Panasonic SV-AS10S D-Snap 2MP Digital Camera (Silver)

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: Too Low To Display
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Used & new from $289.00

List price $299.99



Product Features:

• Multifunction device: 2.0-megapixel digital camera, QuickTime video recorder, MP3 music player, and digital voice recorder
• Camera features a built-in flash, ten-second self-timer, and 4x zoom lens
• MP3/ WMA / AAC music playback; 10-second audio notes with images
• Includes 8 MB Secure Digital memory card
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack; connects to PCs via USB 1.1

Product Description:

PANASONIC SV-AV10S SILVER POCKET SIZE DIGITAL CAM

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: a good cam if small size is important Rating:
I got this camera about 6 weeks ago. I have heard that the best camera is the one you have with you when you need it. So that would make this a good camera. I take it with me everywhere because it is so small and fits in my pocket. It is no more inconvenient to carry than a cell phone.

A couple problems I have with it are that the lens rotates so you can take a pic of yourself....but the flash does not rotate with the lens. So if you are in a poorly lit area and want to take a pic of yourself, all the benefits of having a rotating lens are lost. This is only a minor problem to me, but I think it is poor design.

The second problem is that the SD card it comes with is small...very small. 8mb. Is that some kind of joke? Most digital cameras come with small memory cards, but they are promoting this thing as a multi function device: camera, camcorder, mp3 player. My Panasonic mp3 player came with a 64mb card, why does this come with only 8mb? It is supposed to be an mp3 player too. They might as well have not included any memory with this camera. I was lucky that I bought it while Panasonic was having a promotion and they sent me a free 128mb card. Which only took about 1 week to arrive, not 6-8 like they said.

I only use the camera function, so I cannot comment on the other functions, but overall I am happy with it. However I would not want this to be my only camera. When I go on a trip or someplace where I know I will be taking a lot of pics I will bring a different camera, as this camera is only 2mp and does not have an optical zoom. If you want a small camera you can carry with you at all times then this one is good. If small size is not the most important thing to you, then you should look at something else.

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Comment: Picture quality just fair Rating:
For a 2 MP digital camera, picture quality is only good for small print or web use, but all the other functions are great. MP3 player works well, voice recorder is excellent. I particularly like the 10 seconds note function with the picture.

If you are looking for a small (and I mean small) camera to travel so you can keep notes and pictures, this is it.

I recommend a 258 mb SD card for the camera. I brought the least expansive Sandisk one and it works fine.

I would give it a 5 stars if the picture quality is better.

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Comment: Sound playback nearly inaudible, can't really do MP3s Rating:
I've found two deficiencies with this product, that make it (for me, at least) unacceptable.

1. Sound playback (e.g. using the voice recording capability) is way too soft, through the unit's built-in speaker. Its barely audible, even with playback volume at its loudest setting. Using the included earbuds, it provides adequate sound volume (e.g. normal voice level), so its not a problem with the recording sensitivity, but rather the playback. I thought I might have gotten a faulty unit, but I also tried a second one, the playback volume problem was the same. When I demonstrated the problem to a store clerk, even he admitted that it sucked.

2. The product is advertised as being able to play MP3s, but you can't just copy them to the SD card, you have to use the included software to import them, which will wrap your sound files with "digital rights management". The software appears to want to install DRM on your computer, and if you decline, the software just crashes. For me, this is false advertising, and then you also won't be able to interchange your music with e.g. your PDA. Would you buy a cassette player/walkman that required special software to "install" your audio on the cassette, but then only allowed you to play that audio on that particular player?

Aside from the above two problems, the camera functions OK in daylight, but the flash is underpowered, most of my nighttime pictures did not come out.

Its too bad the above two deficiencies are so bad, I really wanted to like this device, its really quite small, thin, and light, a pleasure to carry in the pocket or around the neck. But at its price point, with the above two (easily fixable) problems, I'd rather return it and get something else.

p.s. The box lists an 800 phone number for technical support, but after navigating the voice menu and waiting 10 minutes on hold, the technician tells me its the wrong phone number for this camera. Ugh.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)