Panasonic SDR-SW20 and SDR-S7: Holiday in camcordia

Related entries: Camcorders

Panasonic has given us the 32GB SDHC card, and clearly sees cheap and plentiful SD cards as the memory format of choice for casual camcorder users. The SDR-SW20 -- pictured -- and SDR-S7 use SD and SDHC cards and could well be worth making room for in your suitcase, next time you head off on your hols.

Both camcorders boast a 10x zoom and a 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD screen. A secondary record button means that they can be held in the standard elbow-bent fingers-pointing-up eye-level camcorder grasp, or in a straight-arm fingers-down grip.

Each shooter comes with a selection of features to make shooting quick and easy. A quick-start function has the SW20 and S7 shooting half a second from flipping out the LCD screen. Holidaymakers will also benefit from a time-switching feature that allows you to set the time for two different locations, such as home and holiday, and switcheroo between them with a single button press. There's also a one-touch button for transferring footage to DVD, but you do have to buy a Panasonic DVD burner.

The SW20 is the choice of the more extreme holidaymaker, as it's waterproof to a depth of 1.5m and shockproof to up to 1.2m. It's also dustproofed for "worry-free shooting in places like the beach, or any place with a lot of dust". Like a Crave reviewer's wallet, perhaps. Speaking of which, the SW20 is available now for £220, and the S7 for as little as £180 online. -Rich Trenholm

Update: Read our full Panasonic SDR-S7 review.

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Panasonic SDR-S7

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AnonymousTue 6 May, 2008 2:58pm

Got mine about a month ago, been using it heavily since. Really is rugged. Been in front of landrover, dropped in mud.
I have a few criticism though. Having moved down from a Panasonic fz20 digital camera, that is beginning to fail - and does survive 1 metre drops onto wood and metal too The image quality in single shot mode is poor IMHO. Would have bought the top of range model with 1080p but did not think it would survive my social life.

Images posted onto youtube are poor in my opinion, but discovered that is due to the compression used on their site.
A case would have been nice - ended up in local Chemist chain store, as could not find what I wanted for it. Got a Neoprene soft Glasses case - superb and only £8. Also there was no SD card included which I thought was a bit mean of Panasonic (not even a token 512kb to get you going - nothing), bought a 8GB Kingston one on internet for about £20.
Found the camera shake a problem, so again bought a monopod - that doubles as a modern day hill walking stick - should have bought one years ago - makes this a really solid buy now for outside use.
Reasonable image quality, certainly superb for the size, just wish it was MPEG4 not MPEG2. Hope they bring out a better version soon. As thinking of buying the 1080p as a best one for when not out camping or roughing it in the field, when its pouring with rain.
Image qaulity is much better in good quality light - like the beach in summer.
Included software is easy to use if you have used similar software before - would not want to give that to a grandparent.
Had a look at the S7 and is really comfortable in the hand - but not as rugged.
You need a 21nd battery or an invertor in your vehicle if going out - wish they did an external battery charger too, as would make life so much easier.
Spare batteries are expensive - 1/5th of camera launch price each.
Greasy mechanics hands leave marks on lcd screen, not sure how to clean off, but needed to take photo of dismantle process of indicator switches the other day.

Easy to use, fits in top pocket. Should still be useable in 5 years time. Need small fingers - but hey its made in Japan.
I don't believe it starts up as quckly as mentioned in review above after a couple of weeks use. But for general, holiday use is superb. Will suit children to adults, and not slippery like the silver slick devices manufactures design with spiderman on. Everyone who has seen it and the video it creates go 'wow that's cool'.
Worth buying unless want 1080p quality reproduction for DVD use.
BTW Stick to 4 GB SD cards, as cannot burn 5 GB on a DVD without compression software.
Hope this makes you want to buy one for your kids school trip or your next expedition camping. Better than an expensive mobile phone.