Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black)
The Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder is an affordable, user-friendly way to post all your memories to social media sites, such as YouTube. Share video from that party you went to on Friday in just three short steps thanks to VideoCam Suite software. And, because the SDR-S26 records to SD/SDHC memory cards, there's no need to carry around bulky media.
The S26 boasts the Optical 70x Ultra Zoom lens, which is designed for shooting with clarity, even at long distances, such as concerts. Other recording features include the 1/8" CCD sensor, 2.7" LCD, and Advanced O.I.S. In addition, the Intelligent Auto (iA) mode makes shooting even easier because it automatically adjusts for the scene, activating the appropriate mode for the situation.
- Record to External Flash Memory
- Record to compact and lightweight SD/SDHC memory cards for hassle-free transfer of video and stills to your PC for emailing and easy uploading to social media sites.
- 1/8" CCD Image Sensor
- The 1/8" CCD image sensor captures standard definition, video (MPEG2) and still (JPEG) images.
- Optical 70x Ultra Zoom Lens
- The Optical 70x Ultra Zoom lens brings even far off subjects up close with little to no loss in image quality.
- 2.7" Wide LCD Display
- The 2.7" wide LCD gives you a generous platform on which to compose and playback video and stills.
- Digital Still Capture
- The SDR-S26 doubles as a digital still camera. Still images in the JPEG format easily upload to the Internet for sharing.
- Advanced Optical Image Stabilization
- Advanced O.I.S. uses a corrective lens that shifts to compensate for blur from a hand shake or a moving subject.
- Intelligent Auto Mode
- iA Mode automatically adjusts the camcorder to your shooting situation and initiates the appropriate functions, such as Face Detection or Intelligent Scene Selector.
- VideoCam Suite
- VideoCam Suite software makes uploading to YouTube as easy as 1-2-3. Simply record in Web mode and connect the camcorder to your computer when you're finished. VideoCam Suite automatically starts up and is ready to upload your video - just choose the file you want and click "Upload".
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 0.8 Megapixel 1/8" CCD |
| Lens |
1.5 - 105 mm f/1.9 - 5.7 |
| Zoom |
Optical: 70x Digital: 100x Digital: 3500x 1 Please Note:3500x=Super Digital close |
| Filter Size | 37 mm |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| System | NTSC |
| Recording Media |
SD/SDHC
2
Please Note:memory card not included close |
| Recording Time |
SD/SDHC 1GB: XP: 12 minutes 1GB: LP: 50 minutes 32GB: XP: 6 hours, 40 minutes 32GB: LP: 26 hours, 40 minutes |
| Video Format |
Standard Definition MPEG2 704 x 480 |
| Still Image Resolution | JPEG: 0.3 Megapixel |
| Audio Format | 2-ChannelStereo |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Display Type | LCD |
| Screen Size | 2.7" |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Optical |
| Lux |
1400 (standard illumination) 6 (1/30 low light mode) 2 (Magic Pix) |
| Built-in Mic | Yes |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes |
| Built-in Light/Flash |
Light - No Flash - No |
| Accessory Shoe | None |
| Tripod Mount | 1/4" |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Inputs | None |
| Outputs |
1x A/V 1x USB 2.0 |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Headphone Jack | No |
| General | |
|---|---|
| System Requirements |
Windows System
Macintosh System
Please Note:iMovie '09 is required and not included. Mac is not compatible with VideoCam Suite 2.0 close |
| Battery | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| Power Adapter | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.21 x 2.56 x 4.21" / 56.13 x 65.02 x 106.93 mm |
| Weight | 0.50 lb / 226.80 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 8 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
86%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (6)
- Lightweight (5)
- Interfaces well with camcorder (4)
- Zoom range/performance (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Home movies (4)
- Shooting outdoors (3)
- Travel (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Tech savvy (5)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 8 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-8
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Easy to Use
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- No External Mic Input
- Poor Still Image
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- Home Movies
- Indoors/Low Light
- Movies/Short Films
- Sports
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
- YouTube
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
I use the video camera for recording sports for youtube and recording tests for work. The optical 70X zoom is great, the optical image stabilization is great, I like being able to set it for 16:9 recording and I like the SD storage. It would have been nice if it had come with a SD card and the battery goes quickly. I got a couple of spares that are longer life to supplement the OEM battery.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Good Image Stabilization
- Great Sound
- Great Zoom
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- No External Mic Input
- Poor Still Image
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Outdoors
- Zoom shots
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
The Panasonic SDR-S26 is THE best value in standard definition flash camcorder. Totally meets my criteria. I've owned the camera for about a week. But, I am very pleased so far.
My previous flash camcorder was a first generation HD (720p) camcorder with MPEG format. However, the zoom was only 3X and no optical image stabilization (OIS). Playback images were very poor. Lots of shaking and jitter.
After researching various flash standard camcorders I decided on the Panasonic SDR-S26. The OIS feature works extremely well. Hand held shots at 60-70x look very descent. Not a lot of shaking or distortion. I compared the shots with a tripod. The gyroscopic OIS is unbelievable. The optical zoom is truly crisp at 70X in the Intelligent Automatic mode. Unbelievable. I tried the digital zoom. I am very impressed at 100x. Really need a tripod at anything above 70X. I have not tried 3500X. The lens and the focusing CMOS are very impressive. These were the two features I was looking for.
The software does the job adequately. Nothing fancy. You can download the files to your PC, create DVD, and do some basic editing. Little less complicated that Nero 8.
