Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Silver)
List Price: $299.95
Details
- Ultra lightweight, close design
- Lay video to flash memory
- 2.7-inch LCD screen
Description
Look! No tapes or discs. All camcorder images are recorded on a replaceable SD memory index card, about the size of a postage stamp. That translates to a camcorder that's smaller and lighter than clearly any camcorder you've used. Catch those shooting opportunities with this Panasonic SDR-S7K SD Card Camcorder. With its instantaneous start-up time of 0.6 seconds from the time the LCD is opened, you'll be capable to catch your baby's first walk, your favorite sports teams' win, or your pet's muzzy trick. Bring your subjects incredibly close with its 10x optical zoom and beyond put your video onto DVD with the included video-editing software. And since it's so compact, you can take it anywhere. LCD Oversee - 2.7 Wide (123,200 Dots) On-Screen Display Speech - English / Canadian French / Spanish Recording Time with 16GB SDHC Easter card - Up to 3hrs 20 min in XP mode, 6 hrs 40 min in SP mode, 13hrs 20 min in LP status PictBridge Included Accessories - AC Adaptor, Lithium-Ion Battery Kit, Hand Strap, AV Cable, USB Cable, Motion SD Studio 1.3E Software, AC/DC Cables SD Memory Come clean not included - Expected recording capacities with optional SD - SDHC - 16GB - XP(3hrs 20mins)/SP(6hrs 40 mins)/LP(13hrs 20 mins), 8GB - XP(1hr 40mins)/SP(3hrs 20mins)/LP(6hrs 40mins), 4GB - XP(50mins)/SP(1hr 40 mins)/LP(3hrs 20 mins); SD - 2GB - XP(25mins)/SP(50mins)/LP(1hr 40mins), 1GB - XP(12mins)/SP(25mins)/LP(50mins)Customer Reviews
glaring small video camera but the battery life is limitedI've owned this camera for a few months and the video calibre is not as great as digital-8 or mini-dv. To be fair I tried all 3 rec modes and even in the most excellently day-lit scenes the mpeg-2 engine can't handle a straight line hem with 2 different colors (the edge of a table against a different color astonish).
I don't understand why Panasonic couldn't engineer the camera to fit a slightly thicker mobile to accomodate 2 hour recording, or at least a full hour (there's certainly room backing bowels the body of the video camera). As it is I only get 40-45 min on a battery. So buy a one of extra batteries (good news at least the batteries are inexpensive). The interrupt recording time on a fully charged battery I've observed is uniform with all previous reviews.
So why buy this video camera - easy easy relaxed simple menu to navigate for set up, small and light - this is the video camera you would produce to an amusement park and you could have in your hand on a roller coaster or tape the kids at the parking-lot, being active anywhere out and about. This is what you wish you had in your hand while using a digital still camera and wanted to list better video.
This is NOT the video camera for special events like weddings where things like piecemeal shading and very fine detail is important - I would stick with mini-dv or an HDD video camera or raise up to HD if using flash memory SD, MS, CF etc.
I use a Windows based PC and first I just copy the contents of the postcard to my hard drive, simply rename the recorded files from .MOD to .MPG and any off-the-shelf media editing software that records to DVD will line: Nero, Roxio, even Windows Movie Maker.
First Stamp With Some Technical Analysis
I received this portion yesterday afternoon, and started playing with it immediately. Here are my first impressions of the camera.
Total Impressions:
If you have a tight budget, and are looking for a unit that uses example memory cards for recording (as opposed to a hard drive), produces Right quality digital video and audio, and has the standard set of features, you'll like this camera. It is terse (which some might think is not good), light-weight and easy to use.
The biggest obstruction is not so much with the camera, but with the marketing. It is sold as having "DVD Quality Recording" ability (there is even a label on mine on the side of the camera as a testament to this), which is not the case once you view your first video. If you are okay with a 640x480 devotedness image, then you'll be okay with this camera; otherwise, save yourself the trouble if you want Actual DVD quality!
Now, here are some specific pros and cons I have noted so far about the camera. I have included my own derogatory rating (impact) for each one. Remember, these are MY ratings based on my need.
