Panasonic SDR-S100

Not so long ago, a three-chip consumer camcorder was a dream. Then and now, affordable models relied upon a single CCD (charged-coupled device) to capture color and image data. Using three CCDs to collect the same information results in better color and a more detailed picture, at least in theory. Now, as part of Panasonic’s rush towards a tapeless future, the company has assembled the three-chip SDR-S100, which comes packaged with a 2GB secure digital card.

Two gigabytes may sound like a way to get rid of those tapes, but not so fast, shutterbug. Since the camera captures MPEG-2 data (704 x 480 at 10 Mbps) instead of the more compact MPEG-4, that card can store only about 25 minutes of video with stereo sound at the highest quality. Dropping to SP or LP mode ups that limit to 50 and 100 minutes. Those limitations might be easy to swallow for users who already have a few high-capacity SD cards lying around. Then again, they might not; the data rate of older cards won’t be able to keep up with the demands of this flash cam.

The SDR-S100 features a simple control scheme. A jog dial on the side chooses Video and Photo modes; the back of the camera features a Zoom dial surrounding a Record button. Below that combination is a four-way directional switch and clearly marked Menu button. Surprisingly, Panasonic has included a Manual Focus mode, but the ability is largely useless without a focus ring. Manual white balance, gain, and aperture control are also on board, but the directional pad is a poor tool to manipulate each setting.

In practice, the camera is a bit too wide and squat. It fits (not entirely comfortably) into a two-fingered pistol grip. Reaching the zoom dial requires shifting the entire palm out, making a steady zoom difficult. The simple button and d-pad combination is an elegant solution for mode selection, but the configuration is so close in placement and feel to the Record and Zoom buttons that many users will inadvertently press one instead of the other.

Get a grip on the body and select the highest quality and the camera (bolstered by a Leica lens) produces clear, sharp images. This model handily trumps all the flash-based cameras that we tested earlier this year. The video performance is the closest we’ve seen to MiniDV cameras, making the SDR-S100 a viable option for families (at least those with lots of disposable income). That’s even with reds and yellows that are too pale and a microphone that’s as lousy as most consumer-oriented camcorders.

At lower quality settings and in low light, things aren’t so rosy. The thin color is complicated by noise and even some blocky compression artifacts. A dimly lit room presents an unacceptably difficult set of conditions, and working with minimal light produced aggressively grey and grainy footage that we considered unusable.

As with most flash-based cameras, the SDR-S100 is able to take digital still pictures, and the included storage can accommodate up to 1,280 at the maximum resolution of 2048 x 1512 pixels. The still images displayed the same strengths and flaws as the best quality video images: sharp detail and slightly washed out color.

In general, the Panasonic’s entire feature set is dedicated towards SD recording technology. Accordingly, this isn’t a well-accessorized camcorder by traditional standards. There’s no hot shoe, nor an external microphone input. Both place significant limitations on the camera’s usability. There’s no place for an expanded battery, either, but the 90-minute life of the included cell easily outstripped the recording time available on the supplied 2GB card.

Mac users are out in the cold, as the included editing suite (MotionSD Studio) isn’t compatible with any Apple OS. Fortunately, SD media makes most limitations moot; the camera mounts as an external drive on most operating systems. By replacing Panasonic’s proprietary MOD file extension with MPEG, programs like iDVD can get to work. That suggestion applies to any Windows user who wants to go straight to Premiere Elements or a similar application.

If Panasonic can drop the SDR-S100’s price by four hundred dollars, the camera could begin to establish a profile as Panasonic’s tapeless leader. Until then, however, this high-end flash cam is merely a showpiece for gadget hounds.