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Panasonic Introduces the World’s First Full HD
Camcorders with 3MOS
Panasonic introduces two new Full High Definition camcorders, the HDC-SD100
and HDC-HS100, that use the advanced AVCHD video format to record 1920 x
1080 images in breathtaking full-HD quality.
With manual functions enabling users to capture dramatic, artistic images these models also incorporate in High
Definition the world's first 3MOS system, newly developed by Panasonic based on 3CCD technology, renowned for
its excellent colour reproduction. With expanded light-receiving areas, MOS sensors significantly improve image
quality even in low lighting. The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 deliver an AAA (triple A) performance in all aspects
of image quality, functions, and operating ease.
Designed to be resistant to a certain level of impact, the
HDC-SD100 records onto SD and SDHC memory card
and in addition to its compact size, this makes it ideal for
casual, walk-about shooting (a 32-GB SDHC Memory
Card enables around 12 hours of recorded video clips to
be stored.) Thanks to Panasonic’s HD link capabilities,
users can eject the SD Memory Card from both new
models and slip it into the card slot on a Panasonic
Freesat TV (TH-42/46/50 PZ81) or a BD50 or BD30
Blu-ray DiscTM Player*, and enjoy instant large-screen viewing of the stunning HD images.
* For AVCHD format camcorders, as of 18 June 2008
The HDC-HS100 is a hybrid model that enables recording
HD images onto either an SD or SDHC Memory Card or
the built-in 60-GB hard disk. With a 32-GB SDHC Memory
Card enables around 12 hours of recorded video clips to
be stored, and the 60-GB hard disk can store around 23
hours (both in HE mode). This gives the HDC-HS100 a
total capacity of around 35 hours of Full-HD recording
time. Users also have the ability to copy recorded video
images from the SD Memory Card to the hard disk, or
vice versa, with easy operation allowing flexibility to record to whichever media best suited for the consumer.
Panasonic’s VW-BN1 DVD Burner (optional) can be used to burn images onto DVD’s in original AVCHD format with
no need to use a PC. The discs can then be easily played with the VW-BN1 and sent via the HCD-SD100 or
HDC-HS100 to a large-screen TV for viewing in HD without use of a Blu-ray DiscTM player or similar device.
The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 both come packaged with HD Writer 2.6 software for Windows, and also support
iMovie '08 for Apple Macintosh, allowing users to edit the footage they capture. The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100
will be available from August 2008 at the Panasonic eShop.
New 3MOS Sensor
The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 feature new 3MOS
sensor. Developed by Panasonic, light passing through
the lens is split into its three primary colour components
(red, green and blue), and the signal from each is
processed by one of the three MOS circuits. Compared
with a conventional 1MOS, Panasonic's new 3MOS
system captures more vibrant, true-to-life colours, in
greater detail with richer gradation.
The MOS sensor’s light-receiving area is about double* that of a CCD sensor ensuring sensitivity is higher. This
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high-precision imaging element is the first in the world** to shoot in lighting as low as 2 lux enabling both new
models to capture exceptionally clear, bright images.
* Compared with the HDC-SD9/HDC-HS9
** For HD camcorders as of 18 June 2008, shooting in Low Light mode at a shutter speed of 1/25
New Leica Dicomar Lens
The Leica Dicomar* lens system used in the HDC-SD100
and HDC-HS100 comprises 12 lenses in 9 groups,
including aspherical lenses to improve resolution and
contrast and an LD (low-dispersion) lens to prevent colour
bleeding. A multi-coating process is applied to all lens
elements to minimise chromatic aberration, to ensure
images are crisper, clearer, and free of flare and ghosting.
The use of a highly-refractive lens also made it possible
to have both 12x zoom power and a compact body.
*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, and Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
Enhanced HD Crystal Engine
To maximise the capabilities of the new HD-level 3MOS sensor featured in the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100,
Panasonic has enhanced its renowned Crystal Engine image processor, resulting in the HD Crystal Engine. A noise
reduction circuit combines with the Intelligent Contrast Control circuit to boost image quality while reducing power
consumption. The dynamic range is also approximately twice that in previous Panasonic models, which helps
prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows and allowing for more natural colour expression. Offering both higher
image quality and longer battery life, the HD Crystal Engine takes camcorder performance to new heights.
Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
With Panasonic's Advanced O.I.S., gyrosensors detect
hand-shake and a lens unit shifts to correctly align the
optical axis, and produce sharp, blur-free images. This
happens at a remarkable rate of 4,000 times per second.
Now the compensation area has been almost tripled
compared with previous systems*, so even very
significant hand-shake is corrected. Users can capture
clear, sharp images even when shooting long-distance
zoom shots, where hand-shake is typically a big concern and there is no loss of quality as images are captured in
full original beauty.
* Compared with the HDC-SD9/HDC-HS9
New Manual Ring
The Manual Ring is provided for users who want more
creative freedom in their image production. With these
new models users can enjoy precise, responsive fingertip
control over five key settings -- zoom, focus, iris, shutter
speed, and white balance.
New On-Screen Assist
On-Screen Assist function displays a guide for exposure
compensation. There are different assist guides - Zebra Pattern, Brightness Level, and Histogram. These enable the
user to determine the brightness level, and make the adjustments desired with precision not achievable by simply
looking at the image on the LCD.
iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode
The world's first iA function* is offered on the HDC-SD100
and HDC-HS100 models automatically activating several
convenient shooting functions at once. These include
Advanced O.I.S., which compensates for hand-shake to
eliminate blurring; Face Detection, which adjusts the
exposure so faces are captured perfectly; and Intelligent
Contrast Control, which helps ensure proper contrast.
