Panasonic SDR-SW20 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Michael Perlman
Published on Jan 21, 2008 7:00 AM

 
Intro
 Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity Other Features/Conclusion
Specs
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The ocean is home to a plethora of organisms, lost treasures, and abandoned shipwrecks. Panasonic is now adding camcorders to the list. The company’s first dive into underwater video is a valiant attempt. The SDR-SW20 ($399 MSRP) is extremely compact, recording to SD and SDHC cards, and is coated in an easily grippable surface. Bright colors help it from getting lost, but with a depth safety of only 5 feet, you’ll have to stick to shallow waters. Will this be enough to win over land lovers? (Watch an exclusive underwater demo video)

Three years ago, Panasonic debuted its first flash camcorder, the three-CCD SDR-S100. While the camcorder world welcomed the new pocket-size package, the early technology offered mere decent video quality at a steep $1200.

Fast forward to 2008 and the latest generation of memory card camcorders. Along with the SDR-SW20, Panasonic also released the SDR-S7, a single-CCD non-waterproof, for the very affordable price of $299. Throw in some additional waterproofing, shock proofing, and dust proofing, raise the price to $399, and you have the SDR-SW20. This is clearly going to appeal to a specific, limited audience. Samsung tried to reach out the sports enthusiast community with several generations of the Sports Cam until killing the line in 2007, though they never added underwater capability. Will Panasonic, with a more bankable reputation in camcorders, have any more luck?

 

The Front
Up front, it’s easy to confuse the SDR-SW20 with a compact FM radio from the 60’s—the styling is unmistakably retro. Due to the underwater cam’s pocket-friendly size, external features have been kept to a minimum. The SDR-SW20’s 10x optical zoom lens has an aperture range of f/1.8-f/2.4 and is capable of the following focal lengths:

43.9mm – 439mm (4:3/16:9 Video)
43.7mm – 437mm (4:3 Still Image).

The only other item on the menu here is the built-in stereo microphone, located just below the lens. Just a glance at the plastic construction in front may draw skepticism as to the waterproof abilities. However, Camcorderinfo.com tested the SDR-SW20 quite extensively in a mobile fish tank at the Panasonic booth at CES. The camcorder held its own, and audio, though fairly muffled, picked up fine—bubbles and all.

The Right Side
There’s a bit more action on the right side of the SDR-SW20. First off, Panasonic threw an extra Record Start/Stop button toward the lens end of the camcorder, which makes the SDR-SW20 conducive to an alternative grip method. The act of swimming is taxing enough, let alone recording quality video. Using the alternative Record Start/Stop button will allow shooters to cup the camcorder from underneath, holding it like the grip end of a sword.

Unfortunately, the SDR-SW20 does not feature a hand strap. Instead, shooters must deal with a feeble wrist strap, which makes sense for underwater shooting. But what about taking the SDR-SW20 ashore? Will most shooters remember to thread their hand through a dangling loop? There’s nothing to ratchet the SDR-SW20 to the hand securely, which is unlike most camcorders. The SDR-SW20 is shockproof, but only up to four feet. If you’re a Calamity Carl, tread lightly with the SDR-SW20.

Toward the back end of the SDR-SW20 is a rectangular plastic enclosure that opens via a small plastic tab. Here you’ll find the AV out, USB, and DC in terminals. Luckily, Panasonic has not placed these ports within the battery chamber, but wait a minute, where is the battery chamber? We’ll get to that in a minute.

 
The left side of the Panasonic SDR-SW20
   ... and a look at the LCD cavity.

The Back
If you thought there wasn’t much to the front of the SDR-SW20, take a gander at the back end. Smack dab in the middle is a Record Start/Stop button, and that’s about it. The ridged side of the Mode Dial is accessible in back, but we’ll cover that next.

The Left Side
Chic. Clever. Rugged. Those are some words that might come to mind while inspecting the left side of the SDR-SW20. Or maybe not, but the SDR-SW20 sure is a looker. A knurled plastic grip panel engulfs most of the left side’s real estate. Once you dive into the LCD cavity, you’ll be treated to a rather unconventional layout. This is likely meant to prevent accidental button pressing while you’re occupied underwater.

In the center is a round control panel, encompassing the four-way directional pad and selection button, and Manual AF/MF, Auto, Underwater, and Menu buttons. The Delete button is located outside of the control circle. Up in the right hand corner you’ll find the round mode dial.

Though we tend to shun camcorders that feature most of their controls embedded within the LCD cavity, the SDR-SW20 can get away with it. If you’re shooting underwater, the last thing on the itinerary is to fiddle around with Automatic and Manual controls. Our advice: dial all your settings before you take the plunge. Most likely, Automatic control will be your friend underwater, along with the fish—just be sure to get signed releases.

The Top
A Zoom toggle is all you get up top, and a semi-decent one at that. The SDR-SW20 features a thin plastic strip of a button that is annoying to use when compared with Zoom rockers or sliders. Compact camcorders do have their shortcomings, and the SDR-SW20’s Zoom toggle is a bit on the lame side.

The Bottom
Still wondering where Panasonic stuffed the battery chamber and SD card slot? Why, on the bottom of the SDR-SW20, of course! A thin plastic hatch opens via a small sliding tab to reveal the SDR-SW20’s non-upgradable battery and SD/SDHC card slot. The slot door is lined in rubber for waterproofing. If you think about how much time you’ll spend filming underwater, this design should not pose as a problem. Rarely does one bring a tripod underwater.

 

 

 

 



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