

That's very slow, so don't expect to take a lot of shots over a short period of time. Shutter lag in our tests was in the 3-second range, depending on the light. Shot-to-shot times for nonflash and flash-illuminated shots were 5.9 and 7.9 seconds, respectively, which are slow compared to those of a typical 2-megapixel point-and-shoot camera. With its slow wake-up-to-first-shot time of about 8 seconds, you'll have to pay attention and be ready to grab the camera in a hurry. The Panasonic D-snap SV-AV50 offers marginal responsiveness that makes it best suited for static shots and moderately paced action. While you can't expect a tiny multifunction device to outperform a larger single-function device, it shouldn't be so slow that it's unusable.

The D-snap SV-AV50's tiny rechargeable lithium-ion battery held out for just 255 photos. The camera's fixed-focus lens can't focus on subjects within 1.7 feet, which will disappoint macro fans.
PANASONIC D SNAP CODEC MANUAL
There are no manual exposure settings or specialized shooting modes other than Night View. Other noteworthy features include a Night View mode that brightens the image but lowers the frame rate of video recordings, stereo earbuds (the camera's built-in microphone, however, is mono only), and a remote control that's handy when you're listening to music files.
PANASONIC D SNAP CODEC TV
A supplied cable provides composite-video and stereo-audio plugs, which you can connect directly to a VCR, a DVR, an A/V receiver, or a TV for video recording and playback. In addition to recharging the battery, the USB cradle acts as an A/V input/output adapter. You bypass the computer entirely when bringing prerecorded video into the D-snap. SD-Jukebox 4.0 converts your CDs to 96Kbps AAC files and transfers them to the device via a USB connection.
PANASONIC D SNAP CODEC SOFTWARE
Panasonic provides a software program to help you bring your music into the D-snap SV-AV50. Monaural voice recordings are saved in a proprietary format. A 2.5X digital zoom is available, though it's hardly worth using, as it significantly reduces the image quality. There are four MPEG-4 video settings: Extra Fine (320x240 at 30fps), Super Fine (320x240 at 15fps), Fine (320x240 at 12fps), and Economy (176x144 at 6fps). You can save photos as JPEG files at three resolutions (1,600x1,200, 1,280x960, or 640x480) and two compression rates (Fine and Normal). The D-snap is made for handheld use, so there's no tripod mount. It appears to be durable, as do the buttons that line the back of the case. The rounded, silver-colored case (it's also available in blue) is constructed of sturdy plastic with metal trim. The screen swivels 180 degrees to allow self-portrait, overhead, and floor-level shots. A side panel swings out and twists to position the 2-inch LCD on one side of the unit and the lens on the other. Remarkably small and lightweight at 4 by 1.95 by 0.81 inches and 4.2 ounces with the battery installed, the stylish Panasonic D-snap SV-AV50 can fit into a shirt pocket with plenty of room to spare. But if you feel that almost any photo or video is better than none, read on.

If you're a quality-first kind of person, you'll want to steer clear. The SV-AV50 is so small you really can carry it anywhere, though you'll have to lower your expectations and maybe expect some puzzled looks when it comes to sharing its recorded content. That's impressive, but you won't find many of the features normally associated with those functions-there's no optical zoom, for example-and the resulting quality is uneven. If anything qualifies, it would have to be the cell phone-size Panasonic D-snap SV-AV50, which combines a 1.95-megapixel camera, a 320x240 MPEG-4 video camcorder, a digital voice recorder, an MP3- and AAC-format music player, and a digital video recorder that can grab and play TV programs. Manufacturers are cramming so many functions into their products these days, it's hard to know which ones to refer to as all-in-one devices.
