Panasonic HDC-SD5 vs HDC-SX5 or JVC GZ-HD3: choosing 3CCD HD camcorder

HD camcorders with 3CCD system use professional broadcasting equipment. However, Panasonic has already chosen this system for its consumer’s camcorders. There were great gadgets in NV-GS family such as GS400, GS250 and my favorite GS-200. Now we have some interesting HD camcorders: such as HDC-DX1, HDC-SD1 and two new models HDC-SD5 and HDC-SX5 with 3CCD and colors that are more accurate. What is more, there are some models without moving parts that record movie to Memory cards.
Panasonic 3CCD HD cam’s twofold benefits
There are some 3CCD HD camcorders from JVC: such as Everio GZHD3 or GZ7, but in my opinion, JVC camcorders are a lot of complicated in use (as Pro camcorders) and not so friendly as Sony or Panasonic. As for three sensors advantage, 3CCD is better than one for a good quality video. These chips record various colors in images. 3CCDs mean that there are three separate chips for each color: R, G, and B. With this feature we can capture much more accurate color performance.
JVC Everio GZHD3 features
- 1/5 inch CCD x 3 image sensors with 5.4 total megapixels
- Konica Minolta 10x optical zoom lens, Focal length/3.2-32mm f-stop/1.8-2.4
- 46mm filter Size
- Video format: MPEG-2 TS
- Audio format: MPEG-1 Layer2
- 2.8" Widescreen Clear LCD (207 k pixels) LCD Monitor
- SD/SDHC Memory Card
- Electronic image stabilization
- Dimensions (WxHxD) 3 x 3.2 x 6.1" (75 x 82 x 154mm)
- Weight 1.5 lbs (670 g) with battery
- 60GB Hard Disk drive for up to 5 hours of HD 1440 x 1080i MPEG2 movie recording at 30Mbps
- Data Battery allows you to check the remaining battery power and recording time
- Built-in video light automatically illuminates the scene when recording in a dim environment
- Includes Li-Ion battery and charger, AC adapter, USB and AV cables, lens cap, shoulder strap, remote control and Cyperlink HD editing software
What can I say about this JVC HD camcorder? I already wrote about JVC HD GZ7 in my previous post: Puppet Sanyo Xacti HD2 vs clever Canon HV20 or groovy JVC GZ-HD7: it's time to buy a HD-camcorder or wait? It costs $890-1120. It has my favorite 3CCD but I know many HDD camcorder users who are obliged to tremble with fear by using HDD quasi it is a contact mine. Moreover, an electronic image stabilizer is a bad feature for any camcorder. Maybe it is better to look at some Sony models. This mfr has a lot of HDD HD camcorders and, though they have 1CCD system, these gadgets are a little handy and have an adequate price. In any case, Panasonic’s HD camcorders are much more preferable for easy shooting.
Panasonic HDC-SX5 features
- 1/6 inch CCD x 3 Image Sensor (Total 560K x 3 pixels)
- Leica Dicomar 10x optical zoom lens, Focal Length 3.0 - 30 mm, F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele)
- Filter Diameter 37mm
- 35mm Film Camera Equivalent 42.9 - 429 mm (16:9)
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- Records onto 8 cm DVD Disc (-R/-RW/-RAM), SDHC/SD Memory Card
- Minimum Illumination 5 Lux (1/25 Low Light Mode), 1 Lux (Magic Pix Mode)
- Electronic Viewfinder 0.44" Wide EVF
- 2.7" Wide (300k Pixels) LCD Monitor at 170 degrees Wide Viewing
- 2-ch Stereo Zoom Microphone
- Video Recording Format HD: AVCH, STD: DVD Video Recording, DVD Video (Motion Image)/JPEG (Still Image)
- Flash: 1m - 2.5m (approx.)
- Video Compression HD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264; STD: MPEG-2
- Outputs: HDMI, i.LINK, Component Video, S-Video
- Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.7’’ x 3.3'' x 5.9''
- Weight 1.20 lbs
As for HDC-SX5, it is a good camcorder with many useful features (such as Optical image stabilizer and an excellent Konica Minolta lens) but I have prejudiced to DVD HD camcorders. For more details look at 12 main points for clever HD camcorder choosing: from Canon HV20 through Sony SR300E to Panasonic SD1. 12 main points for clever HD camcorder choosing: from Canon HV20 through Sony SR300E to Panasonic SD1. Panasonic HDC-SX5 costs about $740-820.
Panasonic HDC-SD5 BNDL features
- 1/6" CCD x 3 Image Sensor (Total 560K x 3 pixels)
- Image Sensor (Effective) 16:9 -- 520K x 3
- Leica Dicomar 10x optical zoom lens, Focal Length 3.0 - 30 mm, F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele)
- Filter Diameter 37mm
- Records onto SD/SDHC Memory Card
- Recording Format AVCHD
- Still Picture Recording 2.1 Megapixels 16:9
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- Minimum Illumination 5 Lux (1/25 Low Light Mode), 1 Lux (Magic Pix Mode)
- Electronic Viewfinder 0.44" Wide EVF
- 2.7" Wide (300k Pixels) LCD Monitor at 170 degrees Wide Viewing
- 2-ch Stereo Zoom Microphone
- Flash: 1m - 2.5m (approx.)
- Video Recording Format: AVCH (Motion Image)/JPEG (Still Image)
- Recording Mode: HG (13 Mbps/CBR), HN (9Mbps/VBR), HE (6Mbps/VBR)
- Playback Mode: HG (13 Mbps/CBR), HN (9Mbps/VBR), HE (6Mbps/VBR)
- Audio Recording Format: Dolby Digital (Dolby AC3)/2-channel
- Recording Time: SDHC: 8GB: HG (80 min)/HN (120 min)/HE (180 min), 4GB: HG (40 min)/HN (60 min)/HE (90 min)
- SD Memory Card: 2GB: HG (20 min)/HN (30 min)/HE (45 min), 1GB: HG (10 min)/HN (15 min)/HE (22 min), 512MB: HG (5 min)/HN (7 min)/HE (10 min)
- Dimensions 2.6 x 2.6 x 5.3" (6.6 x 6.6 x 13.46 cm)
- Weight 0.75 lbs (0.34 kg)
Panasonic Palmcorder HDC-SD5 (such as HDC-SX5) HD camcorder comes bundled with a free Panasonic DVD burner (VM-BN1) included right in the box. Use the camcorder's USB Host function to connect directly to the burner with a USB cable (sold separately). You can also copy recordings from the SD Memory Card to a DVD disc, maintaining the original full-HD format, or use the included software to burn a full-HD recording from an SD Memory Card to a DVD disc on your PC.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Panasonic HDC-SD5 is the best purchase from these three. It costs about $760-800. For lack of moving parts, SD5 can be a great gadget for a journey.