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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons / Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Auto / Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons / Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Performance

The Panasonic HDC-SX5 is equipped with three 1/6-inch CCDs. Each has a 560,000 gross pixel count (520,000 effective pixels). This is a reduction in surface area from the three 1/4-inch CCDs found on both of Panasonic’s first-generation AVCHD camcorders, the HDC-DX1 and HDC-SD1. All camcorders using a three-chip set, including the new HDC-SX5, have produced great looking color in bright light. Panasonic is walking the same questionable path as Sony - packing in more pixels onto a small surface area. In doing so, individual pixels shrink. As pixels shrink, noise goes up and low light sensitivity goes down.

Fortunately, it did not seem to have a big impact on bright light recording.  Across the breadth of consumer high definition camcorders, Panasonic seems to have no equal for color balance and accuracy. When factoring in all parts of image quality, including noise, sharpness, and motion rendering, we find ourselves preferring Canon a lot of the time. But good color is a rightfully compelling reason to choose a camcorder, so keep Panasonic in mind.

Comparatively, the Canon HG10 produced a similar color palette. However, the HG10 appeared sharper than the HDC-SX5. The Panasonic also showed more noise. The Sony HDR-UX7 had slightly different results – better sharpness but more fine-grain noise. Both the Sony and the Panasonic showed more obvious sharpening.

In shooting out of the testing room, we found some interesting results. When shooting under the most charitable conditions for a camcorder – late afternoon sun on a simple scene with rich colors and no motion – the HDC-SX5 performed as well as the Canon HG10. The colors and sharpness are excellent in both camcorders. When an object is in motion, however, you can bet the Panasonic is going to distinguish itself. Of all the AVCHD camcorders we’ve seen to date, Panasonic undoubtedly has the worst motion rendering. Objects blur at the slightest tremble, leaving ghostly trails behind it. We shot the HDC-SX7, Canon HG10, and Sony HDR-UX7 under a number of lighting conditions, and the story was always the same. Canon looked the best, Sony placed second, and Panasonic finished third.

Overall, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 is a decent performer. Compared to the leaders in its class, specifically Canon, the camcorder is falling short of what can be achieved. Panasonic had time between its first generation AVCHD models and now to improve the motion artifacting, and it did not.

Video Resolution* (18.0)*

The Panasonic HDC-SX5 was tested for video resolution by shooting a DSC Labs video resolution chart and looking at the playback footage on an HD monitor. This test looks at the outputted resolution of the video, which is what the consumer is actually going to see, rather than the optimistic numbers often given by the manufacturer. We found the Panasonic HDC-SX5 produced an approximate horizontal resolution of 600 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 600 lw/ph. This is an excellent score compared to the competition.

Low Light Performance* (2.31)*

As stated above, this second generation of Panasonic AVCHD is walking a dangerous line. The company has chosen to design chips that pack more pixels onto a smaller surface, which typically almost invariably has negative impact on low light performance. The HDC-SX5 was no exception. As you'll see, the new chips have a major impact on sensitivity and noise.

Our low light testing occurs in multiple stages. The first involves shooting our DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chip chart at an even 60 lux and 15 lux, then holding up the results against the competition. At 60 lux, the HDC-SX5 took on a lot of noise, despite maintaining a decent exposure and color retention. The noise had a noticeable impact on fine detail.

By comparison, the Panasonic HDC-DX1 had essentially identical brightness and color, but appeared to have less distinct noise. The Canon HG10 produced a much richer image – stronger, more saturated colors, deeper blacks, and far less noise. It was better in all regards. The Sony HDR-UX7 was not able to produce the most accurate color to the eye at this light level compared to the Panasonic and the Canon. The noise levels were even worse with the HDR-UX7 than then HDC-SX5. However, the UX7’s image was sharper than the SX5, which meant the noise was less detrimental to fine detail capture.

At 15 lux, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 was approaching grayscale. The noise was terrible, proper exposure was impossible, and color retention was virtually nil. The Canon HG10 was also very noisy, but managed to produce a great deal more color. The Sony HDR-UX7 was somewhere in between the Panasonic and the Canon – noisy and dark, with only a little color.

The second part of the test involves monitoring IRE levels (a measurement of exposure) and steadily lowering the light until the camcorder is outputting a peak 50 IRE. The Panasonic HDC-SX5 was able to produce 50 IRE at a light level of 23 lux. This was not nearly as good as last year’s HDC-DX1 and HDC-SX1, but approximately the same as all of Panasonic’s standard definition three-chip camcorders.

The final part of the test shoots a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at 60 lux, then imports frames into Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. The HDC-SX5 was able to produce a color error of 14.1. This far from the best color error score we’ve seen this year, and not even as good as the HDC-DX1 and HDC-SD1, which points toward the possibility that the image is being processed differently in the second-generation models. The noise level measured 0.705 percent and the saturation was 62.17 percent.

Overall, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 performed acceptably in moderate low light, but quickly fell apart in lower light. This means candlelight, birthday cakes, and nighttime backyard parties will not look good.

