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Camcorder Digital Video CameraHD Panasonic HD camcorders allow you to get the kind of high-definition image
quality that suits today's age of large-screen TVs.

HDC-HS20
High Quality Picture & Sound
Shooting Functions
Playback / Networking
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HDC-HS20
Do you know your broadcasting system, PAL or NTSC?

HDC-HS20
PAL
NTSC
GENERAL
Power Supply DC 7.2 V / 9.3 V DC 7.2 V / 9.3 V
Power Consumption 6.6W 6.6W
Weight (w/o Battery) approx. 360g approx. 360g
Dimensions (W x H x D) 64 x 69 x 128 mm 64 x 69 x 128 mm
Media 80 GB HDD
SDHC/SD Memory Card		 80 GB HDD
SDHC/SD Memory Card
OSD Language Language Menu Language Menu
LENS SECTION
Image Sensor 1/6" MOS
Total Pixels : 1.47 megapixels
Effective Pixels :
<Motion Image> 1.17 megapixels [16:9]
<Still Image> 1.17 megapixels [16:9]
1/6" MOS
Total Pixels : 1.47 megapixels
Effective Pixels :
<Motion Image> 1.17 megapixels [16:9]
<Still Image> 1.17 megapixels [16:9]
F Value F 1.8 (WIDE) / 3.3 (TELE) F 1.8 (WIDE) / 3.3 (TELE)
Optical Zoom 16x 16x
Digital Zoom 40x - 1000x  40x - 1000x 
Focal Length 2.95 - 47.2 mm 2.95 - 47.2 mm
Filter Diameter 43 mm 43 mm
35 mm Film Camera Equivalent 44.1-706mm (16:9)
44.1-706mm (16:9)
Lens Brand Leica Dicomar Leica Dicomar
CAMERA SECTION
Minimum Illumination 9 lx (1/25 low light mode), 1 lx (Color Night View mode) 9 lx (1/30 low light mode), 1 lx (Color Night View mode)
Focus Auto / Manual Auto / Manual
White Balance Auto / Indoor1 / Indoor2 / Sunny / Cloudy / White set Auto / Indoor1 / Indoor2 / Sunny / Cloudy / White set
Shutter Speed <Motion Image>
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/25-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/50-1/8000
<Still Image>
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/25-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/50-1/8000
(Progressive : 1/25-1/500)
<Motion Image>
[60i]
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/30-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/60-1/8000
[24P]
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/24-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/48-1/8000
<Still Image>
[60i]
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/30-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/60-1/8000
(Progressive : 1/30-1/500)
[24P]
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/24-1/8000
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/48-1/8000
(Progressive : 1/24-1/500)
Iris Auto / Manual Auto / Manual
Backlight Compensation Yes Yes
Image Stabilizer Advanced O.I.S. Advanced O.I.S.
Quick Start 0.6-sec 0.6-sec
MONITOR
LCD 2.7" Wide LCD (230,400 pixels) 2.7" Wide LCD (230,400 pixels)
STILL IMAGE SECTION
Recording Format JPEG JPEG
Recording Image Size <Still Picture >
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16:9]
<Simultaneous Recording>
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16:9]
<Creating Still Image from Motion Image>
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16：9]		 <Still Picture >
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16:9]
<Simultaneous Recording>
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16:9]
< Creating Still Image from Motion Image>
2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080) [16：9]
Self Timer Yes (10sec. / 2sec. / OFF) Yes (10sec. / 2sec. / OFF)
Flash 1 m - 2.5 m (approx.) 1 m - 2.5 m (approx.)
DPOF Max. 999 stills Max. 999 stills
PictBridge Yes Yes
RECORDING SECTION
Signal System 1080/50i 1080/60i
Recording Format MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVCHD Standard Compliant) MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVCHD Standard Compliant)
Recording / Playback Mode HA: 17 Mbps/VBR, HG: 13 Mbps / VBR, HX: 9 Mbps / VBR, HE: 6 Mbps / VBR HA: 17 Mbps/VBR, HG: 13 Mbps / VBR, HX: 9 Mbps / VBR, HE: 6 Mbps / VBR
Picture Size HA/HG: 1920 x 1080/50i, HX: 1920 x 1080/50i, HE: 1440 x 1080/50i HA/HG: 1920 x 1080/60i, HX: 1920 x 1080/60i, HE: 1440 x 1080/60i
Audio Recording System Dolby Digital (5.1ch) Dolby Digital (5.1ch)
Media Remaining Indication Yes Yes
Microphone

