Panasonic formally readies 5.1-surround HD cams
updated 04:05 pm EDT, Thu March 29, 2007
Panasonic SD1 Cam for US
Following the announcement of its 2007 plasma line, Panasonic on Thursday also prepped for the final release of two new HD camcorders. The HDC-SD1 (pictured) and HDC-DX1 together record at widescreen 1080i and can opt for 5.1-channel surround sound thanks in part to the use of AVCHD recording, which saves space on the SDHC cards (for the SD1) or mini DVDs (DX1) used for storage. A 12x optical zoom lens with image stabilization is common across either camera.
Prices have dropped since the initial announcement, according to the company: the DX1 and SD1 alike will retail for $1,300 when they reach stores by the end of the month.