Stabilization* (7.72)*

We tested the effectiveness of the HDC-SX5’s Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) using our custom-built camcorder shake emulator, designed specifically for CamcorderInfo.com. Two different speeds were used to attain a broader spectrum of typical shooting environments. Speed one is the slowest setting, tantamount to a casual walk down the sidewalk, HDC-SX5 in hand. Speed two involves a bit more turbulence, similar to filming during a light jog or a car ride filled with potholes.

At speed one, the HDC-SX5 produced a 71.43 percent shake reduction, while speed two yielded a commendable 94.4 percent reduction – the action came to a near still frame. Yet again, Panasonic has delivered one of the best stabilization performances to date, although the Sony HDR-UX7, Panasonic HDC-SD1, and HDC-DX1 quashed the HDC-SX5 at speed one. The overall weight and distribution of that weight certainly had a factor in these scores.

Wide Angle* (9.6)*

We tested the HDC-SX5’s maximum field of view using a vertical laser at both left and right angles. The zoom was set to the widest angle, OIS was disabled, and the footage was viewed on an external monitor to attain a true 16:9 measurement. The HDC-SX5 produced a maximum field of view of 48 degrees, which is less than the HDC-DX1’s 52 degrees.

 

 

 

 

Format

Compression* (5.0)*

The Panasonic HDC-SX5 uses the AVCHD compression for its high definition video. We did not see any major improvement since its implementation in the first-generation models. AVCHD still lacks the crispness of the HDV compression, fuzzing up the image with more compression artifacts.

From its outset, the AVCHD format has been difficult to work with. Editing compatibility has seen an increase in the last year, but it’s a gradual progress. Even programs that do work with the footage do so at a snail’s pace. It’s a frustrating process.

There are three quality settings: HG (13 Mbps), HN (9 Mbps), and HE (6 Mbps). The HG setting records at 1920 x 1080, and is a constant bit rate. The two lower settings record at 1440 x 1080 and are a variable bit rate. AVCHD write speeds are limited by the media onto which the video is recorded. DVDs can’t write as fast as disk drives and flash memory. Most of the latter category have a max of 15 Mbps. Because the HDC-SX5 records to two media, they could have had multiple options – one speed for DVD and a faster one for SDHC cards. Panasonic instead chose a compromise of 13 Mbps.

The camcorder also records standard definition video, but only to DVD, not memory cards. There are three quality settings in standard definition: XP (10 Mbps), SP (5 Mbps), and LP (2.5 Mbps).

Media* (8.0)*

One of the biggest draws to the HDC-SX5 is its ability to record high definition video to both DVD and SDHC flash memory cards. This creates a flexibility desperately needed for high definition video, which takes up large amounts of space. A single-sided disc holds only 14 minutes of video in the highest quality. Compare this with an 8GB SDHC card holding 80 minutes Those who can’t afford to purchase an 8GB card after they’ve dropped close to $1,000 on a camcorder have the option of recording on DVDs for the time being. Factors like this make the HDC-SX5 a high-value camcorder.

Compatible DVDs include –R, –RW, –RAM, and –R DL (Dual Layer). Single-sided discs can holds 14 minutes in HG quality, 21 minutes in HN, and 31 minutes in HE. Dual layer discs can hold a little less than twice that.

A 2GB SDHC card holds 20 minutes in HG, 30 minutes in HN, and 45 minutes in HE. A 4GB card holds twice that, and an 8GB card holds twice as much as a 4GB card.

Editing* (4.0)*

AVCHD files are a pain to work with in most regards. There are now a handful of editing programs compatible with AVCHD, but chances are if you didn’t buy it in 2007, the programs you already own will require an upgrade or a total replacement. Since the files are so large and complex, it requires a great deal of computing power to decompress and edit. Set time aside for the task.

The camcorder ships with HD Writer 2.0. This is a Windows-only application, and requires Service Pack 2 for XP users. Like most other in-the-box software we’ve seen before, it performs the very basic tasks of creating a home movie, and nothing more.

 

 

 

 

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.5)

The automatic controls on the Panasonic HDC-SX5 are mixed in their ability to deal with changing light conditions. The best, or at least the fastest, is Auto exposure. We found the camcorder was likely to expose the image too brightly for our liking, washing out brighter areas. Also, some might find the exposure shifts too quick, as professional cameras have a more gradual shift.

The worst control was Auto white balance, which rarely displayed the colors as they should look unless shooting in perfect daylight. We found ourselves constantly shifting to Manual white balance, which is fortunately a very simple task that could be done against almost any background.

The camcorder includes a number of one-touch features for simple image correction. Most are found in the Joystick menu, activated by pushing in on the joystick. They include Intelligent Contrast (described below in Other Manual Controls), Soft Skin mode for skin tone correction, MagicPix low light mode, and Backlight Compensation for shooting subjects against strong backlighting. The camcorder also has the standard array of Scene modes, including Sports, Portrait, Low light, Spotlight, and Surf & Snow.

