Features:

• Capture high-definition video to flash memory; 1920 x 1080 progressive recording
• 10x optical zoom; Advanced Mega Optical Image Stabilizer
• Face detection technology; Intelligent Shooting Guide
• 5.1-channel surround sound; Zoom mic feature
• Compatible with SD/SDHC memory cards

Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Use of the super-small SDHC/SD memory card helped us to create the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD full-HD camcorder. The HDC-SD9 Full-HD Camcorder fits comfortably in your hand and can be used for long periods without causing fatigue. Panasonic full-HD camcorders record horizontal pixels at an HD resolution of up to 1920 pixels. With progressive scanning, the hi-def camcorders provide twice as much data per picture as conventional interlace scanning. With Face Detection, Panasonic makes it easy to capture beautiful faces and clear backgrounds even in dim or backlit scenes. This new function, which can detect up to five faces at once, automatically adjusts the exposure and smooth skin tones according to the ambient brightness, so faces are bright and easy to see. The Intelligent Shooting Guide function helps you get magnificent shots by displaying a text message in the LCD monitor, telling you which settings are best for the current shooting conditions. With Intelligent Selection Playback, poor or inadvertent shots such as shots of the ground or overly dark scenes are skipped and all normal scenes are played while viewing. Panasonic's Advanced Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) suppresses the effects of handshake as you shoot. The system uses gyro sensors to detect handshake, then shifts a lens and adjusts the optical axis to compensate. No image quality is lost because the system is optical. Optical Zoom - 10x Variable Speed Zoom Focal Length - 3.0 - 30 mm Filter Diameter - 37mm Advanced O.I.S. Image Stabilizer Minimum Illumination - 5 Lux (1/30 Low Light Mode), 1 Lux (Magic Pix Mode) AF/Manual Focus White Balance - Auto/Indoor/Outdoor/White Set Auto/Manual Iris Backlight Compensation 2.7 Wide (300,000 Dots) LCD Monitor 170-degrees Wide Viewing Angle LCD (Vertically & Horizontally) HD Advanced Pure Color Engine PictBridge Compatible

Rating : - Nice Camcorder
I bought the HDC-SD9 about 2 weeks ago. I am very happy with it though there have been some frustrations. Great video in bright outdoor light. Not so great indoors with less (but not bad light). I discovered a few things through trial and error and by reading user reviews.

Use the manual controls when indoors. Open up the iris and lower the shutter speed. You must turn on Intelligent Contrast with the joystick. This makes all the difference. I went from cloudy unwatchable video to very nice clear video with very nice and accurate color. Do not turn the camera off after you set it. Just shut the LCD and settings will save.

The video does not look good in iMovie 08 version 7.1.4 on a MacBook. It plays just fine but lacks contrast and is a bit noisy. This is not the case when I hook the camera up to my 65 inch Sony HDTV. I have not played the video with any other player other than Toast Video Player. It is jerky and noisy. I am ordering a copy of Final Cut Express 4. I have heard good things about using it with AVCHD.

The size of this thing is remarkable. It is tiny and weighs almost nothing. Great manual controls (except the focus which is almost impossible) but the auto controls are lousy anywhere except outdoors. I got this one for $300 dollars on line. AVCHD support is not quite there yet but is getting better everyday. I get just over an hour on an 8 GB SDHC class 6 card at the highest setting.

I recommend this camcorder very highly. I wish the auto functions were better but considering the size/price/video quality equation it is hard to beat.