Review: Panasonic HDC-SD9 AVCHD Camcorder


Panasonic's full-HD specification 3CCD AVCHD SD-card camcorder is capable of recording 1920x1080 25P Cinema Mode video with 5.1 Surround Sound and improved feature set


Panasonic HDC-SD9 HD Camcorder with LCD open
It isn't long since we were able to publish our full, in-depth review of Panasonic's fabulous consumer-orientated HD camcorder, the HDC-SD5, which brought full-specification high definition video shooting and playback to users seeking a fully sold-state means of operation.

How time flies when you're having fun - and over the 2007 Christmas and New Year break we certainly had some fun trying out the latest two additions to Panasonic's impressive AVCHD line-up with this model and its Hybrid SD-card and Hard Disc Drive recording sibling, the HDC-HS9.

SimplyDV was lucky enough to have the use of these models for the whole of the festive holiday period, so we put each of them to good use shooting everyday family stuff in a variety of settings. We've also imported and edited clips from both camcorders using SDHC cards and the HDC-HS9's 60GB Hard Disc Drive, with the result that we have a pretty comprehensive impression of their capabilities.
Panasonic HDC-SD9 in use


First Impressions
Card slot at the rear of the HDC-SD9
What's immediately noticeable about the HDC-SD9 is its similarity to the HDC-SD5 it replaces. That's because it has inherited many of its features and specifications perhaps to the point where recent purchasers of that camera shouldn't feel it necessary to rush out and trade up to the latest model. However, some of the comments about the SD5's battery and SD card slot placement have been addressed, as have concerns about the position of the mini-joystick control, too. Whether the latter has been effected simply because there's more room inside the LCD screen recess or not is anybody's guess, but the new position seems to be better than that on the SD5 or even the SD1.

All said, users will like the SD9's compact yet very ergonomic form; it's great little cam to hold and can slip comfortably into a pocket or small bag after use. A considerable amount of its functionality is accessed via the well-designed graphical menu system, and although we have one or two little niggles we're sure that the overwhelming majority of newbies will find the HDC-SD9 just great for their home movie-making projects.

Features


Given the many similarities between this and the SD5, it's perhaps reasonable to concentrate only on the differences. For a start, all the SD9's technical specs are pretty much the same - three 1/6 inch CCDs, 520,000 pixels (effective) from each CCD in both movie and stills mode, 10x optical zoom (25x and 700x digital zoom), filter diameter of 37mm, same set of connectors (although the HDMI has now been changed from a standard HDMI to a mini HDMI socket) and 2.7" wide LCD screen with no viewfinder. There's also the "Pre Rec" standby/record function and Panasonic's very good Advanced-OIS (Optical Image Stablisation) too. The SD9's physical shape and size is very similar to its predecessor's, and it feels identical when picked up.
Inside the HDC-SD9's LCD recess

Although the camera provides full manual control over basic functions like focus, iris (aperture), shutter and microphone audio level, these are controlled via the menu button (situated inside the LCD screen recess) and by use of the mini-joystick which enables menu selection. Unlike the SD5, whose mini-joystick was positioned at the rear of the camera, this one is placed on the left side of the camera inside the screen recess. It's easier to operate with the left hand, although it's small and can sometimes be difficult to manipulate easily. The graphical menu system is well-designed and easy to navigate.

A number of features that are new to Panasonic's range of HD camcorders appear on the SD9 and its sister product, the HDC-HS9, for the first time. Among these are Intelligent Shooting - a useful mode that's ideal for beginners in which the camera senses instances where the user might modify a technique (such as detecting when panning is occurring too quickly whilst in 25P Cinema Mode and therefore suggests moving the camera more slowly) in addition to constantly modifying colour, contract and brightness to suit the scene being recorded.

Other features include face Detection - a common feature on Panasonic's hugely popular Lumix stills camera range, and which is designed to identify human faces in a scene and make unique adjustments to each. Anti-ground shooting makes use of the G-sensor in that it will switch off the camera if it is subjected to a rapid downward motion (such as being dropped) or when the user forgets to switch off the unit whilst pointing the camera at the ground.

