5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS19 MiniDV Camcorder w/24x Optical Zoom.

1. I was taking good video 20 minutes after opening the box.The camera is easy to use and you can compensate for dark scenes quickly by changing a video setting with the cameras joystick.I had no trouble copying video from the camera to my computer ( XP ) via the USB connection. The windows movie maker program worked fine.Be aware that Panasonic does not supply a USB cable with its camera.



2. My son bought this camera on his own this past summer to take videos of his friends skateboarding, etc. His desire was to get video editing software to add sound effects, music, titles, etc. The camera works great and does what is advertised. Always keep in perspective that a $300 something camera will not match up with the features and extras that a $1000 something camera offers.
   
   The real reason for my posting this message relates to how to connect this camera to your PC to download videos. This is how it will work.
   
   1. Ignore the USB connection stuff in the manual. Good for still picture transfer and webcam stuff only. Look at page 43 in the manual: "PC Connection With DV Interfac Cable". You must use this method to transfer video.
   
   2. You need a "firewire" IEEE 1394 OHCI compliant card in your computer. I purchased and added a PCI Trendnet TFU-H33PI to my 5 year old HP XL773 computer that I also recently loaded Windows XP.
   
   3. Here is the KEY. I bought a cheap SanMAX 4pin to 6pin 1394 cable. Could not get the camera to be recognized by the computer OS. With XP it should recognize the camera as soon as you connect it and turn it on with the camera set to playback mode. XP will treat it like new hardware the first time. I tried everything to reload the card software and search online for drivers and through forums for answers. Then I remembered that my neighbor does video editing. I took my sons camera over to his house and his computer recognized the PV-GS19 Panasonic camera right away. I then plugged my SanMAX cheap cable into his computer... NOTHING. IT WAS THE CABLE. I borrowed his Belkin shielded $25+ cable and plugged it into my computer and it WORKED.
   
   Moral of the story. Don't skimp on the firewire cable. They are not all created equal.



3. I really wanted a 3CCD model, but since I'm just starting out and need to buy other stuff, like a tripod, monopod, media, firewire adapter card, camera bag, etc. This fits the budget nicely and it is compact enough to carry it anywhere. Yes the USB connection does work, yes FireWire does work, although it took me a minute to figure out that a connection problem was the fault of the video software version I was using, not the fault of the camera.



4. Great product! Great image and zoom. Captures color very well. Sound is good. Very compact. Good battery life. Still picture quality is ok. Definately recommend this product.



5. I bought this camera when it first came out. It's not a bad camera, by any means, for the price. But, I did have problems connecting it to a computer via firewire. I tried two different computers and neither recognized the camera. I spent many hours,literally, trying to find the problem. Searching the internet high and low. But had no luck. I even bought a thirty dollar firewire cable, to see if I just need a different one. I broke down and finally called Panasonic tech support. The gentlemen spent about five to ten minutes talking with me. He eventually told me they would have to build a case file and get back to me in a week or so. I never heard back from them. I did like the camera, other than that. It's light, easy to use. I got good use out of it. I recently bought a new camera though (Canon HV30), and gave my Panasonic PV-GS19 to my niece. She loves it. So if you are looking for a basic home movie camera or starter camera for a child this is it. You can buy editing programs that come with an adapter (You plug the AV cable into it, and the adapter plugs in to the computer)so you can edit your video. This is what I ended up doing.

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5 comments about JVC Everio GZMG155 1MP 30GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 32x Optical Zoom (Includes Docking Station).

1. We purchased this camcorder about 8 weeks after the birth of our son, hoping to catch the many wonderful memories that would occur in these precious first years. Not even 2 months after owning the camcorder, we turned it on one day only to get "communicating error" between the camcorder and battery. We tried charging the battery on the docking station, still the error, we tried charging the battery directly from the power cord to the outlet...same message. After only 2 months we couldn't believe that the battery that came with the camcorder was dead. We took it back to the store and tried to show the associate our problem...but it didn't happen there. Figures. So we went ahead and purchased another battery for $80, went home, charged it, and still got the same error message. The only way the product would work was if it was literally plugged into the wall while we were using it. Up to speed at 6 months, we contacted JVC only to find out that we have to send it off (shipping costs on us) to the factory and it will take 6-8 weeks for repair and return. We decided to wait until after X-Mas, since this was our babies first one and suck it up, use the device plugged into the wall during X-Mas and then send it in. Today, after putting down our son for a nap, who is now 9 months, we heard him making noise and went in to see he had pulled himself up for the first time and was standing holding on to the crib...we ran to get the video camera to plug it in to the wall to tape this joyous occasion, only to find the zoom function is broken and it is so far zoomed in, nothing is visible on the camcorder. After trying everything in the manual...we are SOOOOO P.O.ed! This is the worst product ever and our moments that we hoped to tape were priceless and now they are gone!!!! I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. I wish we could return it and get our money back. I am going to send the product off on Monday with a letter to JVC to tell them how crappy this product is and see what happens next, but it still sucks that for these next 8 weeks, of which time it is very possible that my son could take his first steps, we will miss it, all because of this STUPID, NON-FUNCTIONING, AWFUL, and every other terrible name you can nicely put on this so-called camcorder.



