If I Can't Have a Professional Camcorder, This Is the Next Best Thing

Author's Rating:

Pros: Fabulous pictures, outstanding zoom, easy to use.

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: 
I love this camera--it has everything I need and more.

Author's Review
My old camera was a Digital 8—I loved it and it took great pictures, but it was older and didn’t have the still photo option (I did my best with capturing stills from the video but it’s not the same) features the newer models have. When the need to purchase a new one presented itself, I needed to decide between all the new formats being offered. It’s not easy; there are a lot of them!

I finally settled on this camera. It uses a Mini DV tape format. It is 56% smaller than an 8mm tape and can record up to 2 hours in the LP mode. The Mini DV format is supported by over 56 companies so we’re supposed to be assured that it won’t be abandoned soon—who knows, there are no guarantees.

This camera also uses SD media (that stands for Secure Digital memory Card)—thin, lightweight memory cards that measure 1.26x0.9x0.08 inches and hold huge amounts of data. These cards also have exceptional transfer rate, important when your moving pictures or movies from your PC to your camera and visa versa.

I loved the camera’s tiny size and lightweight (under 2 pounds) and found it to be extremely comfortable to hold—even for long concerts. I did finally invest in a tripod so I didn’t need to hold it the whole time but it was to improve the picture, not because I couldn’t hold it. It’s so lightweight that I would forget I was holding it and the picture would be jumpy because I wasn’t paying attention.

The picture quality and zoom are excellent. Taking pictures in a school gym with less than perfect lighting of my son who is just a dot in a sea of many faces is easy—I can zoom right in an shoot just him and then pull back to show the whole group. It has the usual features like black and white mode, sepia, and mosaic. They can be used during the taping or playback. I’m not a big fan of these and never use them.

When you first get it the only assembly is to add the wrist strap (if you desire), attach the battery or AC adaptor, and put in a tape or memory card. The battery attaches easily and is located on the back, the memory card inserts on the left and nicely can’t be inserted incorrectly, and the tape drawer is exactly like my old one—push the button, it pops open and up, place in the tape, hit the close button, and down it goes.

You can set the date and time if you like this feature—all done through the onscreen programming. If you need the text larger, you can connect it to your TV and follow the directions on the TV screen.

The camera has all the usual functions including the ability to work as a playback system with all the controls necessary. A remote control is included so you can sit back and watch your movies while controlling them with the remote. It’s a feature I don’t use often and I’ve thrown the tiny remote into the pile of other unused remotes.

I chose this model because of the dual view finder—it has a LCD screen for taking movies or pictures inside or when you are just pointing and shooting (school performances), and a viewfinder for outside (when it’s too bright for the LCD) or when you want to really focus on your shots like taking still photos. I like having the option as neither is perfect all of the time. The viewfinder has a feature that allows you to focus it for your vision so you can use it without your glasses—most do.

3-WAY PC LINK
This camera offers you three ways to transfer images to your computer:

CARD LINK
Lets you transfer still images between the Memory Card and your PC. Use it like digital film—take the pictures, upload them to your computer, empty the card, and start shooting again. You can selectively erase any or all of the images from the card and reuse it repeatedly. It also allows you to separate your still images from your video.

PHOTOVU LINK
The PhotoVu Link lets you transfer still images from the Mini DV tape to your computer with a USB cable (included). Even if you forgot to punch the PhotoShot button prior to shooting your video, you can still capture photo stills from the video.

i.LINK™ (IEEE 1394) PC INTERFACE
Also known as FireWire™, a IEEE 1394 digital interface allows for 2-way communication between either two compatible digital camcorders or between a digital camcorder and a compatible personal computer without any deterioration in sound or video quality. To use this feature with your PC it must have a host adapter card installed (most new computers come with the equipment already installed) and an IEEE 1934 DV interface cable (this cable allows you to physically connect your camera to your PC). You’ll also need software that allows you to transfer and edit.

SPECIAL FEATURES

MagicVu: Lets you shoot video in near-total darkness. It worked well for my son’s play, which was incredible dark, and with not much stage lighting. It filled in the areas for a result that was viewable—my previous camera would never have been able to capture the show.

AE (Auto Exposure)
The camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed, iris for the use. Preprogrammed modes are:

SPORTS: Fast-paced auction, I’ve used it for my son’s Rugby games with great results.

PORTRAIT: My favorite mode—the subject is in focus but the background is blurred. Great for still photos or for times when you’re spotlighting a specific person in a group of many.

LOW-LIGHT: Lets you take photos in dim light without altering the picture to add extra lighting. Gives a soft glow to the pictures and displays the lighting in the room in a realistic way. Great for Christmas trees and other times when the lights need to speak for themselves.

SPOT LIGHT: The booklet says, “Neutralizes the additional brightness created by a spot light”. I haven’t figured out when I would use this and don’t see a huge difference when it’s selected.

SURF & SNOW: Compensates for excessive illumination from sun glare to produce a clear picture—great for when someone is standing in front of a window or other reflective surface that would normally cause the person to be underexposed and just an outline. This evens it out so the person/subject’s light is increased while the glare from the overexposed areas is toned down. Another feature I use a lot.

