Panasonic zooms in on full-HD camcorders

The HDC-SD5 and HDC-SX5 camcorders were unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin.

Both devices can record full-HD video using Panasonic's 3CCD camera system and Advanced Optical Image Stabiliser to help minimise high definition blur.

The camcorders are specifically designed for playback on the growing number of full HD flat panel TVs.

While conventional recordings have 1,440 pixels in the horizontal direction, full-HD recordings have 1,920. And while conventional recordings have a total of around 1.55 million pixels, full-HD recordings pack in just over two million.

The HDC-SD5 records straight to memory card, and is the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD full-HD camcorder. It weighs 340g and measures 65 x 67 x 135 mm.

The HDC-SX5 can record onto memory cards and DVDs. It also has the option of recording the DVD disc in the standard definition (MPEG2) to play it back with a DVD recorder/player.

Panasonic has further enhanced its Crystal Engine image processor for both recorders to include a new noise reduction circuit and a new Intelligent Contrast Control circuit to help boost image quality while reducing power consumption.

Both models also include a Pre-Rec function that continuously records three seconds of images into an internal buffer memory.

When the user presses the record button, the three seconds immediately prior are added at the beginning of the clip to help avoid the problem of missing vital moments by starting recording too late.