Review on Panasonic SDR S26 SD Camcorder Blue by Micheal Esquivel

I have read all the reviews I could find about this camcorder here and elsewhere and I have the impression that the more critical opinions are based on unrealistic expectations or poor reading comprehension by the reviewers themselves. As it turned out, I was right. This is an affordable, very compact and lightweight standard definition camcorder designed for the average user who doesn't want to spend a month's salary just to record some personal events. First the good and the bad. : Advantages: 1) Unusually small and light, fits easily in a jacket pocket. 2) The boot time is five seconds even if quick boot mode is not set. A great way to capture surprises along the way. 3) iA mode, which automatically sets aperture, shutter, white balance and other basic aspects of the shot, works reasonably well, although some unusual applications still require manual adjustments 4) The incredible 70x optical zoom is unmatched in cameras in this price range.5) The optical image stabilization is significantly more effective than the digital stabilization that is more common in all other cameras in this price range. Just don't expect to be able to use the full 70x zoom while holding it in your hand! 6) The MPEG2 format used for recording is easily handled by my eccentric choice of Linux operating system. 7) SDHC media allows for random access to recordings, easy removal, no moving parts, and a media that even works on Linux with a card reader. In addition, the camcorder itself is recognized under Linux, so files can be managed via the built-in USB port if desired.8) Manual settings allow the user to adjust to unusual conditions, such as own.9) The camcorder is in operation almost silent, so there's no DVD clicks, hard drive hum, DVC drive motor hum, or lens zoom motor hum. plug and unplug.10) The built-in lens cap, which is built into the front of the camera around the lens, cannot be lost.11) The barrel, which encloses the lens area, is threaded to facilitate the use of accessories such as wide-angle, angle and zoom lenses as well as screw-in filters for special applications. These accessories are easy to find here on Revain.12) Hey! It even comes with a proper printed manual, which is rare these days as PDF manuals are only available on CD or through websites. Cons: 1) It would be nice if Panasonic added a microphone jack so a separate microphone could be connected. Second hand. However, the built-in microphone works pretty well on its own. 2) In some cases, especially indoors, the image may take on a reddish tint when using the default iA setting. However, this is easily overcome by adjusting the white balance for incandescent bulbs, so that's not a problem. 3) The battery life of 1 hour is quite short, and when discharging, you need to open the bottom cover to replace it. I have already ordered two spare parts and a separate charger. 4) This can be considered good or bad depending on your opinion, but the battery will not charge with the cable connected when the camera is in use. I actually think this is a good thing as it doesn't wear out the battery by draining it while charging, which can cause Li-ion batteries to fail prematurely. It just plugs straight into the network cable when plugged in, which I don't think is a problem. 5) Even with the MagicPix setting for extremely low light, this camcorder will not work in a completely dark room. I'm not worried about that. If I really wanted to shoot in such extreme conditions, I would buy a much more expensive night camcorder. It still works reasonably well in low light as long as there is at least 2 lumens of light. In my opinion, it's unusually good for a camcorder in its price range, especially given its two main selling points: a fantastic 70x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. It's so easy to use that even a small child can understand it with the well-automated settings. Yes there are some circumstances that require manual intervention but people complain about it, especially those trying (obviously) to film in a cave should READ THE MANUAL and not expect the impossible from such a cheap camcorder. I was able to get some night shots of it using only sodium and mercury lighting. and it was pretty good. And while it's true that my bare eyes are a lot less good at light than it can handle, I expect it to be more realistic than some of the most discerning people out there. and for a family member to use at my wedding next year and I'm sure it will work great for that too. Great job Panasonic!