Product Tour
The lens and sensor specs listed below include those for the HDC-SDT750 camcorder both without the 3D conversion lens and with the 3D conversion lens (VW-CLT1) attached. When connected, the conversion lens changes the aperture to f/3.2 and the focal length to 2.5mm (a 35mm equivalent of 58mm). Without the conversion lens, the SDT750 has the same lens specifications as Panasonic's previous flagship models, the HDC-TM700 and the HDC-HS700 (it also has the same three-chip CMOS sensor array and pixel count).
The 3D conversion lens cannot *be attached to the HDC-TM700, HDC-HS700, or any previous models from Panasonic. The HDC-SDT750 has a special design that allows the conversion lens to latch onto the front of the camcorder. (You do *not simply screw it into the 46mm filter threads.) There are also some software issues that make attaching the 3D conversion lens to older models impossible. The ideal focal range for capturing 3D footage is 1.2m - 4m, but you can record anything from 1.2m to infinity (the far away subjects just may not appear in 3D).
The conversion lens makes the HDC-SDT750 longer
and heavier than most consumer camcorders.*
*The camcorder looks a bit strange with the conversion lens
attached, but it still has good balance when you hold it.
*
HDC-SDT750 from the back
The 3-inch LCD is identical to the screen on the Panasonic HDC-TM700 and HDC-HS700.
*The 3D conversion lens has a few controls on its top (underneath the flip-out panel).
The large black dial is used to screw the 3D conversion lens onto the camcorder.*
HDC-SDT750 from the bottom
Compression & Media
The HDC-SDT750 appears to have the same compression options as Panasonic's other flagship models. It records using AVCHD compression in most of its HD modes, while the camcorder's 1080/60p mode uses a Panasonic-developed original compression format that is based on the MPEG-4 codec. You can record with any quality setting on the camcorder when the 3D conversion lens is attached except for the 1080/60p mode.
- 1080/60p recording is not available when shooting in 3D
The HDC-SDT750 has no internal memory, but it is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. The camcorder has the same recording options as the Panasonic HDC-TM700, so you should expect to get the same record times with the SDT750 as you would with that model. (Approximate record times for the HDC-TM700 can be seen here.)
Panasonic has not yet released record times or files sizes for the 3D video recording with the SDT750, but it should—theoretically—be the same as regular 2D.
Shipping with the HDC-SDT750 is a new version of HD Writer AE software (version 2.6T). This updated version of the software includes 3D movie editing capability and it allows you to burn 3D videos recorded with the camcorder to Blu-ray discs. There's also an option for converting 3D videos to 2D for online sharing on sites like YouTube. The HD Writer AE software has limited editing capabilities that allow you to import footage, split and connect scenes, and delete clips.
Working with 3D footage on other editing programs, such as Final Cut, iMovie, or Adobe Premier is possible, but the footage will appear split as two left and right frames (not overlapped like it does when you view 3D footage). Plug-ins may become available in the near future to assist with 3D editing on major non-linear editing programs, but we haven't seen or heard anything official yet.
Manual Controls
If you are familiar with the automatic controls on previous Panasonic models, like the HDC-TM700, then you won't notice anything new about the HDC-SDT750 in this section. The camcorder has the same scene modes, AF/AE tracking features, and the dedicated auto mode (called iA mode). You can read an overview of these automatic controls in our review of the HDC-TM700 here.
When shooting 3D video with the conversion lens (model name VW-CLT1), the camcorder functions in a mostly automated fashion. Aperture, shutter speed, focus, gain, and exposure cannot be set manually, which leaves white balance as the only setting that can be adjusted by the user. There are a few other manual controls that can be turned on and off in 3D mode (like zebra patterns, for example), but you shouldn't expect much leeway when you're recording in 3D on the camcorder. Some of the more advanced auto controls, like face detection and AF/AE tracking, don't work with the 3D conversion lens attached either. There is, however, an auto slow shutter function for 3D mode, and you can turn backlight compensation on or off.
When the 3D conversion lens is attached to the HDC-SDT750, you cannot adjust the zoom on the camcorder.
