Look past the picture quality, and it's great
Written: Nov 30 '04
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Pros: size, easy operation, nice LCD display, extra fine video mode
Cons: still image quality, delicate, battery capacity mediocre
The Bottom Line: This is a toy that you can actually use - but... it's still a toy. For REAL video capture, stick with a real camcorder.
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| houdini987's Full Review: Panasonic SV-AV50 Flash Memory Digital Camcorder |
I purchased a "5-day-old" SV-AV50 off Ebay from a guy who had some sort of new camera fetish.
With much anticipation, I finally received the unit and was pleasantly surprised to find it in perfect 5-day-old working order.
I've since taken it on some vacation trips and have been moderately satisfied with its operation. I honestly was expecting a bit more in the image quality department though.
This is true in every aspect except for "Extra Fine" video mode, which I have to admit is robust (as long as you have at least a 256MB HIGH SPEED chip, this mode is a viable option).
Still shots though come out grainy when I look at them on my monitor. I'm not talking about just your everyday "2 megapixal" grainy, I'm talking little black dots where the CCD got mixed up. Strangely though, printing out the photos via a 3rd party (such as ofoto.com), you don't notice anything wrong at all!
Regarding the extra features, I don't get a whole lot of use out of them. The MP3 player appears to use some type of proprietary application that I can't seem to figure out. When I tried to contact Panasonic to get some help, I got nowhere.
Unfortunately, Panasonic's email-based support system is rubbish - you're much better off trying to find an answer on your own than use that--bet on getting a form letter response if you need help.
The thin metal "skin" that covers the exterior of this camera is very soft/pliable. The side of the camera that holds the battery is susceptable to caving in or getting dented - TRUST THE MANUAL when it instructs you not to keep it in your pocket!
All that being said, I have to take a step back and say, if I could do it all over again, I'd still get this camera. It truly is a neat little gadget that unlike many other neat little gadgets in my past, retains usability and value well after the purchase date.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300
Recommended for: Trendsetters - Hip and Stylish Gadgets
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Epinions.com ID:
houdini987
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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