Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Camcorder (Black)

I spent quite a bit of time shopping for a standard definition camcorder and landed on this Panasonic. I gave it five stars due to the ease of use, the incredible 70X Zoom,the optical stabilizer, and the price. If you've looked for a digital camcorder, you already know that there are lots of choices and tradeoffs in terms of features, format, and performance. I did read through the reviews on this camera and believe that some of the low ratings are coming from folks that expect a $200 digital camera to perform like a $1000 digital camera. No, the quality from this camera isn't up to what my $1000 Sony 8mm rig used to produce, but it is LIGHT YEARS ahead of my $110 Flip Video camera (not even comparable). Only negative I've noted thus far is short battery life (about an hour), which I mitigated by ordering a couple of batteries with charger off Ebay for less than $20 delivered. In addition to internet research, I did spend an hour or so at Best Buy trying out the various comparable Canons, Sonys, Panasonics, Samsungs and noted that the optical stabilizer on this Panasonic was more effective at eliminating camera shake during high zoom shots than many of the other brands.Two to three years from now when I have a more powerful PC and when Canon / Panasonic and the others produce less expensive HD video cams with software and file formats that are easy to manage, I'll go that route. For now, $228 for this camera is a bargain.UPDATE: 1. The SDR-26 is a nice snug fit inside a LowePro Rezo 50 camera bag / case that can be had from Amazon or Best Buy for less than $15. It fits best with the lens up and the hand strap moved to the bottom of the camera body. Tried lots of bags for this camera and this one was the best nice snug fit in a small package. No extra room in the camera compartment, but room for a spare battery and memory cards in the outer pouch. The bag is weather resistant, but the zipper for the camera compartment runs across the top of the bag. What were they thinking :-) ...2. The supplied software enables a higher quality video than simply copying the files over and using Windows Media Player. I'm not sure why, but several mention other downloads that make Windows work better. Suspect I'll eventually buy Sony Vegas as many have recommended on this and other camcorders, but for now, the Panasonic software is OK since I'm not doing extensive editing.3. Been using the camcorder in marginally lit natatoriums (indoor pools) to film swimming events. I'm using a monopod and leaving the camera on automatic and thus far, the videos have exceeded my expectations. Using the monopod, I'm able to be all the way across an Olympic 100 meter pool in the stands .. up high .. and can zoom in for super close ups on my kids. The 70X zoom and the optical stabilizer are the primary reasons I bought this camera and they really do work well.

After being torn between the Canon FS200 and the Panasonic SDR S26, I bought the Panasonic after reading several reviews touting it's wonderful zoom and decent standard video quality.First off, it's light, small, and very easy to use. Simple navigation, amaaaaazing zoom -- really amazing. I couldn't believe how far I could see and how stable my view was without a tripod. Also, this camcorder has great sound. The sound is clear with very good volume and the mic has good range.File transfer was no problem. I only installed the provided software on my WinXPPro laptop, but my WinXP SP3 desktop PC (without the included software) recognized the camera's Flash card and transferred the .mod files with no problem. Interestingly, on the laptop, there was no sound through Windows Media Player (fully updated), but Picasa played the files fine. The PC played the files fine through Windows Media Player (using a Nvidia decoder) but no sound through Picasa. Minor issues that would have been fixed with some research and tweaking.Now for the dealbreaker: Horrible video. I did many tests with various lighting and changing settings and even using a tripod--to no avail. The video is very soft, blurry even, and very grainy indoors. My JVC camcorder from 1999, which I recently transferred it's video from the small mini VHS tapes, looked far superior. Even my Canon camera's video is sharper. I knew to see it on a big HD LCD would not be so great, but it was really bad on the computers too. The video taken outdoors is better.So, before returning it, I bought the Canon FS200, and did several tests under the same lighting, using the same memory card, and the Canon's video was so much better.I returned the Panasonic. If you need a standard definition camcorder for outdoor bird watching or for anything outdoors that would need such a zoom, this is the camcorder for you. We also need a camcorder for indoor events, so this camcorder did not suit our needs.(My apologies for any type-o's -- am writing this in an iPhone. )

This camera does a good job of being a camcorder. I like the SD because I don't want the data that comes with HD. The SD cards are pretty cheap too. It's a small device, but I got used to it quickly and pretty well like the quality of the videos that it produces. Great zoom/focus. I decided to keep it as a camcorder.Downsides to consider:Low light gives this trouble focusing and producing clear imagesStill photos are low meg/pixel. And you have to be STILL - to get a decent shot.When you turn in on, you also have to press record - then if you press pause, you have to remember to press the record button twice. A feature you get used to, but missed some footage due to thinking I was recording.The PC software is useable, but you would think they could have at least considered a more logical approach to interfacing. We are spoiled by Apple - and even windows logic.this is an entry level no frills camcorder. Perhaps if I had thought about it more I would have sent it back.