Panasonic SDR-S26 Camcorder Review
The most visible trends in camcorders this season, is the sudden spurt of adoption of smart features of digital photo cameras into video camcorders. The new cameras are trying to attain higher levels with features like automatic scene selection and face recognition. The Video cameras are not far behind. They now have full HD Video, Longer optical zoom and higher resolution stills. Another noticeable trend is the success of the HDD and flash drive formats. Camcorders now are smaller than ever and store large amounts of HD video without worrying about space.
The 2009 Line of Panasonic Camcorders includes the standard definition lineup with three new solid state memory camcorders: the Panasonic SDR-S15, the Panasonic SDR-S26, and the Panasonic SDR-SW21. The key features of the range include cheap prices and compact colourful designs and use flash storage cards. The SDR-S26 is Panasonic’s top of the line standard definition flash memory camcorder. It features the improved iA Technology, the Advanced Optical Image Stabilization and the 70x Optical Zoom, which is branded as the USP of this camcorder.
Design:
The Exteriors:
The first thing that you notice about the Panasonic SDR-S26 is its compact design. Being small, you can get a steady footage most of the time with ease. The Camcorder is available in 4 attractive colours: Red, Black, Chrome and Blue. However, its sibling the Panasonic SDR-SW20 is visually more appealing due to its dual tone colour scheme. The textured LCD exterior is no more available. From the aesthetic point of view, Panasonic seemed to have placed the older camcorders’ soul in a newer body. External design happens to be the most drastic change in the camcorder, without tinkering much with the inner working.
The battery of the SDR-S26 SD camcorder is tucked inside the camcorder’s body, giving it a much classier appearance than many of its “booty” battery siblings (Panasonic SDR H80K, Panasonic HDC SD20 K and Panasonic HDC SX5).
Dimensions and Display:
The (H x W x D) 107 x 56 x 65 mm camcorder is not as compact as its predecessor the Panasonic SDR S7, but it still would slip comfortably into a bag or pocket. It weighs about 235 grams, so it would not weigh you down.
The 2.7 inch touch display with a 180 degree swing makes following all the action a lot easier. The cam is solid and sturdy, so you can let your kids play around without any worries.
Buttons and Navigation in SDR-S26:
The SDR-S26 uses the traditional joystick interface, located outside the LCD cavity. It is responsive and easy to use. However, one needs to use both hands to make menu adjustments. The buttons could have been slightly bigger as selecting controls is laborious. There is also a button provided for accessing various features through the menu. On the left of the LCD frame are the main menu button and the joystick. The joystick enables you to navigate and make menu selections. A video light is present right under the lens, in front of the camera.
Connectivity-Interface:
A USB 2.0 Socket is provided for the handy-cam. One disappointing fact about the S26 is the lack of HD.
Protection:
Regarding Shock protection, the SDR S26 resisted a couple of smashes on a concrete sidewalk. You will be able to shoot without any problem. However, any harm caused to your camcorder while testing its strength is not covered under warranty.
User Interface:
Under the menu, the focus option contains the Auto and the Manual sub-options. The Auto Focus option enables the cam to focus as per the need of the situation and provide optimal focus. The Manual option allows the user to set focus as per the need. The White Balance option has the Auto, Indoor, Outdoor and the White set sub-options. The Indoor filing of most videos is grainy. To reduce graininess, put the balance on the indoor mode. The Iris option has the Auto and Manual Sub-options.
Features:
The S26 is light weight and so compact that it can fit in your coat pocket. It has features like the Optical Image Stabilizer and the monstrous 70x Zoom. The SDHC format makes it very easy to transfer files. The Webmode helps you to upload your videos on YouTube-a popular video sharing site. We will discuss each of these features in detail below.
Memory:
The Panasonic SDR S26 Flash Memory Camcorder captures movies and stills to SD and SDHC in MPEG2 and JPEG Formats. The advantage of the SDHC format is the ease of which transfer of files can be done. It offers the “Mass Storage “support, which means that you can see all your files by connecting your camcorder with a USB to your PC. Though Storage capacity of the gadget depends on the card, about 50 minutes of video can be crammed into a 4GB SD card. By standards, that is of a reasonable value. Use a 32 GB Card and in LP Mode, you could record up to 26 hours non-stop. The SDR-S26 allows you to use SD/SDHC format cards ranging from 128MB to 32GB. The usage of SD card is also a contributing factor for its compact size.
