Panasonic HDC-SD200 – The Review
Panasonic HDC-SD200
There is a worldwide trend among manufacturers to move towards large screen televisions and high image quality and HD transmission. As camcorder manufacturers are making the transition to HD quality, Panasonic is expanding a line of high-quality HD camcorders to include the HDC-SD200. The Panasonic HDC-SD200 is an affordable, up-to-date HD camcorder that is consistent with Panasonic’s long-standing position.
When it comes to making movies, good isn’t good enough. The same goes for HD camcorders. That’s why Panasonic has launched the HDC-SD200, offering Full HD camcorders and more,
The Panasonic HDC-SD200 is a great way to film all of life’s best moments in high quality, whether you’re shooting up close or far. Image sharpness and exposure are optimized with the help of high-performance auto adjustments, while intelligent auto mode, face detection
KEY FEATURES
Leica 1 2x optical zoom Full HD 1920×1080 SD/SDHC flash memory only 5.1 surround sound audio recording
1 0.6 megapixel still images Optical Image Stabilizer Intelligent Auto Face Detection with tracking
Panasonic HDC-SD2OO
The new flash-based SD200 offers much more than the H5300, but at a lower price.
The new Panasonic SD200 is a new full HD camcorder ~ New SD200 full HD camcorders }, with a similar specification to the more professional HS300 Lacking mic inputs and headphone output jacks, the flash-based SD200 can almost be described as a ‘lite’ H5300 model The SD200 is considered the ‘lite’ model, has similar specifications to the professional HS300 but lacks the mic inputs and output jacks of headphones. By using only SD/SDHL cards, the cost of the 50200 is significantly lower than the flagship HS300 with its dual (hybrid) recording media (HOD and SD/SDHL cards). SD2OO It comes with high-quality Leica-branded 12x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and Panasonic’s new three-MOS sensor arrangement. Full HD 1920×1080 video, plus 10-megapixel still image capability. The SD200 also features Panasonic’s excellent Intelligent Auto (iA) feature, which really takes the stress out of the entire shooting experience.
Activated by pressing a button, the (iA) function optimizes exposure, scene modes, focus and contrast for the scene being recorded, silently and without any clue as to what is happening. Good Panasonic. The SD200 also provides the user with face detection, just by touching the chosen face on the 2.7-inch drop-down screen means the SD200 has face tracking capability. Once chosen, the camcorder automatically tracks the face in the frame, optimizing overall image quality as it does so. So on paper this new SD 200 should produce very similar results to the c.E1 000 H5300 model. Or at least get very close, where the cost savings are apparent in the SD200 is with the lack of an accessory shoe for an external microphone or video light. The mic-in and headphone-out jacks are also missing, which means you have to live with the built-in 5.1 surround mic, which isn’t ideal, but fine for general use}
If you want to shoot flower openings, rolling clouds, or high-speed traffic trails, then the SD200, which can be programmed to shoot at preset intervals between 1 and 120 seconds. The 10.6-megapixel stills capability makes the SD200 a serious contender in the new field of ‘dual’ or hybrid camera technology, although the small size of the sensor can limit its overall capabilities, especially in low light.
Handling and ease of use
The SD200 looks a lot like its big brother, with a generous body size that fits perfectly in the right hand. The size helps a bit to keep the SD200 stable, but the camcorder still feels a bit ‘plastic’ overall. It’s a small point and for most users, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Panasonic’s layout is very easy to navigate. The mode selector on the right rear of the unit is simple and concise in operation. The menu system is easy to navigate, using the touchscreen and accessing SD card media to view or delete material was straightforward, with the main delete button safely appearing as part of the button array around the edge of the dropdown screen. Zoom controls worked smoothly as expected, and the iA button is a real bonus at times, overriding the camcorder’s settings to produce a “nicer” result.
More details
Discreetly hidden output connectors
Output jack connectors for H0MI, AV, and USB cables are hidden behind the display recess, under a subtly concealed sliding door, simplifying the SD200’s styling.
PRO-REC button keeps a 3-second clip in the camcorder’s buffer, which is instantly added to the footers of a recording as soon as you hit the Play button – more missed takes
performance capacity
The SD200 houses a valuable range of high-quality features and, combined with the 9.15-megapixel sensor, it promises a lot too.
As expected, the performance of the Panasonic SD200 did not disappoint. The video was of high quality, with good contrast and colors; again, exactly as you would expect from a camcorder at this price. The Leica lens produced excellent, sharp images, while the 700x digital zoom/zoom capability was also impressive, if a bit over the top! Using the Intelligent Auto feature was a piece of cake: a simple button press ensured that pictures were top-notch without the camcorder making us aware that it was actually doing something drastic in the settings. The PRE-RC function also worked very well, meaning we never missed the start of any sequence – the SD200 kept three seconds ‘in reserve’ at all times as promised. PC-based edition) via the supplied package, which can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, for most of us, direct output to DVD is a simple matter of pressing a button. Different users can also customize their own playlists from recorded clips for output. Whether you’re a fan of touch screens or not, but practical to say that the 27-i output screen on the SD200 is great to use and a very positive, it’s just covered in finger marks, the inescapable downside with all those LCD screens.
The built-in microphone can be configured for 5.1 surround sound and zooming with the lens or for standard stereo recording, but it struggled at times, emphasizing the need to use a more professional external unit for better quality and more realistic sound.
Overall verdict on the Panasonic SD600, point-and-shoot simplicity meets the punch and performance of 1920×1080, 50p Full HD recording and it’s a good combination