The Panasonic HDC-SD800K is a High Definition Camcorder which delivers top class image quality. You can expect colorful, bright, and brilliant video clips in Full-HD quality when using this digital camcorder. It features Panasonic’s advanced 3MOS sensor technology for excellent true-to-life footage in any lighting conditions. This technology is essentially a three-sensor configuration which provides up to 9.15 MP (3 x 3.05 MP) additional resolution. The sensors divide the light input captured by the camcorder lens into three primary colors: red, green, and blue. Each color is then processed by a single sensor. Compared to the conventional 1MOS sensor, the 3MOS sensor technology maximizes the quality of Full-HD footage by reducing light loss, rendering colors, details, as well as gradation. The Crystal Engine PRO processor writes the enormous HD video files to the memory card quickly and efficiently. It also supports high-res digital zooming when the range exceeds the limit for optical zooming.
Like Panasonic’s 900 series, the HDC-SD800K is also equipped with a Leica Dicomar lens. The lens has the ability to render outstanding shading and sharp images. It will maintain high contrast and resolution even in harsh sunlight. Efficient light collection enables the lenses to capture bright and clear images whether in very bright environment or dim lighting. The lens also reduces flare, distortion, and ghosting at the image edges. For the Panasonic HDC-SD800K and 900 series HD camcorders, Leica especially built the new 35 mm lens with a 46 mm filter diameter, F1.5-F2.8 f/stop, 3.45-41.4 mm focal length, and 12x optical zoom range. It is able to zoom up to 20x thanks to Intelligent Zoom feature.
The Panasonic HDC-SD800K does not have built-in memory storage, yet it comes with an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot. It provides a maximum of 1920 x 1080/60p pixel resolution image recording. The “p” in 60p stands for “progressive recording”, which denotes a more vibrant and detailed result of recording in a progressive frame rate environment. The “p” feature works better than the “i” (stands for “interlaced”) HD recording. The camcorder also offers 2D or 3D recording options with optional lens. The VW-CLT1 3D camcorder lens from Panasonic is one of several lenses which are compatible with the HDC-SD800K to record 3D video clips.
The camcorder measures 2.6 inches in height, 5.2 inches in depth, 2.5 inches in weight, and 11.6 ounces in weight. It also supports audio input with zoom microphone which allows 2 channel stereo operation mode. You can purchase it for $764.99 from the Panasonic USA website, or for as low as $592 from major online retailers.