PHOTOSHOT
Choose this feature and you’ll be taking still images as if this was a regular digital camera. Saves the photos on the tape or Memory Card, your choice.

PICTURE-IN-PICTURE
Ok, I have this on my TV and love it, but it seems really silly on a camera. It lets you insert a previously taken digital still image into the video you're recording. The still image is taken using the PhotoShot feature and appears on the right side of the video you're recording. The video and miniaturized still shot then appear together during playback. Something I’ve never used and probably never will.

ZOOM MIC
As you zoom in on the picture, the audio will also zoom in so that you can pinpoint distant sound—this works relatively well, much better than I expected. I can pick out my son’s voice out of a choir of 100.

BATTERIES
Rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The manual states that the battery should be removed from the camcorder and stored in a cool, dark place. It also says that if you leave in it the camera or on the charger, it will stop charging. This was news to me! I’m going to try it as I’ve always left it attached to my old camera and I’ve had to buy several batteries for it. Maybe I have been causing the problem the whole time! In the time I’ve had this one

I’ve been following these directions and so far I’ve not had any battery failures.

The battery included lasts about 1-1/2 to 3 hours depending on how you use it. Using the LCD or using the playback features run the battery down faster. I opted for an additional battery (CGR-D16A/1B) at a cost of about $89 that gives me another 1-1/2 to 3 hours. I’ve always purchased a second battery because I don’t ever want to be caught without a battery when I need it.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX
AC Adapter with AC cable and DC cable, 8mb memory card, battery pack, USB cable, clock batter (preinstalled), shoulder strap, a/v cable, lens cap & strap, and CD-ROM with drivers for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP and Macintosh; USB Device Driver for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP: PhotoVU/Mpeg4 Movie Messenger™ System for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP; and built-in SD Drive for Macintosh.

SPECS
Mini DV Format Yes
CCD 1/6", 680K
3-in-1 MultiCamTM Camcorder Yes
Mega Still® Pictures (1 Million pixel still interpolation) Yes
Hi-Definition Zoom 10x
Digital Zoom 700x
Color LCD Monitor 2.5" diag.
Viewfinder Color
i.LINK (IEEE 1394 PC Interface) Yes
PHOTOVU LINK (USB Connection) Yes
CARD LINK Yes
USB Port Yes
Electronic Image Stabilization Dual (Rec/Play)
PhotoShot® Built-in Digital Still Camera Yes
Image Size (Normal/Fine) 640 x 480/1280 x 960 (with included SD Memory Card)
Compression Still Format JPEG
SD Memory Card Included 8MB
Progressive PhotoShot® Mode Tape/Card
Picture-in-Picture Yes
Web (camera) Yes
Built-in SD Drive 6 Yes
MagicPixTM Images (color recording in low light) Yes
Built-in Light Yes
Quick Start Yes
MPEG4 Movie MessengerTM System Yes
Zoom Mic Yes
IR Remote Control Yes (optional)
High Speed Shutter (Auto, 1/60 - 1/8,000) Yes
Easy Cassette Eject Yes
Digital Effects (Record & Playback) Yes
Cinema Mode Yes
5-Mode Program AE (Auto Exposure) Yes
Audio PCM (12-bit/16-bit)
Wind Noise Reduction Yes
Slow/Frame Advance (with IR Remote Control) Yes
Index Search Scene/Photo (with IR Remote Control) Yes
Focus (Auto/Manual) Yes
Self Record Yes
SP/LP Record Mode Yes
Multi-Screen Yes
Audio Dubbing (SP Only) Yes
Battery & Tape Indicators Yes
S-Video Out Yes
Headphone Jack Yes
EfficiBright LED Light Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D) 33/8'' x 25/8'' x 47/8''
Weight 1.01 lbs

RECOMMENDED MEMORY CARDS
SD Memory Card (RP-SD008BMK0) (supplied) 8 MB
MultiMediaCard (SanDisk brand) 8 MB, 16 MB
SD Memory Card 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB

Here’s an example of a what you can do with a 64MB card. The data transfer rate is 2MB/sec and it can store audio, video, picture and voice files. It can hold 880 Normal or 440 Fine 640x480 JPEG photos, or 22 minutes of MPEG4 Video (384kbps) or 2 minutes of MPEG2 (DVD Grade) Video or 86 minutes of Normal or 64 minutes of Fine MP3 Audio. Again, I use the cards to collect the data and then download the information to my PC and convert it to its final format and then reuse the card.

DETAILS
Model Number : PV-DV203
Address : One Panasonic Way Secaucus New Jersey 07094
Telephone Number : 1-800-211-PANA(7262)

WARRANTY
Labor-Ninety (90) Days
Parts-One (1) Year (except CCD Image Sensor)

MY PURCHASE
I purchased it at Costco.com for $549 so the warranty above is not appropriate. Here’s the information for mine: “This item is covered by Costco's guarantee to refund your purchase price if you are not completely satisfied. Costco's guarantee applies, even though this item may not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, because Costco is not an "authorized" dealer of the merchandise.”

FINAL THOUGHTS
Beautiful pictures, still or video, with a zoom that is fabulous with many choices and options galore for a great price—it’s my choice for a perfect camcorder! That is until I can afford a professional camcorder!