At a time when all the major camcorder brands are bringing us pocket-sized camcorders that shoot full high definition video, Panasonic steps up the pressure even more with a couple of new models that are perfectly timed for the Summer season.

In our latest and exclusive camcorder review, we bring you our thoughts on the HDC-TM10 - a great little AVCHD camcorder that gives users the choice of recording full-specification movie clips and digital still pictures to either a SDHC (high capacity SD) card or to built-in 8 Gigabyte flash memory.

And whilst the camcorder itself - whose launch partner was the the similar-specified but SD card only HDC-SD10 - might be small and easy for complete beginners to pick up and use, it shoots superb HD video that will look and sound great on the latest HDTV displays.

Where will it all go next? Answers on a postcard, please. Meanwhile, check out what we think of this little beauty for yourself:

SimplyDV Review: Panasonic HDC-TM10 twin-media AVCHD camcorder

What do we think of it? Well, the clue's in the picture above!

And don't forget that you can the new TM10 and anything else of a camcordery nature over on the UK's favourite camcorder user forums - the SimplyDV Forums, no less!

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Panasonic has announced a new range of SDHC Memory Cards with Class 10 speed specification which are aimed at users of AVCHD camcorders and DSLRs (Digital SLR cameras) who require consistent and reliable capture of Full-HD 1920 x 1080 video and consecutive high-resolution digital stills respectively. Class 10 is a new speed specification standardized by the SD Card Association as part of its new SD Card Specification Version 3.0.

The new Panasonic GOLD line series will be the world’s first memory cards to adopt this new speed class and will be available in the following four models:

• RP-SDW04G (4GB)
• RP-SDW08G (8GB)
• RP-SDW16G (16GB)
• RP-SDW32G (32GB)

With the current range of Panasonic classes 4 and 6 cards already established among video enthusiasts and photographers, the new Class 10 products are claimed to deliver an increase of data transfer speed of 40% over that of existing Class 4 cards, allowing higher-speed transfer of files to a PC or Apple Mac. Its Class 10 speed capability - combined with a maximum speed of 22MB/s thanks to a built-in intelligent controller - is claimed by its maker to be "ideal for large volume data recording and transmission in high definition applications".

At the same time as the launch of the Gold line of products, Panasonic will also introduce a Silver line series with Class 4 speed specification and which provides a maximum data transfer speed of up to 20MB/s. These cards are also designed with high definition video recording in mind. All the new models will come with eco-friendly credentials, too; the plastic used in previous packaging has been reduced by 90%, we're assured.

The new cards will be available in the UK from June 2009.

In a launch perfectly timed for the Summer, Panasonic has announced two new pocket-sized AVCHD camcorders - the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 - claimed to be the world's lightest Full-HD camcorders available.

We were able to see pre-production samples of these two models a month ago and they really are as described - lightweight and ideal for carrying with you at all times.

Weighing in at a mere 227g, the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 are the world’s lightest full high definition camcorders and have each been given an impressive 16x optical zoom, touch screen control, iA with AF tracking and Advanced O.I.S (Optical Image Stabiliser).

The SD10 and TM10 differ only by their recording format. The SD10 records to SD/SDHC Memory Card, while the TM10 offers 8GB built in memory in addition to a SD/SDHC Memory Card recording capability.

Powerful optical zoom with Panasonic OIS
Both models feature a 16x optical zoom, and Panasonic's much-praised Advanced O.I.S. is designed to minimise camera shake whilst zooming in hand-held mode. Advanced O.I.S., which detects and corrects for hand-shake around 4,000 times per second, combines with the 16x optical zoom to produce clear, stable zoom shots. The new Active mode also extends the hand-shake correction range, reducing the kind of hand-shake that often occurs when shooting while walking.

Point and Shoot with AF/AE Tracking
The HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 feature the iA (Intelligent Auto) function, which automatically sets the most suitable Scene mode according to the shooting conditions. These include Advanced O.I.S; Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure so faces are captured perfectly; Intelligent Contrast Control, which helps ensure proper contrast; and Intelligent Scene Selector, which determines the shooting conditions and automatically selects the Scene setting that will provide optimal results.

Both camcorders are also equipped with AF/AE Tracking, which automatically tracks a moving subject for consistently beautiful results. AF/AE Tracking, which was very popular in previous models, differs from normal auto settings in that, once the user touches a selected subject on the touch-screen - the subject can be at the centre of the screen or at an edge - and locks onto the subject, AF/AE Tracking maintains the focus and exposure even if the subject moves or turns to one side. This records the subject with the optimal AF/AE (Auto focus/Auto exposure) settings.

