Panasonic SV-AV50S 2MP MPEG-4 Camcorder w/2.5x Digital Zoom
By: Panasonic
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 On: 2006-11-30
I regret buying this camera because I cannot view the videos I shot. If you buy a Sony digital camera it shoots video in MPEG4 format and that can be viewed by several programs such as Real Player, Windows Movie Maker, QuickTime, etc. This Panasonic camcorder claims to shoot MPEG, but it does not.
The video files are something called ASF and I cannot find a program to view the videos or to convert them to real MPEGS. Going to the Panasonic site is a complete waste of time because they expect you to have a serial number just to download the program to view the videos in their non standard format.
Save yourself the hassle, and get a Sony that shoots video in a standard format that is read by many programs.
 On: 2006-11-06
This is my second one. First one lasted 3 1/2 years........Id buy another one if this breaks!!!
On: 2006-10-12
The unit itself is well designed. The quality of video is fair, at least for such a compact unit. Photos are near worthless due to horrible quality. My cell phone has far superior images.
Sadly, for all the niceties of the gadget Panasonic chose to cripple the unit with its software and make it virtually worthless.
a) the videos ARE NOT mpeg4 as advertised. Rather, they are encapsulated in an .asf DRM file which is unviewable by anyone.
b) the voice recorder is fairly useless. Sure its a digital voice recorder. But nothing can play the digital files it records but the camera. You have no way of converting them or playing them on your PC.
Due to the software implementation this camera because mostly non-functional.
Today I have several videos that I cannot view. You need a special plug-in. That said, Panasonic doesnt let you download without a special code.
THIS IS NOT A MPEG4 CAMERA AS ADVERTISED
 On: 2005-11-20
The Panasonic D-snap, model SV-AV50, is a great product. The D-snap can be used for many different tasks. It is a digital camera, camcorder, mp3 player, and voice recorder. The D-snap is small and portable. The D-snap is so small that it can fit into your pocket easily. The Panasonic D-snap is easy to recharge the batteries.
The D-snap has a cradle included. Once the D-snap is connected to the cradle, many things can be done. The cradle connects the D-snap to the television set and the computer. Theres an earphone and a remote controller included. The earphone is to listen to music when the D-snap is used as an mp3 player. The remote control is to help the person using the D-snap to easily press the record button or control the D-snap away from the camera.
The Panasonic D-snap is simple to use. All the data is stored on a SD memory card. After taking pictures, video record, or voice record, the pictures, video clips, or voice recordings can be displayed right after by switching a switch from record to play. Afterwards, the data can be transferred into the computer. The camera can be connected to the television set and the data can be transferred to the screen.
There are a few bad things about the Panasonic D-snap. First, the D-snap is so small, most of the times when the camera or camcorder feature is in use, the persons finger may get in the way and covers the lens of the camera. Second, when the video clips are transferred to the television screen, the clips are not as clear as it appeared on the LCD of the D-snap. Third, each task feature uses up too much of the memory card. Finally, when using the night vision feature, the camcorder slows the recording down.
Overall, the Panasonic D-snap is very handy, useful, and convenient. It takes up little space in a females purse, can be fitted into the pockets, and also takes up little space in the suitcase. The D-snap can perform many tasks, leaving a person less objects to carry around. If the person is taking a trip somewhere, he or she can just grab and pack the Panasonic D-snap and leave. The person does not have to look around for his or her mp3, camcorder, or camera.
On: 2005-11-02
This camera is a piece of crap.
It is poorly constructed (2 screws have already fallen out of mine) and it is repleat with poor photographic and videographic recording capabilities.
I bought one of these for my wife for Christmas 2004, and was severley disappointed in the quality of the videos and photos. Yes, it is a small, compact package, but Ive seen cell-phones that take better pictures than this. I even purchased a 512MB memory card for her so that she could shoot some decent length videos, but the picture quality is so bad that she hardly ever uses it.
This camera doesnt even have a firewire connection (something I should have checked on before buying), so we cant download the videos to our Macs. The photos are often blurry and/or grainy (low resolution, even on the high reso setting) and are really not the quality we are accustomed to. I have a Canon Powershot S40 that takes MUCH better photos (and up to 30 seconds of video) than this camera.
I will not EVER be buying a Panasonic/Lumix camera again. Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
On: 2005-09-23
Size is 10 stars.
