Its most distinctive characteristic is the adjustable “free play” 7-inch wide-screen LCD panel, a feature previously found only on the company’s more expensive models. The screen swivels up and down 180 degrees, slides forward and back, and can be laid almost flat, adjusting to whatever viewing angle you find comfy.

At 1.75 pounds with the lithium battery pack and measuring 7.5 by 6.5 by 1.2 inches, the LS50 is not much larger or heavier than an airport-bought paperback. The cosmetics seem a bit Klingon, but we like the concentric circles milled into the DVD cover flap and the matching function buttons, which add a certain elegance. Even though the DVD flap is thin plastic, it seems firmly attached and able to withstand rough treatment from the young ‘uns.

If we had a design gripe, it was that we had a hard time telling apart the identically shaped function keys–and the small label font didn’t help. Also, the volume buttons are awkward to reach when the screen is in anything but normal position.

This DVD player is incredibly slim and light. We initially wanted to use our light-weight laptop for a road trip, but so glad we got this instead. What a difference, you hardly felt the weight at all!

The image and sound on this player is simply amazing, and one of the coolest features is the swivel screen. It is adjustable to different vewing angles, and even lie flat(almost) on the body itself if you have a really tight space.

The battery lasts pretty well if it is fully charged. Though there was a mail-in rebate for the car/plane power adapter and carrying case, it would be nice if they are included in the first place, kinda troublesome since I have no idea when they will arrive, and the adapter would be very helpful for longer trips.

Since this is my first portable DVD player, I can’t make comparisons, but I think it is very well-made, solid build, has an excellent playback quality, definitely a great buy.

In addition to DVD video discs, the DVD-LS50 is compatible with DVD-Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, video and audio CDs, MP3, WMA, and CD-R/-RW discs. It also supports HighMAT (High-Performance Media Access Technology), a technology codeveloped by Panasonic and Microsoft that improves the method of storing, arranging, and playing back digital photo, music, and video collections on recordable discs, such as DVD and CD recordable media.
With the high-speed, 5-step Smooth Motion Scan feature, you’ll get crystal-clear forward and reverse scan at 100 times normal speed at its highest setting. The Cinema Mode function lessens glare, providing colors that are more cinemalike, and picture resolution that is gentler to the eyes. It also improves the visibility of details in dark scenes by automatically adjusting picture contrast, and helps to suppress color smearing as well. The Dialogue Enhancer feature increases the center-channel volume relative to other channels, making movie dialogue easier to hear and understand.