Product Description

PANASONIC SV-AV50A BLUE D-SNAP DIGITAL SD VIDEO/ STILL CAMERA

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59077 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Blue
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: SV-AV50A
• Released on: 2004-03-05
• Display size: 2
• Included Software: Yes

Features

• Pocket-sized MPEG-4 SD video camera, 2-megapixel still camera, and digital music player--weighs just .23 pounds
• 2.5x digital zoom lens with night view capabilities
• 2-inch LCD flips and twists up for viewing video
• Built-in flash, mic, and speaker and includes 8MB SD memory card and stereo earphones with remote
• Rechargable battery provides up to 1 hour of video recording time or 2 hours of music playback

Amazon.com Product Description
The amazingly small, ultra-slim, and lightweight Panasonic SVAV50 is ready to capture your favorite moments in digital video and still photos wherever you roam. You can also use the SVAV50 as a digital audio player, voice recorder, and image viewer through your TV (using the included cradle). The SVAV50 is so small because it uses no tape--all video, images, and audio are stored on a tiny Secure Digital (SD) memory card. It also features 2-megapixel digital still resolution, 2-inch flip-and-twist LCD for reviewing your video and photos, and 2.5x digital zoom. This model (SVAV50A) comes in blue, but the SVAV50 is also available in silver (SVAV50S).

Video and Still Optics
Using the MPEG4 format, the SVAV25 saves video to Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards (an 8 MB SD card is included). With the small size of MPEG4 files--featuring resolution modes of either 320 x 240 or 176 x 144--you can easily post video to your Web site or send files to friends and family via e-mail.

The D-snap cradle is equipped with an A/V terminal that makes it easy to connect to a TV or VCR and record TV programs onto an SD card. Using the SVAV50 for playback, you can watch the news, a movie, or other programs just about anywhere.

The following shows the approximate amount of continuous video that can be recorded on several sizes of SD memory card (including larger optional cards):

• Super Fine (320 x 240, 1 Mbps): 0.9 minutes (included 8 MB card), 7 minutes (64 MB card), 15 minutes (128 MB card)
• Fine (320 x 240, 420 Kbps): 2 minutes (included 8 MB card), 17 minutes (64 MB card), 35 minutes (128 MB card)
• Normal (176 x 144, 300 Kbps): 2.5 minutes (included 8 MB card), 25 minutes (64 MB card), 50 minutes (128 MB card)
• Economy (176 x 144, 100 Kbps): 8 minutes (included 8 MB card), 70 minutes (64 MB card), 150 minutes (128 MB card)

The SVAV50 has a 1/3.2-inch CCD for a 2-megapixel resolution--capturing enough image data for print enlargements up to 8 x 10 inches. It features 1600 x 1200 (2 MP), 1280 x 960 (1 MP), and 640 x 480 (VGA--great for sending in e-mail) resolution modes. You can zoom in on subjects using the 2.5x digital zoom.

Audio
In addition to its motion and still image capability, the SVAV50 can also be used as a digital audio player--just slip in an SD card loaded with tunes and listen via the included earphones. It's compatible with MP3 and AAC audio files. And with the built-in microphone (monaural), you can easily record voice memos, lectures, interviews, and reminders to the SD card.

More Features

• 2-inch flip-and-twist LCD with 117,000-pixel resolution
• Connects to your PC via USB 1.1 connectivity
• Lens: F4 (4.5mm focal length)
• Measures 4 x 1.94 x .81 inches (H x W x D)
• Weighs 3.7 ounces

What's in the Box
This package includes the Panasonic SVAV50A digital camcorder, 8 MB SD memory card, USB cradle, battery pack, AC adaptor, stereo earphones with remote controller, USB and A/V cables, carrying case, cleaning clot, neck strap, and CD-ROM with USB drivers for Windows and the following Panasonic software (not Mac compatible):

• SD MovieStage Ver. 2.5 displays MPEG4 motion images and JPEG still images in thumbnail form and plays them back on a PC. You can also cut and edit motion images and send e-mail with motion images attached.
• SD Jukebox Ver. 4.0 Software transfers music from your SD memory card to your PC and allows you to rip CDs to your PC and convert music data to different PC music file formats. When ripping CDs, music information from the CD database (CDDB) is obtained automatically, including album title, artist and song title. You can also organize your songs by artist, title or personalized playlists. There is also a "Mood Analyzer" (Music Sommelier) that automatically selects songs to match your mood.

