Panasonic announced eleven new camcorders at CES ranging from the $1400 high-definition HDD model to a $300 model designed to easily upload video to the web. Three models have a 70x optical zoom, currently the highest zoom available in the consumer market and one model can record video below 6 and a half feet of water. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the entire line is their ability to easily connect to Apple Macintosh computers, making Panasonic one of the first manufactures to offer full support for Mac users.

Panasonic announced six new high-definition camcorders. Three high-end models, the HDC-HS300, HDC-TM300, and HDC-HS250 and three entry-level camcorders the HDC-HS20, HDC-TM20, and HDC-SD20. The camcorders all have quick power on, 5.1 channel surround sound with five microphones and a zoom microphone feature and can be networked easily with Panasonic's VIERA series televisions and Blu-ray players. 

All three high-end models use a new larger-aperture Leica Dicomar lens, Pansonic's 3MOS system, and can take still images at a 10.6 megapixel resolution when being used as a stand-alone camera and 8.6 megapixels when being taken while simultaneously shooting video. The series uses Panasonic's iA technologies which include scene detection (where the camcorder automatically selects the appropriate scene for your shot), Auto Focus Tracking, and optical image stabilization for photos and video.

• HDC-HS300: records video onto an internal 120GB HDD. MSRP $1399.95.
• HDC-TM300: the "twin memory" camcorder (thus the TM) records video onto SD/SDHC cards or onto the camcorders 32GB built-in memory and will automatically switch from internal memory to the SD card if the internal memory becomes full. MSRP $1299.95.
• HDC-HS250: a more compact version of the HS300 and TM300 the camcorder has a 120GB internal hard drive. MSRP $999.95
• HDC-HS20: records video onto an 80GB internal HDD or onto a SD/SDHC card. MSRP $799.95
• HDC-TM20: Will be available in black, silver, and red and records onto only SD/SDHC cards MSRP $649.95
• HDC-SD20: Will be available in black records video onto SD/SDHC cards or onto the camcorders 16GB internal flash memory. MSRP $599.95

On the standard definition front Panasonic introduced two new camcorders sporting 70x optical zooms (the highest currently available in the consumer market). The SDR-H80 and SDR-H90 will both use Panasonic's before mentioned iA technologies, and will include a YouTube feature for quick uploading of video to the site.

• SDR-H90: records onto an internal 80GB hard drive or SD/SDHC cards. MSRP $499.99.
• SDR-H80: records onto a 60GB hard drive or SD/SDHC cards and will be available in blue, red, black, and silver. MSRP $449.95.

In addition to the SDR-H90 and SDR-H80 Panasonic introduced three new flash camcorders including the SDR-S26 which will also have a 70x optical zoom as well as a waterproof model. All three models have a "web mode" for shooting video that is easily uploaded to YouTube.

• SDR-S15: will be available in silver, black, and chocolate and will use Panasonic's iA technologies. MSRP $299.95
• SDR-S26: will be available in red, black, blue, and champagne and will have a 70x optical zoom. MSRP $329.95
• SDR-SW21: will be available in green, orange, and silver and can be submerged in 6.5 feet of water and handle a 4-foot drop. MSRP $399.95.

All of Panasonic's new camcorders are expected to ship in April 2009.