Without the 3D conversion lens attached, the SDT750 has the same zoom features as the HDC-TM700 and HDC-HS700. The toggle on the top of the camcorder has variable zoom speed control that goes faster or slower based on how hard you push the toggle. The manual control lens ring can also be used to achieve variable zoom speed. There's also a tertiary zoom control in the form of buttons on the LCD panel, but they do not allow for variable zoom speed control (they produce a slow, constant zoom).
The lens has a 12x optical zoom, but you can't use the zoom with the 3D conversion lens attached. There's also an 18x intelligent zoom option that, according to Panasonic, doesn't result in image degradation like using digital zoom does. If you don't care about making your image look a bit worse, you can zoom all the way to 700x using the camcorder's digital zoom feature.
You can set focus using the lens ring on the HDC-SDT750, or by tapping buttons on the LCD touchscreen. The focus system works the same here as it did on the HDC-TM700 and other previous models from Panasonic. Unfortunately, you cannot use manual focus on the camcorder when recording 3D video.
Exposure control on the HDC-SDT750 is the same as previous models from Panasonic, but the camcorder does not allow exposure to be set when the 3D conversion lens is attached.
Just like exposure, aperture cannot be set manually on the camcorder when the 3D conversion lens is connected. Shooting 2D video, however, you can set aperture manually using the lens ring or the touchscreen interface.
The camcorder has a range of manual shutter speed options, but, again, none of them can be set when using the 3D conversion lens. Interestingly, though, there is a separate auto slow shutter option for 2D and 3D shooting. So, you can turn that feature on and off when you're recording 3D video.
White balance is the only manual control on the HDC-SDT750 that can be set when shooting 3D video. You can set white balance manually (using the one-push feature), or you can select from the few white balance presets available on the camcorder.
The HDC-SDT750 has gain control, but it can only be set manually when the aperture is fully opened (and it cannot be adjusted when using the 3D conversion lens). Panasonic has stated the SDT750 should have better noise performance than its predecessors, which means you may be able to use more gain with the camcorder before your image becomes too noisy.
The SDT750 has the same color and image controls as previous models from Panasonic. These include Soft Skin Mode, Digital Cinema Color (xvYCC color mode), Intelligent Contrast, and Picture Adjustment controls. These features are not accessible through the menu when the 3D conversion lens is attached, so you can only set them when the camcorder is recording regular 2D video.
There are a few other manual controls on the camcorder, and some of them even work when the 3D conversion lens is connected. The Time Lapse Record function and Zebra Patterns can both be engaged when shooting 3D, while other controls like Guide Lines, Tele Macro, and the Histogram only function when shooting 2D footage.
3D Features
By far, the most exciting new feature for the HDC-SDT750 is its 3D recording capability with the VW-CLT1 conversion lens. The lens screws into the front of the camcorder, but it is not compatible with previous camcorders from Panasonic because it also has to fit into two small slots on each side of the lens. As soon as you connect the conversion lens to the camcorder, a message appears on the LCD that tells you to calibrate the lens for 3D recording (and the camcorder switches to 3D record mode).
The conversion lens creates 3D video by recording two separate images (left and right), each at a half resolution of 960 x 540. These two images are then recorded by the camcorder, and, through a complex overlay and convergence process, are pulled together to produce 3D content.
Calibrating the conversion lens is a tricky 3-step process, but the camcorder's menu gives a good amount of detail each step of the way. Even if you have a lot of experience with video, however, calibrating the 3D conversion lens is going to be a unique experience. You'll definitely need to do it a few times before you can really get the hang of it and figure out the best calibration for capturing 3D content.
In 3D mode, the camcorder basically functions with entirely automated controls. You can't take still images, use the 60p setting, zoom, focus, or access any manual controls—other than white balance—when the 3D conversion lens is attached. You can, however, use faders, time lapse record, backlight compensation, audio controls, zebra patterns, and image stabilization when recording 3D on the SDT750.