*

Overall Manual Control (6.75)*

The manual control on the HDC-SX5, like most Panasonics, is quite good. The camcorder comes equipped with a full array of aperture, shutter speed, focus, and gain controls, along with a number of one-touch correction tools to help when the lighting is less than ideal. The handling has taken a small setback since last year, as Panasonic shrunk the joystick. It won’t bother a lot of people, but we saw it as an unnecessary change. Fortunately, it remains rear-mounted, allowing for one-handed operation.

One thing conspicuously lacking on Panasonic camcorders is a simple exposure tool. Nearly every camcorder has an easy to understand feature – usually called "exposure" or "brightness" – that makes the picture brighter or darker. Panasonic instead offers independent shutter and aperture. This is great for the power user, but a lot of users don’t have the knowledge required to make effective use of those tools. Panasonic could take a tip from the competition here.

*

Zoom (6.5)*

The Panasonic HDC-SX5 offers a raised toggle switch on top, near the right rear, for controlling zoom. This is virtually identical to the toggle on the HDC-DX1. It’s well positioned and the raised profile makes for easy grasping. Getting a slow, even crawl is difficult, as the camcorder does not offer a steady speed from 1x to 10x. Instead, there’s a very slow crawl from 1x to 3x, then faster, and then faster again. At its slowest, it takes about 10 seconds to traverse the span; fastest, it can move in four seconds.

While zooming, a progress bar appears in the upper right corner, along with a numerical indicator to tell you exactly what the zoom power is. This can be very helpful when setting up a shot, and we thank Panasonic for the thoughtfulness.

Zoom Power Ratio (10.0)

The HDC-SX5 features a 10x optical zoom, standard for higher-end camcorders. The digital zoom can be extended to 700x, or capped at a more sensible 25x.

Focus (5.0)

Focus is perhaps the most important element to consider if you’re making the switch from standard to high definition. A lightly out of focus face forgiven on your old camcorder will be much sharper with the HDC-SX5. Thus, a good manual focus is vital. The HDC-SX5 has a merely adequate control. To engage manual focus, push down on the Auto/Manual/Focus switch located in the LCD cavity. Shifting focus is done with the joystick. You’ll have to rely on the picture alone to determine whether the focus is correct.

The camcorder offers one tool, MF Assist, to help in this task. Once activated in the menu, every time you use the joystick to shift the focus, a small window framed in blue appears in the middle of the screen. Within this window is your subject, zoomed to about twice its normal size. While good in theory, we found the tool was generally less useful than expected. First, while the LCD has a high 300,000-pixel resolution, the screen is still small – only 2.7 inches. Second, the zoom window is small relative to the entire screen. Third, it’s a digital zoom, which by definition is a distortion of the image. It’s hard to tell if the focus is correct. We would have much preferred JVC’s peaking tool, which creates a false color on areas of the screen that are in focus. It’s by far the best focus tool we’ve seen on a consumer camcorder to date.

MF Assist in action

Exposure & Aperture (5.69)

The HDC-SX5, like all Panasonics, offers an aperture control independent of shutter speed control. The aperture control is located on the Joystick menu. Settings include Open (f/1.8), f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.8, f/8.0, f/9.6, f/11, f/14, and f/16. This is the best and most powerful set of aperture settings you can expect to find on any consumer camcorder.

As mentioned previously, the camcorder lacks a simple exposure tool, which is going to frustrate beginners.

The Aperture (Iris) tool in action

Shutter Speed (8.1)

The shutter speed control is also located on the Joystick menu, and can be adjusted independently of the aperture. Settings include 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, and 1/8000.

Shutter Speed in action

The camcorder also offers an Auto Slow Shutter mode. When activated via the Main menu, it allows the auto shutter to drop down as low as 1/30 rather than the normal 1/60. It also allows you to manually adjust the shutter to 1/30, which should prove helpful in low light shooting.

White Balance (5.5)

The white balance settings are located on the Joystick menu. The selection is rather limited compared to some manufacturers. They include: Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, and Manual. A preferable list would have included a few more presets for various color temperatures.

White Balance in action

Making a manual adjustment is very simple. Just scroll through the settings until you hit the iconic "white balance icon" and press up on the joystick. The screen goes black for a few seconds, and when the image comes back, voilà … the white balance is corrected.

Gain (6.0)

Panasonic is the only camcorder manufacturer to offer manual gain control, which is very useful in moderate low light shooting when you’re trying to find the balance between exposure and noise. It’s important to note that the gain control on Panasonic consumer camcorders does not function the same as on professional camcorders. On these models, the gain can only be accessed once the aperture has been exhausted, meaning it must be open to its fullest extent, f/1.8.

Gain settings include 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB,12dB, 15dB, and 18dB. Between each increment is another mystery increment that isn't acknowledged by the on-screen display, but nonetheless has an effect on brightness.

Other Manual Controls (3.5)
Intelligent Contrast - The Intelligent Contrast feature is new for this generation of Panasonic camcorders. The manual describes it as a tool "for recording both bright and dark parts clearly at the same time." Of course, no tool allows a camcorder to exceed its native dynamic range. In practice, we found it to be of limited use. It appears to evaluate the entire exposure range of the frame, then look for areas that are close to blowing out or bottoming out, but still have salvageable information. It then raises or lowers the exposure accordingly to bring that information out more clearly.

