Weighing in at only 430g, the HDC-SD1 will be hardly noticeable in your bag, while dimensions of 
74 x 69 x 142mm mean that it won’t take up much space either. But it’s not just the size and weight that impressed me, the SD1 is also very comfortable to hold and use, while the light weight makes one handed operation an option. One handed operation is made all the more tangible by the fact that Panasonic has also implemented optical image stabilisation so you can get the best out of the Leica Dicomar lens. With a 12x optical zoom, that OIS definitely comes in handy at the telephoto end!
General handling on the SD1 was superb. Sliding my hand through the strap allowed me to wrap my fingers around the barrel for a very solid grip. Holding the camcorder in this way means that most of the main controls will be easily accessible by your thumb and general operation soon became instinctive. The start up time on the SD1 was also impressive, with a rough guess at around five seconds from powering on to shooting – that’s not great by digital still camera standards, but for a camcorder it’s pretty damn good. The upshot being that you’re more likely to catch those impromptu movie opportunities with the SD1. TrustedReviews - Panasonic HD Camcorder Preview