The HDC-S20 is light enough to sit comfortably in the hand. The silver version scratches easily, but we mention it only because it is one of few flaws in an otherwise excellent camcorder (that also comes in black).

Starting with the controls, it's clear that you're in safe hands. The OSD is beautifully uncluttered for recording, and the touchscreen menu is efficient and simple to use.

There are four recording modes, ranging from from 6MB/sec 1440x1080i HE through to 19MB/sec 1920x1080i native HA. These provide some 13 hours' recording time and 4 hours' recording time on a 32GB card, respectively. You'll need class 4 or better SD cards to record in HA. For most uses, the two mid-range full HD modes, HX and HG prove adequate for a good balance of quality and file size.

Unlike the SDR-H80-K, the I/O ports are hidden beneath the LCD panel for easy access. You can't change SD cards with a tripod shoe on, however: the SD door is blocked by the shoe. This won't affect most users, but is worth noting.

The intelligent autofocus produces good results, and supports auto focus tracking to keep a chosen subject in focus. The 16x optical zoom supported by optical image stabilising eliminates jitter, although it was had trouble focusing at the limit of its range.
The pre-record feature is particularly handy.

It buffers the last five seconds of footage in memory: hit a button and it's captured to card. It's perfect for catching action you might otherwise have missed.

In well-lit scenes it produces excellent results, with strong white balance and clear video. The front LED helps illuminate dark scenes where the camera would otherwise struggle with image quality.

Footage is stored as MPEG4/AVCHD and can be downloaded via USB or a card reader or output via mini-HDMI, component or composite using the cables provided. The Dolby 5.1 surround sound isn't fantastic but still sounds good by handicam standards.
There's no accessory shoe, but you can buy an adapter that plugs into the camera.

Overall, performance and design are of a very high standard. The few minor issues are easily overlooked. An absence of internal memory might be a dealbreaker for some, but the price of SD cards is plummeting: add $100 for a Class 4 32GB card and it's still a remarkable bargain.