Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Auto Mode (10.55)

We've written about Panasonic's great auto controls in our previous reviews for the Panasonic HDC-TM700 (read more here) and the HDC-HS60.  The HDC-SDT750 has the same automated features as these predecessors, which include its Intelligent Auto (iA) system, AF/AE tracking, face detection, and good autofocus controls. The weakest auto feature on the SDT750 is probably its auto white balance system, but it is also one of the easiest features to set manually (as long as you have a white card you can point the camcorder at before you start shooting).

With the 3D conversion lens attached to the HDC-SDT750 you don't have access to many manual controls. Everything runs in auto mode with the exception of white balance, which can be set manually or you can use one of the camcorder's presets. We found the camcorder to occasionally take a bit more time with its autofocus system when the 3D conversion lens was attached, but it still worked adequately. Auto exposure was also more of a challenge with the conversion lens, but most of that had to do with the fact that the camcorder needs far more light when shooting 3D content instead of 2D. on

Zoom (10.0)

You can zoom with the SDT750 by using the zoom toggle on the top of the camcorder, by rotating the lens ring, or by using the zoom buttons on the base of the LCD panel. Of these methods, the zoom toggle is the one we prefer. It offers the most precise zoom control, as well as allowing you to variably control zoom speed based on how hard you press the toggle. No matter what method you choose to zoom a bar and numeric display will appear on the LCD during the zoom process.

With the 3D converter lens attached to the HDC-SDT750 you cannot zoom (the lens is fixed). This may be an annoyance at times, but it does help you make sure you record subjects at the correct distance for the optimal 3D effect.

Zoom cannot be used when shooting in 3D.

Zoom Ratio (4.34)

The HDC-SDT750 has a 12x optical zoom lens. You can crank up the zoom to 18x using Panasonic's "intelligent zoom" option, which shouldn't result in image degredation (it makes use of unused pixels in order to increase the zoom). If you wan to zoom beyond 18x, you must use digital zoom on the SDT750, of which the camcorder has 30x or 700x options. We recommend staying away from the digital zoom features, though, as using them will make your video quality look much worse.

Focus (7.5)

Manual focus for the HDC-SDT750 functions the same way it does on other Panasonic camcorders (including the HDC-TM700). You focus manually using the lens ring, which offers precise adjustment and is quite comfortable to use. There's also a Coloured peaking option for focus assistance.

There is no manual focus available when shooting in 3D with the SDT750.

Manual focus adjustment on the Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Exposure (6.6)

We don't like the fact that Panasonic buries the exposure control option on the HDC-SDT750 and the rest of its consumer camcorders. You need to dig through the menu system, find the Picture Adjust submenu, and adjust the "brightness" option in order to do a simple exposure adjustment. We wish this was easier to find and access, but in the meantime you could always just manually set the aperture or shutter speed to adjust exposure levels instead.

Aperture (9.75)

The HDC-SDT750 allows for complete manual aperture control that isn't tied to an automatic shutter speed setting (you can set aperture and shutter speed independently from one another). You can adjust aperture (called Iris on the camcorder) using the touchscreen or the lens ring. This gives you a good amount of versiatility.

Unfortunately, the camcorder's manual gain adjustment is tied to the aperture, which is something we don't like. It limits the amount of control you can have over depth of field, particularly when you shoot in low light situations. Also, aperture cannot be set manually when using the 3D converter lens. With the lens attached, the SDT750's aperture is locked at f/3.2.

Aperture control on the Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Aperture Control Comparison Panasonic HDC-SDT750 Manual Aperture: f/1.8 (open), f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.3, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.8, f/8.0, f/9.6, f/11, f/14, f/16 Canon HF S21 Aperture Priority Mode: f/1.8, f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.7, f/8.0 Sony HDR-CX550V Aperture Priority Mode: f/1.8, f/2, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.8, f/8, f/9.6 Panasonic HDC-TM700 Manual Aperture: f/1.5 (open), f/1.7, f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.8, f/8.0, f/9.6, f/11, f/14, f/16

Shutter Speed (10.0)

The HDC-SDT750 has a wide range of shutter speed controls that can be set manually, but the camcorder doesn't have many slow shutter options. The lowest shutter speed that can be selected is a 1/30 of a second option, which can only be used if the auto slow shutter feature is turned on. In contrast, the Canon HF S21 has less shutter speed settings, but it includes three shutters that are slower than 1/60 of a second.

You can't set shutter speed manually when shooting 3D content with the HDC-SDT750, but the camcorder does have an auto slow shutter option for 3D mode (and a separate one for 2D shooting).

Shutter speed control on the Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Shutter Speed Control Comparison Panasonic HDC-SDT750 Manual Shutter Speed: 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, 1/8000 (plus 1/30 with Auto Slow Shutter) Canon HF S21 Shutter Priority Mode: 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000 Sony HDR-CX550V Manual Shutter Speed: None Panasonic HDC-TM700 Manual Shutter Speed: 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, 1/8000 (plus 1/30 with Auto Slow Shutter)

White Balance (9.0)

White balance is basically the only manual control that can be set while shooting 3D video with the HDC-SDT750. In fact, the white balance options on the camcorder are essentially no different in 3D mode than they are in 2D mode. There are a few white balance presets, a manual white balance setting, and a WB shift option.

White Balance options on the Panasonic HDC-SDT750

White Balance Control Comparison Panasonic HDC-SDT750 Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Indoor 1, Indoor 2, Manual, WB Shift Canon HF S21 Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom Sony HDR-CX550V Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, Manual, WB Shift Panasonic HDC-TM700 Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Indoor 1, Indoor 2, Manual, WB Shift

Gain (4.0)

Gain control is tied to aperture on the HDC-SDT750. What we mean by this is that you cannot adjust gain manually until you've already opened the aperture on the camcorder all the way. There's no way to specifically select gain adjustment on the camcorder either (which is part of the reason you have to adjust aperture first). Still, despite this factor, the HDC-SDT750 (along with other Panasonic models) has some of the most plentiful gain controls we've seen on a consumer camcorder. Sony and JVC cams don't let you adjust gain manually, while Canon's high-end models offer auto gain limiter features.

Gain can be set on the camcorder, but only after the aperture has been opened fully.

Gain Control Comparison Panasonic HDC-SDT750 Set only when aperture is fully open: 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 15dB, 18dB Canon HF S21 AGC Limit can be set to: Auto, 0dB - 24dB in 1dB increments Sony HDR-CX550V None Panasonic HDC-TM700 Set only when aperture is fully open: 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 15dB, 18dB

Colour & Image Controls (7.5)

Other Manual Controls (5.5)

Manual Controls Summary
Control	Panasonic HDC-SDT750	Canon HF S21	Sony HDR-CX550V	Panasonic HDC-TM700
Focus	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Exposure	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aperture	Manual	Aperture-priority	Aperture-priority	Manual
Shutter Speed	Manual	Shutter-priority	Shutter-priority	Manual
White Balance	Manual, WB Shift	Manual	Manual, WB Shift	Manual, WB Shift
Gain	Manual (with aperture opened fully)	AGC Limiter	No	Manual (with aperture opened fully)