Panasonic Launches 2 New Stylish And Compact Sd Memory Card Camcorders Ideal For Active Users

Panasonic today announced two new camcorders, the SDR-S15 and SDR-SW21. Both models record to SD/SDHC Memory Cards, allowing them to be lightweight and compact, ideal for active and on-the-go users. Adding to the camcorders’ portability, both models are also stylish, and the SDR-SW21 features a tough body with the ability to be submerged in 6.5 feet of water and withstand a 4-foot drop*.

“The SW21 and S15 are our ultimate active camcorders, with features that make them perfect for those users who are adventurous and constantly on the move,” said Dennis Eppel, Vice President, Network Business Group, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “They provide simple and flexible video recording while on vacation, business trips, or in daily use, which distinguishes them from bulkier, conventional camcorders.”

The SDR-SW21 is a tough and compact camcorder that is waterproof up to 6.5 feet in both fresh and salt water; shockproof enough to sustain a 4-foot drop; and dustproof to protect against particles such as dirt, sand, and dust. The SW21’s rugged design makes it ideal for creating videos outdoors and for those with active lifestyles. The SDR-S15’s compact size and stylish design make it flexible and possible to carry in a pocket or purse for easy access in any situation. Both models also feature a fast 0.6 second quick-start recording so users can easily catch those spontaneous video moments.

The SDR-S15 features Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA)***, a system of intuitive technologies that engage automatically, no adjustments needed, making the camcorder easy to use, while still producing beautiful videos. The S15’s iA function detects shooting conditions and automatically selects the most suitable shooting mode and prompts technologies such as Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure so faces are captured perfectly, and Intelligent Scene Selector, which recognizes the environment and selects the Scene mode that will provide optimal results.

Both camcorders come packaged with the VideoCam Suite, which is included with the camcorder. After the consumer connects the camcorder to a computer using a USB cable, the software automatically starts up, making it possible to seamlessly upload videos that are correctly formatted for video websites for sharing, such as YouTube.

The SDR-S15 and SDR-SW21 can easily copy video from an SD Memory Card to DVD in one simple step. By connecting the camcorder to the VW-BN1 DVD burner (optional) using a USB cable, video recordings can be copied to a 12-cm DVD disc (DVD-RAM/-RW/-R/-R DL) – no computer is needed.

The SDR-SW21 will be available in three colors; lime green, orange and silver for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $399.95, while the SDR-S15 will be available in black, silver and chocolate, for an SRP of $299.95. The SDR-S15 and SDR-SW21 will be available in April 2009.

* Waterproof: IEC 60529 IPX8; Shock-proof: MIL-STD-810F METHOD 516.5 SHOCK; Dustproof: IEC 60529 IP5X.

** Video clips must be recorded in Web mode in order to be uploaded to YouTube.