The tool was often good at determining where that salvageable data was. However, it seemed to operate by looking for the greatest amount of information it could correct, and this may not be the information you wanted. For instance, if 15 percent of the image was a uniform area in moderate shadow, but your most important subject was a small, brightly-lit white object, the Intelligent Contrast feature would boost the overall exposure to correct for the shadows, and thus completely blow out the white object. You’ll want to be careful when and how you use this feature.

Guidelines - The Guidelines tool has three options for drawing artificial lines across the LCD to help set up a shot: a horizontal line across the center, Grid 1 (nine sectors), and Grid 2 (66 sectors). These do not appear on the final recordings.

Zebra - The Zebra tool creates artificial stripes across areas that are overexposed. Panasonic does not specify what IRE level is the threshold, but it appears to be around 100 IRE. The stripes do not appear on the final recorded video.

Color Bar - The camcorder can create color bars to help calibrate your monitor.

Tele Macro - The Tele Macro feature is designed to help shoot small objects up close. When activated, it extends the zoom to 10x.

 

 

 

 

Still Features

Still Features* (6.0)*

Just like the HDC-DX1, the HDC-SX5 is only capable of capturing one still size – 1920 x 1080 – in quality settings of Fine or Normal. The camcorder is equipped with a flash mounted to the left side of the lens. The flash can be set to Auto, Force-On, or Force-Off, controlled from the Joystick menu. A Self-Timer setting is available and can be set to a 10-second or 2-second delay time. Red-Eye Reduction can also be found within the Picture menu. When optical image stabilization (OIS) is enabled in Still mode, it is magically re-branded as "MEGA OIS." According to Panasonic, MEGA OIS reduces shake to an even greater extent, just for still images, but we didn’t notice a significant difference.

The Picture submenu of the Administrative menu

Most of the manual controls from Video mode apply in Photo mode, including aperture, shutter, and focus. The gain also works, though we imagine it is converted into some sort of ISO data, which is not revealed in the EXIF data. There is no designated Still Photo mode, and images can only be recorded to SD/SDHC cards, not DVDs.

The Photo Playback menu is simple to operate:

Still Performance* (9.57)*

We tested the still performance of the Panasonic HDC-SX5 by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a color error of 6.27, which was quite a good score compared to the competition. The noise measured 0.86 percent, which was also low. The saturation measured 99.17 percent.

Most camcorders tend to overexpose in Auto mode, causing us to have to lower the exposure to get the best score. This was not the case with the HDC-SX5. In Auto mode, the camcorder was set to an aperture of f/4.0 and a shutter speed of 1/60. The best score actually came after opening the aperture up to f/3.4.

Still Resolution* (4.77)*

The still resolution was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and running the stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to achieve an approximate resolution of 518.2 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a 0.71 percent clipping and an oversharpening of 7.16 – and a 502.5 lw/ph, with an undersharpening of 13.7. Though we tested it under multiple settings, this best score was achieved in Auto mode.

 

 

 

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (6.0)*

Like the HDC-DX1, the HDC-SX5 is not a daunting piece of machinery. The HDC-SX5 employs straightforward, simple menus and a rear-mounted joystick to enable one-handed camcorder operation. Although Panasonics are geared toward more advanced shooters due to their robust gamut of manual controls, point-and-shooters can opt to set the camcorder to Auto mode. In Auto mode, the Joystick menu is reduced to three pages and loaded only with the very simple one-touch options like Soft Skin mode and Tele Macro.

To simplify the HDC-SX5’s operation even further, the first page of the Joystick menu includes a Help mode. When Help mode is activated, two yellow bars span across the top and bottom of the screen. When one of the one-touch controls is selected, a description of that tool appears. Help mode is available only within the Joystick menu.

Out of Auto mode, the HDC-SX5 will perplex most beginners. You’ll have to know or learn a little camera terminology to really understand the aperture, gain, white balance, and shutter speed tools. Unfortunately, Panasonic does not outfit its camcorders with a simple exposure tool to make the image "a little brighter or darker" – something beginners can wrap their brain around. So many advanced and miscellaneous features are available on the HDC-SX5, such as audio levels, MF assist, and Intelligent Contrast, that it would be easy for a novice to feel bewildered amidst a sea of options.

While the concept of the DVD medium is simple, in truth, it may be the most uncooperative medium in the consumer camcorder world. You’ll get a trivial 14 minutes of recording time in the highest quality, and since the HDC-SX5 is one of the few HD camcorders that can produce 1920 x 1080 "full HD" video, most users will want to take advantage of this recording quality. In addition, DVD discs need to be finalized before they can be played back on a DVD player. Finalization can take up to 10 minutes in some cases. Furthermore, the HDC-SX5’s disc hatch can take up to 30 seconds to open. During a shoot, this can be extremely frustrating, making the shooter wonder why they opted for a DVD camcorder in the first place. When it comes time to watch your videos, you may be surprised to find your older DVD players or DVD drives can’t even read the disc, due to AVCHD incompatibility. Tough luck.

