Panasonic PVDV953 MiniDV Camcorder with 3.5" LCD, 3CCD, and 16MB SD

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: $1,229.94
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• 3CCD MiniDV camcorder with 10x optical and 700x digital zoom with electronic image stabilization
• 800K pixel resolution on each CCD for 3.0 MP total resolution; Leica Dicomar lens
• Large 3.5-inch color, swivel LCD, cinema mode, MPEG4 video
• Saves digital stills to SD memory card; 16 MB card included
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394); USB transfer for stills

Product Description:

The stylish Panasonic PVDV953 is a stylish digital video camcorder boasts a 3CCD camera system that's the same used in Panasonic's professional broadcasting equipment. It also offers such advanced features as 3-megapixel still image resolution, MPEG4 video capability, and a Leica Dicomar lens.. Optics The PVDV953 utilizes a 7-element, multi-coated Leica Dicomar lens that preserves your videos and still images with a high level of detail and subtlety. The 3CCD system uses a separate CCD for the reds, greens, and blues that compose an image and delivers high-fidelity color reproduction--up to 540 lines of resolution. The PVGS70 also utilizes quad-density pixel distribution technology, which was originally developed for broadcast-quality cameras to help maximize picture quality. It utilizes vertical and horizontal pixel shifting to yield improved clarity and performance. The camcorder is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, and also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups. Digital Stills The PhotoShot built-in digital still mode is capable of capturing crystal-clear still images of up to 2048 x 1496 pixels. The images are stored onto the included 16 MB SD memory card. These stills can then be transferred to your PC using the available USB port. More Features The PVDV953 offers the capability to create high-quality MPEG-4 video clips from recorded video footage, or in real-time using the camcorder as a Webcam. This allows for computer-based editing, e-mailing video clips, or uploading to Web sites. The camcorder will also double as a Webcam when connected via USB to your PC. Also included is an auto pop up flash that eliminates darkness. Other features include: 3.5-inch tiltable LCD screen. External microphone jacks allow for professional sound recording. 3 megapixels. Built-in voice recorder. The IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connections provides fast loss-less digital transfer to a computer, or dubbing from or to another DV unit. The manual focus ring enables the cameraman to adjust the focus by hand. Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, slow motion, and audio dubbing/insert editing. MiniDV Format MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, 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. Contents This package includes the PVDV953 camcorder, 16 MB SD memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), USB cable, wireless remote control, wired remote control, lens cap, and software.

Description from Manufacturer:The stylish Panasonic PVDV953 is a stylish digital video camcorder boasts a 3CCD camera system that's the same used in Panasonic's professional broadcasting equipment. It also offers such advanced features as 3-megapixel still image resolution, MPEG4 video capability, and a Leica Dicomar lens..

Optics
The PVDV953 utilizes a 7-element, multi-coated Leica Dicomar lens that preserves your videos and still images with a high level of detail and subtlety. The 3CCD system uses a separate CCD for the reds, greens, and blues that compose an image and delivers high-fidelity color reproduction--up to 540 lines of resolution.

The PVGS70 also utilizes quad-density pixel distribution technology, which was originally developed for broadcast-quality cameras to help maximize picture quality. It utilizes vertical and horizontal pixel shifting to yield improved clarity and performance.

The camcorder is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, and also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills
The PhotoShot built-in digital still mode is capable of capturing crystal-clear still images of up to 2048 x 1496 pixels. The images are stored onto the included 16 MB SD memory card. These stills can then be transferred to your PC using the available USB port.

More Features
The PVDV953 offers the capability to create high-quality MPEG-4 video clips from recorded video footage, or in real-time using the camcorder as a Webcam. This allows for computer-based editing, e-mailing video clips, or uploading to Web sites. The camcorder will also double as a Webcam when connected via USB to your PC. Also included is an auto pop up flash that eliminates darkness.

Other features include:

• 3.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.
• External microphone jacks allow for professional sound recording.
• 3 megapixels.
• Built-in voice recorder.
• The IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connections provides fast loss-less digital transfer to a computer, or dubbing from or to another DV unit.
• The manual focus ring enables the cameraman to adjust the focus by hand.
• Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, slow motion, and audio dubbing/insert editing.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, 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.

Contents
This package includes the PVDV953 camcorder, 16 MB SD memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), USB cable, wireless remote control, wired remote control, lens cap, and software.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Takes great video and is fun to use Rating:
Overall I really like this camera. It takes great video and is fun to use.
Pros:
* 3CCD for great resolution and color separation
* Gorgeous LCD screen image
* Manual as well as automatic settings
* Fades sound in addition to picture
* Auto focus from wide angle to macro
* Mic directional angle and sensitivity vary as video zooms
* Automatically position to end of tape
* Create titles and overlay them on video
* Convert/Shoot video as MPEG4 for the web
* Low light mode preserves mood without altering picture brightness
Cons:
* External microphone, headphone, remote, and external A/V in/out use the same jack, so no two can be used at the same time (a real design screw-up).

I will comment on features and facets that I think are significant or that are not done justice by the detailed specifications. Of course, you can find out all this and more by downloading the pdf of the manual.