The Zoom and Image Stabilizer:
Perhaps, the USP of the camcorder is it’s 70x zoom. While most camcorders fumble reaching 10x magnification, the SDR-S26 Compact Video Camcorder manages to provide clear dynamic images of distant subjects in still images with the help of the Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer.It eliminates the slightest effect of handshakes to provide crystal quality stills and videos. However, a tripod would be necessary to make the best use of it. The Focal Length of the lens can be adjusted from 1.5 to 105 mm.
Intelligent functions:
The iA function of the SDR-S26 detects shooting conditions and selects the most ideal shooting mode automatically. The Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer eliminates blurring due to weak hand grip.
The Intelligent Scene Selector determines the shooting conditions and selects a suitable “Scene” Mode that it assumes will provide optimal results. It also has Face Detection which adjusts exposure to capture all the faces perfectly.
Easy YouTube uploading:
One more attractive feature of the SDR-S26 is the “Easy YouTube Uploading” Function. It allows you to upload your videos to the YouTube website for sharing them with the world.
In order to do that, Install the VideoCam suite (included with the camcorder) and connect the camcorder to the PC using the USB. Follow the specified procedure mentioned in the window to upload your videos. To be able to upload those videos on the site, they should be recorded using webmode. The maximum length of a video that one can upload is 10 minutes.
Quick Start:
If you suddenly spot something and want to record it, just turn on the cam; recording can begin in just 0.8 seconds. This ensures that the sudden memorable and exciting shooting opportunities are not missed.
Easy video copying to DVD:
If you want to transfer your videos to a DVD, simply connect the camcorder to the VW-BN1 DVD burner using the USB Cable, your recordings can be copied to a DVD disc (DVD RAM/-RW/-R/-R DL). Playback should not be a worry as it can be played on the DVD Players.
Performance:
Resolution and Audio Quality:
Most movies on the S26 offer a decent detail and a fair accurate pallet of colours and the audio is clear. Its low resolution makes it handy for uploading videos to the internet. In the Web Mode file sizes are kept down. However, in the Top Quality mode, the footage is not great and you get mosaic effects while shooting moving objects. The VGA stills are murkier than a mobile phone. It is a common feature amongst camcorders like the S26. The shoddy low light performance can annoy one especially if you are watching clips that keep going in and out of focus. The Recording format of the Videos is .MPEG2 and for the images it is .JPEG format. The Maximum Images it would store is around 999 pictures. The Still pictures would be of 0.3 Megapixel category [(680x480) in case of 4:3 aspect ratio)] and 0.23 Megapixels [(640x480) in case of 16:9 aspect ratio)]. The Audio Recording system is Dolby Digital (2ch) and the speaker is Dynamic.
Great Video in Sunlight, Poor Otherwise:
All you need to do to use the still cam and the camcorder is to point and shoot. In Bright conditions or outdoors, the clarity of the cam is excellent. However, darker are the surroundings, grainier the quality of the video. In Low light, the video quality is horribly poor. The stills taken are of very low resolution. Like camcorders of its size, it lacks HD quality. However, the saving grace is the 70x Optical zooming, which allows you to zoom on objects as far as 200m away with ease.
Very Simple Shifting Among the Modes:
On switching on the camcorder, the screen shows the recording mode and by pressing the menu button, you can alter the settings/scene/mode. You could choose the Webmode for uploading videos on the net. Unlike most of its competitors, it has a reasonably simple interface and it is easy to shift from one mode to another.
What about the rivals?
The Canon FS 100, another SD Cam, is in the same league as the Panasonic SD 26. The 37X Zoom of the FS 100 is dwarfed by the 70x Zoom of the FS26 and the latter’s Advanced Optical Image stabilizer makes it a winner. However, the FS100 has a resolution of 1.7 MP, much higher than the S26 which can only conjure 640X400 snaps.
The Sony Handycam DCR SR67, released around the same time as the S26, is another serious competitor. It has HDD and 80GB Internal Storage, which beats the S26 flat. However, the zoom ratio is 1:60 and it uses more power and is more prone to physical damage. Also the Memory Stick PRO Duo is more expensive and less versatile compared to the popular SDHC option.
The features such as Face Detection, Colour Night View and the Pre-recording mode make it more productive. The Pre-recording feature, when activated keeps a buffer of 3 seconds in video, so that you would not miss the vital frames.