Handling* (6.0)*

The HDC-SX5 is a beast – there’s no way around it. Even though Panasonic has slimmed down its next generation AVCHD DVD titan, there’s no escaping the fact that the HDC-SX5 is merely an HDC-DX1 on a diet. We almost ran for the hills back in March after unboxing the gargantuan HDC-DX1. It’s uglier than any camcorder we’ve seen all year, weighs a ton, and is a dread to handle. The HDC-DX1’s preposterously prominent battery back thrusts out the back end. In addition, the HDC-DX1’s steep disc hatch felt more like a discus in our hands than part of a camcorder. The HDC-SX5 is in fact more portable, yet still manages to pack in all of the HDC-DX1’s peculiar handling flaws.

The HDC-SX5 is equipped with an equally-colossal battery pack. We appreciate battery life as much as anyone, but manufacturers typically include a skinny battery in the box, then let the customer decide if they want to sacrifice portability by upgrading. To make matters worse, the HDC-SX5’s hard plastic viewfinder merely telescopes straight out and does not flip up. This means the viewfinder just barely clears the battery. When you place the viewfinder in front of your eye, the battery literally attacks your face. One minor stumble could lead to a row of missing teeth. Poor form, Panasonic.

The HDC-SX5’s disc hatch is more compact, yet lacks the grippability of a Sony or Canon. The bottom line is the HDC-SX5 does not feel comfortable in the hand. Sure, the hand strap has been revamped and is notably more padded, but the rest of the right side is devoid of ergonomic friendliness. When you slide your hand into the HDC-SX5, you’ll notice you have to slide your palm down so your index finger aligns with the zoom toggle. The middle, ring, and pinky fingers rest atop the disc hatch, but you’ll notice a sizable gap between your hand and the camcorder’s right side. The rear-mounted joystick has been chopped down to a mere nub, and is awkwardly placed, requiring a thumb contortion to operate it. Though the HDC-SX5 is built for one-handed camcorder operation, you’ll find a second hand might be necessary to brace the left side to keep the camcorder upright, depending on how tight you ratchet the hand strap.

The good news is the HDC-SX5 is lighter than the HDC-DX1. While this might not equate to a more solid, balanced feel in the hand, it certainly aids the portability factor. You can actually fit the HDC-SX5 in a decent-sized camera bag without any obscene protrusions. Though we lament the size of the HDC-DX1’s joystick, there is no contest between a rear-mounted joystick and a touch screen LCD. Most power users prefer joysticks. One last note is that the HDC-SX5’s disc hatch takes an abnormally long time to open. Be prepared to wait up to 30 seconds, depending on how stubborn the HDC-SX5 is being that day.

Menu* (6.5)*

Panasonics are equipped with excellent menus, and the HDC-SX5 is no exception. They’ve done a great job of simplifying. Most camcorders have separate menus for each shooting mode: HD video mode, Standard Def Video mode, Still Photo mode, etc. The HDC-SX5 only features one Administrative menu (accessed via the menu button on the back) that spans them all. This menu is only available when you are not actively recording. A separate menu, the Joystick menu, takes care of all manual controls and image effects. This is available during recording. All action is controlled by the rear-mounted joystick, which enables rapid, accurate selections.

The Administrative menu contains those items you wouldn’t necessarily need in the heat of the moment. A scrollable list appears containing the following options:

The Joystick menu is accessed by pressing the center of the joystick. A small circular menu appears in the bottom right corner of the LCD screen. When the HDC-SX5 is set to Manual mode, the following options are available (if you are in Auto mode, only the first three pages of options appear):

 

The Joystick menu in action

Portability* (3.75)*

Let’s all raise our hands in the air and thank anything holy that the HDC-SX5 does not share the same dimensions with its prodigious older sibling, the HDC-DX1. As many readers will recall, the HDC-DX1 did not fare well in the portability department. Nobody wants to tote around a bowling ball all day at Six Flags.

Much to our relief, the HDC-SX5 went on a diet. It’s slimmer, shorter, and weighs less, touting the following revamped measurements: 83.5 x 93.5 x 151.5mm (3.3 x 3.7 x 6-inches) and 540 grams (1.2 pounds). That’s more like it. Though, you’ll still have to dodge that absurd battery jutting out of the back like a pier. Panasonic did not make any attempt to hide that monstrosity, so make sure there’s extra room in the camera bag. Also account for DVD discs, a backup battery, SD cards, and a self-motivation booklet after you look at your depleted wallet.