* The camera has three modes: Camera, VCR, and Card. In Camera mode you acquire video through the lens. In VCR mode you can record on and playback from the tape through a cable. In Card mode you can work with still images on a memory card. In particular, you can take a 3 megapixel digital picture and store it on the card.
* Camera starts recording approx. one second after pressing record button. Record lamp appears to not turn on until camera actually starts recording. Record lamp can be disabled.
* Camera takes approx. 6 secs to position tape and prepare for next shot after pressing stop recording. It makes a whining noise while doing so. This has not been a problem so far.
* Many functions are accessible only through menus. The menus display on the LCD or viewfinder.
* Date/Time overlay is turned on and off through menu.
* Audio: 12 bit or 16 bit. Audio dub mixes with 12 bit and replaces 16 bit.
* Video insert: This may be a DV feature. Recording over an existing recording inserts the new audio and video without damaging the recording that follows.
* Counter is frame accurate. Can position to any already-recorded frame when in VCR mode.
* The eyepiece viewfinder is rather small, but is color. It can swivel up and pull out. I use the LCD monitor.
* The LCD swivel allows turning the LCD toward the people being taped so they can see themselves. The image automatically rotates to be right side up and can be mirror image or not.
* Filter diameter is 43 mm.
* Hot shoe does not appear to be "hot," but it does allow mounting an external light or mic.
* Optical Image stabilization removes the little shakes and makes possible reasonably steady handheld telephoto shots as well as steady handheld moving the camera around.
* The infrared capability seems to be only for using the camera in VCR mode with the infrared remote.
* The cable-attached remote functions are record start/stop, zoom and photo shot.
* Digital still can be 640x480 or 2048x1496. A still shot can be recorded to the memory card or to tape (DV resolution) for 7 seconds.
* Camera can convert A/V source (camera lens, recorded tape, or cable input) to MPEG4. It creates an ASF file on the memory card. ASF is a format used by Windows Media.
* Camera can connect to a PC so that the memory card appears as a USB drive. Then can drag wanted files to the PC.
* Create titles that overlay on video by selecting Create Title from menu and pressing photo shoot button to take a picture of text or other two-color image. I display black text on a white computer screen using PowerPoint. Then set the image or background to black and the other to the desired color. Video will show through whatever is black and the other color will overlay. Store one or more titles on the memory card, select the desired one, and when ready, push a button to make it overlay, push again to make it go away.
* A cable is provided to do stereo audio and composite video in/out, which allows showing videos on a TV, copying them to VHS, copying VHS to to DV, etc.
* Other cable included is USB.
* S-Video jack can be used for input and output (cable is not supplied). Must use the A/V IN/OUT cable at the same time for the sound.
* Battery type is CGR-D16 (lithium). A battery and charger are included.
* In-camera digital effects: Multi-picture (display 3x3 grid of pictures and tape them), P-in-P (overlay moving picture with small still picture in any one corner), Wipe/Mix (horizontal wipe or dissolve, both from still captured at end of last scene to new scene), strobe effect, gain up, trail, mosaic, mirror (right half of image is mirror image of left), negative, sepia, Black and white, solari (painting-like effect). These must be set up through a menu.
* Has a tripod receptacle.

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Comment: Good camcorder for a beginner like me. Rating:
I've never owned a camcorder before, so I have nothing to compare this to. But, it's been an overall good experience for me. The "quick start" in the manual had me shooting movies and stills in no time.

**** You'll need to spend another $150 if you want to download movies to your computer - read more below ****

The digital stills are amazing high quality. I had been warned that camcorders don't take very good stills, but these are pretty darn good. I was quickly able to download them to my computer over USB.

The movies are pretty good, and the image stabilization works like a champ. I'm not smart enough to take advantage of some of the more advanced features, but the zoom is smooth and keeps focus fairly well.

Now, about the software: Of course, you'll need to install their USB driver in order to download from the SD card, but the rest of the software is worthless. Don't bother with the ArcSoft software. With the USB connection, you can treat the camera like a removable disk drive and just copy over the pictures. After that, just use your favorite image viewer like IrfanView.

Maybe I'm just an ignorant newbie, but I expected to have everything I needed to download movies from the tape. This isn't the case. First of all, the download is over Firewire so you'll need to buy a Firewire card for your computer and a Firewire cable (if the card doesn't come with a cable). I got one for $50 from Adaptec.

On top of that, you'll also have to buy software to handle the download (the software shipped with the camcorder doesn't support this). You have several options here, and each package comes with its own set of editing tools. I spent $100 for Pinnacle Studio 9, but you have other options, too.

Finally, you need a computer with the horsepower to support the editing tools - and there are some pretty high-end requirements here. You'll need plenty of memory, a fairly fast processor, and a hard drive that can write fast enough to keep up with the tape.

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Comment: Great Camera Rating:
I have had this camera for about 2 months and to date it has been great with a couple of little niggles.

I have captured footage outdoors in fairly bright light and have to say that the performance has been far superior to my old analogue camera, the picture is clearer, the colours are heaps,heaps better, in fact the picture excellent all round. The 3ccd makes the difference. The sound is not the best, but not bad either, the zoom mic is a waste of space IMO. The sound from the close surroundings is good. So if high quality pictures/footage is what you after and you plan to edit on PC where you can add/clean up the sound then I would highly reccomend this product.

I have downloaded footage to my PC via firewire with no problems (winXP) and used USB to transfer stills, all very easy.

The manual is only satisfactory, but there is so much help on the internet I have not a problem to date, just post on a forum if you can't figure it out.

Overall a great product.

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