Panasonic HDC-HS9 3CCD HD HDD / SD Card Camcorder Get Panasonic HDC-HS9 Price / Buy Online

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The Panasonic HDC-HS9 full-High Definition 3CCD camcorder is a hybrid model that can record to either an SD (or SDHC) Memory Card or its built-in 60-GB hard disk. The HDC-HS9 offers full-High Definition, 1920 x 1080 progressive recording (24 frames per second) in the AVCHD video format. The HS9 combines this Full HD Recording capability with Panasonic's original 3CCD system, Advanced MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), and a Leica Dicomar lens -- three components that also contribute to the high-quality video output. Advanced MEGA O.I.S. checks and compensates for hand-shake around 4,000 times per second, and is eight times more effective than Panasonic's previous systems. In a 3CCD camera system, the light received through the lens is split into its three primary color components -- red, green and blue -- and a signal from each is processed by one of the three CCDs to provide rich and detailed video images.

Panasonic is a leader in High Definition and digital video technologies, and the HS9 features new Panasonic camcorder technologies, including Face Detection and Intelligent Shooting Guide. The Panasonic HDC-HS9 is one of the world's first camcorders to feature Face Detection for use in recording moving images. Face Detection automatically locates any faces in the picture and adjusts the exposure, contrast and skin tone to achieve optimal results. Thus, even when the faces are backlit or the lighting is low, faces are clear and not lost in the shadows.

Panasonic's Intelligent Shooting Guide makes important shooting features that are available on the camcorder, but often go unused, more intuitive and obvious. For instance, with Intelligent Shooting Guide, the SD9 and HS9 will detect when shooting conditions are poor and then display tips on the LCD as a way for the user to correct the error before recording the content. Intelligent Shooting Guide can detect errors in the following common shooting situations: when the camcorder is panning too quickly or tilted; when the user's hand is swinging; when the subject is backlit; or the lighting is too low. Now common shooting errors can be noticed prior to the playback and corrected accordingly.

Panasonic HDC-HS9 Key Features

Supplied Accessories:

• VW-VBG130 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack
• AC Adaptor
• AC Cable
• DC Cable
• Component Video Cable
• AV Cable
• USB Cable
• IR Remote Control
• CD-ROM: HD Writer Ver 2.5E

1920 x 1080 Full-HD Recording

Images recorded by conventional HD camcorders have only 1,440 horizontal pixels, while full-HD camcorders have 1,920. In terms of total pixels, conventional HD camcorders record images with 1.55 million pixels, while those from Panasonic full-HD camcorders have around 2.07 million pixels -- about 30 percent more. The result is a level of detail and resolution that goes beyond anything you've experienced before. And because full-HD recordings contain a vast amount of picture information, they look beautiful not only on high-definition TVs, but on conventional (standard-definition) TVs as well.

HD images contain 4 times as much information as conventional standard-definition images. HDTV has 1,080 horizontal scan lines, standard-definition TV has 480. That translates into much higher resolution and much finer detail. Pictures are so clear and sharp, you can see the textures in an image. Also, HD uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, so the pictures you record have proportions that more closely match the human field of vision. This means that viewing is more natural and comfortable.

High-Resolution AVCHD Format

AVCHD is a standard developed jointly by Sony and Panasonic for HD digital camcorders. Using highly efficient codec technologies, it records 1080i high-definition signals onto media such as 8-cm DVD discs and SD/SDHC Memory Cards. AVCHD allows an HD camcorder to make long-time recordings of high-density video information onto a DVD disc or SD/SDHC Memory Card.

60 GB Shock-Mounted Hard Disc Drive

Panasonic SD card/hard-drive camcorders are ideal for travel and event shooting because they eliminate the constant need to change media. They can hold 21 times more data than an 8cm-DVD disc. To ensure continuous recording under rough conditions, the hard drives are protected by a floating, anti-shock damper system and an automatic sensor that detects falls 20cm and higher, automatically disengages the hard-drive write heads, and instantly transfers the video stream to the unit's buffer memory.

Performance enhancements achieved through the use of hard-drive storage media include near-instantaneous access to movies and still images selected via thumbnail images on the viewfinder, 2X USB downloads to a PC, and one-touch DVD creation using a dedicated 'DVD Copy' button on the camcorder, bundled copy software, and a PC equipped with a DVD burner.

Built-in SD / SDHC Memory Card Drive

SD memory cards are incredibly versatile, holding vast amounts of information and are about the size of a postage stamp. The SD / SDHC card adds the option to record on removable media to these camcorders and scalability as well. If users do need to keep shooting before downloading a full drive, they can switch to the SD Card and continue recording without interruption.