LCD and Viewfinder* (6.5)*

The HDC-SX5 is equipped with a 2.7-inch LCD screen that packs in a whopping 300,000 pixels. This is one of the highest resolutions we’ve seen yet on a consumer camcorder, but is actually quite common on digital still cameras. The LCD screen flips out 90 degrees from the camcorder’s body and rotates up to 270 degrees. There are no buttons on the LCD panel controls, as most operations are governed with the rear-mounted joystick. The HDC-SX5 features a Power LCD Extra function that brightens the screen by two exposure steps. Be warned that this affects only the screen brightness and not the actual exposure of the image. We predict this will cause more than a few underexposed images over time. One last thing – the LCD screen’s image appears more saturated than the viewfinder. Depending on which you’re using to frame the shot, there may be some variance in how you perceive the color and exposure.

The HDC-SX5 is outfitted with a viewfinder that telescopes out to about an inch from the camcorder’s body. The viewfinder is sharp, with a 183,000 pixel count, and will be your best friend when it comes to an accurate picture. The only problem you’ll run into is the submarine-sized battery underneath it. The viewfinder just barely clears the battery, which will not make for a pleasant shooting experience. The dioptric adjuster is located on top of the viewfinder shaft.

**

Battery Life*** (15.4)*

We’ve roasted the HDC-SX5’s battery enough in this review, so let’s find out if its massive size had an impact on endurance. We tested the life of the VW-VBG260 battery pack by recording continuously in Manual mode with the LCD flipped open. When the disc needed to be changed, the battery was removed and the external power source was plugged in. When all was said and done, the HDC-SX5’s humongous battery lasted a whopping 153 minutes and 34 seconds (2 hours, 33 minutes, and 34 seconds). We’re not entirely sure why the HDC-SX5 outperformed the HDC-DX1 by an hour, but we’ll take it. This is the longest lasting battery we’ve seen all year. One more of these bad boys will keep you occupied all day long.

 

 

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (7.5)*

In terms of audio, the HDC-SX5 was fed table scraps from the HDC-DX1. The HDC-DX1 and HDC-SD1 burst onto the AVCHD scene with the most advanced audio control of any camcorder within its price range, including the foreboding JVC GZ-HD7. Both camcorders are equipped with a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital microphone, independent gain control, and microphone jack.

Sadly, the HDC-SX5 lost the mic jack, the 5.1-channel built-in mic was reduced to 2-channel, and the camcorder still has no dedicated headphone jack (there are, however, hardware solutions for this last problem). Fortunately, the HDC-SX5 still has audio gain control, a Zoom Mic function, and Wind Cut. In addition, the HDC-SX5 is equipped with a hot accessory shoe instead of the cold shoe found on the HDC-DX1.

The HDC-SX5’s built-in microphone is capable of three different level settings: Auto, Set +AGC, and Set. In Auto, the microphone records all sound with Auto Gain Control (AGC) on, and levels are adjusted automatically. Set +AGC enables the shooter to adjust microphone levels by increasing or decreasing its decibel sensitivity. In Set +AGC, AGC is kept on to help reduce sound distortion. The third option, Set mode, allows the shooter to adjust the decibel level, only AGC is not activated and sounds record at their true volume.

Audio levels with the Set+AGC function

When Set +AGC or Set is activated, a screen containing a horizontal microphone input level slider appears. Bookending the slider are left and right channel level meters. The microphone input level ranges from -30 to +6 decibels. Negative integers can only be adjusted in increments of three, while positive integers are adjusted in increments of two. During shooting, a small horizontal microphone level meter accompanies the standby screen.

The HDC-SX5 also has a setting for an external hot shoe-compatible boom microphone if you choose to attach one. Though most external mics come equipped with some sort of sound control, you can set its levels to Normal or Lowcut in the Administrative menu.

Panasonic offers the most advanced audio control of any other manufacturer, but on a consumer camcorder, the gap between prosumer and professional audio is prodigious. An external microphone would trump the HDC-SX5’s built-in microphone any day.

Playback* (4.25)*

Playback on the HDC-SD5 is identical to the HDC-DX1. In order to access standard definition or high definition video or stills, shift the mode dial to Playback. In High Definition mode, a tabbed menu structure appears containing Video from Disc, Video from Card, and Photo pages (Standard Definition only includes Video from Disc and Photo). All action is dictated via the rear-mounted joystick. Clip volume is controlled by the zoom toggle.

The Playback Screen

Press the center of the joystick to select a clip or image. The clip begins playing within the entirety of the LCD screen, accompanied by a set of joystick-governed playback controls. Up controls play/pause, down is stop, left is rewind, and right is fast forward. Pressing the center of the joystick makes the menu disappear and reappear. When playing back a still image, the joystick controls are as follows: Up for start/pause slide show, down for stop, left for previous image, and right for next image.

In Playback mode, the Administrative menu consists of the following options:

The Video Playback Menu

Connectivity* (8.0)*

The HDC-SX5 contains a similar gamut of ports found on the HDC-DX1, minus the Mic jack and with the addition of a hot accessory shoe rather than cold. The HDC-SX5 flaunts a fairly naked LCD cavity – open real estate for a plethora of additional connectivity. That’s why it’s even more preposterous that Panasonic placed the DC jack and HDMI terminal behind the battery. When you’re running low on juice and the external power needs to be plugged in, there goes the continuity of your shot. Panasonic needs to stop stashing ports of any kind behind the battery.

