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Panasonic SDR-S150 Specifications

Image Sensor

1/6" CCD x 3 (800k x 3 pixels, total)
CCD (Effective) - 640 k x 3 [4:3], 540 k x 3 [16:9] (Motion Picture)
710 k x 3 [4:3], 540 k x 3 [16:9] (Still Picture)

Lens Focal Length

3.0 - 30.0mm

35mm Film Camera Equivalent

45.6 - 456 mm [4:3] 46.7 - 467 mm [16:9] (Motion Picture)
43.4 - 434 mm [4:3] 47.0 - 470 mm [16:9] (Still Picture)

Lens F Value

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

Lens Filter Diameter

37mm

Variable Speed Optical Zoom

10x

Digital Zoom

10x - 700x

Minimum Illumination

12 Lux (1 Lux in MagicPix mode)

Standard Illumination

1400 Lux

Focus

AF / Manual

White Balance

Auto / Indoor / Outdoor / Manual

High-Speed Shutter

Motion Picture: 1/50-1/8000sec.
Still Picture: 1/30 - 1/2000 sec.

Scene Mode

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

Viewfinder

N/A

LCD

2.8" Wide LCD (approx. 210k pixels)

Microphone

Electret Condensor Mic, Stereo Zoom

Built-in Flash Range

Approx. 3.3 ft. - 6.6 ft. (1 m - 2 m)

Recording Media

SD / SDHC Memory Card

Recording Format

MPEG2 (Motion Picture), JPEG (Still Picture)

Video Recording / Playback Modes

XP (10Mbps / VBR), SP (5Mbps / VBR), LP (2.5Mbps / VBR)

Audio Recording System

MPEG1 AudioLayer2

Accessory Shoe

N/A

Memory Card Slot

SD / SDHC

JPEG Still Picture

2048 x 1512 [4:3]
1920 x 1080 [16:9]
1280 x 960 [4:3]
640 x 480 [4:3]

Jacks

S-Video Out
AV Out
Headphone (MULTI - requires included connection cable)
USB Port 2.0 High-Speed (mini B)

Power Supply

DC 7.9 V / 7.2V

Power Consumption

3.6 W

Dimensions (H x W x D)

2.98" x 3.27" x 4.76"

Weight

1 lb.

Technical Details

3CCD camera system for clear, accurate images
Leica Dicomar lens
Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S) for video and still images
2.8-inch LCD monitor
Compatible with SD/SDHC memory cards; 2GB card included

� See more technical details

Amazon.com Amazon.com Product Description
As the follow-up to the SDR-S100, the Panasonic SDR-S150 builds on the success of its predecessor. Not only can you record MPEG2 video straight to an SD card (2GB card included), but the 3CCD image sensor and optical image stabilization work to ensure that your images look their best. The S150 also uses Panasonic's proprietary Quad-Density Pixel Distribution technology to convert the image signal. Providing four times the pixel density when recording still pictures, this lets the S150 capture 3.1-megapixel (2048 x 1512) still pictures. Plus, 1.5-second quick start and a wide, 2.8-inch LCD monitor make it easy to operate.

SDR-S150 Highlights
Leica Dicomar lens
The Leica Dicomar lens was developed jointly by world renowned Leica Camera AG and Panasonic to clear stringent quality standards as an ideal lens system for digital video cameras.

Multi-coated lenses
The multicoated lens is able to suppress diffused reflection. The S150's lens system has 12 elements in 8 groups, with 14 multicoated surfaces.

Low-dispersion glasses
It minimizes chromatic aberration caused by focal deviations in the light after it enters the lens. This suppresses both colour bleeding and false colour.

O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer)

The O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) cancels the hand-shake effect by stabilizing the image that reaches the CCD. Unlike the electrical stabilization system, the optical stabilization system accompanies almost no deterioration and unnatural touchup, This also works for the still picture as MEGA O.I.S. and assure sharp, clear motion pictures and still pictures.
3CCD camera system

The 3CCD camera system is used in most professional broadcast equipment. Each of the three primary colours is processed just the way it is. That means there is almost no light loss and the colour information is accurate.

