Panasonic's ground-breaking HDC-SD1, released earlier this year, wasn't the first video camera to allow HD video recording to truly flash media. But it remains the best 3CCD HD solid-state video camera by a mile - partly because it combines great optics with a relatively new system of compression called AVCHD to cram lots of complex picture and sound data into the incredibly small space that is an SD card.

Even as the SD1 continues to make its presence known in the marketplace, Panasonic has sprung a surprise on us in the form of the HDC-SD5, a new 3CCD model that shares many of its predecessor's characteristics. The exception is that this model produces the full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution as opposed to the SD1's 1440 pixels in the horizontal plane.

What's more, it's deceptively simple and uncluttered appearance hides a comprehensive set of digital and analogue connections in addition to some fantastic full-specification HD pictures and sounds.

Unlike its SD/DVD hybrid sister product, the HDC-SX5, the SD5 doesn't have a viewfinder and users have to rely on its widescreen 2.7-inch LCD screen for monitoring, although there is a choice of either silver or black body finishes.

Its main feature is its ability to record HD movies to high-capacity SD cards, with a single 4GB SDHC Class 6 card being supplied with every product.

The battery slot and SD card slot now share a compartment that's hidden away on the underside of the main body, whilst the Component Digital and AV output sockets sit behind a flap inside the LCD screen recess.

Behind the hand-strap is another contoured flap which hides the required HDMI port (for the output of full HD signals to HDTV and other devices) in addition to a USB Mini-B port. Unlike its predecessor, there's neither a headphone output nor external mic input jack socket on this model.

The main power dial at the rear of the cam provides access to both video and stills recording and playback functions, and is accompanied by a menu button and a waste bin.

Menu navigation and function selection is made with a mini-joystick, which is positioned on the rear far right, between the Mode Dial and the strap.

The SD5's three CCDs now deliver the full 1920 x 1080i HD specification (as opposed to the SD1 offering 1440 x 1080i), and images benefit from an improved Leica Dicomar 10x optical zoom lens.

Panasonic's excellent OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) is also provided which, for the same reason, is vital in order to maintain hand-held stability.

A particularly useful new feature is something called PRE-REC, which means that you don't have to miss the beginning of that unexpected start to a piece of action as the camera powers up.

When activated, the camcorder continuously records three seconds of video by putting it into a cache, so you'll never miss that all-important goal or collapsing wedding cake.

With all recording taking place to an SD/SDHC card, it's important to have a means of archiving recorded clips and images, whether all or selected 'playlists' of items. Apart from having the useful ability to divide and trim clips within the camera itself, you can also export to DVD as either HD or SD.

Thanks to an optional VW-BN1 external DVD burner, it's possible to copy out the contents of your SD or SDHC card to DVD in a range of disc formats - including Blu-ray - via a supplied Mini-AB connector using the SD5 as the control device, and whilst monitoring operations on your TV.