Panasonic VDR-D50 DVD Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Great VDR, especially for the price! I need to keep it simple...or I won't ever see the footage. This VDR has just that. Very nice picture, great zoom, and simple to use. Would recommend this to anyone who doesn't need complicted devices in their hectic life!

Despite Amazon.com's product description saying:

"When it comes to shooting videos, simpler is better. Panasonic DVD camcorders make it exceptionally easy to capture your precious memories directly onto several DVD formats (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R/DL) and SD Cards."

this camcorder is INCAPABLE of recording videos to SD cards.
Go to the Panasonic website and download the manual to see for yourself.
Here's a quote from p. 26 of the manual: "Motion pictures cannot be recorded on an SD card with this unit."

Apparently, only still photos can be recorded to SD cards with this camcorder.

This is despite the fact that SD cards are now up to 8GB, well in excess of the capacity of a DVD.

I bought this camera and have used it a few times. I had no problem with finalization at first, but the 2nd time that I used it I have gotten "finalization failed" messages, although I can watch the videos on the camera, it can't download to my pc because the finalization failed which is required to download it. This is quite frustrating. I'm trying to reach tech support for assistance but if anyone has experienced this, please let me know. I do not have Vista, I have XP Pro.

We bought this camcorder to record our children's development. So far, it's been easy to use and the picture is clear. A great price for basic video taping functions.

Panasonic Camcorder, Model VDR-D50P/PC

July 31, 2008 Update to below comment, solution found to reinstall software on "VISTA". To reinstall the software, the "restore to an earlier date" function was utilized to restore the computer to a date prior to the date the software was initially installed. CAUTION - Using the "restore to an earlier date" may delete files subsequent to the restoration date.

I have had no experience operating a camcorder until I purchased this one. Detailed instructions come with the unit and once I became acquainted with some of its many functions, I found it very enjoyable to use. The clarity of the movies recorded on DVD and photos stored on the SD card is of superior quality. Both, the movies stored on the DVD and pictures stored on the SD card can be viewed on TV by connecting the camcorder to the TV via the cable that comes with the unit. (I found that the DVD might have to be finalized first).

The software that comes with the camcorder which is advertised to allow editing of movies (particularly designed for "VISTA") does not seem to want to download into my computer. I have contacted Panasonic on the problem twice already, but the technicians were unable to help me install the software. I suggested that the software might be faulty, and asked for another disk, but have had no further response from Panasonic since the latter part of May 2008. Hopefully I can get the software to work on my "Windows VISTA". As that was one of the features I desired when I purchased the camcorder.