Panasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder Multicam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: $299.94
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, B&W 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 compact Panasonic PV-DV53 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, and 2.5-inch LCD. Optics The PV-DV53 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV73'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-DV53 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-DV53 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 personal 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 2.9 x 7.1 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. This package includes the PV-DV53 camcorder, CARD LINK PhotoVu Link, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, lens cap, and CD-ROM with digital still and video editing software.

Description from Manufacturer:The compact Panasonic PV-DV53 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, and 2.5-inch LCD.

Optics
The PV-DV53 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV73'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-DV53 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-DV53 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 personal 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 2.9 x 7.1 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. This package includes the PV-DV53 camcorder, CARD LINK PhotoVu Link, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, lens cap, and CD-ROM with digital still and video editing software.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: DARN GOOD CAMERA -- FOR THE MONEY Rating:
Last year, I needed a SMALL, light, portable, tough, inexpensive, mini-DV camera to schlep around Croatia and Hungary -- during the hot summer. Trains, planes, and buses bumped myPanasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder along --which took GREAT (!!!) motion pictures. I wrote" motion" because I practically never used the still digital capability. NOTE: The battery charger is 115v-220v/60Hz-50Hz compatible (but you'll need a $5 adapter for the plug to hook it up with European sockets.

For me, one big drawback was that there is no thread in the object lens in which to add filters, wide angle or telephoto lenses. Also, the computer linkages is only good for stills. When the miniDV is transferred to VHS (through a VCR with digital inputs -- most good ones have them) I managed to get excellent videos out of them, suitable for shipping to relatives.

You'll need to get a bigger battery than the standard one which can perhaps give you 30 minutes of shooting when fully charged. I picked up a 3 hour battery (by searching online -- I think it was sold NEW at eBay for about $50).

In my opinion, this is about the best, most versatile camera that you can get for the money.

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Comment: Great deal on a DV Rating:
I got this DV Camera to tape some old Super-8 movies for conversion to DVD. Thanks to the low light performance and image stabiliaztion it did a great job. Then I shot some footage on the Santa Monica Pier and it did great in daylight as well. So for a low cost video camera you can't beat it. It's not a digital camera though go buy one if you want that. Still no firewire cable was a let down but you can get them cheap look for a 4-6 pin cable and get it hooked up for computer fun!

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Comment: decent minidv camcorder for the money Rating:
This "southwestconsumer" (sdclark12) wrote over 100 piece of reviews with exactly the same contents and rating against various Panasonic products. This is a person full of hatred towards Panasonic. His reviews have nothing to do with a particular Panasonic product.

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