Review: Panasonic SDR-H280 HDD/SDHC Camcorder


Unless you've been living on the moon for the last couple of years you'll know that tape and even DVD is giving way to camcorders that record to hard disc and solid-state media. Panasonic's SDR-H280 offers both.


Panasonic SDR-H280 HDD/SDHC Camcorder
In an era when camcorder formats like Mini-DV and even DVD are in decline, it could be argued that standard definition video, as opposed to the latest "must have" HD option, is itself not far from the exit door as well. That's certainly not the case - at least for the time being - but the harsh reality is that a company which is determined to introduce new standard definition products to an uncertain market needs to ensure that they're products that stand up to the harsh competition and which satisfy users' needs at a price they can afford. With its ability to record high quality pictures and sound to hard disc or high capacity memory cards, the standard-definition Panasonic SDR-H280 is, arguably, one such product. Let's see what's on offer.

First impressions


We call the SDR-H280 a hybrid cam because it offers recording and playback to more than one medium - in this case HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and high capacity SD (SDHC) memory cards. It doesn't look that different from the SDR-H250 it effectively replaces, and although the actual body now has a slightly darker battleship grey finish on its main body, there isn't much to differentiate this from last year's model. Like many new HDD camcorders, it's nice and chunky to hold thanks to the mass of the internal (non-removable) 30GB hard disc drive, and whether held with the right hand through the strap or clasping around the body it's very comfortable to use. Even without the Li-Ion battery, it weighs in at 450 grammes, but that can be a plus for certain recording situations. When mounted, the battery itself protrudes from the rear of the body - though without a viewfinder to worry about it doesn't get in the way whilst recording.

Unlike several other Panasonic camcorders - especially its AVCHD camcorders such as the HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 - there's no automatic shutter-style lens cap. Instead, you have to rotate what at first appears to be a knurled focus ring to open and shut it. All buttons and controls are ergonomically placed, and I particularly like the fact that there's a simple "On/Off" power switch in addition to the function dial with the now-familiar Panasonic mini-joystick menu navigator and selector in the centre. Open the 2.7" wide LCD and you'll find the Auto/Manual function switch, DVD Copy button, Power LCD plus (used to increase the brightness of the LCD screen) and video light button in addition to the SD/SDHC card slot. There are no controls on the LCD screen frame itself, however. The USB Mini-B connector (required to export movie and stills from the HDD and, if desired, the memory card, using the supplied cable) is placed behind the battery - requiring mains connection of the unit to perform file transfer operations. The only other connection to the outside world is an AV-out socket (for which there's also a cable provided) which should be used to display clips and stills on a standard definition TV or for making composite (analogue) video, S-Video and stereo audio copies to an external video recorder.

Features


Being a so-called "Hybrid" camcorder, this HDD/SDHC card model offers users a choice of recording MPEG-2 video and stills to either an internal 30 GB (gigabyte) Hard Disc Drive or to SD or High Capacity (SDHC) memory card. There's an option in the menu (accessed by a button at the rear of the camera) to select Media Type in both recording and playback modes. Video and stills recorded on one medium can be copied internally to the other medium - useful if you want to backup a collection of clip files from HDD to SDHC card or vice versa. When connecting up the optional Panasonic VW-BN1 external DVd burner using USB, it's possible to make backups of anything in the camcorder direct to DVD without the need for a computer.

Panasonic SDR-H280 HDD/SDHC Camcorder in profile
The SDR-H280 employs three 1/6-inch 800,000 pixel CCD imaging devices to produce 16:9 widescreen movie pictures at an effective resolution of 540,000 pixels and standard ratio 4:3 pictures at 630,000 pixels (this compares with a stills capability of 710,000 and 540,000 pixels respectively). The camera uses a Leica Dicomar 10x Optical Zoom ranging from 3.0mm to 30mm, and whose F value range is F1.8 (wide) to F.28 (tele). Digital zoom options are 25x and 700x, with a lens filter screw thread diameter of 37mm.

Here at the SimplyDV Review Centre we always welcome Panasonic's superior Optical Image Stabilisation, and in that respect the Mega OIS facility is designed to help iron out wobbly hand-held camerawork. Electronic shutter speeds vary from 1/50th second to 1/8,000th second in movie mode, with manual control over Focus, Exposure and White Balance (using the mini-joystick at the rear to determine settings as displayed in the LCD screen's "head-up display").

The camera offers three recording and playback modes for its MPEG-2 video recordings to either HDD or SD/SDHC card. These are as follows:
There's a choice of SP (Standard Play) and LP (Long Play) record/playback modes, the above relating to the SP setting, which will give approximately 50 mins recording on a 4GB SDHC card and 7 hours on the 30GB Hard Disc Drive. Obviously, the more you compromise the quality (by applying higher compression) the more movie clips can be squeezed onto the respective storage medium. In LP mode, for instance, it's possible to get 27 hours onto the HDD. Audio compression uses either Dolby Digital 2-channel or MPEG1 Layer 2, depending on the compression system employed.

