Panasonic HDC-SD60 review

Look closely at Panasonic's impressive new SD60 and you'll discover features you won't find on last year's models. In many respects, the SD60 picks up where the popular SD20 left off. For a start, Panasonic has at last provided a larger 1/4in Cmos image sensor, which compares favourably to the 1/6in sensors found in its predecessors. The result is greatly improved performance in lower light, especially indoors in the shade or at dusk, as well as improved definition and colour resolution in optimum lighting.

As one of a family of four similarly specified models that offer a variation in recording media such as 16GB twin-memory (TM60), 8GB twin memory (TM55) and 120GB HDD plus SD memory card (HS60), the SD60 enables recording of HD video and stills to SD memory cards only and is available in a choice of black, red or silver.

Like its siblings, it generates full 1920 x 1080-pixel image sequences at four quality settings, of which the highest is 'HA' (17Mbits/sec). There's no 25p progressive scan option, although it does provide both 16:9 HD and 4:3 standard-definition modes, with the added option of outputting either via HDMI cable (not supplied in the box), component digital or AV composite video (cables supplied). Movies and stills can be transferred to an Intel Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 or later using the USB cable or by inserting the card into a reader.

The SD60's new SDXC-compatible memory card slot enables users to take advantage of the maximum 64GB SD card capacity and provides six hours 20 minutes recording time at the highest 'HA' setting when using a Class 4 SDXC card.

Also provided is a 25x optical zoom lens, which is supplemented by what Panasonic calls a 35x 'i.Zoom' digital zoom extension. Despite being digital, it performs very well, which is more than can be said for the camcorder's maximum 1500x digital zoom. The lens itself produces images that look great on a 42in LCD HDTV, with the zoom action being fast and responsive.

Other features we've come to expect from HD camcorders at this price point are PreREC (providing a three-second standby-cache mode, which means you'll never miss the beginning of an unexpected action), six-object face detection with name tagging, Panasonic's acclaimed optical image stabilisation technology and more.

The camera's 2.7in LCD touch-screen menu navigation is much easier and more intuitive to use than other manufacturers' systems, both when navigating around the clearly designed graphical menu system and when selecting and adjusting controls while recording. After deselecting the intrusive alert sound, it's quite easy to take control of manual focus, white balance, shutter speed and iris using the touch-screen controls. One feature we really like is AF/AE Tracking, which enables users to point to an object on screen to confirm a given value (focus, exposure and so on), after which point the software will track the object and hold the setting throughout the clip.

The SD20's larger sensor copes very well in optimum light, as well as in mixed lighting conditions and even high-contrast ratio lighting (where very light and dark areas occupy the same image). There's less noticeable picture noise, grey-outs or pixellation like you find from other models at this price point.

Battery performance is good, too; the supplied Lithium-ion battery took one hour 35 minutes to charge and gave us more than two hours of fully operational intermittent usage.

There's one noticeable omission from the new model: a remote control. This isn't good because it makes it awkward to control the camera when showing off clips on an HDTV when you're slumped in your favourite armchair. That said, if you're importing its clips into your Intel Mac via USB or card reader, it won't be an issue. Otherwise, gripes are few and far between on such a small, well-featured camcorder that turns in great HD movies in pretty much all lighting environments - especially when you consider its price. All of these factors combined could well put the SD20 at the top of its class. Nice one, Panasonic.