In our time with the camcorder we were rather impressed with its ability to record 3D video. However, this statement comes with some caveats. To get a solid 3D image with the SDT750, you must record with ideal settings. This means you need lots of light, good lens calibration, and the appropriate distance: you should shoot subjects that are between 1.2m and 4m from the camcorder.
When we say lots of light, we mean that you should either shoot outdoors or in a very well-lit setting. Panasonic lists the minimum illumination for 3D shooting at 28 lux, but that's when using a 1/30 of a second slow shutter setting. If you want a noise-free image with a regular shutter speed of 1/60 or higher, you are definitely going to need plenty of light. Why? The 3D conversion lens alters the aperture to a fixed f/3.2, which isn't very wide and doesn't allow much light to hit the camcorder's CMOS sensor.
Despite all these complications, the HDC-SDT750 is very capable of recording a splendid 3D image, as long as you shoot under the ideal setting. Panasonic lists the effective focal range of the conversion lens as 1.2m to infinity, but you must realize that anything farther away than roughly 4m won't seem like it's in 3D. So, if you're shooting a football game from the stands, don't expect any of the players to appear in 3D. Same goes with close-up macro shots that are less than 1.2m. There's a small focal range where the 3D effect really takes hold and looks effective; you simply have to play around with the camcorder to get the hang of it.
Handling & Use
Using the HDC-SDT750 as a 2D camcorder is a snap—just like the HDC-TM700 was before it. Recording 3D images with the camcorder? That's where things start to get a little tricky. The 3D conversion lens can be a bit difficult to connect to the camcorder and it requires a complex calibration setup that may be a challenge for certain users. We applaud Panasonic for providing good instructions on how to calibrate the 3D conversion lens, and we like the fact that the camcorder automatically detects when the lens is connected to the camcorder. At the same time, we cannot overlook the fact that the calibration system is unlike anything we've seen on a consumer camcorder.
To calibrate for 3D recording, you must attach the lens cover to the VW-CLT1 3D conversion lens and follow three separate alignment instructions. You align the two lenses for 3D recording by rotating dials found on the top of the conversion lens (beneath a flip-up panel). Obtaining proper alignment can be tricky, particularly if you don't have a flat surface on which to rest the camcorder. According to Panasonic, one calibration should be good for a while, but we found the conversion lens needed to be calibrated rather often—particularly after removing and reconnecting the conversion lens a few times.
The 3D conversion lens definitely alters the size and weight of the HDC-SDT750 significantly when it is attached. We did feel that the camcorder retained a decent amount of balance, however, and it didn't feel all that heavy in our hand. The grip on the camcorder is very good, just like it was on the HDC-TM700 previously, and the hand strap is comfortable without being too big or thick.
Since you can't really set manual controls when shooting 3D video on the camcorder, there really isn't anything new to talk about in terms of the lens ring or touchscreen interface on the SDT750. When shooting regular 2D video, the camcorder functions identically to the HDC-TM700, and the lens ring works very well for setting manual controls and adjusting zoom.
As we talked about in the Ease of Use section of this review, calibrating the 3D conversion lens can be very tricky—even for an experienced videographer. It is different from any kind of control we've seen on a consumer camcorder and it feels very old-fashioned in a way. Aligning the two lenses reminds us of setting up two film projectors side-by-side, which is something most people probably have no experience with. Even though Panasonic gives good, detailed directions on how to calibrate the 3D conversion lens in the menu system, we feel that recording in 3D with the SDT750 is going to be a trial-and-error experience for most people. You'll definitely have to play around with the entire system a few times before you can master the quirks of 3D recording.
In addition to 3D recording, the HDC-SDT750 also includes a new image stabilization feature called Hybrid OIS. This new stabilization system uses both optical and electronic stabilization modes in order to reduce the shakiness of video while recording. When engaged, the Hybrid OIS will automatically zoom in a bit because the system is designed to utilize the unused portions of the sensor to assist with stabilization (this is the electronic part of the hybrid system). According to Panasonic, this won't result in loss of image quality like normal electronic or digital image stabilization systems do. If you're still concerned about the quality of your video, however, you can turn Hybrid OIS off and just use the regular optical image stabilization system that is also present on the camcorder. OIS can be used in conjunction with the 3D conversion lens on the HDC-SDT750.
