Panasonic HDC-SD60K Hi-Def Camcorder Review
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Panasonic has become something of a leader in designing entry-level HD camcorders, and the Panasonic HDC-SD60K falls into that category. And just because it's an entry-level HD camcorder does not mean that it lacks features outside of being able to create HD video. No, Panasonic has built a few gems into the HDC-SD60K, so let's take a look at those below!
Other than HD and the price of the Panasonic HDC-SD60K camcorder, what probably brought your interest up was the 25x optical zoom on the camcorder. Older models (and maybe more expensive camcorders) in this price range really only went as far as 16x zoom. Panasonic customers liked the original HD camcorders, but wanted a little more zoom. So, the 35.7 millimeter lens was built into the HDC-SD60K to provide the 25x optical zoom, but then they took it a step further and made the camcorder's digital zoom up to ,1500x. With this type of zoom, the range on the HDC-SD60K has almost gone as far as anyone (outside of a professional) needs a camcorder to go. And you don't have to worry about the imaging shaky too much if you really are an entry-level videographer yourself. Panasonic incorporated the Powered O.I.S. image stabilizers into this camcorder to help reduce blurring and shaking down to acceptable levels.
Panasonic HDC-SD60K Hi-Def Camcorder for Sale at Amazon
If no picture or $ value is shown below, you will need to go directly to Amazon' HDC-SD60K page to see this bargain!
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Panasonic HDC-SD60K SD Based Hi-Def Camcorder with 35X Intelligent Zoom (Black)
Sale Price: $549.00  |
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Panasonic HDC-SD60S SD Based Hi-Def Camcorder with 35X Intelligent Zoom (Silver)
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We also think you'll like the facial recognition software on the Panasonic HDC-SD60K. The camcorder will attempt to recognize six different faces in the shot you are taking, and then select the best focus for the entire shot. But that's not the best part: this camcorder will "recognize" the faces! If you have registered select faces with the camcorder, it will recognize those faces in each shot, even going so far as putting their names in the video for you (up to 3 people only within the shot). It will only do this for a total of 6 people, and it is a manual process to enter their names into the menu. But it's a very neat feature to have, with lots of potential.
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Panasonic HDC-SD60K SD Based HD Hi-Def Camcorder Black FULL HD Camera Portable
Selling for Only: $88.00 Sale Ends In: 1d 10h |
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New Panasonic HDC SD60K Hi-Def Camcorder - Black
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Panasonic HDC SD60K Camcorder - Black with EXTRA 16GB SD Flash Memory Card
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Mini HDMI AUDIO VIDEO TV HDTV Cable/Cord/Lead for Panasonic Camcorder HDC-SD60/K
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Panasonic HDC SD60K Camcorder - Black
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Panasonic HDC-SD60K SD Based Hi-Def Camcorder with 35X Intelligent Zoom (Black)
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One thing that Panasonic did do with the HDC-SD60K camcorder was to use their own Panasonic lens for the camera. Typically people expect to see a Leica lens in camcorders and cameras above the $200 mark, but because this is an HD camcorder, most of the cost goes into designing those abilities, and trying to keep costs down in others. The Pansonic lens is one of the very best lens in mass-market use right now. However, if you strictly want the high end Leica lens, then you will need to check into other more pricey options in HD camcorders.
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For those who like to adjust the settings on your cameras or camcorders, the Panasonic HDC-SD60K does include manual shutter speed adjustment. This comes in quite handy if you are attempting to record fast moving objects and want to pull still photos out of those recordings. Don't let this manual shutter speed adjustment feature scare you away, though. If you aren't interested in adjusting your shutter speed, the HDC-SD60K camcorder does auto adjust the shutter for you, so you may never have to change it. Manual or auto focus is also built into the camcorder so you can choose the amount of work you want to do versus what you want the camcorder to do for you.
Battery life on the Panasonic HMC-SD60K camcorder is quite good. Users typically see an hour and a half of continuous usage on the Lithium-ion battery. This will average down to about 50 minutes of charge over the life of the battery, so our suggestion is to purchase an extra battery at some point in the future if you will be using it quite a bit.
Panasonic HDC-SD60K Hi-Def Camcorder Photos
Panasonic HDC-SD60K Hi-Def Camcorder Specs
* Model / ASIN: HDC-SD60K / B0035LCZSG
* Lens: Panasonic 25x zoom lens with 1,500x digital zoom and built-in optical image stabilizers
* Resolution: 3.32 megapixel using a MOS sensor for HD video; 5 megapixels for still photos
* Records: video is recording at 1920 x 1080 resolution (or 1080p for HD-style)
* Shutter Speed: 1/2-1/2000 for still photos; 1/2-1/500 for video with flash
* Viewfinder: use the 2.75-inch touchscreen LCD screen to not only for live view recording, but also for menu changes
* Face Recognition: this camcorder is able to track up to 6 different faces and maintain the best focus for all
* Storage: uses SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards; SDHC class 6 32 Gb is recommended as the minimum (because of the larger sized HD files)
* File Format: MPEG4-AVC for video; JPEG for still photos
* Aperture: f/1.8-3.3
* Outputs: mini HDMI for connections to HDMI ready devices; USB connection for computers and select HDTV's
* Dimensions:2 3/5" x 4 2/5" x 2" (H x D x W) and weighs only 9 oz.
Reference
Panasonic Product Support - HDC-SD60K - Panasonic North America ...
Obtain product support for Panasonic HDC-SD60K - 35.7mm Wide Lens & 35X ...
Support - Panasonic North America - Electronics for your home and ...
Panasonic products are available for review or purchase at Panasonic.com
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B. Daniels is the lead review expert with Find Cheap Bargains. B. was more than likely the person responsible for the hands-on review of every product on the site. He also spends time searching for sale bargains when not conducting and writing the reviews.
I love that this Panasonic model has manual shutter-speed, and the optical zoom is 25 x. It’s a good, comfortable size for my small hand with great auto-focus. It also has a decent battery life. If I had to guess, I’d say, two and a half to three hours, but then I tend to leave things on, letting it cut itself off and not conserve the battery. I’ll try to pay attention next time I use it, and see how long it lasts if I do. Image stabilization is another plus as my right hand tends to tremor from time to time so this seems to help me salvage what would have been an otherwise really bad picture. It also has facial recognition. The facial recognition recognizes up to six subjects.
The lens fits a little more into the shot. Great when you only have so much space to step back while you are taking a group picture. While it’s good in low light situations it looks fantastic in well lit places. Not a bad thing, I merely have a dislike for fluorescent lighting. I’m very happy with the overall picture quality. I especially like how it performs when I do the “Soccer Mom” thing taking action pictures of the kids participating in soccer and band.
It is very easy to use. The software appears to be user friendly. I don’t think it will do super advanced editing, but most of us do very little editing anyway. I mainly crop out things.
It uses SD cards so don’t forget to get one.
I would not pay full price for this at a face-to-face store, but then again, I rarely buy things in-store anymore with any product. I found it online with much more competitive pricing than the store, so do a little research and get it online. It’s a little gem.
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