After reading these forums/reviews i had decided to purchase a Panasonic HDC-SD5. It suits my needs i.e. easy to use, small, flash memory, excellent image quality etc etc.
Then i stumbled across the Panasonic HDC-SD1 at £420 inc 4GB card ie about £180 cheaper than the SD5 when you inc the cost of a 4GB card). Obviously the DS5 is a newer model but is that enough to justify the £180 price difference

[rhubarbe]

SD1 has slightly bigger zoom (12x); slightly bigger CCDs: 1/4" against 1/6". SD5 is full HD 1920 x 1080 against SD1 1440 x 1080.

Your call.

Oh, SD1 is a bit bigger and a bit heavier.

[redsox_mark]

Unless the smaller size is important to you, I'd go for the SD1 and £180 in the pocket.

[rhubarbe]

SD1 has 3.0" LCD 220,000 pixles.

SD5 has 2.7" LCD 300,000 pixels.

Neither has viewfinder and both LCDs solarise in sunny conditions.

showing my ignorance but what is the benefit of larger ccd's

[redsox_mark]

All else being equal larger CCDs generally means better video quality; especially in low light; as the pixels are larger and it can let in more light.

[rhubarbe]

I've seen video samples of the SD1 and the Canon HV20 in low light and the Canon is much better. It follows then that the SD5 will be worse than the SD1, and my SD7 displays this, sharing mechanics with the SD5. A little trip through the manual controls will repair this deficiency however.

[SP00KY]

It would be great if anyone here had experience of both the SD1 and the SD5 so that they could provide some idea as to the differences. I do not mean the differences on the spec. sheet but in use, image, etc.

I think I read somewhere that the SD card from one (or both) of these could be put into a UK PS3 and played back in HD. Can anyone confirm if this is the case for both the SD1 and the SD5?

Is there anyone who has owned both of these?

[rhubarbe]

SDHC card - yes.

Nobody who posts on here has owned both AFAIK.

What are your worries?

[SP00KY]

No particular worries. Seeing the SD1 for about 420 GBP makes me wonder if the SD5 is worth over 100 GBP more, what real world differences there are, etc.

If anyone on here has at least some experience with both then any opinions would be welcome.