Playback quality on my 720p HDTV was excellent. I was a little concerned stepping down from a HD camcorder. But, I was VERY impressed with the clarity, color, and stability of playback.
Another superb feature is the Audio Zoom. It really works. I shot some close up shots of bird feeder in the backyard. I could hear the birds cracking the sunflower seeds and pecking at the feeder.
This camcorder is full of nice features. You can shoot in a totally automatic mode or manual. I still have to refer to the manual for setting some of the manual features.
The photo quality is not so great. No surprise. Most camcorders give you average photo capability. My primary application is shooting videos.
If you're looking for a compact SD flash camcorder with crisp high zoom, I highly recommend the Panasonic SDR-S26.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Interface With Camcorder
- Improves Performance
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Shooting Outdoors
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
Got this cam to film a wilderness trip through Labrador this coming summer. Tried it out in the back yard this pass week. Very pleased with the performance. Simple to use.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Interface With Camcorder
- Lightweight
Cons
- Dark images
- Grainy images
- Poor color
Best Uses
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
I purchased this video recorder for my wife for Christmas. At first I was very impressed by the feel and build of this unit. It is easy to use and has great zoom capability. Unfortunately the video images are very dark and grainy. My point and shoot Canon Powershot camera has better video than this unit. Also my 15 year old JVC VHSc camcorder shoots better video than this unit. It seems as though people really like this unit or are really disappointed like I am. Wish I would have saved my money and invested in an HD video camera. A total waste of money! This was my first Panasonic purchase and might be my last.
Pros
- 70x optical zoom
- Convenient FlashSD card
- Easy To Use
- Good Value
- Lightweight
Cons
- Software isn't great
- So-so in low light
- Uses MOD file format
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Long distance with tripod
- Shooting Outdoors
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
So far, I have used this camera mainly for recording indoors, mounted on a tripod. It's standard def and I'd prefer HD, but so far, I'm mainly reducing the size of the videos and compressing them to MPEG4 for viewing on computers, so I don't really need HD.
Pros: It's very small for a camera with a real lens and screen (i.e. not a Flip style camera) and with the SD memory, it's very light. The optical zoom is huge, 70x, far more than any other similar, inexpensive, SD camcorders out right now. Having the SD card is also nice because you don't need to capture the raw video when you import it to the computer, you can simply copy the files over to your hard drive. I have a USB SD card reader, so I don't even need to worry about having the camera's USB cord, which is very convenient. The image stabilization works very well in general.
Cons: It doesn't work great in low light. It's fine outdoors, but indoors I have found that I've had to add brightness filters when doing post-processing. I haven't experimented much with the settings though, so you may be able to compensate somewhat by adjusting things manually. Of course, when using the zoom you'll want to use a tripod. 70x zooms means slight movement in your hand is also amplified 70 times. Not really a con, but something to keep in mind. I don't like the software, it's clunky and the UI is not great. I don't like importing the files through the software, because I don't like to edit them with it. If you're near the audio source the mic is good. About 6-10' away sound is not so good - you may need to amplify in post-processing. The videos it makes are .MOD files, which is not a great file container, but if you rename the files to .MPEG it should work fine. They're encoded with MPEG2 video and AC3 audio. Since I'm mainly viewing them on my computer, I use VirtualDubMod and convert them over to Xvid with MP3 audio. This results in about 10x smaller files.
Overall: You get a lot for the money. It's only slightly more expensive than something like a Flip HD, and while not HD, you're getting real camcorder hardware and optics, with the lightness and convenience of Flash memory.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Interface With Camcorder
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
Very easy to operate, the controls are easy to reach and function. B&H is a very good company to deal with. I highly recommend both and have nothing negative to say.
Pros
- Good Interface With Camcorder
- Lightweight
Cons
- Fuzzy images
- Poor resolution
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
After our Hi8 analog tape camcorder died, it was time to buy a digital. Unfortunately, this standard definition (SD) camcorder was not equal to Hi8 resolution. The picture quality of this camera was less than my cheap cellphone. Although the menus are good, the lack of sharpness (even with the best resolution) is a big drawback. Had to send the camera back to B&H for a refund. Recommend an HD camcorder for any serious video.
Comments about Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Card Standard Definition Camcorder (Black):
The zoom is fantastic.
Small, compact, and easy to use.
I saw it in Las Vegas at the CES convention.
It was one the most talked about camcorders.
Displaying reviews 1-8
Batteries & Power
Don't get caught without power, always have a spare battery.
- Price: $38.90
- GBP 24.78
Bags & Cases
Carry, store, and protect all your equipment with a bag or case.
- Price: $13.72
- GBP 8.74
Filters
Protect your lens or produce a desired visual effect by adding a filter.
- Price: $8.90
- GBP 5.67
Lenses & Adaptors
Capture the right view with a conversion lens.
-
- Original: $69.95
- Save: $6.99
- Price: $62.96
- GBP 40.10
On-Camera Lights
Adjust the lighting for virtually any indoor and many outdoor applications.
- Price: $8.95
- GBP 5.70
Books & Tutorials
Develop your skills and product understanding.
- Price: $39.95
- GBP 25.45
What's in the Box
- AC Adapter
- Battery Pack
- A/V Cable
- USB Cable
- VideoCam Suite 2.0 Software
- AC/DC Cables
- 90-Days Labor & 1-Year Parts Limited Warranty
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