Panasonic SD Card and Hard Disc Drive Hybrid Camcorders
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Panasonic SD Card and Hard Disc Drive Hybrid Camcorders Feature Comparison Chart
Video Direct also carries Panasonic MiniDV Camcorders, Panasonic DVD Camcorders and Panasonic High Definition Camcorders.
Click on model number in the chart below to see photo and features.
Click on any underlined feature on this chart for a more detailed explanation.
Camcorders Feature Explanations:
- 1 - Shock-Mounted Hard Disc Drive
- Panasonic SD card/hard-drive camcorders are ideal for travel and event shooting because they eliminate the constant need to change media. A 60 GB hard drive can hold 42 times more data than an 8cm-DVD disc. To ensure continuous recording under rough conditions, the hard drives are protected by a floating, anti-shock damper system and an automatic sensor that detects falls 20cm and higher, automatically disengages the hard-drive write heads, and instantly transfers the video stream to the unit's buffer memory.
Performance enhancements achieved through the use of hard-drive storage media include near-instantaneous access to movies and still images selected via thumbnail images on the viewfinder, 2X USB downloads to a PC, and one-touch DVD creation using a dedicated 'DVD Copy' button on the camcorder, bundled copy software, and a PC equipped with a DVD burner.
- 2 - Built-in SD / SDHC Memory Card Drive
- SD memory cards are incredibly versatile, holding vast amounts of information and are about the size of a postage stamp. The SD / SDHC card adds the option to record on removable media to these camcorders and scalability as well. If users do need to keep shooting before downloading a full drive, they can switch to the SD Card and continue recording without interruption.
- 3 - 2.7" Diagonal Widescreen LCD Monitor
- These models feature a wide 2.7-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you're shooting in 16:9 mode. You can enjoy shooting wide, and viewing wide. Also, scanning technology allows the LCD to show diagonal lines more sharply.
- 4 - Panasonic MPEG2 Engine
- The Panasonic MPEG2 engine is a wide-range, high-precision engine that produces smooth, beautiful moving pictures. Because it records the differences in each frame, it can render fast, complex motions -- like those of children in the thick of the action -- with exceptional precision. The MPEG2 engine also uses the Variable Bit Rate system that Panasonic adopted for their high-end DIGA DVD recorder. LP (Long Play) mode now offers nearly twice the resolution of previous MPEG2 recording video cameras, giving you the best possible resolution at the longest recording times.
- 5 - USB 2.0 High Speed Connection
- This convenient feature allows you to link the camcorder to your computer via the USB port. Then, you can easily transfer still images captured on SD memory card to your computer for use in e-mail or printed documents. These models support USB 2.0 High Speed enabling real time video transfers.
- 6 - Pure Color Engine
- The Pure Color Engine converts the CCD output signal from a complementary color signal into an RGB signal at an early stage and extracts the low-frequency luminance component from the RGB signal. This innovative engine also achieves truly superb color reproduction for high-zoomed pictures.
- 7 - PictBridge Compatible
- The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer. Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera.
- 8 - Hi-Definition Optical Zoom
- Panasonic SD/HDD camcorders come with a lens capable of a 42:1 or 32:1 optical zoom depending on model. This powerful feature acts like a telescope to produce close-up shots with extraordinary clarity, so you won't miss a single detail. It also offers variable zoom speeds, so you can zoom in for close-ups, or zoom out for wide angle shots, using any of seven different zoom speeds.
- 9 - Digital Zoom
- Through the use of digital technology, the zoom ratio on Panasonic SD/HDD camcorders can be increased to 2000:1* or 1000:1*, producing an incredibly close shot.
- 10 - MagicPix™ Images
- This feature is a great way to record still images even in low-light settings. Now you can capture still images in full color onto the MiniDV tape and save priceless memories like a sleeping baby or a moonlit vacation night.