Also included is the Intelligent Scene Selector, which
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determines the correct shooting conditions and automatically selects the Scene setting that will provide optimal
results.
* For camcorders, as of 18 June 2008
Face Detection
This function automatically adjusts the exposure, contrast,
skin complexion effect, and focus so that faces are
captured perfectly, using the face of the person nearest
the centre of the frame as a reference. Face Detection
helps ensure that faces are clear, easy to see in an image
and not lost in the shadows – even in situations with
backlighting or low lighting. With Face Detection, there's
no need to use different correction functions in different
shooting situations. Face Detection can detect up to 15 faces in a frame.
Intelligent Contrast Control
This intelligent function continually measures the ambient
light intensity and adjusts the contrast as it changes.
Providing control over a wide range of lighting conditions,
Intelligent Contrast Control helps prevent a washed-out
look in bright parts of an image and black-outs in
shadowy parts. Images can be captured with natural
nuances and contrast. Even when shooting toward the
light source, Intelligent Contrast Control captures
true-to-life pictures with outstanding depth.
1.9-sec.* Quick Power-On Helps Catch Sudden Shooting Opportunities
Switch the power on and the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 are in recording standby and ready to shoot in just 1.9
seconds. This not only makes it easier to catch spur-of-the-moment shots, it also saves battery time. Users can also
choose the 0.6-sec Quick Start mode**, in which the power turns on or off when you open or close the LCD.
* HDC-HS100: Effective in card recording mode.
** This mode can be selected from the menu
Intelligent Shooting Selection Playback
This playback function automatically detects scenes that
have serious flaws, such as images that are completely
out of focus or shots of the ground taken inadvertently,
and automatically skips them during playback. Viewers
see only high-quality, mistake-free moving images.
5-Microphone, 5.1-Channel Surround Sound System
The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 feature a 5.1-channel
surround sound system with 5 microphones. When recordings are played on a 5.1-channel home cinema system,
viewers are surrounded by clear, detailed sound.
25 Frames/Sec High-Speed Burst Shooting
This function lets the camcorder snap up to 25 consecutive 2.1-MB-resolution still images in a second, or up to
approximately 72 consecutive shots in 3 seconds. This can be used to analyse a golf swing, tennis stroke or other
motion. It can also be used to get good shots of subjects in fast motion. The user can fire off a number of shots
without stopping, then keep the best ones and delete the rest.
Pre-Record
With the Pre-Record function on, the camcorder continuously records three seconds of images into an internal
buffer memory. As a result when the Record button is actually pressed, the three seconds immediately prior are
added at the beginning of the clip being recorded. This function is especially helpful for capturing sudden shooting
opportunities.
Wide-Viewing-Angle LCD Monitor
The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 incorporate an LCD
that has 300,000 dots and a wide 170-degree viewing
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angle both vertically and horizontally. The wider viewing
angle is a big advantage in high-angle and low-angle
shooting. It's a big advantage in playback too, allowing
several people at the same time to enjoy viewing the
video clip that was just recorded.
Power LCD Extra
The brightness of the LCD can be set to either of two levels to match the ambient light condition. At the brighter
setting, the LCD provides clear, easy viewing even when shooting outdoors on a sunny day.
One-Button Dubbing (HS100)
The HDC-HS100 is a hybrid model that can record full-HD images onto either an SD Memory Card or the built-in
hard disk drive. Recorded images can be copied from an SD Memory Card to the hard drive, or vice versa, by
pressing a single button. The user can select from three copying methods: Copy All copies all of the moving and still
images, Select Copy copies only selected scenes, and Copy by Date copies only images recorded on a specified
day. Once images are recorded onto an SD Memory Card, just slip the card into the slot of a Panasonic PZ800,
PZ700 or PY700 VIERA TV, or a BD50 or BD30 Blu-ray DiscTM Player*, and you’re ready for spectacular large-
screen HD viewing.
HD Writer 2.6 Editing Software (New)
The HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 come packaged with software that make it easy to edit the full-HD images
recorded onto either an SD Memory Card or the hard disk drive. Using HD Writer 2.6 software together with the
camcorder's Intelligent Shooting Selection Playback function, scenes determined to be seriously flawed (for
example, from overly severe hand-shake or backlighting) are automatically extracted. The user can then delete
them easily, without the usual troublesome operation. HD Writer 2.6 also lets the user specify which image files are
uploaded to the PC, eliminating the bother and waste of time that occurs with programmes that automatically upload
all scenes, including the ones you don’t want.
HD Writer 2.6 even remembers which image files have been uploaded to the PC, so there is no worry about
uploading the same file again later. This is convenient when users have recorded large amounts of data on a
memory card or hard drive and upload it over several sessions. When copying images to a DVD disc, users can
select either the full-HD AVCHD format or the DVD-Video format. Use AVCHD for images that will be viewed using a
Blu-ray DiscTM player, and DVD-Video (standard-definition) for discs that will be played on a DVD player.
Digital images available on request
Reader enquiry number: 0844 844 3852
Copyright © 2008 Panasonic UK Ltd
All Rights Reserved. Model numbers &
specifications may differ in Ireland
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