Pros
1. (Collide with: High) The features provided are surprisingly numerous for the price.
2. (Bearing: High) Sound quality is better than my previous unit, and seems somewhat sensitive to sound. The unit records at 48K Hz in 256Kbps AC-3 stereo order (through a single opening on the front of the unit), and offers several selectable special audio recording features (bombast reduction and a zoom feature which increases or decreases sounds/dissonance not directly in front of the camera while zooming).
3. (Impact: High) A 4GB SD memory card can transactions 50 minutes of XP video and audio (the highest quality to hand on the camera). With current prices of 4GB SD cards, this is not bad. Note that with 40-70 minutes of freestyle life, it doesn't make much sense going to a larger memory condolence card unless you have multiple batteries!
4. (Impact: High) The USB connection provides untroubled transfer of files to a PC or Mac. I had no problems getting my Windows XP Dell computer to concede the unit, which added the camera as a removable disk. Interestingly, the entity organizes the video files into separate folders (one for each day), although I saw nothing on the unit menu playback that showed the portion uses this information.
5. (Impact: Medium) Price (why I bought the camera). I picked up the camera on shop for $140. I should mention that I would NOT purchase this camera (for its quality and features) for more than this amount!
6. (Brunt: Medium) The unit is made in Japan. This might seem an odd "pro" to some but I have exceptional bad experience with electronics made in China, and yourselves steer clear of such items now. It is possible some parts are Chinese, but I like crafty that the unit comes from somewhere with more experience producing quality electronics.
7. Videos can be created in either letterbox (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) dimensions.
8. The camera has a built-in cover to protect the lens and easy to use.
9. The strainer/viewer (monitor) is surprising good (brightness, clarity, disencumber of defect spots) for the price. We'll see if it stays that way....
Cons:
1. (Impact: Turbulent) The battery is a clear con. According to the manual, it takes 2 hr 15 min to fully command the battery, which lasts from 40-70 minutes. This means it takes at least twice as extensive to charge as it takes to discharge. I have already resolved to ensuring I keep the camera plugged between even stop-and-go uses. Besides the long time to charge the battery, you should be aware that the mobile will not charge while the unit is turned on. You MUST turn it off to charge the battery.
2. (Colliding: High) Be aware that while Panasonic states that the camera will record in 16:9 and 4:3 formats, it is more with an eye to to state that the camera alters or manipulates the lens to produce the videos. This requires a intricate explanation. I examined the file information for a video that I produced in 16:9 (widescreen) technique, and was surprised at a few things. If you record a video in 16:9 format and run the raw .MOD video pigeon-hole directly in a program like MS Media Player, you will note that your videos are firmed (in width) to fit the 704x480 resolution (faces look close, circles look oval, etc). Also, the actual video resolution was 704x480 (330K), though the specs in the directions state the effective pixels are 300K in this format. If you do the math, you will see 704x480 is NOT a 16:9 proportion (it is 22:15). This means the videos must be "stretched" horizontally to approximately 853 pixels widespread off the mark to fit the 16:9 format (or crushed vertically to about 396 pixels, drift loss of data). With a 21% stretching or crushing, this ultimately affects either video prominence or size (which I noted when I played the video back in true 16:9 shape). I also examined files in 4:3 video resolution mode and found they ALSO are in 704x480 outcome (though the specs state the effective pixels is 340K.) The stretching/shameful for the 4:3 format is not as severe, so recordings in this format will produce a video that is of slenderize better quality than that of the widescreen format (just not in wide-partition). Transforming the raw 704x480 into either 16:9 or 4:3 formats means you will have to do some video editing. If you identify how and don't mind the hassle, then you're okay. You will need to use a video editing program like the MotionSD STUDIO software (provided with the camera) to get it into the apposite format.
3. (Impact: Medium) While every feature setting can be viewed in the LCD CRT, it took me some time to realize that these features (or ANY menu displays) will NOT take the role if the monitor is in "self-portrait" mode (where the screen is flipped out and turned 180 degrees). Also, in this vogue, everything you see is a mirror of the image being recorded. This could take some time getting used to if you are compelling the camera while having it trained on you as well as images in the background. You can get the features to reciprocation (and the image to NOT be in the awkward mirrored mode) by pushing the monitor back against the camera with the prepositor screen facing out. I found no explanation for why it was designed this way, but I personally find this odd.
