Panasonic SDR-S10 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by John Neely
Published on Mar 9, 2007 6:47 PM

Intro Performance
Format Tour
Auto / Manual Controls Still Features
Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Comparisons / Conclusion Specs and Ratings
   


Audio
The Panasonic SDR-S10 has an onboard stereo microphone and records MPEG1-Layer2 audio. Like other Panasonics, this model includes a feature called Zoom Microphone that can be turned on or off. Zoom Microphone modulates audio levels in tandem with zoom, so that as you zoom into a subject, audio levels increase. The S10 also includes a Wind Noise Reduction option that reduces the buffeting sound of wind on the microphone screen. Like Zoom Microphone, Wind Noise Reduction can be turned on or off. Both of these features should be set to off to record the highest quality audio in most recording situations.

Playback
The Mode wheel is used to select both video and audio playback modes. Once you’ve entered either playback mode, thumbnail images of video clips or still images are displayed onscreen. You can then navigate from one thumbnail to the next using the touch pad. To playback a clip or display an image, you press the center of the touch pad when the desired thumbnail is highlighted. The selected video clip appears onscreen, and VCR functions are mapped to the touchpad as follows: up=play/pause, down=stop, right=skip forward, and left=skip back. An onscreen diagram of playback controls appears in the lower right corner of the screen.

The administrative menu for playback mode can be entered by pressing the menu button in the LCD cavity. This menu allows you to delete clips and images, perform basic edits, and define your playback parameters.

Connectivity
The SDR-S10 includes two port compartments, one on the right side and one on the underside of the body. On the right side of the camcorder, along the back edge, is a port compartment covered by a rigid plastic cover that is locked closed by a small sliding latch. The cover is opened by pulling on the back edge of the cover with the latch in its unlocked position. Inside are terminals for AV-out, High-Speed USB 2.0, and DC-in.

The other port compartment is on the base of the camcorder – an unfortunate, though unsurprising position. This compartment contains slots for the SD/SDHC memory card and the battery. While this bottom placement saves space on a camcorder that’s exceedingly small, it will require you to remove the camcorder from a tripod in order to swap out the battery or memory card.

Other Features
Electronic Image Stabilization - The image stabilization feature is found in the Advanced submenu on the SDR-S10. EIS does a good job of steadying the look of hand-held video, but it will lower the resolution of the recorded image. OIS (optical image stabilization) systems, such as those found on Panasonic’s other consumer camcorders, offer the same benefits without the resolution loss created by EIS.

MagicPix - MagicPix is Panasonic's low light recording mode, and both slows the shutter speed and the signal charge of the CCD to boost sensitivity. It does allow for image capture in very low light environments, but it produces a blurred and stuttering image. Before using this feature, give it a test run so that you know whether the results will be acceptable to you.

Soft Skin Mode - Soft Skin mode gives the skin of subjects a "smoother" appearance. Unfortunately, this and other in-camcorder tweaks that are designed for portrait videography are optimized for a limited range of “skin tones.” Unless the ancestors of your subjects hail from East Asia or Europe, this feature won’t do you much good. Fade in/ Fade out The SDR-S10 offers the option to fade into and out of solid black or white.





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