3CCD Camera System (3 x 560k Pixels)

HD is especially good for scenes with rich, vibrant colors. And Panasonic HD camcorders provide the best in color reproducibility, thanks to use of an advanced 3CCD camera system. This system, in which three separate CCDs capture and process the light information received through the lens, helps reproduce high-resolution HD images with magnificent color.

Most professional broadcasting cameras use the 3CCD system, with its superb color reproduction. In a single-CCD system, all of the incoming light information is processed by the same CCD. This single CCD captures only black-and-white images, which are then passed through red, green and blue filters in order to reproduce color. The more advanced 3CCD system uses three distinct CCDs for processing, so there is absolutely no light loss. The three separate 1/6-inch CCDs separate the color spectrum into red, green and blue for digital processing by the camera. The delicate hues, tones and gradations are then faithfully reproduced, resulting in a vivid, realistic image. The 3CCD camera system draws out the full potential of HD image quality.

10x Variable Speed Zoom Leica Dicomar Lens

Leica AG of Germany is the manufacturer of fine cameras and lenses favored by photographers everywhere. The Leica Dicomar lens featured on the HDC-HS9 was developed specifically for HD digital video cameras. Drawing on Leica's renowned optical technology, this advanced lens captures clear, crisp, finely nuanced images with outstanding detail and contrast. The Leica Dicomar lens features 12 lens elements in eight groups and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce color blurring. A special multi-coating process is applied to the 14 lens element surfaces to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting. This 10x zoom can fill the screen with even a distant subject. Because it's optical, there is no quality loss -- you get HD images in all their natural beauty. And focusing is fast even when zooming, so you catch all the best shots.

Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.)

Imagine taking video shots on a moving boat and then viewing them on a large-screen TV. They're likely to appear blurry from the boat's movement and unsteady hands. Panasonic solves this problem with their O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer). O.I.S. is an optical system, so image quality is in no way degraded. Panasonic's Advanced O.I.S. is a new image stabilizing function that achieves around eight times higher precision than their previous system. The system uses gyro-sensors to detect hand-shake, then shifts a lens and adjusts its optical axis to compensate. And while Panasonic's previous system checked and compensated for hand-shake around 480 times per second, the new Advanced O.I.S. works around 4,000 times per second. Advanced O.I.S. enables finer, more effective hand-shake compensation. Also, because the system is optical, no image quality is lost. With Advanced O.I.S., you'll capture images that are clear, sharp and beautiful on a big TV screen.

HD Advanced Pure Color Engine

The HD Advanced Pure Color Engine is a special image processing circuit for the 3CCD HD camcorders. Panasonic took the advanced imaging circuitry used in their professional equipment and adapted it for home use in the HD Advanced Pure Color Engine. The result is a high-speed processing unit that can handle the huge volumes of data captured in high-definition video recordings. The HD Advanced Pure Color Engine also incorporates a new system that improves resolution and reduces noise while achieving a more compact size and lowering power consumption.

Face Detection Function

The HS9 introduces the world's first* face detection function for recording moving pictures with a camcorder. It's difficult to shoot scenes with deep shadows or large differences between light and dark areas. The subject often looks too dark, and faces can be hard to see. Panasonic solves this problem with Face Detection, a function that automatically adjusts the exposure according to the ambient brightness, so faces are bright and easy to see. When the camcorder detects a face in the scene, a square frame appears around it in the LCD monitor and the exposure is adjusted to correct the brightness level. The skin tone is also smoothed. Face Detection can detect up to five faces at once. With Face Detection Panasonic makes it easy capture beautiful faces even in dim or backlit scenes.

* As of January 6, 2008

Advanced 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Zoom Microphone, Focus Microphone

The Panasonic HS9 HD camcorder is equipped with five electret condenser microphones. The center mic helps capture the sound source and distance accurately, so you get a more 3-dimensional effect than you get with conventional systems, which capture all sounds from the front. You get a realistic sound space that's a perfect match with the true-to-life HD images. In Zoom mode the microphones are linked to the lens action. When you zoom in on a subject, the microphones focus on the sound in that same direction. In Focus Mode the microphones focus on sounds coming from right in front of you, even when the lens is not zooming

Digital Cinema Mode

Set the HS9 to Digital Cinema mode and shoot in the progressive 1080/25p format (25 pictures per second). Progressive scanning captures clear, vibrant images with intricate detail. You also get faithful images with an appealing film-like quality.

Large 2.7-inch Wide-Screen LCD With Wide Viewing Angle and Power LCD Extra

The new LCD has a highly-detailed 300,000-pixel display, which places it in the top class of the industry, and a viewing angle of 170 degrees, both vertically and horizontally. Images are clear and bright even when viewed from an angle, so everyone can gather around the LCD to enjoy on-the-spot recordings. The wide viewing angle is also great for taking high- or low-angle shots.

