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At first glance, the SDR-H250 looks like it doesn't have any connections at all. In fact, Panasonic should offer prizes to anyone who can actually find them. Underneath an unnecessarily large flap at the back, which you can only access with the LCD panel open, is a single proprietary AV connection. This hosts a breakout cable offering composite and S-Video, plus RCA audio - but output only. Even less obvious is the USB connection, which is hidden beneath the battery. Presumably, Panasonic has put it there to prevent you from using a PC connection without the AC adapter attached.

Most editing apps will support the MPEG-2 video the SDR-H250 shoots. You will need to import it rather than simply drag and drop, but a utility for this is provided with the majority of mainstream software. Adobe Premiere Elements, Ulead VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio all have the facility.

Verdict

The Panasonic SDR-H250 is not a camcorder which will appeal to the video enthusiast, despite its trio of CCDs and comprehensive manual controls. The lack of audio inputs and accessory shoe discount it for anything other than its target market. The ability to record to SD is also a bit of a white elephant - with a 30GB hard disk on board, you will rarely use the removable option. But at just over £400, this is still a keenly priced hard disk camcorder, and should satisfy the non-enthusiast looking to shoot video in this format.

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