Disappointing yet fun

Author's Rating:

Pros: compact size, plays music

Cons: disappointing photo quality, limited video length

The Bottom Line: 
The Panasonic SV AS-10 is fun to use and easy to take with you everywhere, but it frequently delivers disappointing photo quality.

Author's Review
I purchased the Panasonic SV AS10 because I wanted a sleek device that was capable of capturing digital video with sound.

I chose this camera because I read the review by Green-Z which reported that this camera can record video as long as there is battery power and memory space available. So I purchased a 256 MB SD card thinking I could record up to 20 mins of uninterrupted video.

After I received the camera, I learned that it can record only 59 seconds of video before having to start a new video recording. In other words, the longest video one can record is just under one minute. This limit is clearly stated in the product's manual, and it has also been my experience after shooting a lot of video clips.

I am disappointed about this.

Another thing to be aware of is that many of the photos taken by the SV AS10 are very poor. It can take decent photos, but the user has to fiddle with several settings and become experienced with the camera. The flash is weak, but it is sufficient for subjects that are within 3 feet.

You should be aware that the SV AS10 needs 80 lux, so it is not terribly effective in low light situations. As comparison, the SV AV100 from Panasonic needs only 10 lux. The video frame capture rate is only 10 fps. Panasonic has come out with a new model, the SV AV50, currently available in Japan, which captures video at 30 fps. Buyers in North America who want a small device to record video might want to wait until that model becomes available before purchasing a new camera.

I have an Olympus 1.3 MP camera, and it takes much better photos, all of which come out beautifully. So the Panasonic is a bit frustrating because the good:poor photo ratio is low. The Panasonic SV AS10 does not deliver or produce 2 MP photo stills that can be compared to the quality that one would get from a real 2 MP digital camera.

Despite these criticisms, I do like the device quite a lot. It is fun to use, and it captures sound rather well.

I wanted a multi-functional device, and I appreciate being able to listen to music with the supplied headphones on the Panasonic.

If I'd done more research before I bought this camera, I might have purchased a Casio Exilim. I just attended a conference in Calcutta where I met a fellow who had one of these and he was quite happy with it. I see that, depending on the model, the Casios can record between 30 and 80 seconds of video, but I don't know whether they capture audio as well.