A thin rectangular plastic tab is located along the bottom of the left side, housing the AV-out jack, component-out jack, and USB terminal. To the right of this panel is a spring-loaded SDHC card door. The HDC-SX5’s hot shoe is mounted to the top, in front of the viewfinder.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Features

What’s in the Box?

The Panasonic HDC-SX5 ships with the following items:

-VW-VBG260 Battery Pack

-AC Adapter

-DC Cable

-AV Cable

-Component Cable

-AC Cable

-Remote Control

-Button-type Battery

-USB Cable

-CD-ROM with HD Writer 2 Editing Software

Add the following items to your shopping list: backup battery, SDHC card, and a mountain of DVD discs. If you own a high definition TV that supports HDMI, you can add an HDMI cable to the list. That’s how DVD camcorders roll, so you'd better have enough cash to support the cause.

Other Features* (5.0)
**Pre-Record - *One of Panasonic’s latest innovations, the Pre-Record function is designed for moments when the video equivalent of "shutter-to-shot time" is not quick enough. When the Pre-Record button is pressed, the HDC-SX5 waits, poised in the grass like a tiger waiting to strike. Actually, what it’s doing is constantly recording three seconds of video in its cache memory. That way, when you hit record, it will actually have the three seconds prior to that moment already recorded. This is a great way to prevent your missing a key shot. It does, however, require the foresight to keep Pre-Record engaged.

*Backlight Compensation (BLC) - *When a subject is framed against a strongly lit background, the Backlight Compensation feature increases the overall exposure to highlight that subject.

*Auto Ground-Directional Standby (AGS) - *When Auto Ground-Directional Standby (AGS) is engaged, the HDC-SX5 automatically stops recording if the camcorder is tilted upside down. This prevents unnecessary filming if a shooter forgets to press the Record Stop button.

*Fades - *For that cinematic touch, the HDC-SX5 comes equipped with fades that bookend individual scenes when selected. Choose black for drama or white for a dream sequence.

*Power LCD Extra - *Panasonic has introduced the Power LCD Extra button, located within the LCD cavity. This feature brightens the LCD screen by two steps, +1 and +2. When the HDC-SX5 is initially turned on, the Power LCD Extra feature is automatically set to +1. You’ll have to press the Power LCD Extra button twice for the screen to return to normal. This could be a useful feature, but runs the risk of making the user believe the image is exposed correctly when, in fact, only the screen is brighter.

*Disc Copy - *In order to dub SDHC card footage onto DVD, press the Disc Copy button in the LCD cavity. Keep in mind that the external power supply must be connected in order to access this feature.

*Quick Start - *Panasonic’s version of Quick Start is only applicable to SDHC card recording. When Quick Start is activated from within the Main menu, the HDC-SX5 automatically snaps into action from Standby mode in approximately 1.7 seconds by flipping open the LCD screen or extending the viewfinder.

*MagicPix - *Panasonic’s Night mode functions by a simple shutter speed reduction of 1/15 or 1/30 to capture more light. This feature is fairly helpful if you can live with choppy, stuttering footage.

 

 

 

 

Comparisons / Conclusion

Comparison
Panasonic HDC-SD5
Panasonic’s second generation of AVCHD counterparts, the HDC-SX5 and HDC-SX5 ($995 MSRP) are sleeker, edgier versions of the original HDC-DX1 and HDC-SD1. Both models went on a diet, got a makeover, and pumped up their resolutions to "Full HD" (1920 x 1080). You can expect the same peculiar handling quirks as the incipient models, but on a smaller scale. We haven’t gotten a chance to test the HDC-SD5, but it features an identical imaging set as the HDC-SX5 and will likely perform the same.

The most notable difference between these two colleagues is size and media. While the HDC-SX5 looks like something out of an old monster movie with its mammoth battery, the HDC-SD5 features an enclosed battery chamber. We don’t particularly prefer an enclosed battery design because it prohibits an expanded battery pack. On the other hand, the HDC-SD5 is highly portable, and can almost fit inside a large pocket. It is, or was, the "World’s Smallest AVCHD Camcorder," but that seems to be a prize that is constantly changing hands.

The HDC-SD5 records video and stills only to SD/SDHC cards, while the HDC-SX5 records to both card and DVD. If you could care less about DVDs, then the HDC-SD5 is definitely the way to go. Other perks on the HDC-SD5 include a thick, chunky zoom slider and a giant mode dial that will scare away small children. Both camcorders share the same manual controls, special features, and optics. If you absolutely must have a high definition DVD camcorder, then look into the HDC-SX5. Otherwise, there is no question that the HDC-SD5 is superior, despite the extra $95.00.