5.1ch Surround, Zoom Microphone

5.1ch Surround, Zoom Microphone
Speaker Dynamic Type Dynamic Type
INTERFACES
AV Out Out
HDMI Yes (mini) Yes (mini)
USB 2.0 High Speed (mini AB) 2.0 High Speed (mini AB)
Video Component Yes Yes
OTHERS
LED Video Light Yes Yes
STANDARD ACCESSORIES
AC Adaptor Yes Yes
AC Cable Yes Yes
DC Cable Yes Yes
Battery Pack min. 725 mAh / Lithium-Ion min. 725 mAh / Lithium-Ion
Video Component Cable Yes Yes
AV Cable Yes Yes
IR Remote Yes Yes
Stylus Pen Yes Yes
USB Cable Yes Yes
CD-ROM HD Writer AE 1.0 HD Writer AE 1.0
SDHC/SD Memory Card Compatibility / Capacity
SDHC/SD Memory Card Compatibility for Motion Picture Recording
Capacity Gold Silver
SDHC Memory Card*1 32GB*2 RP-SDW32G
(Class 10, up to 22MB/sec *3*4)		 -
16GB*2 RP-SDW16G
(Class 10, up to 22MB/sec *3*4)		 RP-SDP16G
(Class 4, up to 20MB/sec *3*4)
12GB*2 - RP-SDP12G
(Class 4, up to 20MB/sec *3*4)
8GB*2 RP-SDW08G
(Class 10, up to 22MB/sec *3*4)		 RP-SDP08G
(Class 4, up to 20MB/sec *3*4)
4GB*2 RP-SDW04G
(Class 10, up to 22MB/sec *3*4)		 RP-SDP04G
(Class 4, up to 20MB/sec *3*4)
SD Memory Card 2GB*2 - RP-SDP02G
(Class 4, up to 20MB/sec *3*4)
As of May, 2009
  • An SDHC/SD Memory Card utilises a portion of the storage space for formatting and other purposes.
  • We recommend using SD Memory Cards and SDHC Memory cards conforming to class 4 or higher of the SD Speed Class Rating or the following SD Memory Cards made by Panasonic for motion picture recording.
  • Please confirm the latest information about SDHC/SD Memory Cards that can be used for motion picture recording on the following website.
    Camcorder information (This website is in English only.)
*1 SDHC (SD High Capacity) Memory Cards can only be used in SDHC host devices, which support the SDHC Memory Card format.
*2 1GB means 1 billion bytes. Usable capacity will be less.
*3 The data transfer rate is a theoretical value and is not a guarantee of performance. The transfer rate may vary depending on the conditions and equipment used.
*4 This card complies with SD Memory Card Physical Layer Specification Ver.3.0 (SDHC) or Ver.1.10 (SD). When using this card with SD-enabled products that comply with the specification, a speed performance of up to 20MB/sec. can be realized. When using it with SD-enabled products that comply with the conventional specification Ver. 1.01, the speed performance will be up to 10MB/sec.
Motion Image Recording Time (Approx.) [PAL / NTSC]
Image Quality Capacity
HDD  SDHC Memory Card
80GB* 32GB* 16GB* 12GB* 8GB* 6GB* 4GB*
HA (17Mbps) 10 h 30 min 4 h 2 h 1 h 30 min 1 h 45 min 30 min
HG (13Mbps) 13 h 30 min 5 h 20 min 2 h 40 min 2 h 1 h 20 min 1 h 40 min
HX (9Mbps) 20 h 30 min 8 h 4 h 3 h 2 h 1 h 30 min 1 h
HE (6Mbps) 33 h 20 min 12 h 6 h 4 h 30 min 3 h 2 h 15 min 1 h 30 min
  • These figures vary depending on the pictures being recorded.
* 1GB means 1 billion bytes. Usable capacity will be less.

