HD2 vs Panasonic HDC-SD1

[Timothy Takemoto]

I have ong been looking for a solid state camera with a microphone for a long time. I have tape cameras and hate capturing. I have a DVD camera and it still requires that I capture. I thought that it would be random access. HDD is random access but I have enough troubles with my computer hard disks dying. I don't want to carry another hard disk around with me.

The only camera that I end up using is my Casio Exilim p505 which shoots okay (quite good enough for my computer and TV) video, but it does not have an external microphone. And that means I can only really use it indoors or on non-windy days. I want to use it to make educational videos, where I speak to a camera and that means I need a microphone.

So I am very taken with the Xacti HD2. The H1000 caught my eye first (the microphone input is in an obvious place on the front) but I don't think that I need the definition and the format requires more computer power.

I am also considering Panasonic HDV SD1 or SD3. the latest, SD5 and I think SD7 do not have a microphone input. The HDV SD1 is a three ccd camera. It is still pretty small but not really pocket size. And the strange thing is that on the Japanese ebay (auctions.yahoo.jp) I can get the two cameras for about the same price at around 45000 yen. So on the one hand there is this "gadget" from a "cheap" company which seems to provide awesome quality, and on the other there is a fairly well received 3CCD camera from the amateur film makers' friend.

I am wondering if I am going to regret getting the Xacti HD2.

Does the Panasonic HDC-SD1 quality blow the Xacti's out of the water?

The Aacti DMX HD2 quality looks good enough for me. I have a access to a Panasonic AG-HVX200 if I need higher quality. The Xacti will be my Exilim p505 replacement, with a microphone.