4. (Impact: Way) You have to plug the AC adaptor into the unit before you can connect the camera to a PC or to your TV for transferring or watching videos. I find this strangely restrictive.
5. (Impact: Medium) The battery/SD card slots are accessed through a entrance on the bottom of the camera. Unfortunately, I am using the unit on a tripod, which means the tripod association contact adaptor, screwed on to the bottom of the unit as well, prevents easy access to the SD business card (meaning I can't easily swap out memory cards while recording).
6. (Impact: Expedient) Feature settings on the camera are split into "Basic" and "Advanced" but as yet, I cannot discern the good in how features were assigned. Some I would think are Basic are under Advanced and vice-versa.
7. (Colliding: Medium) I have not looked for another battery that would provide a longer life for recording (40 minutes is unusually not much), but my assumption is that since the battery fits into a slot on the bottom of the unit, it might be hard for Panasonic to bring up a more powerful battery that fits here. This means you may need multiple batteries if you're planning an all-day oversight or event.
8. (Impact: Medium) Video files are saved as ".MOD" register extensions, although the file seems to comply with the MPEG-2 format. I had no problems getting my computer to acknowledge this format. However, you should verify you can work with this file type, or be aware that you will want the included software to successfully transfer the files into a .MPG (mpeg) walk format.
9. (Impact: Low) The layout of the manual does not make it soft to find specific features.
10. (Impact: Low) The buttons on the side of the camera are relatively lesser. If you have big hands or fingers, you might find it difficult to work your way through the menus. The good constituent is that you are not likely to do this very often.
11. (Impact: Low) No SD memory card comes with the unit (so be sure to purchase your own!)
Excluding compact camcorder.
I bought the SDR-S7 to use as a firm, always-with-me tool for recording video blog entries. I wanted something aphoristic that shot good quality video (not HD, just good SD). The Panasonic has lived up to that struggle very well. It produces good quality video for a consumer camcorder of this exemplar, it's incredibly compact, has optical zoom and a useful array of instructions controls, and it uses standard SD cards instead of some weird proprietary shape. The built-in microphone records in high-quality stereo, it does pick up some environmental bruit about but there's not much you can do about that on any device at this price level!
I use a Mac, and I've had no problem importing the video files into iMovie for editing. The frolic is to have iMovie '08 or '09 and to plug in the camera or card reader *after* you start iMovie. That has worked 100% of the duration for me and I've been able to import with no problems. I haven't used the Windows software so I can't explanation on it.
The only downside to this camera is a result of the size - the battery life is restricted to a little over an hour, and there is no cold shoe, microphone input, or auxillary lighting. If you constraint lighting you can buy a light bar that will screw into the tripod mount, that's probably your best bet. If you dearth an external mic then you won't find that option on *any* camera at this price level.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with this camera.
Pros:
unsatisfactory size
good quality video
uses standard SD cards
replaceable mobile
optical zoom
Cons:
no mic input
relatively short mobile life
no on-board light
Well-thought-of, but ....
I bought this camera on on the block a few weeks ago and have used it quite a bit. It's very easy to use and for the money, is really fair good. The small size is a true plus. The included software is ok but one has to wager with the settings a bit to get the optimum quality output. I've uploaded some files to YouTube and they look reasonably shapely. The 16:9 setting is a bit strange. The standard 4:3 aspect proportion is done using the 640 x 480 pixel resolution. But the specs say the camera will also toss widescreen 16:9 and it looks like it does. However, the max resolution of the CCD is 704 x 480 which is not unwavering 16:9 since that would be more like 843 x 480. So I have no idea how this does 16:9 with only 704 x 480 pixels. The clear-headed quality with the mic is really pretty good. All-in-all, this is a good little video camera for the wampum.
usefulness it for the price
THis is a very affordable matter which serves my basic needs for capturing home footage!
