Panasonic PVDV103 MiniDV Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: $499.94
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• MiniDV camcorder with 10x optical and 700x digital zoom with electronic image stabilization
• 680K pixel resolution
• 2.5-inch color, swivel LCD, color viewfinder, cinema mode
• Digital still mode saves images to tape
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394); serial connection transfer for stills

Product Description:

The ultracompact Panasonic PV-DV103 MiniDV camcorder is an affordable way to enter into the world of digital video. It features a 10x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom, built-in light, 2.5-inch LCD, and color viewfinder. Optics The PV-DV103 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV103's 10x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom. With Panasonic's introduction of Dual D-EIS (digital electronic image stabilization), you can use this same technology in both the record and playback modes to remove additional jitter from previously recorded video. Digital Stills The PV-DV103 still can capture digital still images and store them on the MiniDV tape. You can then use Panasonic's PhotoVu serial connection to transfer images to your PC. More Features The cinema mode enables you to record video in wide screen mode, giving you a 16:9 aspect ratio that's the same as a movie screen. When played back on a television the result is dramatic looking cinema-like movies at home. The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video you're recording. The still image is taken using the PhotoShot digital still feature and appears on the right side of the video you're recording. The video and miniaturized still shot then appear together during playback Other features include: 2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen. Electronic Image Stabilazation to correct camera shaking, giving you smooth and stable pictures. Inputs and Outputs The PV-DV103 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. MiniDV Format MiniDV is the preferred format for .9personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture. Size and Contents The camcorder measures 3.5 x 2.6 x 4.9 inches and weighs 16 ounces. This package includes the PV-DV103 camcorder, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, and lens cap.

Description from Manufacturer:The ultracompact Panasonic PV-DV103 MiniDV camcorder is an affordable way to enter into the world of digital video. It features a 10x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom, built-in light, 2.5-inch LCD, and color viewfinder.

Optics
The PV-DV103 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV103's 10x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom. With Panasonic's introduction of Dual D-EIS (digital electronic image stabilization), you can use this same technology in both the record and playback modes to remove additional jitter from previously recorded video.

Digital Stills
The PV-DV103 still can capture digital still images and store them on the MiniDV tape. You can then use Panasonic's PhotoVu serial connection to transfer images to your PC.

More Features
The cinema mode enables you to record video in wide screen mode, giving you a 16:9 aspect ratio that's the same as a movie screen. When played back on a television the result is dramatic looking cinema-like movies at home.

The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video you're recording. The still image is taken using the PhotoShot digital still feature and appears on the right side of the video you're recording. The video and miniaturized still shot then appear together during playback

Other features include:

• 2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.
• Electronic Image Stabilazation to correct camera shaking, giving you smooth and stable pictures.

Inputs and Outputs
The PV-DV103 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for .9personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.

Size and Contents
The camcorder measures 3.5 x 2.6 x 4.9 inches and weighs 16 ounces. This package includes the PV-DV103 camcorder, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, and lens cap.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Stay Away Rating:
After six months of ownership the camera will not connect to the computer for transfer of video. Contacting Panasonic revealed a flat labor cost of $200 for any repair with no alternatives or concern for me as a consumer. That is about half the cost of the camera. Stay away from Panasonic and try another brand.

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Comment: Great DV's from Panasonic Rating:
Panasonic makes a great DV. I'm on my second one. The video quality is solid. The import to the PC works well. They have been reliable. Nice and light. Everything you'd want.

The only downside in my experience on my prior Panasonic was it broke after about a year of fairly frequent use. Their service policy is a flat $250 charge to fix it, regardless of the problem. That was about half the price of the unit new, which seems out of line.

Otherwise, if it doesn't break, great unit.

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Comment: PVDV103 Rating:
The PVDV103 is a Great camcorder. It is compact and records in high quality.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)