Battery life:
The Panasonic SDR-S26 runs on a Lithium Ion Rechargeable battery (940 mAh). A full battery at optimal usage might last around 40 minutes. If you want to record something longer than that, connect the camcorder to a power source using the adapter.
Accessories:
Along with the camcorder, an AC Adaptor, an AC Cable, DC Cable, an AV Cable, a USB Cable and a set of Rechargeable batteries are provided. The Software Video Cam Suite 2.0 is also provided with it.
Warranty:
Panasonic offers its SDR-S26 a warranty period of up to 1 year for maintenance and service.
Verdict:
The Panasonic SDR-S26 is highly impressive in sunlight or well lit places. However, the video quality is not that great in dimmer conditions. It is an entry level camcorder that lacks scene modes and other menu options. It does not have HD Recording facility either. Panasonic has models which are more superior to the SDR-S26. However, considering the price tag and the features you get with such as the Advanced Optical Image Stabilisation, Intelligent Auto function and the 70x Zoom, this compact camcorder is well priced. If you are looking for a mini movie maker without bothering about the quality of the video, then this is a great deal.
Check 2010 Best Camcorders, other Panasonic Camcorder Reviews, Specs in this website.
Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Camcorder – Technical Specifications, Features
| Manufacturer | Panasonic |
| Model Name | Panasonic SDR-S26 |
| Camcorder Type | SD Camcorder |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 57 x 17.9 x 100 mm |
| Colours available | Red, Black, Chrome and Blue |
| Weight | 235 grams |
| Display type | Widescreen LCD |
| Display Size | 2.7 inch |
| Display Form Factor | Swivel |
| Built-in lens shield | No |
| Digital Video Format | .MPEG2 |
| Still Image Format | .JPEG |
| Image Stabilizer | Advanced Optical Image Stabilization |
| Shooting Modes | Digital photo mode and Video mode |
| Exposure Modes | Manual and Automatic |
| Widescreen Video Capture | Yes |
| Supported Flash Memory | SD Memory Card |
| Flash Memory | Internal 128MB (SD card slot up to 32GB) |
| Total Pixels | 0.8 Megapixels |
| F Value | F1.9 (wide) / 5.7(tele) |
| Maximum Focal Length | 105mm / 23mm |
| Lens Aperture | F/1.8-2.4/F/1.9-5.7 |
| Lens system type | Zoom lens |
| Minimum Focal length | 1.5mm/2.3mm |
| Recording Mode | XP [10Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] SP [5Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] LP [2.5Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] |
| Playback Mode | XP [10Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] SP [5Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] LP [2.5Mbps/VBR], [704 x 480] |
| Audio Output | Yes |
| Speaker | Dynamic type |
| Audio Recording Format | Dolby Digital [2ch], MPEG1 Audio Layer 2 |
| Still Picture Recording | Yes; 0.2 M [640 x 360] [16:9], 0.3 M [640 x 480] [4:3] |
| Minimum Illumination | 6 Lux (1/30 Low Light Mode), 2 Lux (Magic Pix) |
| 35mm Film Camera Equivalent | 45.6-3194mm [4:3], 37.3-2610mm [16:9] [Motion Image] 45.4-3180mm[4:3], 37.0-2592mm [16:9] [Still Image] |
| DPOF | Max. 999 stills |
| PictBridge Compatible | Yes |
| Image Sensor (Effective) | 0.38 megapixels [16:9], 0.29 megapixels [4:3] [Motion Image] 0.38 megapixels [16:9], 0.29 megapixels [4:3] [Still Image] |
| Audio | Built-in Microphone |
| Low Lux / Night Mode | Yes |
| Digital Still Camera Function | Yes |
| Built-in Light | Yes |
| Additional Features | Advanced Optical Image Stabilization, iA function, 70x Optical Zoom, Web mode and USB 2.0 Compatibility |
| Software | VideoCam Suite 2.0 |
| Operating System Support | MS Windows XP, Apple Mac OS X, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows Vista |
| Connectivity | 1x USB port and 1 SD Card |
| Carrying Case | Pouch |
| Cables Included | USB cable, AC Cable, DC Cable and AV Cable |
| Power Device | AC Power adapter – External |
| Power Supply | DC 3.6V/5.0V |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable Lithium Ion |
| Supported Battery | Kodak KLIC 7004 |
| Warranty | 1 year Limited warranty |
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