Panasonic Original Engine (Crystal Engine plus MPEG2 Engine)

The Crystal Engine renders highly precise, life-like colours by processing each of the R, G and B signals from the three CCDS, while new noise shaping filters further improve processing precision. And the new Panasonic MPEG2 Engine achieves a level of recording quality in LP mode that approaches SP mode.

Crystal Engine
The three primary colours that are separated by the 3CCD system are processed individually. Noise is then optimally removed to produce images as beautiful as they appear in nature.

MPEG2 Engine
Panasonic has developed its own new MPEG2 Engine with Wide-Range Motion Search Tecnology and Variable Bit Rate System. It renders fast-moving subjects with outstanding precision. It also reproduces MPEG2 images in LP mode with the same level of resolution as images in SP mode.

With the SD/SDHC memory card, shooting video is easier and more convenient

Compact size, super-fast startup
The SD/SDHC Memory Card is just 24 x 32 x 2.1 mm (W x H x T) and weighs only 2 g (approx.). Startup time is very short too, so you can record on a moment's notice.

Use it almost anywhere
The tough little SD/SDHC Memory Card is highly resistant to heat, light, impact and dew condensation, so you can take it just about anywhere and use it in a wide range of conditions.

Quick, easy uploading to a PC
You don't have to run a finalising process when transferring data to a PC. With the SD Memory Card's quick, easy data transfer via the SD Memory Card slot, it's easy to use the video clips and still images you shoot.

Product Description
The SDR-S150, with its 3CCD Camera System, reproduces color in great fidelity by using a separate CCD for reds, greens and blues. It's the same 3CCD technology used in Panasonic professional broadcast equipment, resulting in 540 lines of breathtaking resolution. You can count on Panasonic 3CCD Digital Camcorders to give you colors that are as rich and vibrant as your life. World-renowned lens-maker LEICA has developed an exquisite, 12-element, multi-coated lens that helps add a high-level of detail and subtlety to your creations. With refinements like a 2-stage neutral density filter for aperture independent adjustment, you'll appreciate the remarkably crisp, true-to-life color that is a hallmark of Leica Dicomar optics.
The Optical Image Stabilizer helps you obtain clear, beautiful pictures by compensating for any hand movement that occurs as you shoot video. Gyrosensors detect the amount and direction of movement, while a linear motor adjusts the lenses as needed to compensate. You get clear, sharp images in situations where hand-shake is typically a problem, like wide-angle shots or high magnification levels of the zoom.
What does all this mean? You can use this camcorder for recording great video and still images. Using an SD memory card (2GB included) with optional cards available to 4GB, the SDR-S150 is incredibly tiny; easy to carry and use. It's only (H x W x D) 3.81'' x 1.1'' x 0.62'' - nearly pocket sized! Optical Image Stabilization virtually eliminates normal handshake resulting in sharper videos when camera is handheld Includes rechargeable battery, AC charger, 2GB SD card, USB cable (for PC or Macintosh transfer), A/V cable (for viewing images on TV or recording to VCR or DVD recorder), IR Remote Control Accepts 37mm filter accessories Unit Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.81'' x 1.1'' x 0.62'' / Weight 3.88 lbs

Comments

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aleck

SD150 price

Another interesting fact about S150. Pre-orders on major sites were showing $999 price. When it came out on September 11, the price seemed to drop to $900. On the day this article was published, it can be had for $779 on buydig.

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Sep-15-2006

rhubarbe

I have had my SDR-S150 for two days now and I am more than happy with it. I read all of the available reviews, decided very nearly to abandon my quest (which was for a very small, light camcorder that I could fit in my pocket - so I'd never think to myself, "Nah, I'm not carrying that thing around all day.") and go for an HDR-HC3.

I'm glad I didn't. The video quality, to my admittedly untutored eye, is indeed superb. Even the low light performance was better than I expected. The tiny SD cards are so light, and if you you're going on vacation buy a (battery powered) Jobo Giga One 40GB HDD and slot your SD card into it when you get back to your hotel room in the evenings - transfer of my first 176MB of .MOD files took about a minute. Huge Sony HDD cam? Nah.

Give Mr Panasonic that cigar.

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Sep-15-2006

rakma

which format of recording does minidv cams use?