Number of Recordable Still Pictures (Approx.) [PAL / NTSC]
Image Quality Capacity
HDD SDHC Memory Card
80GB* 32GB* 16GB* 12GB* 8GB* 6GB* 4GB*
1920 x 1080 pixels
(16:9) 2.1 M		 73240 27030 13470 10100 6690 5000 3290
115090 42480 21170 15870 10520 7860 5160
High Picture Quality   Normal Picture Quality
  • These figure vary depending on the pictures being recorded.

* 1GB means 1 billion bytes. Usable capacity will be less.

  • We recommend using SD Memory Cards and SDHC Memory cards conforming to class 4 or higher of the SD Speed Class Rating or the following SD Memory Cards made by Panasonic for motion-image recording.
  • Please confirm the latest information about SDHC/SD Memory Cards that can be used for motion-image recording, on the following website. Camcorder Information (This website is in English only.)

Battery Life (Approx.)
[PAL]
　 Continuous Recording Time Actual Recording Time
HA/HG/HX HE HA/HG/HX HE
LCD LCD LCD LCD
VW-VBG070 HDD 1 h 10 min 1 h 10 min 40 min 45 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 1 h 15 min 1 h 15 min 45 min 45 min
VW-VBG130 HDD 1 h 55 min 2h 1 h 10 min 1 h 15 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 2 h 05 min 2 h 05 min 1 h 20 min 1 h 20 min
VW-VBG260 HDD 3 h 45 min 3 h 50 min 2 h 20 min 2 h 20 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 4 h 05 min 4 h 05 min 2 h 30 min 2 h 30 min
VW-VBG6 HDD 9 h 20 min 9 h 30 min 5 h 45 min 5 h 55 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 10 h 10 min 10 h 10 min 6 h 15 min 6 h 15 min
[NTSC]
　 Continuous Recording Time Actual Recording Time
HA/HG/HX HE HA/HG/HX HE
LCD LCD LCD LCD
VW-VBG070 HDD 1 h 10 min 1 h 10 min 40 min 40 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 1 h 15 min 1 h 15 min 45 min 45 min
VW-VBG130 HDD 1 h 55 min 2h 1 h 10 min 1 h 10 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 2 h 05 min 2 h 05 min 1 h 15 min 1 h 15 min
VW-VBG260 HDD 3 h 40 min 3 h 45 min 2 h 15 min 2 h 20 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 4 h 4 h 2 h 25 min 2 h 25 min
VW-VBG6 HDD 9 h 10 min 9 h 25 min 5 h 40 min 5 h 50 min
SDHC/SD
Memory Card		 9 h 55 min 9 h 55 min 6 h 05 min 6 h 05 min
  • This is a guideline that includes time for operations such as starting and stopping the recording, turning the power on and off, and zooming. The actual time is shorter.
System Requirements [PAL / NTSC]
HD Writer AE 1.0 for HDC
 iMovie '09 (not supplied) /
iMovie '08 (not supplied) 7.1.2 or 7.1.4
Interface USB port
(Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) recommended)		 USB port
(Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) recommended)
OS Windows® 2000 (SP4), Windows® XP (SP2/SP3),
Windows Vista® (SP1), (Home Basic/Home Premium/Ultimate/Business)		 iMovie '09 Mac OS X  10.5.6
iMovie '08 Mac OS X  10.4.11/10.5
CPU Intel® Pentium® III 1.0 GHz or higher

When using playback function or MPEG2 output
function: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.16 GHz or higher
 Intel® Pentium® D 3.2 GHz or higher is recommended.

When using editing function or seamless transfer function or continuous photo playback function:
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad 2.6 GHz or higher is
recommended.		 Intel® Core™ Duo or
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo
  • Supplied CD-ROM (HD Writer AE 1.0 for HDC) is available for Windows only.
  • About HD Writer AE 1.0 for HDC
    This software is not compatible with a multi-boot environment.
    Operation is not guaranteed on Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition, Tablet PC Edition and not compatible with 64-bit operation systems.
    This software is not compatible with Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows NT.
  • Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
  • iMovie, Mac, and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
  • The Works with iMovie logo is a trademark of Apple Inc.
  • Other names of systems and products mentioned in these instructions are usually the registered trademarks or trademarks of the manufacturers who developed the system or product concerned.
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