Customer Reviews

OK, but not in the top range
I purchased the camera a few months ago. I saw it first at a stand at JFK, and thought it was a really neat and fantastic little product. I knew straight away all the my tech friends would love it. Cool design, easy to use. Small, smaller than most mobile phones. Good flash, even sometimes it is to good, and can flash away your picture, meaning close-up photos may become to bright. But I guess it also has something to do with the person operating it. :-)

So then there are of course a few downsides to it too! 1. Inside filming is a bit tricky. You either need very good lighting in-doors to get a good video, or you need to turn on the night view option, which then slows down the FPS (frames per second) which really means that the video slows down, and you really have to hold it still to make a good video. Not a good option I think. So that really sucks, because it means you really have to have some good light indoors. Outside is ok. Not the best video quality there either, but it is more than acceptable and the sound is good.

The second thing here is that it is only a 2 mega pixel camera. And most people today probably have a compact digital cam that has from 3.2 and up. There is no doubt that a compact cam of 2 mega, bets this cameras 2 mega. The pictures are ok, but once you are used to better quality cams, then you kind of feel like you are stepping back with this one. Would be cool to see this cam with at least 3.2 mega...

Unfortunately I lost the CD cover with the installation code for the installation of the MP3 software, so I have not been able to test that yet. But the earphones that came with the cam seem to be of pretty good quality. We'll see.

My overall conclusion is that this is an OK cam to have, but should not be your prime camera to use for those special occasions, vacations etc. I would then stick to either a digital camera with better mega pixels, or just a regular film camera. (but that takes away some of the fun taking pictures I think) Good luck.

One Nifty Little Gadget
The trouble with most combination devices is that they try to do too much, and thus end up doing lots of things poorly. With the D-Snap 50, Panasonic has avoided this all too common design flaw... mostly.

The D-Snap 50 is an excellent gadget for professionals on the go, combining a two megapixel video camera, a digital voice recorder, and an MP3 player all into a package smaller and lighter than a pack of cigarettes. The bundled software is complete (if unexceptional) and the controls are fairly intuitive - most people familiar with digital cameras should be able to master the basics in a few minutes of use.

Nonetheless, there are a few questions I'd like to ask the D-Snap engineering team. First, did you intend for me to amputate my right index finger in order to take a decent picture? Second, just how many songs, memos, pictures, and videos do you expect me to fit on a measly 8 megabyte memory card? Third, why so many different quality settings for images when only Superfine (or Fine and big) is even good enough for email? Finally, would Macintosh support have killed you?

Despite these grievances, this is a great buy for a select target audience, such as people considering the Palm Zire 71 that prefer to organize their thoughts using spoken words instead of text. With a little practice - and a 256 MB or 512 MB Secure Digital Card - the D-Snap's annoyances will quickly fade. Three-and-a-half stars now, four when the price comes down a little.

Great for beginners.....
I got this for my birthday a while ago, and is my first of a couple of digital cameras that i like to use regularly. most other cameras only take aroung 8 to 15 mins of video with a high memory card but this one takes alot more. with a 512 mg SD card you can take over 1 hour of video and hundreds of pictures on high resolution. the "mp3 player" is a little low rate but its ok. and i never really used the voice recorder, but when i did test it it sounded ok except for a low static sound in the backround. if you do get it i suggest getting an extra battery, and at least a 256 mg card. Most of the problems that occur can be fixed with the manual, and if you have a dot on your screen that doesnt change its alright because it wont come out in the picture. 2 megapixels is a little on the grainy side, but you can print regular sized pictures without any of the grainy effect. Overall it is a very handy and useful camera for everyday use and catching those spur of the moment things.