Limitations bring it back down to 5 stars.
Best feature, is that its small enough to always be with you.CIA agents would love this camera.About the size of 2 Minox spy cameras laid side by side.
Works flawlessly.Records with more than enough fidelity to be functional and enjoyable.
The only flaw in the design is that it doesnt stand up by itself.You cant rest it on a surface to include yourself.(unless you want sideways vantage points.)There is no tripod mount either.
Its a technical minaturization marvel for video and stills.
On: 2005-07-19
This camera is great for someone who needs to fit their camera in a small place such as a pocket or purse. It is so small that I kept it in my purse at all times. In daylight the pictures turn out wonderful! Sometimes at night you need to make sure you are at a close enough distance that the flash can brighten up background. This camera is great for taking videos while on vacation. Who wants to carry around a camcorder these days?!? All and all this is a great little camera/video recorder/mp3 player/voice recorder.
On: 2004-09-17
i bought this 5 days ago and the device may "work" but the cradle doesnt. After installing the USB drivers a dozen times and being put on hold by three differnt companies, i have had it. I bought this because i need a mp3 player and a digital camera. Silly me, I thought that companies want my business. Panasonic tech support is a joke. Sony has the best music. Microsoft can megabyte me. I am returning this device for the cheaper Palm zire 72. Which uses the same memory type.
On: 2004-09-16
i bought this 5 days ago and the device may "work" but the cradle doesnt. After installing the USB drivers a dozen times and being put on hold by three differnt companies, i have had it. I bought this because i need a mp3 player and a digital camera. Silly me, I thought that companies want my business. Panasonic tech support is a joke. Sony has the best music. Microsoft can megabyte me. I am returning this device for the cheaper Palm zire 72. Which uses the same memory type.
On: 2004-03-24
This is a very cool gadget, but it has a very specific target audience - people who need a camera and a Dictaphone with them at all times. If thats not you, consider a Palm Zire 71, or maybe a camera phone.Unlike many other combination devices, the D-Snap 50 doesnt try to do too much, just a few things fairly well. The MP3 player is as good as any other card-based unit, the voice recorder is on par with the most expensive Sony stand-alones, and the digital camera is good enough for small jobs and web work... but until you get used to using it, youll think you need to cut off your index finger to take a decent picture. Also, I havent yet decided whether including an 8 MB memory card with the unit was meant as an insult or a joke. Most of the negatives associated with the D-Snap 50 can be cured with three things: patience, practice, and an extraordinarily large SD memory card. After youve taught yourself how to hold it, and jacked up all the settings to acceptable quality, you will wonder how you ever did without it. As for durability, well have to wait and see, but I trust the brand. Three and one-half stars.
On: 2004-03-23
This is a very cool gadget, but it has a very specific target audience - people who need a camera and a Dictaphone with them at all times. If thats not you, consider a Palm Zire 71, or maybe a camera phone.Unlike many other combination devices, the D-Snap 50 doesnt try to do too much, just a few things fairly well. The MP3 player is as good as any other card-based unit, the voice recorder is on par with the most expensive Sony stand-alones, and the digital camera is good enough for small jobs and web work... but until you get used to using it, youll think you need to cut off your index finger to take a decent picture. Also, I havent yet decided whether including an 8 MB memory card with the unit was meant as an insult or a joke. Most of the negatives associated with the D-Snap 50 can be cured with three things: patience, practice, and an extraordinarily large SD memory card. After youve taught yourself how to hold it, and jacked up all the settings to acceptable quality, you will wonder how you ever did without it. As for durability, well have to wait and see, but I trust the brand. Three and one-half stars.
 On: 2004-03-08
I want to love this gadget, but I can not. It tries to do too much, and ends up doing too little.PROS:
- Super Small
- Large LCD
- Excellent Prodcut Design
- Many "Features" CONS:
- Youre finger easily gets in the way of the lens(1 in 3 shots are finger shots)
- The digital photos are VERY grainy in ALL light conditions (I would not even post the photos to my web site)
- No "Red Eye Reduction"
- The video quality is medium, definitel not a camcorder replacement
- Audio files need to be translated to some "native" format, using included software... no drag and drop here! I will most likely return it, despite my desire to like all that it offers and how cool it looks. It just not deliver quality on the images and video.
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