Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: Used from $539.00

List price $999.99



Product Features:

• MiniDV
• Digital camcorder uses MiniDV tapes
• 20x optical and 300x digital zoom with digital image stabilization
• 3.0 inch LCD monitor and color viewfinder
• Digital camera mode stores stills on SD or MMC cards
• Arcsoft Editing software package included; magicVU infrared mode allows recording in near total darkness

Product Description:

The PV-DV401 is a great introduction into the world of digital video. Featuring a 20x optical zoom, along with digital image stabilization (during both recording and playback), which helps eliminate those shakes and bounces common to high zoom levels, this model has everything you need to start capturing beautiful footage. You can use either the 3-inch color LCD monitor or the electronic viewfinder to frame your shots. To help ensure that the footage you shoot will be the best it can be, the... read more


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Description from Manufacturer:The Panasonic PV-DV401 is a no-frills camcorder that's ideal for anyone who wants a digital camcorder but doesn't need a lot of extras. While perfectly adequate for general use, the camera didn't overwhelm us with good design and fantastic footage. The PV-DV401 is great for a family, but not the camera of choice for digital-video hobbyists.

Digital camcorders generally do very well in brightly lit environments, and the PV-DV401 was no exception. Low-light shooting wasn't too bad either; the picture was decent without being too grainy--a flaw of many digital camcorders. The lack of manual exposure control left much to be desired; in certain environments the auto exposure struggled between letting in too much light and letting in too little light. For nighttime shooting there is a nifty infrared mode where you shoot visible video in practically no light at all. Video playback was standard fare; however, at this price range it would be nice to include a remote control as a standard accessory. The large 3-inch LCD viewscreen is a big plus; it was very comfortable to look at during both recording and playback.

The overall design of this camcorder seems uninspired. With so many manual functions, digital effects, and settings, Panasonic could have done much better by bringing them out as buttons on the camera rather than tucking them away in hard-to-navigate onscreen menus. The jog wheel at the top of the camera performs many different camera functions, but it began to get tedious to use because of its odd placement and design. We inadvertently pressed the nearby photo button several times while trying to access the jog wheel.

Digital camcorders have been getting progressively better and cheaper the last few years. The PV-DV401 follows that trend, but has nothing to differentiate it from a crowded field. Simply put, it's just an average camera. --Bao Tran

Pros:

• Large LCD viewscreen
• Infrared low-light shooting
• Lightweight and small

Cons:

• No manual exposure control
• Awkward design, menu, and buttons
• No remote

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Less than Thrilled with my PV-DV401 Rating:
I was attracted to this camera when I was told I could insert titles with it. I was very disappointed to learn that it comes with a limited set of predefined titles (Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, etc.) and no way of creating my own as with my old S-VHS camera. I tried to contact customer service through their email address to ask about this and another problem - after a couple days I got an email back telling me to call during business hours. I find the thumb wheel that operates the menu driven options system ackward to use and frequently press the wrong button in the middle of trying to get to an option.
I am not happy with the method of putting date and time into the video - you have to use the menu system, so it is impossible to start a video with a time and date stamp imbedded, then turn the date stamp off after a few seconds of taping without stopping and running through the menus.
I understand that most digital cameras go into a mosaic mode when in fast-forward or reverse. The older analog cameras were better in this respect in that you can better see the images going by in fast-forward or rewind.
The picture quality is super; I like the color LCD screen and veiw finder. I'm happy that it has an external microphone input - that may well come in handy someday.

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Comment: No XP Driver for USB on PV-DV401 Rating:
I am a first-time buyer with a new kid.

Pro:
-Can make decent stills from the tape. Easier than getting junior to keep the right facial expression at the moment I shoot.

Con:
-Have to remove battery to power camera from AC. The charger can't charge the battery and run the camera simultaneously.

-No frame-by-frame advance button. At least not that I could find.

-The USB plugin is inside the cavity where the LCD sits when closed. So you have to have the LCD open to use the USB out. It would be better placed with the rest of the jacks on front right....

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Comment: Great Digital Video Camera Rating:
I've produced several half hour shorts in digital video with this camera and am very pleased with the long lens, image stabilization, digital video format, low light and bright light imaging, built in stereo mics and external mic input, large LCD screen, and color viewfinder!!!

Stills are ok in bright light, but less than 1 megapixel so detail is not there compared to current digital still cameras.

Minor negative - I get an editing artifact in the last frame of the last scene on tape.

A shame it doesn't do 16:9 though...

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)