Panasonic HDC-SD100--anyone? at DVinfo.net

Scott Brickert · January 23rd, 2009, 05:37 PM

i like the looks of the specs on this cam.

Reviewers appear either to love it or hate it.

Anyone using one?

David Andrews · January 24th, 2009, 06:57 AM

I purchased one recently, earlier than intended, in order to beat expected price increases because of yen appreciation versus the £.

Overall I like it (it is a hobby for me). In addition to auto it offers two manual options, one with scene presets (ie portrait, landscape etc) but with manual focus and zoom, the other fully manual. I find it very small to hold steady and prefer using it with a monopod for better control. The control buttons are also very small but I have got used to these quite quickly. I read that it has already been replaced with a new cam with touch screen controls - which do not appeal to me.

The picture is fine for me - including family shots taken indoors - but note that this is not the verdict of CamcorderInfo tests. The SD card can be watched immediately on my Panasonic TV or a PS3 via the SD card slots. Simple cuts editing is possible in camera with the supplied software. For editing I use Edius after converting AVCHD files to the Edius HQ format; conversion is easily done via a free AVCHDtoHQ converter.

To recap. It is a consumer cam. It does the job I need.

Duane Prince · January 28th, 2009, 12:31 PM

Ditto on what was said above, only I like the OIS on this cam... at full telephoto shots, I was able to follow game; Deer, Eagle etc, with good results, with a little practice...

I bought it with the notion to check out the AVCHD format & Pana(I've used mostly Sony before), & I'm quite pleased with the SD100, as I like to have manual control, at least there if I want it....

After a decade of tape usage, I really like the SD card recording... simple, faster than realtime import, no tape to mess with...

The picture quality is quite good, even on my friends Magnovox 50" Plasma, but somewhat noisy(small sensors?), almost organic looking, & seems to be there all the time, which I'm ok with... stills are not this cams strong point though...

I use this instead of my Sony HC1 now, it's much simpler, & the picture quality is there, & you can mount a shotgun mic in the shoe....

January 23rd, 2009, 05:37 PM	#1
Scott Brickert Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Crested Butte, CO Posts: 576	Panasonic HDC-SD100--anyone? i like the looks of the specs on this cam. Reviewers appear either to love it or hate it. Anyone using one? __________________ Scott Shot-By-Scott

January 28th, 2009, 12:31 PM	#3
Duane Prince Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: central AZ. Posts: 36	agree... Ditto on what was said above, only I like the OIS on this cam... at full telephoto shots, I was able to follow game; Deer, Eagle etc, with good results, with a little practice... I bought it with the notion to check out the AVCHD format & Pana(I've used mostly Sony before), & I'm quite pleased with the SD100, as I like to have manual control, at least there if I want it.... After a decade of tape usage, I really like the SD card recording... simple, faster than realtime import, no tape to mess with... The picture quality is quite good, even on my friends Magnovox 50" Plasma, but somewhat noisy(small sensors?), almost organic looking, & seems to be there all the time, which I'm ok with... stills are not this cams strong point though... I use this instead of my Sony HC1 now, it's much simpler, & the picture quality is there, & you can mount a shotgun mic in the shoe.... __________________ tumbleweed

January 24th, 2009, 06:57 AM	#2
David Andrews Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 131	I purchased one recently, earlier than intended, in order to beat expected price increases because of yen appreciation versus the £. Overall I like it (it is a hobby for me). In addition to auto it offers two manual options, one with scene presets (ie portrait, landscape etc) but with manual focus and zoom, the other fully manual. I find it very small to hold steady and prefer using it with a monopod for better control. The control buttons are also very small but I have got used to these quite quickly. I read that it has already been replaced with a new cam with touch screen controls - which do not appeal to me. The picture is fine for me - including family shots taken indoors - but note that this is not the verdict of CamcorderInfo tests. The SD card can be watched immediately on my Panasonic TV or a PS3 via the SD card slots. Simple cuts editing is possible in camera with the supplied software. For editing I use Edius after converting AVCHD files to the Edius HQ format; conversion is easily done via a free AVCHDtoHQ converter. To recap. It is a consumer cam. It does the job I need.