SDR -150 used Mpeg-2 mode. which format do mini-dv camcorders like Panasonic GS-500/GS-400, Sony HC-46 use ?

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Sep-16-2006

camera expert

Mini DV camcorders uses an AVI codec that allows intra frame editing, it�s basically a whole lot easier to edit with because you�re dealing with individual frames. Also the picture quality in Mini DV is a lot better than an SD MPEG2 camcorder.

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Sep-16-2006

rakma

which is better Mpeg-2 or Mpeg-4 (Sanyo Xacti C6)

Thanks, camera expert. One more querry, Sanyo Xacti C6 uses Mpeg-4 with flash memory card. Which is better video mpeg-2 or mpeg-4. Does Mpeg-4 video playback has jerks and unsmooth video ?

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Sep-16-2006

rakma

when would Sony introduce Memory Card Camcorder ?

When Card memory based Digital Camcorders are the equipment of future, why sony has not introduced any till date. Is it on the near horizon ?

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Sep-16-2006

rakma

which is best better & worst, Mini-dv,MPeg-2 or mpg=4

Sanyo has Mpeg-4 video in Xacti C6. Is it better than MPeg-2 of SDR-S150 ?, does Mpeg-4 video playback has jerks or unsmooth video or is it better than Panasonic's Mpeg-2 ?

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Sep-16-2006

Darz

AVI v's MPEG2 v's MPEG4

I believe the comments by Camera Expert need qualification.
Re editing AVI v's MPEG. AVI does have advantages, but new software is closing the gap. If you don't plan on computer-based editing, then it is a non-issue.
Re quality. I can show you a mini DV camera (AVI) which generates significantly inferior results when compared to the SDR-100 MPEG-2 camera. The recording medium/method is only one part of the story. A DV camera with poor optics and/or poor sensor and/or poor electronics will always look poor up against a good MPEG camera. I suggest you look at actual video clips from the camera that interests you. It is quite possible that you cannot even SEE the reported "problems", in which case those "problems" also become non-issues.
Red rag raised. If however you are like the golden ear brigade, it is possible you can see problems which don't exist. Red rag lowered.

The DVD movies you buy/hire are all MPEG-2 encoded; most look very good to me. MPEG quality is dependant on the compression software and degree of compression. Both effect the data rate and storage requirements. A limitation with today's MPEG cameras is the compression engine; not so much that it is poor, but rather that better compression performance requires better computer processing power. We can't fit powerful processors in a camera and expect long battery life (well not yet anyway) so MPEG-camera image-quality is not as good as it theoretically could be.
MPEG-4 is a newer coding method which when compared to MPEG-2 and all else being equal, will achieve the same image quality with roughly half the file size or data rate. Comparing an MPEG-4 camera to an MPEG-2 camera is NOT a case of "all else being equal" when one is a Sanyo and the other a Panasonic; I have no idea how the two cameras compare.

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Sep-17-2006

rhubarbe

Well, I do, because I spent six months researching them. The Xacti HD1 produces beautiful, oversaturated video that my P4 2.8 gHz laptop struggles to decode. It has poor image stabilisation: all of the good quality samples I have seen are made using a tripod.

The SDR-S150 produces beaautiful SD video that isn't oversaturated, is very natural looking, is easily as good as any consumer level camcorder footage that I have seen recently (and I have seen a lot) with the exception of the HDR-HC3 which, frankly, blows it away. It has OIS, which seems to do a good job, and the mpeg2 video can be decoded by an old shoebox I keep in the closet.

The sheer convenience of being able to slot an SD card into the laptop at the end of a shooting session and be able to manipulate the video without having to bother with tapes, not to mention the complete silence of the camcorder whilke actually shooting, well, it's like a breath of fresh air.

I realsie there will be a large section of the community that will continue to insist that mpeg2 compression will have a lower quality but in the real world, where most DV is burned to DVD anyway, is this still a valid argument?

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Sep-17-2006

Panasonic SDR-S150 3CCD SD Card Camcorder

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Panasonic SDR-S150 SD Card Camcorder

Panasonic SDR-S150 Specifications

Technical Details

Panasonic SDR-S150 Camcorder Review

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