Power LCD Extra lets you adjust the LCD brightness in two steps by simply pressing the Power LCD button. Plus 1 mode increases brightness by 80% for easy outdoor viewing, and Plus 2 mode emphasizes contrast when shooting in strong sunlight conditions such as when skiing or at the beach.

Intelligent Shooting Guide

Panasonic's Intelligent Shooting Guide makes important shooting features that are available on the camcorder, but often go unused, more intuitive and obvious. For instance, with Intelligent Shooting Guide, the HS9 will detect when shooting conditions are poor and then display tips on the LCD as a way for the user to correct the error before recording the content. Intelligent Shooting Guide can detect errors in the following common shooting situations: when the camcorder is panning too quickly or tilted; when the user's hand is swinging; when the subject is backlit; or the lighting is too low. Now common shooting errors can be noticed prior to the playback and corrected accordingly.

Intelligent Shooting Selection Playback

Helps prevent recording errors being viewed during playback, as it will automatically skip over any shots that have serious errors, such as hand swing, fast panning, out-of-focus images or shots of the ground taken when the user forgets to turn off the camcorder.

High-Speed Burst Shooting at 24 Frames per Second

The Panasonic HDC-HS9 camcorder can take up to 24 consecutive 2.1 megapixel resolution still images in one second or up to 72 consecutive shots in three seconds.

Pre-Rec Function

This clever function records three seconds of images even before you actually begin shooting. The images are held temporarily in the camcorder's internal memory, before recording onto the SDHC/SD Memory Card begins. This helps ensure that you won't miss the start of a moment you want to record, such as when an event begins all of a sudden. For example, if you're waiting to snap a shot of a jumping dolphin, you can press the REC button after you've made sure that the dolphin has cleared the surface of the water. The camcorder will record the entire scene, from the instant of the dolphin's jump until it disappears again into the sea.

Intelligent Contrast Control

By detecting the intensity of the ambient light and adjusting the exposure accordingly, Intelligent Contrast Control prevents blown highlights and blocked shadows. This helps render natural-looking, highly nuanced images with proper contrast. Even when you're shooting directly toward the light source -- a very challenging situation in photography -- Intelligent Contrast Control lets you capture clear images with enhanced depth.

High 5 Lux Sensitivity / MagicPix^® Images

The new digital signal processor reduces noise to allow shooting all the way down to 5 lux illumination. You get natural-looking shots even in dim rooms or at dusk.

MagicPix Images gives you smoothly flowing pictures even in dark places, where it's normally difficult to capture good shots. This feature is a great way to record still images even in low-light settings. Now you can capture still images in full color onto the MiniDV tape and save priceless memories like a sleeping baby or a moonlit vacation night.

0.6-Second Quick Start

In Quick Start mode, which can be selected from the menu, the HDC-HS9 begins recording in just 0.6 seconds from the time the LCD is opened. This lets you shoot those sudden shooting opportunities.

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface

Just connect your camcorder to an HDTV and you're ready for high-definition viewing. IIf your TV is HDMI* compatible, a single optional mini-HDMI cable is all you need. When using a Panasonic Viera TV, you can also operate the camcorder with the Viera remote control for even easier viewing.

* HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

Tele Macro

Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of 50 cm from your subject. This makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus

World Timer

Handy for travelers this feature makes it easy to set the time when crossing time zones and again when returning home by switching between the two times with a press of a button. Simply select the destination from the display map, and the camcorder is automatically set for that time zone.

USB Host Function

The HS9's USB Host function lets you connect directly to a DVD burner via a USB cable. You can then copy recordings from the SD Memory Card to a DVD disc, maintaining their original Full-HD format, by simply pressing a button.

Included DVD Burning and Editing Software

The software included with the HS9 lets you burn full-HD recordings from an SD Memory Card onto a DVD disc, using your PC. The software also makes it easy to edit your recordings using a PC. The software guides you through the simple steps. You'll find editing easy to do, even if it's your first time. You can make a copy either in the original high-definition AVCHD format, or in the standard-definition DVD-Video (MPEG2) format. Choose the one that matches your playback equipment.

Focus Assist

This function enlarges the center of the image, making it easier for you to get a clear, sharp shot when focusing manually.

Composition Guide Lines

With wide LCD monitors, it's hard to keep images perfectly level. The HS9 and HS9 solve this by displaying horizontal and vertical Composition Guide Lines that make it easy to keep the subject straight and level.

Tele-Macro

Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of 50 cm from your subject. This makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus.

