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Panasonic HDC-SX5

alaTest has collected and analyzed 58 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the zoom and connectivity. The battery and value for money are also mentioned favorably. Some have doubts about the portability.

image quality, value for money, battery, connectivity, zoom

portability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Panasonic HDC-SX5 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 83/100 = Very good quality.

See all Panasonic Camcorders

Review analysis

(Based on 58 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (29% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (56% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (8% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (6% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (2% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Image quality
  Show positive (61%)Show negative (4%)(Show all)
Value for money
  Show positive (33%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
Battery
  Show positive (35%)Show negative (24%)(Show all)
Connectivity
  Show positive (81%)None yet(Show all)
Portability
  Show positive (10%)Show negative (52%)(Show all)
Zoom
  Show positive (86%)Show negative (14%)(Show all)
Viewfinder
  Show positive (55%)None yet(Show all)
Resolution
  Show positive (43%)None yet(Show all)
Design
  Show positive (19%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
Color
  Show positive (50%)None yet(Show all)
More features

Showing 50 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 50 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (11)

Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5

 

Here's the most versatile camcorder of the bunch, letting you record 28 minutes of its best-quality video per 3-inch DVD. If you don't feel like dealing with discs, you can cram 80 minutes of HD footage on an 8GB SDHC flash memory card instead. If you...

Versitility is key here - records to SDHC and DVD; 3-second preroll recording

Some contrast issues in very bright or medium light

We like the three-second preroll function that records the previous three seconds before you push the record button when you’re using an SDHC flash memory card. In bright light, this sucker cranked out images with astonishing clarity, splashing...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5

 

Yes, yes yes, we know...another Panasonic in our round-up. But wefelt that if the HDC-SD9 is a role model for how to build a greattapeless camera, then the

Comfy ergonomics. Good video quality

Expensive and bulky. Not meant for novice shooters

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RECOMMENDED PRODUCT

Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5

 

They may only be small numbers now because they cost so much but high-def camcorders are definitely the future of home video. Panasonic is helping out by lowering the cost of entry to below $1,000–$899 USD to be exact for the new HDC-SX5 that's due any...

Records full HD to SD cards and DVDs; excellent high-def video

Unbelievably poor battery placement

I don't care how Panasonic achieves its 1920 x 1080I spec using three 520K pixel CCDs

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC

 

The new Panasonic HDC-SX5 camcorder employs cutting-edge imaging technology to capture video recordings that are breathtakingly clear and vibrant, especially when viewed on a high-quality, large screen TV. The HDC-SX5 uses the AVCHD format to record...

Not yet reviewed by editors.

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5 Camcorder Review

 

The second generation of AVCHD camcorders have been rolling onto shelves in recent months, mostly offering mild upgrades or occasional downgrades. Panasonic is trying a different route. The HDC-SX5 combines the media from both of its first-generation...

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...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5 First Impressions Camcorder Review

 

It's funny how quickly tech language changes. Just a short while ago, the term "hybrid" meant a camcorder that can also capture still pictures. Now that we take this feature for granted, the term has been reappropriated. "Hybrid" now refers to...

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Consumer review by:

Panasonic HDC-SX5

 

This camera is available for just over £300 at the moment (March 08. If you want brilliant HD this is the bargain of the year. It uses both DVD and SD card. Poundland disks work great!! The standard video from this camera (720X575) is better in my...

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Consumer review by:

Amazon review summary for the Panasonic HDC-SX5

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 9 user reviews of the Panasonic HDC-SX5 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com.

value for money, battery, portability, usability, design

89% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

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Consumer review by:

Great performance! Bad battery location..

 

Great performance! Bad battery location..

I've used it twice on vacations to Scotland and England. Full 1080i i recordings. Does a great job in well lighten areas, not so good in poorly lit areas. I havent experienced any problems with this camcorder. It would be nice to have a hard drive...

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Consumer review by:

Great little secret

 

Great little secret

I've owned this item for 2 years now and it has been really great. I use it to shoot music videos and the quality of the sequences shot outdoors is very good and the colours are quite nice. The battery life is excellent. Very easy to edit in Final...

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Product Specifications

The SX5 features Advanced O.I.S. and the 3CCD camera system. Advanced O.I.S. prevents blurry images caused by unsteady hands as you shoot, so images are clear, sharp and beautiful on a big TV screen. The 3CCD camera system is used in most professional broadcasting equipment because it draws out the full potential of the camera's high image quality. One of the new functions, called Pre-Rec, simplifies shooting and prevents mistakes. Pre-Rec records the image for 3 seconds before you even start shooting, so you're sure to capture unexpected actions that you would otherwise miss. Intelligent Contrast Control helps render natural-looking, highly nuanced images with proper contrast. Images recorded onto an SDHC/SD Memory Card can be copied onto a DVD disc entirely within the SX5, thanks to a one-touch copy function. Prior to shooting, you can also choose to save the data in either AVCHD or MPEG-2 format to match your playback device.

Audio Input

Microphone Operation Mode:Stereo
Microphone Technology:Electret condenser
Type:Microphone

Battery

Battery Form Factor:Manufacturer specific

Camcorder Features

High Definition Video Support:1080i
Low Lux / Night Mode: Yes
Widescreen Video Capture: Yes

Camera Flash

Type:Built-in flash

Dimensions & Weight

Depth:6in
Height:3.7in
Weight:1.2lbs
Width:3.3in

Display (Projector)

Diagonal Size:2.7in
Diagonal Size (metric):6.9cm
Display Form Factor:Rotating
Technology:TFT active matrix
Type:LCD display

Exposure Parameters

Shooting Programs:Low light / Portrait mode / Sports mode / Spotlight / Surf & snow

Header

Manufacturer:Panasonic
Model:HDC-SX5
Packaged Quantity:1
Product Line:Panasonic

Lens System

Lens Aperture:F/1.8-2.8
Max Focal Length:30mm
Min Focal Length:3mm
Optical Zoom:10
Type:Zoom lens

Optical Sensor

Camcorder Effective Video Resolution:520Kpix
Camcorder Sensor Resolution:560Kpix
Optical Sensor Size:1/6"
Optical Sensor Size (metric):4.2 mm ( 1/6 ) / 4.2 mm ( 1/6" )
Optical Sensor Type:3CCD
Sensor Qty:3CCD

Optical System

Built-in Optical Image Stabilizer: Yes
Image Stabilizer:Optical

Storage Floppy Drive

Type: None

Video Input

Analog Video Format:PAL
Digital Video Format:AVCHD / MPEG-2
Digital Zoom:700
Media Type:DVD-R (8cm) / DVD-R DL (8 cm) / DVD-RAM (8 cm) / DVD-RW (8 cm)
Shooting Modes:Digital photo mode
Still Image Format:JPEG
Type:Camcorder

Viewfinder

Viewfinder Color Support:Color
Viewfinder Type:Electronic
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