Panasonic SD900 review

The photos in this review were updated in Novemeber 2025

For a long time, I have wanted a video camera. But for a long time, quality just was not there. The resolution on our family video camera was 480 by 320, and when 720p cameras became available, we got one of those too. But the quality was still not good enough - not if you wanted to make it possible to see every detail. In September of this year, I got my first 1080p video camera (and my first video camera that's not a family one). This review will look at what this camera features and how it performs - after all, Panasonic claims that its 3MOS system is one of the finest out there.

There are similar Panasonic models to this camera, the HS900 and TM900. 

Features

First off, let's look at the features of this camera. 

Panasonic has kept the design very clean and compact. At roughly 415g, the SD900 is light enough to carry around for long periods without causing hand fatigue, yet it still feels sturdy and well-built. Nothing about it feels cheap. Buttons are well placed, and the hand strap is comfortable.

As with many digital camcorders, the Panasonic SD900 features a fold-out display. The SD900 features a large 3.5-inch touch-enabled display, making it very easy to navigate the system. There are a plethora of options available, from changing the white balance to optical image stabilisation, all of which are changed using the touchscreen. The screen itself is a resistive touch display, meaning no multi-touch, but whilst it is easy enough to use your fingernail on the display, Panasonic also throws in a touch stylus.

The display can also be rotated so you can view yourself whilst filming. This is useful if, like me, you do talks on YouTube and similar platforms that involve standing in front of a camera talking.

The camera also features a shoe adapter slot on the top, and Panasonic also include a small adapter that transforms the built-in shoe adapter slot into a standard shoe slot. 

One of the most standout features on this camcorder is the inclusion of both a headphone jack and a microphone jack - something normally found on professional video cameras. The microphone jack lets you use a stereo microphone with the camera instead of the built-in one.

The camera also features mini-USB connectivity to the computer, a mini-HDMI connector for HD connectivity to the television, an AV-out connector for composite or component connectivity to the television, and an SD card slot that supports SD, SD-HC, and SD-XC.

The front of the camera features a manual zoom control ring and several buttons. On top, you will find your Wide Angle and Telephoto zoom options in the form of a rocker switch, as well as a photo capture button that lets you take photos while recording a video. There is also the charging slot protected by a small cover. On the back, you will find the battery slot and the record button. 

Finally, the camcorder also features a viewfinder, which is a nice little addition but pretty unnecessary. The viewfinder is also pretty hard to use because it doesn't extend very far from the camera. Regarding the viewfinder, it is useful when you are in a cramped area and cannot open the large display, as it works when the display is shut. It can also be helpful when the screen is flipped (i.e., away from the viewfinder), since it activates when the screen is turned the other way.

Specifications

The camera's 3MOS system means it has a CCD (charged-coupled device) or MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) sensor for each colour in the RGB colour space. As a result, red, green, and blue are captured individually at each pixel. The result of this is absolutely stunning. Picture and video quality deliver a very accurate colour representation. In fact, the colour quality is by a long shot the best I have ever tested on a video camera. I really cannot stress how good the quality of this camera is for its price point (more on that later).

The camera is rated at 6.4W for video recording and 10.3W for charging. This is quite high for a video camera in both cases, but you still get about an hour or two of HD video, which, for a full HD camera, is not bad by today's standards. One issue due to this is that the camera needs to be actively cooled, and that fan noise can sometimes be picked up in a video.

The built-in microphone is described as recording 5.1 surround sound, and whilst the sound quality is good and can be adjusted to your preference, the option to use an external microphone is always available for those who want exceptional quality. 

Quality

The SD900's quality is fantastic. I have tried several 1080p cameras, and none have the same level of quality as this one. The colour is excellent, and the 1080p resolution is top of the range (although the film industry is moving to higher resolutions, such as 4K or 8K). 

Conclusion

This slightly pricy camera is ideal for anyone who wants the best. From 1080p video recording at 50 fps to excellent colour reproduction, this camera has it all. My only concerns are that the camera is heavy and that its battery life is relatively short. 

Overall, I'd recommend this camera.