Canon FS200

The Panasonic SDR-S26 has a few things going for it that make it stand out in the standard definition market. The first is its 70x optical zoom, which is almost twice as long as the zoom on the Canon FS200 (37x). This is a ridiculous amount of optical zoom, however, and we can’t really imagine why anyone would need to zoom in that much. Anyway, if you are a zoom fanatic, then the Panasonic SDR-S26 was designed for you.

In addition to its killer zoom ratio, the SDR-S26 also offers optical image stabilization. This system is advantageous over the rest of these SD models that all offer digital stabilization systems. Panasonic’s optical system works better (it scored the highest in our testing), and it doesn’t degrade your image quality like digital stabilization systems can. So, a good stabilization system combined with that 70x optical zoom does make the Panasonic S26 ideal forgetting a close-up of a far-away animal—or for spying on your neighbors.

Despite these two enticing features, the Panasonic SDR-S26 is a mediocre camcorder when it comes to video performance. It performed terribly in our low light sensitivity test, had the worst sharpness of the bunch (and the smallest image sensor), managed an abysmal battery life, and its image appeared fuzzy and bland in anything less than ideal lighting conditions. It is also a stout little camcorder that feels comfortable to hold, but doesn’t look nearly as stylish as the Canon FS200. The Panasonic SDR-S26 is roughly $30 cheaper than the Canon, but the money you save is reflected by the camcorder’s poor video quality.

You can go with the Panasonic if all you want is a camcorder that allows you to zoom to your heart’s content, or if you are insistent of having optical image stabilization. If you are at all concerned about image quality or low light performance, however, we suggest you go with the Canon FS200, JVC GZ-MG670, or Sony DCR-SX60—all of them outperformed the Panasonic in our video testing by a significant margin.