Camcorder Reviews

Like most purchasers of camcorders, I had my first child last August. Thus, I decided to buy a camcorder to take hours of video that I will never watch again. On the other hand, if I didn't buy a camcorder, I would be a horrible parent, right?

Anyways, I did a fair amount of research online and in print (Consumers Reports). I finally decided to purchase the Panasonic PVDV201, based on the recommendations of several electronics salespeople. However, I spent quite a bit of time testing this camcorder. The PVDV200 is quite similar to the PVDV201.

First, the PV-DV200 is a MiniDV format digital camcorder. The Digital8 camcorders (generally sold by Sony) are a little cheaper for the tapes. On the other hand, the camcorders are a bit larger and a fair bit heavier. If you have old 8mm tapes you want to replay on a camcorder, Digital8 is probably the format for you. This was my first camcorder, so I went with the MiniDV format because of the weight difference, and also because the picture quality seemed a bit better.

One caveat about the PV-DV200: The digital zoom requires you to press a separate button, which is a bit awkward. That being said, it is rare (in my experience) that you will need zoom power in excess of 18X, which the 200 provides. The digital zoom is a bit of a marketing ploy. (By the way, the PVDV201 provides 20X optical zoom, a bit better)I found this camcorder to be a high quality starter camcorder in the digital format, for a very reasonable price.

A few concerns: (1) the digital still photos are good for e-
mails, nothing more; and (2) the PVDV201 is a newer model and, oddly, cheaper.

... So far, the results are quite nice. Camera is easy to use, with simple auto modes for exposure, etc.

Menu's are a bit cryptic, but easy to get to learn.

Outstanding features: Compatible with Apple's iMove with no drivers needed. Simple and quite operation.

Negative Features: Not the best low light useability (although not bad).

I definately would reccomend this camera to a friend.

I just got this about a week ago. It is an excellent camera for the price. There are other cameras that do more, but for most people, most of the time, this camcorder fits the bill. Very light, and easy to use. Most of the buttons are easy to reach, and you quickly get used to where to find the fade, backlight, etc. The menu button and jogger are a little awkward, but I have not found it to be a major problem.

I'd give this 5 stars except the software that comes with it is lousy. I wanted to download some still images to email to relatives, but can't get it to work. The help files are not helpful, and there is no manual. It tells me that I need to check my COM1 port, but I am not sure what it wants me to do. Has anyone else gotten this software to work?

So, don't buy this expecting to be able to download photos easily, but for recording, it is a terrific camera.

Like most purchasers of camcorders, I had my first child last August. Thus, I decided to buy a camcorder to take hours of video that I will never watch again. On the other hand, if I didn't buy a camcorder, I would be a horrible parent, right?
Anyways, I did a fair amount of research online and in print (Consumers Reports). I finally decided to purchase the Panasonic PVDV201, based on the recommendations of several electronics salespeople. However, I spent quite a bit of time testing this camcorder. The PVDV101 is not a worthy alternative as a camcorder for several reasons.

First, the PV-DV101 is a MiniDV format digital camcorder. The Digital8 camcorders (generally sold by Sony) are a little cheaper for the tapes. On the other hand, the camcorders are a bit larger and a fair bit heavier. If you have old 8mm tapes you want to replay on a camcorder, Digital8 is probably the format for you. This was my first camcorder, so I went with the MiniDV format because of the weight difference, and also because the picture quality seemed a bit better.

One caveat about all of the PV-DV models: The digital zoom requires you to press a separate button, which is a bit awkward. That being said, it is rare (in my experience) that you will need zoom power in excess of 18X, which the 101 provides. The digital zoom is a bit of a marketing ploy. (By the way, the PVDV201 provides 20X optical zoom, a bit better)

If you have previously fallen for the Sony marketing blitz, and think that only Sony can make good consumer electronics, just shop the prices, and you will see Sony is...more for comparable features.

The picture quality on this model is not as good as others, like the PVDV201. I found this camcorder to okay in quality, but for slightly more money, the PVDV201 is a much better alternative.

A few additional concerns: (1) the digital still photos are okay for e-mails, nothing more; and (2) the picture quality is not as good as other similarly priced models.

I used to have a SONY Hi-8 (TRV 87). I think that produced far crisper images than this, supposedly "digital" PV-DV 101 from Panasonic. The picture quality here is unexpectedly grainy. Low light recording is awful, even with their low light setting turned on. Once the 20X optical zoom is at its max, digital zoom doesn't kick in automatically. You actually have to hit a digital zoom button to get it on. This can cause an awful interruption in your recording. Also, this camcorder doesn't come with an electric adapter (it is optional and you have to buy it separately). Thumbs down on my behalf. [The still photo shot was impressive, though!]

