Panasonic DVD-LS82 8.5 in. Portable DVD Player

These days, with plenty of low-cost portable DVD players on the market, the primary reason for investing in the Panasonic DVD-LS82 is battery life.

Batteries lose their efficiency after a time. I watched it happen with a previous portable DVD player -- it used to be dependable for more than two hours of uninterrupted video entertainment, but now it can't seem to make it through an entire movie, even with a full charge. Rather than invest in a new battery, I decided to invest in a new LS82.

First of all, forget the 12-hour playback claims. You can only achieve this with the brightness of the LCD panel turned down to the absolute minimum. With the LCD brightness set at 0, which is actually the middle of the brightness scale, you can safely estimate between six and seven hours of continuous use -- and actually see the picture. If you're just listening to CDs without using the LCD at all, the unit can keep going for a reported 16 hours (I have not tested this claim).

With extended battery life comes the need for extended battery charging. Plan on seven hours for a complete recharge.

The picture itself is solid on the LS82. I'm picky when it comes to image quality, and I think Panasonic offers some of the better portable DVD screens out there. The 8.5-inch screen provides more than adequate resolution and contrast, a noticeable difference from those low-cost, no-name models out there. You have a number of picture options with the LS82 -- I prefer the look of the daylight setting, but you can adjust brightness and color individually. There are also an impressive number of menu settings that allow fine tuning of your picture and audio.

The unit itself has "free style viewing," which means the LCD panel is attached to an arm to allow more flexibility when adjusting your viewing angle. You can even tilt the screen so it lies almost flat against the base. It's designed to work in the car as well, and comes complete with a car power adapter and headrest mounting bracket.

One feature that is particularly useful is the dual headphone jack. My wife and I were able to share the DVD player during an international flight. Admittedly, the LS82 does not provide the loudest audio output (though the actual sound is fine). However, we each used a pair of noise-cancelling headphones with their own volume control and had satisfactory audio during the trip. The one feature noticeably absent from the LS82 (and missed in hotel rooms on business trips) is a remote control.

The Panasonic LS82 is a good solution for people who need a portable DVD player with long battery life. It'll reliably get you through hours of entertainment with quality images and clear (though not particularly loud) audio.