2. I have used the camcorder for 3 weeks now, and it has worked perfectly under every condition I have tried. My son plays indoor basketball and the video this camera took was perfect. I have used it on hikes in the mountains and have used it while riding in a car. I have to admit I was very impressed with the video under every condition.
   Downloading the videos from the camcorder to my pc was incredibly simple. I like that I have the ability to edit out the parts I don't like and to retain the video portions that I would like to keep.
   I would highly recommend this camcorder if you want something that is simple and easy to use.
   This camera does what it is suppose to do.



3. I chose this model because it was the highest rated of the Consumer Reports models tested that was compatible with my Mac's IMovie software. I have already used it for a family trip and for filming several of my kids basketball tournaments. It has been very easy to use. The features that I really enjoy: Fast transfer of footage from the camera to my computer. With HDD it is impossible to tape over previous recorded footage. Taping at highest quality it can hold up to 7.5 hours of footage. After a day of shooting I transfer everything to IMovie and then delete it from the camera. I edit the stuff I like with music and titles and then burn it to a DVD. Wow,its so nice not to have the mountain of mini-dv cassettes piling up in the hall closet and then trying to remember everything that was on them. Overall I am really happy with the camera, but even more pleased with how well it works with my Mac.



4. When I first got this camera, I was very happy with its features. I like being able to cue up specific scenes without having to fast forward or rewind tape. I also liked the size and HDD capacity
   
   But then I actually watched some of the video I had recorded on vacation. My jaw hit the floor - I simply could not believe how horrible the quality was. There were jagged digital artifacts everywhere. This camera cannot handle motion at all. It lacks clarity and the colors appear washed out. The poor picture quality is unacceptable at this price point. I returned the camera and bought a refurbished (with an extended guarantee) canon HV20 from this website. I am VERY VERY happy with this new camera - while it uses tapes it shoots in HIGH DEF and the picture quality is superb.
   
   Don't make the same mistake I initially made - avoid this camera like the plague. Read the review of this model on camcorderinfo.com to see just how poor the picture quality is.



5. So far, I love this thing! I haven't had many chances to use it, but the ties I have, it has great zoom, and the best part to me, is it is very light weight!

4 comments about Panasonic PVGS50S MiniDV Ultra Compact Digital Palmcorder (Silver).

1. This is a great camcorder and a great buy. It's tiny, full-featured, and well designed with the usual Panasonic attention to ergonomics and practicality. The battery life is extraordinary for a battery this size. On the downside, the digital photo mode has fairly low resolution, but remember that any camcorder you're using as a digital camera will NOT have a flash, and that's very limiting anyway. So don't buy this (or any camcorder) to be an all-in-1 device or you'll be disappointed. On the plus side, the ability to record MPEG-4 video to either the DV tape or the SD card is great, although it will be an *.asf file and not .mpg (and no, you can't easily convert), so your file sharing may be limited. You'll likely prefer to record in regular mode instead and then capture it on your PC (via firewire) and save it to mpg. Overall a very impressive camcorder and a good operating manual, although you won't even need it to do the basics. And that's rare these days! Well done, Panasonic.



2. I love the camera for the purpose of recording those unforgettable moments, but when using to take digital photos....it's not so good. The pictures have a very low resolution and when the photos are printed (from both photo center and my home printer) they look like a computer screen picture. Even with the light feature on, they aren't very nice printed.



3. This Panasonic DV camcorder is a solid performer and a great value. I've been using it for several months, and it hasn't let me down at all. Battery life is good, picture quality is great, and audio quality is acceptable.

   The basic features of this camera are intuitive and easy to use. You can have it out of the box and recording in no time (after you charge the battery). Video quality is high, and playback on the LCD screen is easy and watchable. It comes with nearly every imaginable cable, so you can hook it to whatever you want. However, I highly recommend a firewire (IEEE 1394) card for capturing video to a PC. I've used Pinnacle Studio software flawlessly with this camera, and produced very high quality results.

