640 x 480, Approx.30fps, Progressive)

Questions I should have asked:

1) Is "approximately" 30fps a way of saying 29.97?

2) The maximum movie record time is 29M. Is that for 2GB or 4GB? If for 4GB, then at 24Mbps one would get 1-hour at 12GB so 30M in 6GB. 4GB is 2/3 of 6GB so the Low (standard) must be about 16Mbps. Which means FINE will be about 24Mps. Very good.

Question they had no answer for: when in movie mode has Sony been smart enough to -- as Casio does -- use a program mode that tries to keep shutter-speed slow?

PS: big negative: no AF/AE lock. Not good for movies!


DSC-HX1 | Cyber-shot® Digital Camera DSC-HX1 | Sony | Sony Style USA

Yes, I believe it is; they use the same language when describing the HD video mode of the T500, and that camera produces 29.97 video.

This alone would send a lot of potential buyers of this camera (for the video feature) to the new Panasonic despite the added cost and as you mentioned, the lack of rocker zoom.

Too bad the camera initially looked like it would be a good alternative to the madness of disappearing manual controls on compact HD camcorders going on now.

Wacharapong

Sony has the capability of making both AE and AF very very accurate -- as in the V1. So, if they do so, I might still go with it since you can bet Canon or Nikon will by next year trump the Panasonic by the end of 2009. For example, a new D60 or D90. And, Sony could do a new alpha with HD video.

Plus, I really don't want p24.