Hands-on with Panasonic's SDR-S10 camcorder

Panasonic had a rather elaborate little stones-and-running-water display for their SDR-S10 at their PMA booth, but we have to say, we were a little bummed. By the camera, that is, not the display. Despite being the "world's smallest" SDHC camcorder, turns out it's actually far larger than we originally imagined; and we weren't won over by the fact that actually holding and using it is pretty awkward (there's a reason most SD-using camcorders are not horizontally oriented -- they don't need to be!), and the fact that it feels pretty cheap and plasticy, especially for typically very solid-feeling Panny products. Not unlike the Canon TX1, this is a new release that we were initially very interested in, but as it turns out we just wound up a bit disappointed once we got to manhandle the thing.

Gallery: Hands-on with Panasonic's SDR-S10 camcorder

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[Bill @ Mar 9th 2007 5:15PM]

Wait, I don't get it. That thing is tiny already, I'm not sure I'd want it much smaller. As an owner and frequent user of a tiny Panasonic GS50D, I can tell you that small camcorders are nice for portability but not for stability because of their size and lightness. There is a tradeoff. But from the pics you posted with a hand for size relativity, it looks pretty small.

Also, I don't understand the comment "there's a reason most camcorders are not horizontally oriented". Rarely do I see a camcorder that isn't horizontally oriented. By that you mean long and not tall, right? I thought that was normal. You put your hand into a strap and hold it like you would a monocular.

Otherwise, thanks for the pics, though.

[tekdroid @ Mar 9th 2007 6:48PM]

fwiw, I didn't understand the horizontal comment either...

[Torben @ Mar 10th 2007 10:02AM]

Ryan:
Please enlighten us on your "bummed" impression of this, IMO, good looking cam.

[Piero Foto @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:04AM]

As far as horizontally oriented goes, it means wider rather than taller, but its bit confusing with the sentence ending with "they don't need to be" after saying there is a reason why they are.

Anyway, I don't care for the fashion show, I was hoping to get more info on the technical aspects of the Panasonic's SDR-S10 camcorder itself. It looks like I will still need to dig around.