   This camera is chock full of features. To be honest, I haven't used many of them, not yet having learned how. The instruction manual is 102 pages long, and you'll every last page if you're going to exploit all the features of this camera. However, it's not necessary to do so to get your money's worth. One note: still picture quality won't match that of a good regular digital camera, so I wouldn't recommend using it for that purpose, although it comes equipped with an SD card slot that enables the capture of stills.

   This is a small, lightweight camera that will just barely fit in your hand. It'll go everywhere without being a burden. It's worked great for me, and I can highly recommend it. Enjoy.




4. This camera specs well and packs a lot of features. Using the features can be difficult and in some cases, too easy. On several occassions, I have hit the photo button while trying to find the zoom button. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) port failed. While mounted on my tripod, you cannot replace the battery. The battery release is on the bottom of the camera which is obstructed by the tripod. The sound quality is marginal. I am being generous with a three star rating. If you plan to use the camera frequently, invest time understanding your objectives and match the capabilities of the camera. This camera is small and awkward for me to use. I was happy to receive it as a gift but would not have purchased it for myself.

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5 comments about JVC Everio GZMG555 5MP 30GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Docking Station).

1. I bought is camcorder about about two months ago. I used it at eight events day and night time shooting and the videos came out great. I also shoot photos at a wedding, I loaded the photos on my computer. The prints were like a pro.



2. I recently just got this camera and boy is it frusterating! Now don't get me wrong the video quality is just pure excellence compared to the last camera I used. Another pro is the night alive feature which allows you to turn on a light built in the camera if necessary. Now with the cons. The camera files are saved as MOV files which are basically basically mpeg files, but none of my computer editing software can recognize it, including Windows Movie Maker and Sony Vegas Pro. I have wasted nothing, but precious time to solve this, but none of the solutions I've found appeal to me. I don't want to lose any quality and only want to edit the files directly through the programs I have (without converting)and not use the poor editing software it came with. Shame! with it's price tag it should be able to do the basic function what my previous $80 camera was capable of doing.



3. I bought this camcorder about a year ago and haven't used it much... just been taking video here and there. Now I'm ready to do some editing and the file format it records to, .MOD is not recognized by any program except the lame video editing program it comes with. I have Adobe Premiere CS3 with the latest update and it still doesn't work. There are programs out there for converting the files, I've tried one, it's a pain, and I still can't get the audio to work with the video.
   
   Don't just take my word for it, google .MOD and JVC and see what everyone else is saying.



4. This camera is great, only problem is, that almost immediately, two vertical lines appeared on the display. Another line appeared a few days after that. It makes no difference to the recording, but I am afraid that after a while I will not see what's on the display. I bought this for my dad and were able to give it to him after a few month so now I am wondering if I get any warranty help from JVC.



5. I have found this camcorder takes fantastic video as long as you set the indoor / outdoor button properly.
   Negatives I have read about and agree with:
   1) It is a little slow to focus at times
   2) Still pictures don't look good
   3) Records in .MOD format so editing and playback of files stored on a computer can be extremely problematic. I agree the included software for this is not very sophisticated and not user friendly. I found it an unacceptable long term solution.
   
   HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT SOLVE THE VIDEO EDITING PROBLEM = Adobe Premiere ($400-$600 I believe)and Pinnacle Studio (multiple versions) support the .MOD format (format support listed on both websites). I use Pinnacle studio "plus" version 11 which I found on sale for $99. It flawlessly recognizes, plays, and edits video from this camcorder and is a much more powerful program the Microsoft Movie Maker which I was previously using. With this software I love the camcorder. Without this software, moving, playing and editing files on anything other than the camcorder was a nightmare.
   So, I would rate this 5 stars except for the negatives above. Without the Pinnacle software I agree w/ the 1-2 start rating a few have given.

4 comments about Sony DCRTRV950 MiniDV Digital Camcorder.

1. Have had the TRV950 for 3 weeks now (my 2nd Sony digital camcorder). The picture quality (both still and video) is awesome, and it has a ton of useful features. Playing back video on a TV, it is easy to see the difference between this 3 CCD camera and a single CCD Sony.

   It is very small (weighs 1 lb 11 oz), which actually makes it slightly harder to handle compared to larger cameras I've used before.

   The zoom is a little touchy at first -- will require some practice to be able to zoom in/out slowly.

   Of course, the 8MB memory stick is too small to do much good -- go for the 128 MB one, and the battery is on the small side.

   Recommend this one highly!




2. Pros: Compact three-CCD camera; large, readable flip-out screen; one-megapixel still-image capture; clean, clear video images.

   Cons: Poor low-light sensitivity; low-capacity Memory Stick supplied; stills require more light than video; Bluetooth communication requires optional purchases.

