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

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.

Product Description
The PV-DV953 3 CCD Mega Pixel Digital Video camcorder offers precise image quality and color accuracy. The superior quality digital video results from higher horizontal resolution, yielding sharper picture detail and component color sampling. Preserves more color information than analog. This camcorder incorporates a Leica Dcomar lens, enabling you to capture images with amazing detail and producing an incredibly high-resolution picture - a remarkable still image size of up to 2048 x 1496.

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.


Beware Panasonic Service Rip-Off---STAY AWAY!!   March 16, 2004
 11 out of 38 found this review helpful

As the owner of a very similar Panasonic digital camcorder (the PV-DV702), all I have to say is that when everything is working well, this is a great camcorder.

Negatives:

(1) The heads on these mini-DV digital camcorders are so sensitive that any microscopic particles on the heads will cause the digital image to break-up--usually at the worst possible time. Constantly cleaning the heads with a head-cleaning tape becomes a joke after a while (and I baby my camcorders like no one else I know).

(2) Panasonic service is a total rip-off. Only ONE (1) place in the entire USA is authorized to repair or clean your digital camcorder--the Panasonic Factory Service center in Elgin, IL.!! They use a FLAT RATE to service ANY Panasonic model digital camcorder. I found this out when my Panasonic digital camcorder began eating all my tapes, including brand new Sony tapes (head cleaning had absolutely no effect). Since it was just out of warranty, I called Panasonic to be told that it will cost nearly $300 (flat rate) for them to service it--even if all it needs is a de-magnetizing of the heads!!! TOTAL RIP OFF! I called Panasonic customer service to complain, and a head honcho was supposed to call me back--of course no one ever called me back.

Sony also has flat rate pricing for repair, but at about 30% less than Panasonic. To the best of my knowledge, JVC's rates are based on hourly charges.

(3) You have to use the digital camcorder as a PLAYER that patches into your TV using patch cords--further dirtying and wearing out the heads! Brilliant engineering.

**What I did: my Panasonic digital camcorder is now a paperweight. I purchased a JVC VHS-C (analog of course!) model GR-SXM260u camcorder from Amazon, and it was the best move I made! It was 1/4 the price of the Panasonic digital camcorder, and I have no-fuss recording (no more prima-donna digital heads) that is RELIABLE and I just pop it into the included VHS tape adapter and pop that into the VCR to watch. Gee, what was I thinking when I bought the Panasonic digital camcorder???

Sheeple who enjoy getting ripped-off will like this product from Panasonic.


Good camcorder for a beginner like me.   March 8, 2004
 20 out of 24 found this review helpful

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.


Greast movie making camera!   February 26, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have had this video cam for over a year. The picture clarity is the best and it is extremely easy to use. I have had the still pictures developed at Costco/Walmart and they rival any good digital camera.

I have created many a family movie with Microsoft's free movie maker software. For the guy who said he can't get it on his computer, all you need is a firewire cable and movie maker (which is free with Win XP~ plus movie maker2 is downloadable free from Microsoft's website) Plug the camera in and the XP system will identify it. It worked great for me!

Love my video cam!


Great Camera/Lousy Manual/Software   February 26, 2004
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I recently purchased this camera from a company in New York for less than 1600 US. The deal included shipping and a ton of extras (pro pack it was called). Anyhow, aside from the lousy manual and useless software, the camera is fantastic. The video quality is stunning to say the least and the digital stills I am taking are impressive. As for the manual, I quickly remedied this by going online and hunting down reviews for the camera (DVD-Spot had the best/most thorough). I am still working on software for converting my home movies to dvd, but I will get that accomplished over time. If anybody knows how to disable the pop up flash (very anoying when taking pictures in adequate light) I would greatly appreciate it.

Overall I recommend this camera whole heartedly