In November, 2006, Panasonic announced it’s first direct-to-DVD digital camcorder. The Panasonic HDC-DX1, along with the just announced HDC-SD1, mark Panasonic’s first foray into the AVCHD market. The HDC-DX1 records HD footage onto MiniDVD and supports the new dual layer MiniDVDs. It features 3 1/4″ CCDs that will hopefully translate into the high color and picture quality we have come to expect from Panasonic 3 CCD camcorders.

Other features on the Panasonic HDC-DX1 include a 12x Leica lens, 3 inch LCD screen, and the ability to record in Dolby 5.1 surround sound. HDMI output is also included for the best possible connection quality to HD TVs. Finally, external microphone jacks are built-in for use with your favorite microphone.

The Panasonic HDC-DX1 records HD video using the AVCHD codec, which it jointly created with Sony. At this time, there is no real way to edit the footage, and one must also own a pretty high-end computer to use any bundled software.

The release date for the Panasonic HDC-DX1 is slated for December 15th in Japan. No word on a U.S. release, although you can bet it will be forthcoming. The price is going to be $1,350.


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