Moon Zoom! - Panasonic HDC-SD60 - 1500x Digital Zoom Test

Just me messing around with my SD60 camcorder and testing out the 1500x digital zoom. To shoot the footage of the moon all I did was mount the cam on my £10 tripod, switch off the optical image stabiliser and set everything else to auto. Considering this is classed as a budget/entry level camcorder I think it performs extremely well :-) .

The random waves of blurriness (kinda like heat waves) are more to do with the atmosphere than the camera itself. Also when zooming at that distance even the tiniest vibration or movement causes the image to jump all over place. I did my best to keep still :-P (not easy when it's -2C outside!). I had to focus more on the left side of the moon because the right was a bit too bright and made it difficult to get a clear picture.

Music - From Mirror's Edge Original Video Game Score
Artist - Solar Fields
Track - Introduction

Thanks for watching! :-)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• panasonic
• hdc-sd60
• sd60
• hdc
• digital
• zoom
• camcorder
• 1500x
• 25x
• 35x
• smart
• optical
• stabilisation
• stabiliser
• stabilizer
• handycam
• steadycam
• moon
• test
• review
• night
• light
• lowlight
• conditions
• quality
• howto
• camera
• canon
• train
• 720p
• lens
• healing
• inspirational
• intstructions
• space
• musical instruments
• creature
• meditation
• science
• spirituality
• superhero film
• science fiction

[GoAlienUFO]

Is it really 1500x? Because I can do better with my Sony HDR CX150 300x digital zoom.

[RetroGameTech]

@GoAlienUFO Just Google the specs. It's 25x optical and 1500x digital. From what I remember I couldn't use full zoom while filming this because it would just go out of focus and look blurry. But, like I mentioned, this is classed as a budget camcorder.

The Sony you mentioned is a more expensive camera so I would expect it to perform better. I don't see a moon zoom video on your channel though?

[WhatAreYouBuyen]

Just wondering how much did you pick this up for mayte? :P

[RetroGameTech]

@WhatAreYouBuyen Alrite mayte!! :) , I got it around xmas time from Amazon for around £270 (about 440USD). I've seen them for a lot less now though. I really recommend it.

[jimmyb1996]

is it mirrors edge music ? the moon is so cool

[RetroGameTech]

@jimmyb1996 Yep :-)

[B4MVFan409]

@bitchfacerecs Mirrors Edge by electronic arts

[Psqwall]

this video has made me want to buy this camera one question though does it do pass thru ? I have a bunch of VHS tape footage I want to digitize and edit in final cut pro and I was told my best option for digitizing would be to get a digital camera that allows pass through enabling me to digitize my VHS tapes with out re recording them. Let me know

[GoAlienUFO]

@RetroGameTech I am about to upload it today.

[mireltek]

beautiful video

[NebraskaBoy12]

Great footage! And the music was fitting, Mirror's Edge : Sasha's theme.

[MsGatho]

1:35 the moon :3

[WermGut]

Really nice job!

I've been considering a Panasonic for this type of application. I was thinking about the SDR-H100. A lot of people who own that model complain about the quality of the video, since it's not HD. The upside of that model is that it features 70X Optical Zoom. It seems most, if not all, of the True HD Camcorders don't feature any more than, say 30X or 40X Optical Zoom. I guess I'll keep shopping. I really want something true HD and super high true optical zoom. Any ideas?

[bobsurgranny]

Wow 

[MrKic3k]

Awesome.

[will33ify]

Is that Sam Neil?

[JBDUK117]

Straight away dint even have to think about it... Mirrors Edge

[Addicted2Blood]

am I mistaken, or does this one have a "nightshot" function, too?

cuz I'm looking for a relatively cheap HD-cam for shooting at night (~0 lux) :)

thx in advance

[demonslayer9101]

that is amazing...

[WhatAreYouBuyen]

@RetroGameTech yeah I think I"m finally picking one of these bad boys up! haha this video is epic, beautiful and humble :) I love it!

[DayLight95]

Mirrors edge :p got it straight away. Great game. And that moon looked sweet :)

[Hikke12]

nice video! GREAT MUSIC! :D

[WhatAreYouBuyen]

@RetroGameTech oh really? only $440? I shall pick on up haha mmmm... or maybe I'll save up for an NGP and new Wii... lol those things are the opposite of Retro games hahaha sorry but a long time ago when I was a wee little boy, some random dude in a trashy pick up truck came to our house and asked if we had any retro game consoles and my dad not caring about video games sold our NES and all our games for a whopping... wait for it... $15!!! I think I cried lol

[sagarelyas]

Wow, it's almost like seeing through a telescope!