   Summary: I bought the TRV50 2 weeks ago.I returned it for the TRV950 because zooming with the auto focus made video blurry.The TRV950 is instantaneously sharp.I also had made a tape just filming around the home with the TRV50.I compared that tape with the one I just made with the TRV950,just experimenting around the home.Now I see why 3ccd's are better than 1ccd.My best overall experiment was the digital alarm clock(with the big red LED numbers)in the bedroom.With the TRV50 the numbers always looked fuzzy.With the TRV950 those numbers looked crisp and sharp.Hence, I guess that where they get the term "color bleeding"from.I noticed that alot with the TRV50 while looking at bright objects.I even experimented with an UV and Polarizing filter on the TRV50 with no success.I know TRV950 is getting some bad press because it doesn't have Progessive scan,like the TRV50, but TRV950 has what's called Progessive shutter.Sony says it 's a step up and I believe it is too.I compared some of the stills I captured on tape and to me TRV950 comes out on top.I wonder if the number of ccd's has anything to do with this.If not then Sony needs to do more marketing in the Progessive shutter business.TRV50 has and TRV950 does not have infared.Does anybody out there ever really use the thing.Especially when it's only good for what 20 feet at most.Go to your local gun shop and get the real thing.I know the Carl Zeiss lens gets alot of publicity, but the TRV950 does not come with those lens. The less quality TRV50 does. What's the story with that?Logic only tells me that the higher end Sony lens must be better than the Carl Zeiss lens.Also TRV950 eats up more battery time than the cheaper TRV50.Be prepared to spring for a larger battery.I wonder if this has anything to do with the number of ccd's also.




3. great camcorder. the 3CCDs really make a difference in video quality in my opinion. unfortunately, you pay for this quality!

   pros:
   - as expected from a 3CCD camcorder, the trv-950 delivers excellent video quality - colors are reproduced accurately.
   - 1 megapixel still capability.
   - miniDV media is widely supported.
   - 12X optical zoom!
   - steady shot optical stabilization system works well.
   - ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
   - progressive shutter system.
   - offers color bars and zebra striping.
   - the 3.5" LCD screen is great.
   - built-in flash for stills.
   - built-in mic does a good job picking up sound from the target, not the operator.
   - great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
   - buttons along the left side and back of the camera body control essential camera functions (manual settings for focus, white balance, audio level, shutter speed, and special lighting situations) so you won't need to dive into menus for these commonly used capabilities.
   - side-mounted cassette means you can change tapes while the camcorder is mounted on a tripod.
   - low motor noise.
   - intelligent accessory shoe - very useful if you use the appropriate accessories.
   - allows a great deal of manual control.

   cons:
   - no built in video light but you can get a video light for less about fifty bucks.
   - you could do better on the still photo department. for example, sony's trv80 and trv70 have 2 megapixel capability while panasonic's pv-dv953 delivers 3 megapixel stills.
   - as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
   - don't expect miracles from 1 megapixel stills.
   - not as compact as i would like. dimensions are 4"H x 3-3/4"W x 8"D, weighing 2.4 lbs.
   - the included 8MB memory stick is unacceptable. be prepared to shell out more money for at least a 32MB or bigger memory stick.
   - does not have a NightShot mode (although i'm not a big fan of this feature).
   - MPEG movies saved to Memory Stick are much darker than the same scene recorded to a miniDV tape.
   - noticeable shutter lag for still captures.
   - bluetooth communication requires optional purchases = more $$.
   - touchscreen menu system is not intuitive.

   this is great camcorder if you are looking for a 3CCD system. it sits atop sony's prosumer line. the competition is catching up though so make sure you also consider the panasonic pv-dv953. peace.




4. We bought this camera in the summer of 2003 to replace our older video camera and have had a great experience. The video quality is excellent. The color is superb. Great audio quality. The video records at more lines of resolution than current televisions use, so I have no doubt that the quality will still look great after high definition televisions dominate the home television market.

   Recently, my 4 megapixel digital camera needed to be sent in for repairs ... it is not a Sony :( ... We were upset as we did not think we would be able to print pictures until it returned...we decided to test printing out the Sony TRV950 digital pictures...we were amazed that we were able to print out wonderful quality pictures (3x5). So, we have been very impressed with a feature we never intended to use.

   The features included on the camera are great...but two that stand out in my opinion are the super steady shot to help get rid of the "jiggle" and the auto white balance...the best I've seen.

   This camera does cost more than other consumer level cameras, but the value is well worth it in my opinion. We bought it to take good video of our baby growing up...we are convinced that this is, by far, the best option and we will never regret spending the extra money.

   We purchased a 3 Watt light attachment, a 256MB memory stick card, and an additional M71D battery (250 minutes). I would strongly recommend these accessories.