One-Touch Navigation and Joy Stick Control

With One-Touch Navigation, just press the center of the joystick to display an operating menu. The operations you use most often are right on the monitor, so it's easy to change settings or operate the camera without looking away from your subject.

Thumbnail View

The camcorder LCD screen displays a list of the recorded scenes for quick and easy searching. You can do some polished editing using just the camera itself.

HA, HG, HX and HE Recording Modes

Moving Picture Recording Times (approx.):

AGS (Auto Ground-Directional Standby)

The O.I.S. linear motor system can detect when the camera is in an unusual shooting position - such as when you've inadvertently left it on in recording mode. In these cases, the camera automatically stops recording, saving both battery power and disc space.

AGS is set to OFF when shipped from the factory. To turn AGS ON, the setting must be made on the menu screen.

2.1 Megapixel Still Picture Recording

This feature combines three CCDs, each with 560k pixels, with Panasonic Quad-Density Pixel Distribution Technology to deliver true 2.1 megapixel still images -- 1920 x 1080 -- when recording to SD memory card.

Auto Lens Cover

When the power is turned on, the lens cover automatically opens. When the power goes off, the lens cover closes. You don't have to keep removing and replacing a lens cap -- or worry about losing it.

Included IR Remote Control

USB 2.0 High Speed Connection

This convenient feature allows you to link the camcorder to your computer via the USB port. Then, you can easily transfer still images captured on Mini DV tape to your computer for use in e-mail or printed documents. The HDC-HS9 supports USB 2.0 High Speed enabling real time video transfers.

PictBridge Direct Print Compatibility

The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer. Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera.

Panasonic HDC-HS9 Specifications

Image Sensor

1/6" CCD x 3 (560K pixels x 3 total)
520k x 3 [16:9](Moving Picture/ Still Picture) Effective)

Lens Focal Length

3.0 - 30.0mm

35mm Film Camera Equivalent

42.9 - 429 mm [16:9] (Motion Picture / Still Picture)

Lens F Value

F1.8 (Wide) / F2.8 (Tele)

Lens Filter Diameter

37mm

Variable Speed Optical Zoom

10x

Digital Zoom

Digital Zoom: 25x - 700x

Image Stabilizer

Advanced O.I.S.

Minimum Illumination

5 Lux (1/30 low light mode), 1 Lux (MagicPix function)

Focus

AF/Manual

White Balance

Auto/White Set/Indoor/Outdoor

Shutter Speeds

Motion Picture: 60i : Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/30-1/8000, OFF : 1/60-1/8000
24p : Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/24-1/8000, OFF : 1/48-1/8000
60i : Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/30-1/8000, OFF : 1/60-1/8000 (Progressive : 1/30-)
24p : Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/24-1/8000, OFF : 1/48-1/8000 (Progressive : 1/24-)

Iris

Auto/Manual

Viewfinder

N/A

LCD

2.7" Wide (approx. 300k pixels), Backlight Compensation

Microphone

5.1-ch Surround Sound, Zoom Microphone, Focus Microphone, Wind Noise Reduction

Flash Range

3.3ft.-8.2ft. / 1m-2.5m (approx.)

Self Timer

Yes (10sec. / 2sec. / OFF) (Photo Only)

Quick Start

0.6-sec.

Moving Picture Recording Format

AVCHD

Still Picture Format

JPEG

Video Compression

MPEG-4 AVC/H.264

Recording Modes

HA: 17 Mbps/VBR
HG: 13 Mbps / VBR
HX: 9 Mbps / VBR
HE: 6 Mbps / VBR

Recording Times (with 60GB HDD)

HA: 7 hr. 40 mn.
HG: 10 hr. 10 mn.
HX: 15 hr. 20 mn.
HE: 23 hr.

Audio Recording Format

Dolby Digital (Dolby AC3) / 5.1ch

Recording Media

60GB HDD, SDHC/SD Memory Card

Still Picture Size

1920 x 1080 [16:9] 2.1MEGA

Picture Size

HA/HG: 1920 x 1080/50i 25p, HX: 1920 x 1080/50i, HE: 1440 x 1080/50i

Scene Mode

Sports / Portrait / Low Light / Spot Light / Surf & Snow

Backlight Compensation

Yes

Data Recording

Auto Data (in Data Code)

Fade In/Out

Yes

Accessory Shoe

No

Jacks

• Audio/Video Output
• HDMI Output (mini)
• Component Video Out
• USB Port 2.0 High Speed (mini B)

Power Supply

DC 7.2V / 9.3V

Power Consumption

6.8W

Dimensions (W x H x D)

2.95" x 2.91" x 4.96" (75 x 74 x 126 mm)

Weight (Without Battery)

13.8 oz. (390g)

Panasonic HD Camcorders Feature Comparison Chart