Performance


The nice thing about tapeless camcorders is that you don't have to mess around with tapes. That might sound obvious, but it's now a major factor in choosing a new camcorder for the majority of first-time users. With so-called Hybrid cams like this, you can be recording something very quickly. As you'd expect, recordings are identical when saved to either HDD or SDHC card, and in 16:9 widescreen mode at the highest setting the quality of pictures is very good indeed when shooting in optimum light. Like all consumer camcorders, the picture definition drops off somewhat when shooting in dimly-lit situations, but even so the three CCDs cope very well and the results will satisfy the expectations of the vast majority of home users.

The SDR-H280 shares the now-standard Panasonic camcorder menu navigation system and is undoubtedly a major plus point; it's very easy to navigate around and make selections for both movie and stills recording and playback. Use the joystick to move the cursor left or right, up or down and press inwards to select. It's just as easy to control manual functions like exposure or focus (albeit a bit of a fiddle when actually recording).

What's particularly impressive about this camcorder is that although it uses the same compression system that is used by standard definition DVD (namely MPEG-2) it does so in a way that, to the untrained eye, there's hardly anything to differentiate the output from equivalent clips recorded with a good 3CCD MiniDV (tape-based) camcorder. Overall picture resolution is good, colour (when recording in optimum light) is excellent and contrast ratio is also up to par. If you're taking a shot in a darkish room and then pan to a nearby window through which light is overpowering the image, both the optics and the electronics adjust accordingly to the point where the transition is hardly noticeable. And that's when recording in Auto mode; take manual control by adjusting the mini-joystick as you go and it's even more impressive. For shooting in situations (such as churches or other indoor venues with lots of light coming in through windows) there's a backlight control to help you to prevent the foreground subject from silhouetting out, too. It's a compromise, but useful all the same.

We made recordings using the internal HDD and also to a Panasonic 16GB SDHC card; of particular note is the ability to copy clips (and images) from one to the other. This makes life very easy if, for instance, you want to back-up your HDD files whilst on the road, or vice versa. It's also useful if you're shooting to SDHC card with a second camcorder and wish to collect all the clips onto a single HDD prior to copying out to a computer or to Panasonic's own DVD burner. Either way, the copy function is very useful indeed (I used it to collect up clips recorded on several 1GB and 2GB SDHC cards, copy then to the HDD and then copy them all back to a single high-capacity card.

Panasonic's optional VW-BN1 USB DVD Burner
Finally, if you're the sort of person who prefers to regularly back up your HDD or SDHC recordings to a secondary medium (imagine the camera being stolen with all your holiday clips on the HDD) such as DVD, then consider buying the optional VW-BN1 DVD Burner (pictured left). This connects direct to the camcorder via USB and enables you to create instant DVD copies using Panasonic's "USB Host" functionality to back-up either all your clips or playlists you've made as required. The whole operation is controlled from within the camcorder's menu system - and is a feature that's now provided in many of the company's current camcorder products. If you're considering buying any of the company's camcorders, ask the supplier to throw in a BN1 for a good price - it's well worth it.

Conclusion


Ok, let's be realistic. At a point in the evolution of home video when everything is leaning towards high definition very quickly (as witnessed by Panasonic's own offerings), the SDR-H280 isn't a high-def camcorder. It's a standard definition model that uses MPEG-2 compression. However, as SD cams go it's a very good example of a product that aims to satisfy a market requirement for ease-of-use, instant access to media clips and a zero reliance on either tapes or DVD discs. It's a lovely camcorder to pick up and use, and the fact that we're given the choice of recording to either 30GB HDD or high capacity SD cards (not to mention the ability to copy between them or directly to external DVD) is great. Even complete newbies will be recording within minutes of unpacking it for the first time.

I'm not sure about the need for a 700x digital zoom, however; they seem to exist only to give retail salespersons something to gush about but in reality they're pretty useless due to the blocky images they create. Also, the position of the Li-ion battery is such that it sticks out just a bit too far and could be better placed somewhere within the camera's body, although this is a minor issue. It would be really nice to see Panasonic adding operating controls such as Start/Stop, Zoom and Joystick to the frame of the LCD screen, too. That way, the user's left hand could be gainfully employed whilst recording and it would make life much easier. Finally, I'd like to see the manual lens shutter replaced by the automatic versions found on other Panasonic camcorders. Then, perhaps, we could benefit from a manual focus ring instead. Now that really would make a difference!

The camcorder's physical form-factor is very good (being chunky and well-balanced), and is lovely to use. Overall usability is high, pictures and sounds are excellent, and I'm very pleased with the results when displayed on a large TV or on my 24" Apple Mac LCD screen. As a starter cam, it has more functions than many people will have a need for, but they're there when required. If you're happy to shoot standard definition and you're looking for an easy-to-use hybrid model, then look no further than the SDR-H280. I like it - and I'm happy to recommend it.

Reviewed by: CB. April 2008. Panasonic product images copyright Panasonic UK Ltd. Used by permission.

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