Other options include Zebra Pattern generator (a professional-style utility which provides a LCD monitoring guide to areas of the picture which might be overexposed when using manual Iris (Aperture), and also Colour Bar generator - designed to help with the colour-balance and line-up of output devices, such as TV screens, on which the SD9's signal will be displayed via either digital or analogue connections.

One-Click disc copy


In common with the SD5, the SD9 facilitates easy backup to DVD when using the optional VW-BN1 DVD burner drive, which is connected to the camera via USB 2.0 and which is controlled from within the SD9's menu system.
Thumbnail clip icons aid operation on the HDC-SD9
Although the external burner does require an AC supply to function(it can't be powered via the USB bus), it's a convenient way of making DVD copies without the aid of any kind of computer, and can be used to make AVCHD copies of clips stored on the SDHC card in the camera.

The SD9 offers a Playlist mode in which the user can create one or more playlists of clips for playback direct to TV displays or out to DVD.This is a quick and easy way of performing a simple edit. What's more, individual clips can be split (ie: trimmed), combined or deleted altogether.

The resulting disc can be played out to a HDTV via the camera's HDMI or Component connections, with the remote control providing control over both the camera, the disc drive and the Viera HD display thanks to Panasonic's "Viera Link" (HDAVI) control system.

Connectivity


The HDC-SD9 offers HDMI out (the mini type rather than the full connector found on the SD5 and SX5), Component Digital Video out, Composite Video out plus twin Stereo audio connectors and USB 2.0 socket for transfer of movie clips and digital still images (where a separate card reader is not used). There's no external mic nor headphone output connectors, and not even the AV output offers switchable audio out.

It should be noted that both the HDMI socket and DC power input are to be found inside the battery slot at the rear of the camera body. This necessities removal of the battery in order to connect the (optional) HDMI cable and thus requiring that mains power be used when playing back via HDMI. Playback via Component and AV/Composite connections can be undertaken with battery power, however.

The HDC-SD9 offers four HD recording modes
The HDC-SD9 offers a choice of four HD recording modes

In addition to offering four HD recording modes (see the specs for the HDC-SD5 for more information), you now have the option to record in a 25P Cinema Mode, which is designed to offer a more "film-like" feel to your shots, especially when shown on a good HD display. Instead of creating frames that are made up of 50 alternate, interlaced, line scans totalling 1080, the SD9 combines these alternate scans into one "progressive scan" totalling 25 full non-interlaced frames. This mode is denoted here by 1080/25p as opposed to 1080/50i ("1080i"). This is a major new option which hasn't been featured on previous Panasonic AVCHD camcorders.

Performance


In truth, and in view of the fact that this camera inherits many of the specifications and operating features of the model it succeeds, there's little to add to what we've said about the HDC-SD5 in our exhaustive review of that model. Image quality is identical (as we proved by intercutting clips from each in the supplied HD Writer 2.5 software for Windows PC), even down to the overall performance in both optimum and low lighting conditions.

The SD9 does show some noticeable noise artefacts when recording in darker corners, and it's really important to keep a close eye on peak white areas of the image when shooting in Auto mode. Our advice for new users would be to get to know the manual operating options as soon as possible, as there's much to be gained from shooting under manual control as much as possible. We found, for instance, that recording in bright outdoor conditions required reducing the iris (aperture) for one or even two exposure stops from that recommended by the auto circuit in order to produce a good picture for display on a HDTV screen. The auto exposure tends to overcook brightly lit scenes. Although a bit difficult to get used to initially, it's reasonably easy to make adjustments to manual settings whilst keeping one eye on the LCD thanks to the "head-up" style of display.

