For a very competitive price, this handycam right here packs many elements and is a full featured camcorder. It's called the Panasonic SDR-H60.
Although it's still just a standard definition hard drive camcorder, it is still Panasonic's number one single-chip. It has a 60GB hard drive which provide enough space for you to record 14 hours of high quality videos and you can make it low quality videos and you get 54 hours. Want more? Record with MPEG2 format using an SD or SDHC memory card! Yes, the place is already there for you to insert it.
The Panasonic SDR-H60, measuring about 67mm x 70mm x 116mm and weighing about 341 grams, is not the lightest among camcorders in its category; nor is it the best-designed camcorder. In design and sleekness, the Samsung SC-MX20 or the Everio GZ-MG330 from JVC can outclass the SDR-H60 easily. The SDR-H60 has a basic design and a standard feel to its body.
With a price range of about $455-$500, this camcorder packs many features like the 50X optical zoom, Optical Image Stabilization and comfortable handling it seems nothing can beat the SDR-H60 at its price range. Although it is a very good camcorder, it still needs some improvements. It is not the best camcorder in low light performance – producing grain and a significant amount of noise – and it’s not the best in overall video quality, either.
The SDR-H60’s built-in mic is ideally located at its front panel and strategically located to keep away from prying fingers. The mic performs average, and if you need to use professional audio this is not the camcorder for you. It doesn’t have a mic input that will provide you with versatility in your video taking.
Although not the smallest, this camcorder is very comfortable to hold and most menus and control are easy and conveniently grouped together. This camcorder distributes its weight evenly, which makes one-hand operation easy even at its size. If you’re the type who loves versatility in features and want a more compact body, you can check the Panasonic SDR-S7 – it doesn’t have a hard drive. It records in SD and SDHC instead.
The 50X zoom on this unit is easily the most powerful zoom, not only in its category, but also in the camcorder market in general. The powerful zoom makes telephoto shots easier. Although at this maximum range, video quality might suffer greatly even with the slightest camera shake.
The standard-definition SDR-H60 camcorder runs on a 1/6 inch CCD image sensor with 0.8 megapixel resolution. This is significantly low, compared to High Definition videos with effective pixels of 3 megapixels and up. However, the SDR-H60 compensates for its lack in megapixel power with its good performance in image processing. The processing capability of this camcorder is so effective that it can produce vivid colors and great color performance that can be better than some of the other camcorders in its price range; it is not the best in its class with a lot of visible noise eminent in low light conditions or even in bright light.
With average video quality, it is surprising that the SDR-H60 outperforms its latest sister, the SDR-H200, in this category. The SDR-H60 with a single image sensor performs surprisingly better in color vividness than the more sophisticated SDR-H200 with its 3-CCD image sensors. The upgraded SDR-H200, having three CCD sensors each about the size of HDR-H60’s single image sensor, performs better in sharpness and has significantly less noise in its videos. The SDR-H60 however produces more vivid color images than the SDR-H200.
In comparison to Sony’s DCR-SR85, one of the SDR-H60’s competitors, the SDR-H60 performs less satisfactorily even at $200 more. Sony outclasses this Panasonic model easily in the video quality department, and with a lower price, it seems like the best option if you choose based on video quality.
The camcorder has a 2.7 inch LCD viewfinder with 123,000 pixels. This camcorder’s LCD flares and glares noticeably, and its low resolution makes focus and close-ups problematic. The LCD performs the same as of those in this price range, so you have no comparison.
The battery for the camcorder can last for about 2.5hrs with extensive use. The user is unable to upgrade to a larger capacity battery; this is a major drawback for enthusiasts who wants to extend the camera’s capability to record longer videos. You also notice another drawback when you charge the battery. It proves to be a little inconvenient when you can’t charge and use the camera at the same time.
For its still image performance, the camcorder primarily records to the internal 60GB hard disk drive. All pictures and videos can be recorded to the SD SDH card should the memory become full.
The SDR-H60 has very limited still image capture ability. It records in JPEG formats with two options (640×480 or 640×360) for resolution. Resolution is poor, considering that some camcorders can offer 5 megapixels or more compared to a very low 0.3 megapixel max for this camcorder.
For Image stabilization, the SDR-H60’s performance is satisfactory for its price and more than expected from a camcorder at this price range. The Panasonic SDR-H60 can eliminate about 70-80% of the normal hand shake, and considering its price, this is a very good performance.
Handling is always one of Panasonic’s strong traits, and this camcorder is no different. However, take the time to learn to navigate effectively thru the menus and settings without any hassle. Some of the menus might read cryptic for new users; but with time and familiarization, everything will work easily, as menus and functions are grouped accordingly.
Compared to its upgrade, the SDR-H200 (10x zoom and 30GB storage), the SDR-H60 is a better option (50x zoom and 60GB storage), with the SDR-H200 edging the SDR-H60 only in the video sharpness category, and the SDR-H200 is $150 more expensive.
However, if you want the best in this category, the Canon FS11 (16GB storage) is the camcorder of choice and sells at about the same price and capable of producing much clearer and more satisfactory video quality than any other camcorder in its class.
For a Standard Definition camcorder, the Panasonic SDR-H60’s performance is acceptable but definitely doesn’t sweep anybody off their feet. However, it’s ideal for people who love to go full automatic. It performs fast and at its best in this mode. Although this camcorder packs many manual options, this may prove very difficult and challenging to many to the point that it becomes complicated. However, with the 50X zoom and the 60GB storage space it’s a good catch for its cheap market price.
image source: thecamcorderreviewcom
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