Panasonic SDR-S50: Review & Test

IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN IMPROVE ON, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LET ME KNOW.
The Panasonic SDR-S50 is a small camcorder released in 2010 with a video resolution of about 704 X 480 (which is not normal, as you'll see in the video). It weighs 8.3 ounces and cost $249.99 new (depending on where you got it).
Overall I'd give it a 5/10 on the standard definition camcorder scale.
PROS:
Lightweight
Far optical zoom
Long recording time
Long battery life
CONS:
Low video quality
Low quality hand strap
Low picture quality
Bad low light performance

[@_underscore_9271]

Yeah I'd say this camera was worth the 5 bucks I spent on it

[@patriciomiranda4722]

unusual music, but breaks paradigms of music in technology videos hahaha

[@1776adb]

A discontinued model. If it stops working Panasonic won't replace the motherboard - I speak from experience. Worked great for a couple years.

[@aleksandarmiodragjekic255]

Hey ma. i know you probably won't reply but ill still ask how can i make sure that its fully charged because i found the camera in my parents attic and its 14 years old so im not aure if its just the camera or im doing something wrong Edit: the camera hasn't been touched in nine years but there was no dust on it

[@linahincapie4183]

Great review

[@bulldozer3000]

good review and best music in the world thank you so much, do you know if there's a way I can make the recording more grainy/scratchy/old looking?

[@FatCatTech]

That's usually something one would do in video editing software, short of actually buying and recording on an older camcorder. I suppose you could use the camcorders low light mode, but that would only make the video look horrible muddy/smeared, not really grainy.

[@BubbubTopps]

Does anyone know how to get date and time stamp as you record?

[@Antoine7000]

If you or anyone knows the answer to this I would love to know!

[@aleksandarmiodragjekic255]

You need to go to settings and set your time

[@cooperemmerton2692]

Does anybody know first of all which Port is the charging port and if so which cord I need my Grandpa gave me one of these but he didn't have any cords for it and I've torn my house apart looking for the correct chords I'm having difficulty finding an answer online

[@jimifenton7699]

Did you find it?

[@Anar-hk5rv]

did you find it

[@madpom2]

Wake me up when the pain is over music aswell

[@avasmith860]

Can you attach an alternate lens to this camera? I'm looking for an older camcorder to give that vintage look that you can attach a fisheye lense to.

[@FatCatTech]

This camera does not have a lens thread

[@jonnyswalk4674]

Very good video 👏 Would you know by any chance if you can use this camera for live streaming or as a webcam please? Many thanks 👍 Warmest wishes from South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 UK 🇬🇧 - Jonathan 😊 👍

[@FatCatTech]

If you're using OBS, this camcorder can be used as a webcam by connecting the composite to one of those "easycap" (or, if you're into the more expensive version, "WinTV) USB capture cards.

[@jonnyswalk4674]

@@FatCatTech much obliged to you :-) I thought I'd have to use the composite out. the capture card that I've got only has 1 input and that's an HDMI so initially to test it I was going to buy an RCA to HDMI converter to test it and then afterwards if it works, I was going to attempt to purchase a different capture card with 2 inputs ( any suggestions gratefully received :-) - many thanks for your help and reply again :-) Jonathan :-)

[@sergeantcrow]

I guess P is for Pal as opposed to NTSC.

[@kohli5769]

i have this panasonic sdr s50 with 78x optical lunar zooommm which is fantastic.. but te problem is that now it wont charge,... after pluging in adaptor there is no blink,, unless i opebn the side screen and there on that back side right over the battery there a red light blinks,, and it doens power on at all,,,, what could be the problem.??? please help.

[@TjkloYjkk]

Sameee any solucions?

[@karizmaabi8939]

Hello. I was going to ask something, maybe you have information, I bought a small handheld camera, first it did not have a problem, then the zoom started to blur and even when the camera was turned on in the display, nothing started to appear, but it does not always happen, sometimes it returns to normal occasionally, occasionally it does this problem. I was going to ask if this problem could be due to akkü. Do you have any information about it?