The SD9's re-introduced 5.1 Surround Sound audio recording option is a rather strange feature, however. Although users have the choice of recording as Dolby Digital 2-channel Stereo or 5.1 Surround (menu selectable) there doesn';t seem to be a huge justification for the presence of 5.1, so we remain unconvinced by its presence here - especially since many editing applications can't handle it. In general, the audio picked up by the upward-facing microphone pickups is very good even if it does suffer from occasional wind-bumping (a common complaint with such camcorder mics).

All in all, and despite the rather rushed nature of these tests, we're extremely happy with the pictures and sounds we're getting from the SD9, so full marks to Panasonic for giving the AVCHD format yet another confident push in the right direction.

It's a product that's aimed fairly and squarely at either the complete camcorder newbie who's really only interested in shooting all the usual family and holiday video stuff or the upgrader who now wants to improve upon his/her skills whilst taking advantage of what high definition has to offer. In both these respects, therefore, the HDC-SD9 (along with its HDC-HS9 sibling) is sure to be another big hit with Panasonic in the way that the SD5 undoubtedly has been.

Conclusion


The HDC-SD9 is, like its Hybrid sibling model the HDC-HS9, an excellent camcorder which is aimed firmly at users who seek a starter camcorder capable of shooting and playing back high definition video which will look and sound great on large-format flat-panel TV displays when connected digitally. Moreover, the likely user of the SD9 will be somebody who wants high quality HD pictures and sound in a small, compact, size whilst providing an ease of use and user-friendliness that we associate with point-&-shoot digital stills cameras. In that respect the HDC-SD9 deserves credit. As the capacity of SD memory cards increases to the point where it's possible to store several hours of HD recordings onto a single card, together with other notable features like Pre-Rec, Intelligent Shooting and he SDHC card slot capable of using the latest high-capacity SD flash memory cards, is an added bonus in being able to move media clips from one to the other or save them out to high definition DVD when using the company's optional VW-BN1 DVD burner via USB 2.0.

Physical handling is ideal - especially for the beginner who doesn't want to be "fiddling" - as is the ease with which menu selections can be made and clips selected with the mini-joystick. The provision of three CCDs is something that Panasonic is pursuing, despite competitors' shift to CMOS imaging devices, and this contributes to the SD9's more-than-acceptable images in good light. The graphical user interface is well-designed and accessible to an absolute beginner. There's a concern about what exactly is going on with connectivity to some Apple Mac computer systems running iMovie '08 on Leopard (although we experienced no such problems in our tests), but this is understood to be an issue that Apple, rather than Panasonic, needs to address.

The HDC-SD9 is an excellent camcorder that is destined to continue Panasonic's success in the HD camcorder market and is perfect for beginners and upgraders alike. Well recommended.

STOP PRESS: New TV commercial and big price drops for the Panasonic HDC-SD9 over Summer 2008.

Reviewed by: CB. January 2008.

Import to computer, editing and DVD creation


Please note that we successfuly imported clips from SDHC card in the SD9 to an Apple Intel iMac running OSX 10.5 (Leopard) using both iMovie '08 and Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 with excellent results and no problems whatever. On Windows XP (SP2) PC we successfully used the bundled HD Writer 2.5 software to import and simply edit AVCHD clips via USB 2.0 which were then shared out to MPEG-2 DVD discs for playback on regular standard-definition DVD players.

Note about Importing and editing AVCHD clips via USB or card reader into a non-Intel Apple Mac or Windows/Vista PC


Voltaic is an application that will allow non-Intel Mac users to convert the AVCHD native .MTS files created by the Panasonic SD9 and HS9 into files that can be imported into iMovie and Final Cut Pro on non-Intel Macs - such as MacOS 10.4 (Tiger) apps as well as the latest MacOS 10.5 (Leopard) apps. Windows/Vista users struggling with Movie Maker will be interested to know that you can also achieve a conversion that will make it possible to edit AVCHD-acquired files in this application, too. In fact, it's possible to adapt clips for editing in any mainstream Windows video editing program

For information on how to acquire Voltaic for use on Mac OSX and Windows/Vista PCs, see: http://shedworx.com