The HDC-SDT750 itself has the same dimensions and weight as the HDC-TM700. When you add the 3D conversion lens to the camcorder, however, you increase the total bulk by quite a bit. The conversion lens weighs roughly 195g, which, when attached to the SDT750, means you're increasing the total weight by about 50%. Adding the 3D conversion lens also makes the camcorder much longer by adding close to 100mm of length to the front of the model.
What we're saying with all this is fairly simple—by itself, the HDC-SDT750 is a small camcorder, particularly for a high-end model. Adding the lens, however, makes it one of the heavier (and longer) consumer camcorders on the market.
The HDC-SDT750 comes with a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack that is similar to what was shipped with previous models from Panasonic (like the HDC-TM700). The battery compartment is not enclosed on the camcorder, which means you can purchase larger batteries if you want longer-lasting performance from the SDT750. Our only complaint is that the battery release switch is inside the LCD cavity—an awkward spot that requires you to open the LCD whenever you want to remove the battery.
The HDC-SDT750 has the same LCD and viewfinder setup as the Panasonic HDC-TM700 and HDC-HS700. The LCD is 3-inches in size and the viewfinder can extend out from the camcorder, but it cannot pivot (it also has a small diopter adjustment dial). The LCD's touchscreen interface isn't bad, but we're sure glad the camcorder has a lens ring for adjusting manual controls rather than solely relying on the touch system. You can read more details about the LCD and viewfinder in our review of the HDC-TM700.
When recording in 3D, the LCD screen does **not **show you a 3D image either during recording or playback. The signal shown on the LCD (and on the viewfinder) is the recorded left channel only. This means you must connect the camcorder to a 3D-capable television to view your 3D footage. You could also import the 3D footage using the provided editing software and view your videos from there. The footage will not play in 3D on your computer, but you can convert to SD or burn them in 3D to a Blu-ray disc. (If you have a Blu-ray burner.)
Playback & Connectivity
Playback is no different on the HDC-SDT750 than it was on previous models from Panasonic, although there is a new output option for 3D display. If you connect the camcorder to a 3D television you should switch the output so your recorded 3D videos play on the screen in the proper form. If you connect the camcorder to a regular 2D television, you can set the signal output to 2D so that you can still view your recorded videos (but they won't appear in 3D).
Panasonic didn't implement any new connectivity features on the HDC-SDT750 that weren't already present on the HDC-TM700. Inside the LCD cavity you'll still find the HDMI, USB, and Multi-AV outputs, as well as the memory card slot that works with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards.
On the right side of the camcorder is the mic jack, headphone port, and the accessory shoe attachment slider. The DC-input is located inside the battery compartment, just like it was on previous models. For more pictures and details about the connectivity features on the HDC-SDT750, check out our review of the HDC-TM700.
Of course, the HDC-SDT750 also has the ability to attach a 3D conversion lens (model name VW-CLT1) to the front of the camcorder. The conversion lens hooks onto the camcorder's regular lens via two small slots and then you screw it in to tighten. The conversion lens comes with both front and rear lens covers.
Audio & Other Features
Audio controls are some of the few manual options that can be adjusted when using the SDT750 with its 3D conversion lens attached. You can manually set audio levels, use the wind noise canceler feature, and turn on the zoom mic in both 3D mode and regular 2D mode on the camcorder. The HDC-SDT750 doesn't have any new audio features, however, and its built-in mic records the same 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio as the HDC-TM700.
The HDC-SDT750 has a good set of additional features like Pre Record, Auto Ground Standby (AGS), Faders, and Time Lapse Record. This set of features is similar to what the HDC-TM700 has, although the HDC-SDT750 does not have a relay record option because it contains no internal memory. You can read details about these features in our review of the HDC-TM700.
When shooting 3D video with the HDC-SDT750, you can use the Time Lapse Record and Fader settings on the camcorder, but other features cannot be engaged.
Conclusion
Photo Gallery
Specs
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Meet the tester
Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.
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