Panasonic HDC SD9 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: If you've been keeping an eye on the camcorder market, you'll know tape and disks are conceding to models that record high quality video onto memory cards. Panasonic started the ball rolling 18 months ago with the SD1, which used a new format called ...

Verdict: Small camera, big picture. Great features, superb quality, ideal for newcomers to HD.

Review summary: Panasonic's tiny HDC-SD9 camcorder represents the third generation of high-definition camcorders that record exclusively to an SD memory card. Designed for point-and-shoot video photographers, it is claimed as the world's smallest and lightest Full-HD ...

Verdict: Overall performance was good for the SD9's specifications. Exposure and focusing adjustments were quick and accurate for most shots, although video was often slightly over-exposed when auto mode was used in bright light and focus slowed slightly in ...

Award: Recommended!

Review summary: Key improvements over the SD5 make this a still more enticing pocket HD camcorder prospect

Verdict: But there are some key changes. The big addition is progressive scanning for true Full HD - the SD5 only recorded interlaced HD. Then there's the new 17Mb/s AVCHD "HA" quality mode, as well as 13Mb/s HG, although recording in HA will only allow you to ...

Review summary: Whether you're in the market for a new camcorder for that trip of a lifetime or are a newcomer thinking of getting into video blogging, there's plenty of choice when it comes to how (and in which format) you record your home movies.

Pros: Small yet well constructed, fast in operation, storage capacity expandable via larger SDHC media

Cons: Storage via SD media only, picture and sound not as impressive as competing larger-build models

Verdict: While it seems like a good mid-range option, performance in low light is not as good as the others, with overall picture quality not as sharp. Auto white balance performance is also variable, and its audio is not quite as 'full' sounding as we'd like. ...

Review summary: Acclaimed for its three-CCD sensor set-up, Panasonic's HDC-SD9 is half the size of competing camcorders - due in part to its favouring of SD storage.

Verdict: While you must sacrifice a little quality to get a camcorder as diminutive as the Panasonic HDC-SD9, given the ease of use and responsiveness, many will may feel it's a sacrifice worth making.