Twin Memory Recording – Relay Recording (HDC-TM10)
In addition to the SD-card recording/playback capability of the Sd10, the HDC-TM10 also enables recording of full-HD images onto either the built-in memory or an SDHC/SD Memory Card (optional), and features a Relay Recording function. When the built-in memory being used to record images becomes full, this function automatically switches the recording media to the SDHC/SD Memory Card to provide uninterrupted recording. When the TM10 with an 8-GB built-in memory is mounted with a 32-GB SDHC Memory Card, it has a total storage capacity of 40 GB to allow extended recording without interruption. Video data that is recorded by being split onto the two media types can easily be merged inside the camcorder after shooting and saved to an SDHC/SD Memory Card. When using a PC/DVD burner, the data can also be automatically merged and saved onto a DVD. This allows important scenes to be seamlessly viewed.

Copying your clips to DVD
By connecting either camcorder to a VW-BN1 DVD Burner (optional) using the supplied USB 2.0 cable, the user only has to press a single button to transfer recorded video clips from an SDHC/SD Memory Card or built in memory to a DVD (DVD-RAM/-RW/-R/-R) disc. It's also possible to select AVCHD for HD playback on a large screen TV using a Blu-ray Disc player or DVD burner or choose MPEG-2 for easy playback using a DVD player.

SD Networking with VIERA and Blu-ray Disc Player
Both of the new camcorders are compatible with the VIERA Image Viewer function. This lets the user play videos on a large screen by simply inserting a recorded SDHC/SD Memory Card into the SD card slot of a Panasonic VIERA TV. It provides instant playback of video clips recorded in the AVCHD format in full-HD quality. Similarly, video recordings can be easily played by using a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc player.

Availability and likely price in Europe
The HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 are available to buy from June, with UK prices likely be in the region of £469.99 for the SD10 and £499.99 for the TM10.

Don't forget that you can discuss these new models and any other matter of a camcordery nature over on our free and exclusive SimplyDV Forums right now!

Source: Panasonic UK Press Release. Additional words by Colin Barrett, SimplyDV.

On the face of it JVC's new flagship HD Memory Camera represents a shift away from the norm, but does it offer everything the modern HD video enthusiast might wish for?

The company's impressive-looking Everio GZ-X900 has certainly been given a stylish new look that separates it from the company's hugely-successful Everio palm-sized HD camcorders that rely on internal hard disc drive (HDD) recording and replay technology, but is it a risk worth taking?

In the first of our new-look camcorder reviews here on SimplyDV, we've not only provided you lucky readers with a brief Quick Look video but we've also given you - at considerable expense to nobody but ourselves - a sequence containing sample clips that have been shot with the very camcorder in question. Okay, so there are some limitations to bringing you this stuff via YouTube (even with its much-improved HD option) but it's a start, we think you'll agree.

Anyway, find out more about this interesting new product from JVC by taking a look at our extensive and completely independent review right here, right now - and don't forget that you can discuss this and any other matter of a camcordery nature over on our free SimplyDV Forums. They're the best on the planet - and then some!

With so many new products competing for our attention here at SimplyDV Towers, it can sometimes take a while for us to get round to looking at products even when they've been around for some time. The SD20 is a good case in point.

On first impressions, it's a great camcorder that many newbies and upgraders-to-HD will appreciate. Everyone who has seen and handled the SD20 we've had for review loves its compactness and its overall form-factor. It's small, but not so small that its main controls are difficult to access; it's big enough to be able to grip properly when in use, but not so big that it won't fit comfortably into a pocket or bag. Its general styling is consistent with lots of other products - past and present - in Panasonic's impressive and expanding AVCHD line-up and everyone here is in agreement that it "feels right" when in use.

What's really nice about the HDC-SD20 (and also its HDC-TM20 sibling, for that matter) is the fact that its reliance on solid-state recording and playback means that it can be powered up and in use in an instant. The recently-revamped graphical menu system will appeal to many users looking for simplicity and ease of navigation, and (for some, if not everyone) the touch-screen operation makes life very easy indeed when deciding which clip thumbnail to tap in order to achieve instant playback or which part of the screen to select when attempting to manually determine the optimum focus, white balance or exposure. As we've already indentified, there are those who really don't like touch-screen - but this reviewer isn't one of them.

Read our in-depth review of the Panasonic HDC-SD20 here