[@FatCatTech]

Hard to say, could be two separate issues: one in which the camera's focus is fading, and then another in which the ribbon cable connecting to the monitor is failing. Whether or not that's the case though, I'm not sure, sorry.

[@benhd9713]

dude how do you charge it :c

[@professionalidiot07]

Plug it in

[@TitanBeats]

hows the battery life (my battery life lasts around 30 minutes of recording and I need to record for 2 hours)

[@FatCatTech]

I'd say the battery lasts about 1 hour, but it is an older camera so that may be because it's been charged and discharged over and over.

[@TitanBeats]

oh ok I guess that's why (I just recently had my gopro stolen and I need a camera for later today and this is all I have.)

[@Anar-hk5rv]

Will this camera charge with mini-b?

[@themichukiller]

No

[@mahmudurrahman6100]

how to give charge

[@avasmith860]

how to you transfer the video onto a computer for editing??

[@FatCatTech]

In this camcorder you can do that one of two ways: You could either remove the SD card from the camcorder and insert into your PC's SD card reader (if applicable), or you could plug a USB cable into the camcorder (and into the computer of course Lol) and transfer that way.

[@user-nh9yy9de1g]

اخي كيف يمكنني برمجه هاذي الكيمره

[@vishnuramaraju9144]

We can take photo in this camera?

[@raymondstewart9263]

Button on the top, behind the zoom lever gives a still picture.

[@user-Radomir1978]

Пламенный привет с Татарстана г. Агрыз У меня SDR-S45

[@positive_2010]

Куда можно воткнуть микрофон?

[@FatCatTech]

У этой камеры нет разъема для микрофона.

[@positive_2010]

@@FatCatTech спасибо за ответ

[@little4274]

What kind of charger does it need?

[@uploadJ]

5V DC. Center pin positive. Or, just plug it up to your PC with Mini USB to charge it. Rear LED will begin to blink when charging.

[@Anar-hk5rv]

@@uploadJ Mini usb isnt working as a charger?

[@Anar-hk5rv]

nvm 🤣

[@pup9et]

This camera sucks. I bought one brand new when they came out and used it 2 times and hated it so much its sat here in the box ever since. In brand new condition. Do yourself a favor folks. STAY AWAY from Panasonic camcorders and camera's. Stick to Kodak or Canon. You wont be disappointed in them and they R&D is light years away from anyone else.

[@FatCatTech]

I agree that the camera isn't great, but I have to say that Kodak isn't exactly the leading brand on quality cameras and camcorders anymore. From what I've seen, the newer Panasonic camcorders aren't all that bad.

[@pup9et]

@@FatCatTech I'll give you that on Kodak. But i have an 30+ year old Kodak 35mm with a macro, telescopic, wide angle and long range lenses and it still takes better pictures then this thing does. But you have to remember the Kodak's today arent any where near the price this thing was. We paid over $400 for this thing from BestBuy when we got it. They purposely cover the box and camera itself with all these useless attention grabbing features that you don't notice that it isnt even HD. Shame on me for that because back when we bought this (to record sons football games) i was very uneducated and naive as to what i was buying. I literally have 3 Canon Powershot A590IS from 15+yrs ago that to this day take better (closer up) video then this thing does. An i spent less then $300 on the first one i bought and have bought 2 more since off Ebay for less then $25. Just because they take such great pictures. So although Kodak arent what they used to be.. they are no where near the cost of what this was. Other then Cannon (Own a T7 and a EOS 6D MK2) (The 6D obviously more expensive) You Also have PENTEX and NIKON who are also much better then anything Panasonic makes to this date.

[@lowendguru]

I hated the music

[@XOXO-mb2vh]

Great for filming a horror film. I bought one and its a piece of shit. I should have known better than to get this.

[@paultrussy4243]

Good other than that annoying music!

[@shaunpmarshall]

Surely you're allowed out of the cellar ?

[@FatCatTech]

If you watch some of my other videos, you'll see I spend plenty of time outside ;)