Ok, so I'm having trouble following this.

Japan has the Panasonic SD7 (menus can convert to ENG) and the USA has the Panasonic SD9.

Which is better? Do the stats speak for themselves?

SD9 Stats:
Sensor 1/6CCD
Total pixels 560,000 X 3
Effective pixels:
Movie: 520,000 x 3 (16:9)
Still Image: 520,000 x 3 (16:9)
Movie File Type MPEG4 AVC / H.264 (AVCHD)
Recording Time (with 4GB SDHC card) HG (1920 x 1080) : 40min
HN (1440 x 1080): 60min
HE (1440 x 1080): 90min
Lens
35mm Equivalent LEICA DICOMAR
Automatic aperture control 10 times electric zoom F1.8-2.8
Animation 42.9-429.0mm(16:9)
Still image 42.9-429.0mm(16:9)
Optical Image Stabilizer MEGA O.I.S.
Zoom

Optical: 10x
Digital: 25x
Super Digital: 100x
Filter Diameter 37mm
Monitor 2.7inch Wide LCD Monitor (approx. 300,000 pixels)
Microphone 5.1 channel (with zoom mic function)
Speaker 20mm round Dynamic type
White Balance Automatic tracking and white set / outdoors mode / indoor mode / fluorescent lamp mode
Normal subject illumination 1400 Lux
Minimum Illumination 5 Lux (Low Light mode, 1/30 shutter speed)
Less than 1 Lux (Night view mode)
Video Out AV mini jack
D3 Video Out Y:1.0Vp-p 75Ω　Pb:0.7Vp-p 75Ω　Pr:0.7Vp-p 75Ω
HDMI Out 1125i(1080i)　525p(480p)
Audio Out AV mini jack
USB Out High Speed USB (2.0) mini AB, PictBridge
Recording Media SD card: 512MB - 2GB
SDHC card: 4GB - 16GB
File Format JPEG(DCF/Exif2.2), DPOF
Microphone Yes
Speaker Yes
Direct Print PictBridge
Power DC9.3V（AC adapter）/7.2V（battery）
Power Consumption 4.0W (when recording)
Dimensions (Approx.)
(W x H x D) 65 x 67 x 126 mm
Weight (Approx.) 275 g
337 g with Battery and SD Memory Card
----------------------------------------
SD7 Stats:
ensor 1/6CCD
Total pixels 560,000 X 3
Effective pixels:
Movie: 520,000 x 3 (16:9)
Still Image: 520,000 x 3 (16:9)
Movie File Type MPEG4 AVC / H.264 (AVCHD)
Recording Time (with 4GB SDHC card) HG (1920 x 1080) : 40min
HN (1440 x 1080): 60min
HE (1440 x 1080): 90min
Lens
35mm Equivalent LEICA DICOMAR
Automatic aperture control 10 times electric zoom F1.8-2.8

Animation 42.9-429.0mm(16:9)

Still image 42.9-429.0mm(16:9)
Optical Image Stabilizer MEGA O.I.S.
Zoom

Optical: 10x
Digital: 25x
Super Digital: 100x
Filter Diameter 37mm
Monitor 2.7inch Wide LCD Monitor (approx. 300,000 pixels)
Microphone Stereo 2channel (with zoom mic function)
Speaker 15mm round Dynamic type
White Balance Automatic tracking and white set / outdoors mode / indoor mode / fluorescent lamp mode
Normal subject illumination 1400 Lux
Minimum Illumination 5 Lux (Low Light mode, 1/30 shutter speed)
Less than 1 Lux (Night view mode)
Video Out 1.0Vp-p 75Ω(AV mini jack)　480/60i
D3 Video Out Y:1.0Vp-p 75Ω　Pb:0.7Vp-p 75Ω　Pr:0.7Vp-p 75Ω
HDMI Out 1125i(1080i)　525p(480p)
Audio Out Output level： 316mV / Output impedance： 600Ω2ch
USB Out High Speed USB (2.0) mini AB, PictBridge
Recording Media SD card: 256MB - 2GB
SDHC card: 4GB - 8GB
File Format JPEG(DCF/Exif2.2), DPOF
Microphone Yes
Speaker Yes
Direct Print PictBridge
Power DC9.3V（AC adapter）/7.2V（battery）
Power Consumption 4.9W (when recording)
Dimensions (Approx.)
(W x H x D) 52 x 110 x 87 mm
Weight (Approx.) 290 g
350 g with Battery and SD Memory Card

The SD9 has 24p, a much better stabilizer, quicker recordings from the time you hit the button, has a much higher bit rate, 17Mbps compared to 13Mbps of the SD7 and face detection.

Thank you! Have you used one of these?

Although there are people who have tested it for their website, its not available for sale yet so I’ve never got to use one.

For me the extra 4Mbps alone would make me get the SD9 over the SD7.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=215166&modelNo=Content01052008070307494&surfModel=Content01052008070307494