Panasonic HDC-DX1
Well, we know the story here. Panasonic’s first attempt at an AVCHD DVD camcorder fell flat on its face. Panasonic saw the light and the HDC-DX1 ($1,399 MSRP) was gone before it even hit its tadpole stage. Those who remember reading about the lumbering bear know the HDC-DX1’s only perks are decent video quality and Panasonic manual controls. Other than that, the HDC-DX1 is strapped with a gigantic battery and sluggish response time for anything involving the DVD. Panasonic got a clue and slimmed down the HDC-SX5, gave it 1920 x 1080 "Full HD," and added additional features like Intelligent Contrast and Pre-Record. The HDC-SX5 is a better bet. It’s smaller, offers better resolution, and packs in more options. However, the new generation performs worse in low light due to reduced pixel size on the imaging chips. Before you opt for any of these camcorders, though, read the next two comparisons.

Sony HDR-UX7
We just finished testing the HDR-UX7 ($999 MSRP) and found it to be a solidly constructed, well-oiled machine. As far as video performance, the HDR-UX7’s 1/2.9-inch CMOS chip cranked out a sharp, vibrant image. The HDC-SX5 offers an image with less noise in bright light, but in low light it trails off with a significant lack of detail. While the HDR-UX7’s low light performance exposed a darker image, it was ultimately preferable to the SX5. The video performance from both of these camcorders is decent, though nothing tops what we have seen in our testing room from the Canon HR10 – we’ll get there in a minute.

The HDR-UX7 handles beautifully and includes a 3.5-inch touch screen LCD and rotating viewfinder. The HDC-SX5 offers a more extensive set of manual controls, one-handed camcorder operation, and excellent audio control. Power users will definitely magnetize toward the HDC-SD5, while point-and shooters will opt for the HDR-UX7.

Canon HR10
Want to know what would happen if you took the HV20’s chipset, stuffed it into the body of a DC50, and adorned it with gaudy copper highlights? Why, you’d have the Canon HR10 ($1,199 MSRP), that’s what! Though we haven’t completed testing the HR10’s performance, we can honestly say you can expect the best video performance of any high definition DVD camcorder. The HR10’s image looks just like the Canon HG10’s and is strikingly similar to the omnipotent Canon HV20’s. All three of Canon’s top-of-the-line HD models offer 24P, a wealth of manual controls, and a darn good picture. In fact, we can tell you right now that no HD DVD camcorder, including the HDC-SX5, can touch the HR10. On the downside, the HR10 does not stand at the forefront of logical construction. The HR10 is equipped with an enclosed battery design and the body is constructed (yet again) of cheap plastic. Again, Canon is sacrificing handling for video quality, but at the end of the day, we have to side with video quality. Consider temporary discomfort over the lasting value of high-quality video. In the meantime, we’ll stick with the HR10 for our AVCHD needs.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters

The HDC-SX5 might be a tempting choice because it records to DVD, but it’s big, clunky, and too advanced for the average point-and-shooter. For stellar ease of use and great handling, check out the Sony HDR-UX7.

Budget Consumers

The HDC-SX5 is in fact the cheapest high definition DVD camcorder on the market, but $900 is still a steep hill to climb. Those who thirst for HD video and DVD media are in a bit of a tight spot.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

The HDC-SX5 is not riddled with still features, but it can record HD video or stills to either DVD or SD/SDHC cards. Hitachi’s Blu-Ray monster in the works, the DX-BD7H, is the only other HD hybrid known to the consumer camcorder world.

Gadget Freaks

Gadget freaks will dig the HDC-SX5’s full 1920 x 1080 HD video and advanced audio level control. Aside from that, there’s nothing truly compelling about this camcorder.

Manual Control Freaks

Panasonic knows manual controls, and the HDC-SX5 is equipped with a robust set of tools, including gain and independent shutter and aperture.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

No pro would ever opt for a consumer DVD camcorder, especially this one.

Conclusion

The Panasonic HDC-SX5’s primary selling point is its hybrid recording – the ability to record high definition AVCHD video to both DVD and SD/SDHC memory cards. In most instances, however, we found the DVD medium to be more of a hassle than a convenience. Everything related to the DVD – loading time, playback, finalizing, and disc hatch opening – takes a very long time. Also, single-sided discs only hold 14 minutes of video in the highest quality. That requires a lot of blank discs in the camera bag. Everything we liked about the camcorder could be done on the SD/SDHC card with none of these problems. The big question is this: if Panasonic makes a sibling camcorder, the HDC-SD5, which records exclusively to card, why bother with the HDC-SX5?

The HDC-SD5 has its own weakness. The battery is placed internally in the body, cutting off the possibility of an expanded battery. The ultra-compact body can create some handling issues for shaky hands. Also, the HDC-SD5 can only record high definition, while the HDC-SX5 can also record in standard definition MPEG-2. As far as shortcomings go, this is a short list. We’re much more willing to back the SD5 as a viable buy than the SX5. Those considering only DVD camcorders in the HD market should also look at the Sony HDR-UX7 and Canon HR10, both compelling models. If you’re casting a wider net and looking at all HD camcorders, we strongly encourage you to consider the Canon HG10 and Sony HDR-CX7, which record to HDD and MemoryStick, respectively.

 

 

 

Meet the tester

Michael Perlman

Michael Perlman

Editor

Michael Perlman is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

See all of Michael Perlman's reviews

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