Panasonic SV-AV50S 2MP MPEG-4 Camcorder w/2.5x Digital Zoom

Product Description

Panasonic's vision of the digital future is driven by the needs and aspirations of its business customers and millions of consumers around the world who use its products every day. The company shares their dream to live a fuller life by providing ways of working smarter and enjoying the rewards of technological advances.

Amazon.com Product Description

The amazingly small, ultra-slim, and lightweight Panasonic SVAV50 is ready to capture your favorite moments in digital video and still photos wherever you roam. You can also use the SVAV50 as a digital audio player, voice recorder, and image viewer through your TV (using the included cradle). The SVAV50 is so small because it uses no tape--all video, images, and audio are stored on a tiny Secure Digital (SD) memory card. It also features 2-megapixel digital still resolution, 2-inch flip-and-twist LCD for reviewing your video and photos, and 2.5x digital zoom. This model (SVAV50S) comes in silver, but the SVAV50 is also available in blue (SVAV50A).

Video and Still Optics
Using the MPEG4 format, the SVAV25 saves video to Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards (an 8 MB SD card is included). With the small size of MPEG4 files--featuring resolution modes of either 320 x 240 or 176 x 144--you can easily post video to your Web site or send files to friends and family via e-mail.

The D-snap cradle is equipped with an A/V terminal that makes it easy to connect to a TV or VCR and record TV programs onto an SD card. Using the SVAV50 for playback, you can watch the news, a movie, or other programs just about anywhere.

The following shows the approximate amount of continuous video that can be recorded on several sizes of SD memory card (including larger optional cards):

Super Fine (320 x 240, 1 Mbps): 0.9 minutes (included 8 MB card), 7 minutes (64 MB card), 15 minutes (128 MB card)
Fine (320 x 240, 420 Kbps): 2 minutes (included 8 MB card), 17 minutes (64 MB card), 35 minutes (128 MB card)
Normal (176 x 144, 300 Kbps): 2.5 minutes (included 8 MB card), 25 minutes (64 MB card), 50 minutes (128 MB card)
Economy (176 x 144, 100 Kbps): 8 minutes (included 8 MB card), 70 minutes (64 MB card), 150 minutes (128 MB card)

The SVAV50 has a 1/3.2-inch CCD for a 2-megapixel resolution--capturing enough image data for print enlargements up to 8 x 10 inches. It features 1600 x 1200 (2 MP), 1280 x 960 (1 MP), and 640 x 480 (VGA--great for sending in e-mail) resolution modes. You can zoom in on subjects using the 2.5x digital zoom.

Audio
In addition to its motion and still image capability, the SVAV50 can also be used as a digital audio player--just slip in an SD card loaded with tunes and listen via the included earphones. It's compatible with MP3 and AAC audio files. And with the built-in microphone (monaural), you can easily record voice memos, lectures, interviews, and reminders to the SD card.

More Features

2-inch flip-and-twist LCD with 117,000-pixel resolution
Connects to your PC via USB 1.1 connectivity
Lens: F4 (4.5mm focal length)
Measures 4 x 1.94 x .81 inches (H x W x D)
Weighs 3.7 ounces

What's in the Box
This package includes the Panasonic SVAV50A digital camcorder, 8 MB SD memory card, USB cradle, battery pack, AC adaptor, stereo earphones with remote controller, USB and A/V cables, carrying case, cleaning clot, neck strap, and CD-ROM with USB drivers for Windows and the following Panasonic software (not Mac compatible):

SD MovieStage Ver. 2.5 displays MPEG4 motion images and JPEG still images in thumbnail form and plays them back on a PC. You can also cut and edit motion images and send e-mail with motion images attached.
SD Jukebox Ver. 4.0 Software transfers music from your SD memory card to your PC and allows you to rip CDs to your PC and convert music data to different PC music file formats. When ripping CDs, music information from the CD database (CDDB) is obtained automatically, including album title, artist and song title. You can also organize your songs by artist, title or personalized playlists. There is also a "Mood Analyzer" (Music Sommelier) that automatically selects songs to match your mood.

Customer Reviews:

Don't buy this item.......2006-11-30

I regret buying this camera because I cannot view the videos I shot. If you buy a Sony digital camera it shoots video in MPEG4 format and that can be viewed by several programs such as Real Player, Windows Movie Maker, QuickTime, etc. This Panasonic camcorder claims to shoot MPEG, but it does not.

The video files are something called ASF and I cannot find a program to view the videos or to convert them to real MPEGS. Going to the Panasonic site is a complete waste of time because they expect you to have a serial number just to download the program to view the videos in their non standard format.

Save yourself the hassle, and get a Sony that shoots video in a standard format that is read by many programs.