This is good video camera however it desperately needs more features. This is the perfect camera for a person who doesn't like special features. Despite the flaws, it is a great machine for the price!

I bought this camcorder on sale about 1 1/2 years ago and was moderately happy with it until this last week when the firewire (IEEE1394) connection stopped working entirely. I've tried 3 new cables and 4 computers (including one Apple Powerbook) and nothing is working. I've contacted Panasonic and they keep telling me to locate a service center using their online site. I use the online site to discover that there isn't one withing an unlimited mile radius (hello!?) and that I should contact them by phone. Email contact has been fruitless. After two days of this and feeling like a yo-yo from going back and forth so much, I've broken down and bought a new camcorder with higher CCD resolution and a better warranty.

This camera worked fine for shooting videos at close range. Since I have a preference to SLR cameras, I found I was a bit disappointed in the photo quality. But for the most part this camera worked well. I was impressed a bit with the abilty to take still frame shots along with being able to connect it to my PC. One thing that I really enjoyed was being able to connect the camcorder to my PC, I found the software that came with the camera made it easy for me to go through videos frame by frame to find the shot I was looking for.

After eight months, I still love my PV-DV100. I only wish I'd bought it sooner to record vacation footage a few weeks before. I can't wait to videotape my new baby when he or she is born this week! Compared to an average consumer-grade analog camcorder, the video is clearer, and the 16-bit sound is crisp (which I appreciate when playing back movies through my home theater system and making movies on my PC). Images look great on my 32-inch TV. I've actually started producing music videos for local bands with this camera, with good results.

Pros: Small, lightweight design, image stabilization (but always use a tripod when you can!), easy control layout, 18X optical zoom (newer ones at this price only offer 10X), plenty of input/output jacks, and great (but not HDTV great) picture quality.

Cons: (1) Microphones record camera's motor sounds (barely noticeable, only in the quietest footage). A cheap external mic would probably solve that problem. (2) Camera doesn't focus smoothly when panning from a bright scene to a dark one. You can avoid this by setting your AE mode accordingly for each scene you shoot. A simple fix, well worth the [money] saved by not getting a professional model.

I've owned a Panasonic of this type for about 6 years. Nice zoom capability, good picture quality. However, it is not rugged at all. Mine has had to have been repaired twice, and now needs it again. I don't treat cameras hard at all, so this is very frustrating and I am now in the market for a new camera. Microphone placement with this unit is poor. It picks up a great deal of wind noise when outside. Also, the unit has a self protection feature that senses moisture. While this seems like a nice feature, I've missed MANY pictures because of high humidity situations. I don't mean just normal condensation like moving from air conditioning to outside-but in almost any humid atmosphere, this unit shuts down. Very few outside pictures in Alaska or Texas. Overall, very disappointing.

I purchased my Panasonic PV-D300 less than a week ago, so this is a review of my initial impressions. I'll let you know in 3 to 6 months what I think of it then. It's an inexpensive and easy-to-use entry-level unit. I had it up and running less than 2 hours after I got it home. In the time it took for the initial battery charge, I was able to digest the easy-to-read instructions and play with the controls enough to be fairly comfortable with it right when I first popped in a tape and started it up. The controls are convenient, well-placed, and easy to use. The displays in the viewfinder are helpful without being obtrusive. The camera focuses well in all modes and re-focuses quickly after zooming in or out. the picture quality is very good for a camera in this price range. the sound quality isn't great but it's acceptable. Rewind and playback thru the viewfinder is a bit slow, and of course lacks audio, but not a major problem, and a good way to preview what you've just shot. The play-pack provided to use the VHS-C tape in a standard VHS machine was easy to use. Thus far (knock on wood) I've had no humidity-related problems like I saw in the review from Texas, and I live in Florida where high humidity is a fact of life. My only complaint so far is that the battery didn't seem to hold a charge as long as I thought it would, so (a word to the wise) get a spare battery when you buy the camera, and keep it charged and close by. Otherwise, you may be in the middle of taping something important and the thing will very quickly go dead on you. Naturally, this camcorder lacks some of the refinements and gimmicky options of high-end units, but it's a good deal if you're just starting out and just want to shoot some reasonably decent home movies. It's compact, light-weight, and easy-to-use. Hopefully, it will also prove to be reliable and not need frequent repairs since I opted out of the fairly expensive extended warranty/maintenance agreement the store offered with it.

We have found this camcorder to be a competent performer that is generally easy to use and takes good pictures. So far we have used it in the cold air of the Sierra Nevadas and the relatively humid, warm air of Houston without any problems. One unusual omission is its lack of an earphone jack; one can only monitor the audio by playing the tape back through a TV or some other monitor.