- 11 - Waterproof up to 5 Feet*, Shockproof up to 4 Feet**, Dustproof***
- Take the SW20 underwater as deep as 5 feet and get some great video shots in the pool or ocean. Swim along with tropical fish, capture shots of a beautiful coral reef, or get action footage of a friend snorkeling. Waterproofing also means you can shoot in the rain or snow with no worries. The SW20 is designed to resist damage even if dropped from a height of up to 4 feet. Panasonic fortifies the outer body casing, making it thicker to improve rigidity and strength. Inside, Panasonic provides an intermediate resin chassis to cushion and protect the main circuit board and lens. A dustproof design keeps the SW20 safe even if handled with dirty hands or used in a place with swirling dust. The SW20 is protected against sand too, so you can take it to the beach or sports fi eld with no worries. And it's waterproof, so if the body gets dirty you can simply wash it off with water.
- 12 - High-Picture-Quality 16:9 Wide Mode
- These models offer the High-Picture-Quality Wide Mode, which produces images that make for beautiful, dramatic viewing on a wide-screen TV. The image is processed on 16:9 area of the CCD. Because the image decoded has the same proportions as your wide-screen TV, there is virtually no picture quality degradation. You get beautiful images and all the excitement and dynamism on either a wide 16:9 screen TV or a conventional 4:3 TV. These models also feature a wide 2.7-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you're shooting in 16:9 mode. You can enjoy shooting wide, and viewing wide.
- 13 - Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
- The 42x or 50x zoom lens has the power you need to take dramatic closeups or get remarkable shots of even distant subjects. But with long-distance zoom shots, even a tiny bit of hand shake has a huge effect on picture quality. That's where image stabilization comes in. Panasonic's Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) shifts a corrective lens as you shoot to eliminate the effects of hand shake, so you get clear, sharp, blur-free shots even at high zoom levels. It's an essential feature for getting the most out of this incredible zoom lens. Panasonic's Advanced O.I.S. is a new image stabilizing function that achieves around eight times higher precision than their previous system. The system uses gyro-sensors to detect handshake, then shifts a lens and adjusts its optical axis to compensate. Advanced O.I.S. enables finer, more effective hand-shake compensation.
- 14 - Power LCD Extra / Power LCD Plus
- Simply press the Power LCD button and the LCD becomes brighter, making it easier to see outdoors or in other bright locations. Also, a new scanning technology allows the LCD to show diagonal lines more sharply.
Power LCD Extra: Power LCD Extra lets you adjust the LCD brightness in two steps by simply pressing the Power LCD button. Plus 1 mode increases brightness by 80% for easy outdoor viewing, and Plus 2 mode emphasizes contrast when shooting in strong sunlight conditions such as when skiing or at the beach.
Power LCD Plus: You can set the LCD to any of five brightness levels for optimal viewing in a variety of lighting conditions. When shooting outdoors on a sunny day, make the LCD brighter. When shooting indoors, lower it. This not only makes the LCD easier to see, it's also easier on your eyes.
- 15 - Quick Start Mode
- This mode can be selected from the menu to help shoot videos on the spur of the moment. Quick Start Mode lets you shoot those not-to-be-missed scenes by turning on the power just 0.6 sec. (SW20) or 2.1 sec. (H40, H60) from the time the LCD is opened.
- 16 - One-Touch Navigation and Joy Stick Control
- With One-Touch Navigation, just press the center of the joystick to display an operating menu. The operations you use most often are right on the monitor, so it's easy to change settings or operate the camera without looking away from your subject. The joystick makes the camera much easier to use, letting you control all basic operations with one hand.
- 17 - Pre-Rec Function
- This clever function records three seconds of images even before you actually begin shooting. The images are held temporarily in the camcorder's internal memory, before recording onto the HDD or SDHC/SD Memory Card begins. This helps ensure that you won't miss the start of a moment you want to record, such as when an event begins all of a sudden. For example, if you're waiting to snap a shot of a jumping dolphin, you can press the REC button after you've made sure that the dolphin has cleared the surface of the water. The camcorder will record the entire scene, from the instant of the dolphin's jump until it disappears again into the sea.
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