Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Low Light Sensitivity (5.62)

The HDC-SDT750 required 12 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. This is a good score, but it is slightly more light than the Panasonic HDC-TM700 needed for the same test. This small difference between the two models may have to do with some altered processing or slight changes in the lens design of the SDT750 in order to accomodate its 3D capability. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)

Required Illumination *

* the lower the lux required, the better the performance

When shooting 3D with the HDC-SDT750 the camcorder requires a lot more light to record a usable image. The camcorder needed approximately 55 lux of light to reach 50 IRE with its 3D lens attached (that's over four times as much light than the camcorder needed without its 3D lens). Panasonic is honest about this fact, at least, as the SDT750's instruction manual explicitly references the fact that the camcorder needs more light for 3D shooting.

Low Light Colour (8.21)

Strong low light performance continued for the HDC-SDT750 in our Colour test, with the camcorder putting up better numbers than the HDC-TM700 and the rest of the high-end models we compared it to. The SDT750 registered a Colour error of 4.28 and a saturation level of 82.12% in our 60 lux low light test. Of those two scores, the saturation level may be the most impressive, as it is far higher than what we measured from the Canon HF S21 (65.13%) and the Sony HDR-CX550V (60%). The HDC-TM700 managed an equally-strong 81% saturation level in this test. (More on how we test low light Colour.)

Auto Low Light Colour Performance
Colour Test Chart (above), Colour Error Map (right)
The Panasonic HDC-SDT750 produced a Colour error of 4.28 and a saturation level of 82.12% in our low light Colour testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the Colour error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular Colour.)

Overall, there wasn't much of a difference between the HDC-SDT750's and HDC-TM700's low light Colour performance. Both camcorders did very well and the fact that the SDT750 had a slightly better Colour accuracy score isn't all that significant (the difference wasn't huge). Panasonic camcorders have done exceptionally well in low light this year and we're pleased to see the HDC-SDT750 continue this trend.

Low Light Comparison
Panasonic HDC-SDT750	Canon HF S21
Sony HDR-CX550V	Panasonic HDC-TM700

For those that are curious, the HDC-SDT750 put up nearly identical numbers in this test when we shot using its 25p Digital Cinema mode instead of its normal 50i record setting. Also, we should remind you that the camcorder's performance shooting 3D content in low light looked a whole lot worse than its regular recording.

Low Light Colour Score Comparison		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Canon HF S21
		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Sony HDR-CX550V
		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Panasonic HDC-TM700

Low Light Noise (11.94)

Continuing its strong overall low light performance, the HDC-SDT750 earned top-notch numbers in our low light noise test. The camcorder averaged 0.68% noise, which is statistically identical to the noise levels we measured on Panasonic's previous top-of-the-line HD camcorder, the HDC-TM700. More importatnly, however, this noise percentage is a good deal better than what the Canon HF S21 and Sony HDR-CX550V measured in the same test. (More on how we test low light noise.)

Noise at 60 lux Auto
Panasonic HDC-SDT750 100% Crop	Canon HF S21 100% Crop	Sony HDR-CX550V 100% Crop	Panasonic HDC-TM700 100% Crop

Looking at the images above, you can actually see the noise on the image produced by the HF S21. The fine specs of noise clutter the vertical trumpets that scale down the left side of the image. You can also see a bit of disColouration and noise on the Sony HDR-CX550V's image, but it isn't as significant. Both Panasonic models offer crisp images in low light, which is why they scored at the top of our low light performance testing.

In defense of Canon, the HF S21 (as well as all Canon models) includes various alternate frame rates that significantly boost low light performance when used. The HDC-SDT70 has one of these alternate frame rates in the form of its 25p Digital Cinema mode. When this mode is used, the camcorder measured even less noise in our low light test (0.5525%), but its performance in our low light Colour accuracy test showed no improvement.

Low Light Noise Score Comparison		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Canon HF S21
		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Sony HDR-CX550V
		Compare the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 to the Panasonic HDC-TM700