Considering the fact that this is not a new model, the camcorder offers a decent variety of features, clear recordings, and, most impressively, a long-lasting battery.

I bought my Panasonic PV-D209 when it first came out a year ago, and I absolutely love it! Though I'm very tech savvy (I'm an IS Manager by trade), this was the first camcorder I ever owned, and I still use it. (Hey, it's only been a year!) The PV-D209 is a VHS-C recorder, but it shoots gorgeous, bright, and detailed video. Superb monaural sound (you'll swear it's hi-fi stereo) from the built-in mike. The PV-D209 is a palmcorder - you slip your hand in through the palm strap to hold it - which means that it's a lightweight, comfortable unit that makes for smooth pans and transition shots. The camcorder may be small, but it's packed with goodies. The four-speed power zoom feature offers up to 26x natural and 150x digital zoom, backlight compensation, automatic or manual focus, and digital electronic image stablization (EIS). The built-in special effects include time lapse recording, 7-color fade-in/out screens, Y2K compliant time/date stamp, and titling. It even has a security mode whereby the camcorder starts recording as soon as motion is detected - great for hidden-camera monitoring at home or in the office! This is a great little camcorder for newbies - it comes with everything you need to start taping, and with the menu-driven screens, it's easy to add professional-looking effects. You won't be scratching your head in confusion - an easy-to-understand instruction manual is included. You also get a 70-minute battery, battery charger, cables to connect the camcorder to your TV or VCR, and an adapter for playing camcorder tapes in a regular VCR, and a shoulder strap. The battery charger doubles as an AC adapter, so you can run the camera off AC power for indoor taping and save battery juice. To get the most out of your PV-D209, I recommend recording in SP mode exclusively (SLP mode isn't that bad, though) and using premium VHS-C tapes. Invest in a good 3 or 6 hour battery and keep it charged. The charger provides for refreshing the battery - purging the voltage completely before recharging - which should be done after every 5 recharges to keep your batteries in good working order. If you want to copy your videos to standard VHS tapes for friends, connect the camcorder directly to your VCR. There is a big difference in picture quality - you get superior results if you copy directly from the camcorder. To sum up, the PV-D209 offers great quality video recording and the professional features and effects you would expect from a name like Panasonic. It's easy to use, even for rank beginners, though powerful enough for a pro. [For the money], it's an affordable, high-quality alternative to spending [more on] an 8MM camcorder ... or a digital camcorder. Whether preserving precious memories or just having fun, the PV-D209 is the camcorder for you!

Only two words. Buy it. I mean, it's even convenient in busy Chicago. I'm tellin' ya, if it works here, it works everywhere. It's durable, with awesome quality! It is, as we would say here in Chicago, "Da Camcorder"

I am a television video producer, I deal with professional video equipment every day and knowing what good video looks like is part of my job. I have been using the AG-DVC80 as my personal video camera for about half a year now. I am 100% satisfied with it. I use my video camera almost every day to take video of the same events in my life that everyone else with a home video camera takes. I use it for birthdays, weddings, parties and so on. I will occasionally use my AG-DVC80 for video production, when a full sized ENG camera is not needed or available. To the majority of the population, the quality of the video and audio that this camera produces can not be distinguished from the video and audio of the DVC-PRO cameras we use for production. I occasionally see this model and the DVC100 being used in TV shows. Trading Spaces, Wild Boys and MTV Cribs are a few of the shows that I have noticed these cameras being used.
My best friend uses the Cannon XL1 (not the XL1 S) and we personally do not see much of a difference in video quality between the camera images. The AG-DVC80 cost less than half the price of his XL and it is smaller and lighter. His XL1 does not have an LCD monitor, great for above head shots.

The Good:
3 CCD, a must for professional video
2 XLR plugs with easy to use volume controls
LCD monitor (not found on the Cannon XL1)
Half the price of a Cannon XL1
Solid constructions
Optical stabilizer
Good looking and intuitive design
Small and light weight

The Bad:
Built in microphone is fragile
Plastic guards for plugs are cheap
Strange joystick for VCR control

The Panasonic AG-DVC80 is kind of a little brother to the fantastic, 24p-shooting DVX100. Most of us who aren't planning to convert video to film probably don't need 24p, and the DVC80 offers just about all the same features as the DVX100 for a thousand dollars less. The only thing I miss (so far) from the DVX100 is the ability to shoot time-lapse images. The DVC80 delivers great video, has a fine Leica lens that goes wider than most without an adaptor, and has a vast array of image control features. The manual is a little thin on the use of the various image controls -- this is not a beginner's camera. Yet it is a great camera for documentary filmmakers, commercial users, and the like. I'm shooting several independent film projects (docs, shorts), and so far this camera offers everything I need.