The Panasonic HDC-SD60K is a pretty impressive little camera in the mid range space for HD camcorders.  The picture quality is impressive, the battery life good, and the stabilization is very good.  People like the price too, to state the obvious.

So, let’s start with price.  You can expect to pay around $400 for the Sony HDR-CX110 HD camcorder.  So, let’s start with some snapshot features:

• 1920×1080 Full HD Recording w/3MP still image
• Memory Stick PRO Duo media slot
• 1/4″ back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor
• 1080/60p playback via HDMI and compatible HDTV
• 30mm CZ Vario Sonnar T* with 25x Optical zoom

For the casual video user who wants really good quality for a good price, it’s hard to go wrong here.  It’s easy to use and has an attractive price for the quality.  It has 25x optical zoom and 300x digital zoom.  Most people who get this are amazed at the quality.  This is especially true if you haven’t had a HD camcorder before.  Here’s a sample video take with it:

Remember to choose 1080p to see the quality of this amazing HD camcorder.

okay, so what do you get here?  You get a 1080p video camcorder that delivers that video at 30 fps on a 3 inch LCD screen.  You get 5x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom.  And, for $179, you get a great quality picture on a camera that is easy to use and carry with you.  Grab a high capacity SD card for this video camcorder.  A 16GB card should give you about 4 hours of 1080p video.

Now, let’s get to the question of quality.  If you buy the Aiptek GVS HD video camcorder, you are buying a value.  It is not top end.  So, if you want something with tremendous quality, don’t buy this.  If you want something that can shoot a very good picture in high level lighting, then this will suit you.  Just know that it really likes light – and does poorly in low level lighting.

First and foremost you need to have the end in mind.  I know, I can hear you saying, “What the heck are you talking about?”  Let me explain.  And this really goes with any type of electronic device.  Think about how you will use this device.  Will it be for family gatherings or are you starting a wedding video business?  Those two ends require much different HD camcorder types.

For most people, they will want something for everyday use.  You know, things like videotaping family get togethers, soccer games, and vacations.  So, let’s tackle that.  Now, for most people, an HD camcorder is going to provide more than enough resolution capability for those types of occasions.  You will be able to watch those videos, with joy, on your HDTV.  And it will look awesome.  So, resolution isn’t usually an issue.  So, let’s look at those other things that will.

HD Camcorder Storage Type

If you didn’t know, HD camcorders utilize different storage methods.  Each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.  There are hard drive based HD camcorders, DVD camcorders (with flash add ons), miniDV models, and solely flash based HD camcorders.  I will cover them in a separate post.

HD Camcorder Battery Life

This is one of the biggest issues.  And, unfortunately, it’s one of the least looked at features.  Take for instance, the very highly rated Sony HDR-SR12.  This hard drive based HD camcorder has a 40 minute battery life!  Now, the Canon Vixia HV30, a MiniDV HD camcorder has a 65 minute battery life.  If battery life is uber important to you, you need to take that into consideration.

Image Stabilization

This is another really good one.  Image stabilization simply corrects a shaky hand.  I say simply, but it is pretty amazing technology.  Think about how you are going to use your digital video camera.  If it’s like most amateurs, it will usually be hand held.  And, if you’re like most Americans who drink vast quantities of coffee, you will have to have really good image stabilization.  And, trust me, not every stabilization is created equal.  Some models are better than others.

Low Light Video Quality

Ahhh, this is another big one.  Again, will you be taking a lot of night video?  For most people, this is not a big issue.  But, if you have a lot of night time video, in a darker house, then this can really be a giant issue.  When looking for that perfect high definition video camera, check around to see what folks are saying about low light video quality.  Some camcorders are really good and some right out stink.

Controls and Ergnomonics

An often overlooked feature that should be considered is ergonomics.  How does the camcorder fit into your hand?  Are the controls impossible to figure out?  Believe me, there is a wide range in how the onboard controls are engineered.  Some seem to be tailored to the customer and some seem like, well, an engineer made them.

Lens, Digital Processor, and Image Quality

You would be surprised how many low end manufacturers tout their HD camcorders, but use substandard parts for imaging.  The lens is absolutley crucial for great image reproduction.  The digital processor handles image clarity, color fidelity, etc.  Canon seems to always be on the cutting edge of great digital processors.  For instance, people love the image quality of the Vixia HF10.  Quality parts = quality image.

Audio Quality

Another often overlooked feature is audio quality.  How does the audio perform in wind?  That’s a really important question.  Think about it.  A slight breeze at a soccer game will make audio unrecognizeable on some HD camcorders.

Size, Weight, Durability, and Price

I lumped all these together because they are pretty self explanatory.  Most people want the smallest, lightest, most durable camcorder at the lowest price.  You probably do too.

Happy shopping!

Suddenly, importing video onto a computer and editing it became a breeze.  Wow, I remember using a dazzle video converter to move it to digital.  That process took me forever – even on a super beefy Inspiron laptop.  Now that I think about it, that Inspiron looked like a cinder block itself.  Unreal.  Not only that, but the video quality really picked up.

Now, look at that beauty.  Yep, that’s a newer Panasonic HD Camcorder – the HDC-SD5.  You’ll be amazed to know that by newer, I mean like 2007 – $1,000!  Not only has the video improved drastically (1920×1080), but the ergonomics are better, and the size is ridiculously small.  They only keep getting better and smaller.

So, what really is the big deal about a HD camcorder?  Well, the resolutions are sick.  The data transfer rates are so much better these days.  The low light processing is much better than it used to be, thanks to the improved digital processors.  And, as I stated above, the sizes keep getting smaller.

In any case, there are things to look for when you are in the hunt for an HD camcorder.  We’ll take a look for that in the near future here.