Poor Performance from SD5 in Low Light

[ncoathup]

Hi - I recently purchased the Panasonic HDC-SD5 as a replacement for my 9 year old miniDV Panasonic NV-DS77.

However, I was disappointed to find that it's performance indoors in lowish light conditions is significantly worse than my old camera. The output picture quality is very grainy. Is this representative of other people's experience or could my unit be faulty (picture quality is excellent outside)?

Can anybody recommend an HD Camcorder that performs well in low light? I had also been looking at the Sony HDR-SR7E and the Canon HG10.

[senu]

The HG 10 I can recommend from personal use If you must have Hi Def and in an HDD or Solid state format.
I dont think the SR7 is a lot different although reviews seem to put the HG10 ahead especially in its 25p mode ( which I personally dont think much of)
It however depends on what you mean by "low light" as any camcorder confronted with a room with a 60W incandescent bulb would be rather unhappy. They all shine with better lighting and in sunlit outdoors

The best consumer lowlight camcorders are the tape based DV models ( as you can see)
Although the lens ( fast) electronics( good amplification with minimal noise) and sensor size ( the larger the better) play a big part. it seems that HDD camcorders, especially Hi def have to be very well sorted to compete with similarly endowed tape based DV models and up to a point HDV

All I can suggest is that until the models improve, it may be futile comparing them to your old miniDV but certainly as HDD Hi Def camcorders go, The HG10 is fighting tough.

[redsox_mark]

If you adjust the exposure settings manually you should be able to improve the low light performance somewhat (I believe Rhubarbe said that).

[senu]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

If you adjust the exposure settings manually you should be able to improve the low light performance somewhat (I believe Rhubarbe said that).

He did , but can the SD5 at its best in lowlight be really impressive? Only you can tell it is however very well thought of by "Digital video" magazine winning a group test lately
Just make sure that if you do adjust the settings, if there s an auto slow shutter.. turn it off as it gives a very annoying slow mo type effect

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by senu

The HG 10 I can recommend from personal use If you must have Hi Def and in an HDD or Solid state format.
I dont think the SR7 is a lot different although reviews seem to put the HG10 ahead especially in its 25p mode ( which I personally dont think much of)
It however depends on what you mean by "low light" as any camcorder confronted with a room with a 60W incandescent bulb would be rather unhappy. They all shine with better lighting and in sunlit outdoors

The best consumer lowlight camcorders are the tape based DV models ( as you can see)
Although the lens ( fast) electronics( good amplification with minimal noise) and sensor size ( the larger the better) play a big part. it seems that HDD camcorders, especially Hi def have to be very well sorted to compete with similarly endowed tape based DV models and up to a point HDV

All I can suggest is that until the models improve, it may be futile comparing them to your old miniDV but certainly as HDD Hi Def camcorders go, The HG10 is fighting tough.

senu i must admit i have had virtualy no experience of 25p you say you dont think much of it on the hg10 ,for what reason,do you think it is worse than the hv20s 25p.i know 25p is supposed to be non compliant to blue ray so i wonder if i had say a hv20 and filmed in 25p could i continue to make my bd discs with my laptop,or more importantly would they play.

another sony avchd out in us in march http://www.ces-show.com/0157/sony/camcorder/sr12/

[ncoathup]

Thanks ... Is there some example footage that can be downloaded for any of these cameras that demonstrates it's performance in low light conditions?

[senu]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

senu i must admit i have had virtualy no experience of 25p you say you dont think much of it on the hg10 ,for what reason,do you think it is worse than the hv20s 25p.

I don't know that it is worse as I didnt use 25p much on the HV20 either.
I perhaps should say that comparing footage from the standard mode and 25p mode, both on the PC and off a Display ( which obviously applies its own processing) I was struggling hard to find any differences.They may have been blurred by the good lighting conditions or by the Display which was doing a good Job.
I have seen Bluray movies played on the newer 1080p 24p Displays and they do look very good but I cannot say the 1080i standard HDTVs are in any danger of becoming extinct either
The point about its low light is that it is meant to be better with 25p on the Canon camcorders Sony have ( for whichever reason not joined the bandwagon ( yet) ..Maybe I should deliberately shoot some low light footage on either mode for comparison
My take on all this is that all camcorders hate low light, some worse than others

As for footage.. I'm not sure you'll find them online ( unless individuals upload them for personal use) as unflattering low light footage are not good marketing tools..
Maybe myself or anyone else can send them by post on a CD