Great Camera.......2006-11-06

This is my second one. First one lasted 3 1/2 years........I'd buy another one if this breaks!!!

Nice gadget - horrible software support........2006-10-12

The unit itself is well designed. The quality of video is fair, at least for such a compact unit. Photos are near worthless due to horrible quality. My cell phone has far superior images.

Sadly, for all the niceties of the gadget Panasonic chose to cripple the unit with it's software and make it virtually worthless.

a) the videos ARE NOT mpeg4 as advertised. Rather, they are encapsulated in an .asf DRM file which is unviewable by anyone.

b) the voice recorder is fairly useless. Sure it's a digital voice recorder. But nothing can play the digital files it records but the camera. You have no way of converting them or playing them on your PC.

Due to the software implementation this camera because mostly non-functional.

Today I have several videos that I cannot view. You need a special plug-in. That said, Panasonic doesn't let you download without a special code.

THIS IS NOT A MPEG4 CAMERA AS ADVERTISED

Great Multi-Tasking Product.......2005-11-20

The Panasonic D-snap, model SV-AV50, is a great product. The D-snap can be used for many different tasks. It is a digital camera, camcorder, mp3 player, and voice recorder. The D-snap is small and portable. The D-snap is so small that it can fit into your pocket easily. The Panasonic D-snap is easy to recharge the batteries.

The D-snap has a cradle included. Once the D-snap is connected to the cradle, many things can be done. The cradle connects the D-snap to the television set and the computer. There's an earphone and a remote controller included. The earphone is to listen to music when the D-snap is used as an mp3 player. The remote control is to help the person using the D-snap to easily press the record button or control the D-snap away from the camera.

The Panasonic D-snap is simple to use. All the data is stored on a SD memory card. After taking pictures, video record, or voice record, the pictures, video clips, or voice recordings can be displayed right after by switching a switch from record to play. Afterwards, the data can be transferred into the computer. The camera can be connected to the television set and the data can be transferred to the screen.

There are a few bad things about the Panasonic D-snap. First, the D-snap is so small, most of the times when the camera or camcorder feature is in use, the person's finger may get in the way and covers the lens of the camera. Second, when the video clips are transferred to the television screen, the clips are not as clear as it appeared on the LCD of the D-snap. Third, each task feature uses up too much of the memory card. Finally, when using the night vision feature, the camcorder slows the recording down.

Overall, the Panasonic D-snap is very handy, useful, and convenient. It takes up little space in a female's purse, can be fitted into the pockets, and also takes up little space in the suitcase. The D-snap can perform many tasks, leaving a person less objects to carry around. If the person is taking a trip somewhere, he or she can just grab and pack the Panasonic D-snap and leave. The person does not have to look around for his or her mp3, camcorder, or camera.

Caveat Emptor ('Buyer Beware').......2005-11-02

This camera is a piece of crap.

It is poorly constructed (2 screws have already fallen out of mine) and it is repleat with poor photographic and videographic recording capabilities.

I bought one of these for my wife for Christmas 2004, and was severley disappointed in the quality of the videos and photos. Yes, it is a small, compact package, but I've seen cell-phones that take better pictures than this. I even purchased a 512MB memory card for her so that she could shoot some decent length videos, but the picture quality is so bad that she hardly ever uses it.

This camera doesn't even have a firewire connection (something I should have checked on before buying), so we can't download the videos to our Macs. The photos are often blurry and/or grainy (low resolution, even on the 'high reso' setting) and are really not the quality we are accustomed to. I have a Canon Powershot S40 that takes MUCH better photos (and up to 30 seconds of video) than this camera.

I will not EVER be buying a Panasonic/Lumix camera again. Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Product Description

NexRemote allows the user to control their Celestron computerized telescope from their personal computer. Everything that is done using the telescope's hand control can now be done remotely from a PC or laptop. This software was developed for Celestron's high-end telescopes that use the NexStar control system including the NexStar "i" Series, Advanced Series, NexStar GPS Series and CGE Series.NexRemote provides full emulation of every aspect of the Celestron Computerized Hand Control including° Alignment in any tracking mode° Database of objects° User objects° Hibernation° Connect to popular planetarium programsIn addition to emulating the NexStar Hand Control, NexRemote adds powerful new features including° NexRemote talks - Keep your eyes on the stars instead of the LCD by enabling speech support° Control the objects you want to see and the order that you see them° Create and save custom tours by launching NexTour° Use Night Vision Mode to reduce the effect of the laptop screen on your eyes° Wireless control of the telescope with Optional Gamepad Support° Connect to your personal GPS device to NexRemote with NexGPS° Download NexRemote updates online to use the latest features

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