http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-Announces-Two-AVCHD-Camcorders-–-HDC-SD1-and-HDC-DX1.htm

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/08/panasonics-hdc-sd1-and-hdc-dx1-avchd-1080i-camcorders-loosed/

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?&u=http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn061108-2/jn061108-2.html

I found it mentioned on Engadget's Digital Cameras blog thread. That's why I read it, I can find news their first. They don't have NDA, and they don't keep us waiting as long as others for public news.

Previously:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/another-panasonic-avchd-1080i-camcorder/

Sometimes you feel you should check the Internet, because there is something there, and this was one of those days.

More links:

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?&u=http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn061108-2/jn061108-2.html

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?&u=http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20061108/pana2.htm

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?&u=http://panasonic.jp/dvc/sd1/

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20061108/pana1_28.jpg

Reviewed it. 13Mbps, still quiet low, but thank goodness it's not limited to 9mbps as was previously talked about.

The price is simply too much, it is not progressive, so many of us could be better off buying an Canon MV10, or HC3, or Sanyo.

3 chip pixel shift most likely 1/4inch. The three chip is a bit of overkill in the market, bayer will do it cheaper, and Foveon has moved out into other markets, I have recently seen a machine vision camera with Foveon based 1/3inch sensor. I have the spec sheet for the 14 mpixel Foveon, and if this technology was moved to 1/3inch cameras it could be a great cost cutting/performance advancement. The market is changing and maturing with competitors, we can no longer trust that things will move in progression. Even small Solid state camcorder manufactures are not too incapable of doing the jump into higher HD quality..

If there is low noise image I think the camera could compete with all those low cost HDV cameras, for non professional use.

It is a nice looking camera, if it was closer to $700, or had low noise 18-24mb/s progressive, I would be more interested in buying it.

So, Pana invents the market, Sony gets the cameras first, and gets the highest rate, but Pana has higher rate for DVD and 3 chip etc.

As I said in another thread, they better have a focusing ring. They should at least release one that does.

It might be difficult for people to find the news on this, as this thread has been moved to the AVCHD thread.