The Panasonic High Definition Camcorder

The world has gone high def and is slowly dragging even the most tech-resistant of us along with it. We’re all buying fancy HD Televisions with expensive HD cables. Along with that comes the HD digital camcorders. Though we may cringe at the cost, many of us are taking the plunge and paying the extra money for HD premium programming. And the audiophiles out there are practically drooling at the wonderful pictures finally complimenting their over-the-top surround sound systems. With all that money and effort put in, it’s surprising how many are still needlessly content to watch their home movies in standard definition.

I say needlessly because, if you haven’t checked lately folks, the prices on the high definition camcorder have come down. I mean way down drastically. In fact, given the choice, there really isn’t much reason NOT to pick up an HD camcorder these days and if you’ve given the idea some thought, you might want to start with a Panasonic high definition camcorder.

Panasonic HDC-SD10K High Definition Camcorder

At the low end of the spectrum, Panasonic’s HDC-SD10K Camcorder offers 1080i and 1.47 MP (that’s mega pixel for those not in the know). It sports Panasonic’s excellent Advanced OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for superior image quality even when zoomed in. It’s in zooming that this camera really excels as it provides 16 X Optical zoom. Why is that important?

Given the choice between a Panasonic digital video camera offering a high number in digital zoom or a camera with a high number optical zoom, ALWAYS choose optical. Digital zoom is, for all intents, synthetic. A high digital zoom will almost always render with a great deal of pixilation making it nearly worthless. Optical zoom is just that; magnification through physical lensing rather than digital magnification. The image you get with Panasonic high definition camcorders sporting high optical zoom will always be superior.

The HDC-SD10K is definitely a lower-end HD camcorder coming in around $350-$450 USD retail, but shop around and you may find a better price.

Panasonic HDC-TM300K Camcorder

At the opposite end of the spectrum (without jumping into the world of professional level cameras) you’ll find the HDC-TM300K Panasonic HD camcorder. This piece of artistry is an HD enthusiast’s dream come true, shining through with 3.05 MP of crisp, clear and colorful images. 12 X optical zoom will get you up close and personal on whatever subjects you record and will do so with the superior image stabilization offered by Panasonic’s Advanced OIS compensating for camera shake at a mind-blowing 4,000 times each second.