Review on Panasonic SDR S26 SD Camcorder Blue by Jason Childs

I've been spending some time buying a standard definition camcorder and settled on this Panasonic. I gave it five stars for its ease of use, incredible 70x zoom, optical stabilizer and price. If you've been looking for a digital camcorder, you already know that there are many options and trade-offs when it comes to features, format, and performance. I have read reviews on this camera and believe some of the low ratings are from people who expect a $200 digital camera to perform like a $1000 digital camera. No, the quality of this camera doesn't match the quality of my $1,000 Sony 8mm rig, but it's LIGHT YEARS ahead (not even comparable) of my $110 flip camcorder. The only downside I've found so far is the short battery life (about an hour), which I've mitigated by ordering a pair of batteries and chargers off Ebay for less than $20 with shipping. In addition to internet research, I spent about an hour at Best Buy trying out various comparable Canon, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung and found that the optical stabilizer on this Panasonic is more effective than many at reducing camera shake when shooting at high magnification. . . Other brands. In two or three years, when I have a more powerful PC and release Canon/Panasonic and other less expensive HD camcorders with easy-to-manage software and file formats, I will go down this path. Right now, $228 is a steal for this camera. UPDATE: 1. The SDR-26 fits nicely in a LowePro Rezo 50 camera case/bag available at Revain or Best Buy for less than $15. It works best when the lens is up and the wrist strap is moved to the bottom of the camera body. I have tried many cases for this camera and this was the best, most comfortable and handy in a small package. There is no additional space in the camera compartment, but there is space for a spare battery and memory card in an external housing. The bag is weather resistant but the zip for the camera compartment goes through the top of the bag. What were you thinking :-).2. The included software provides better video quality than simply copying files and using Windows Media Player. Not sure why, but some mention other downloads that improve the Windows experience. I suspect I'll end up buying a Sony Vegas, as many have recommended for this camcorder and others, but for now the Panasonic software is fine as I don't do extensive editing. Used a video camera in dimly lit natatoriums (indoor pools) to film swimming competitions. I use a monopod and leave the camera on auto and so far the videos have exceeded my expectations. With a monopod, I can walk the entire Olympic 100-meter pool in the stands. high . and can zoom in for super close-ups of my kids. The 70x zoom and optical stabilizer are the main reasons I bought this camera and they work really well.