2 comments about Panasonic PVL552 VHS-C Camcorder w/ 4.0" Color LCD & Viewfinder.

1. I think this camcorder is good only if u are after a really good LCD screen.It is pretty clear. It is a very cheap price.



2. We almost bought the PCV-L552 for its big view finder and 27x optical zoom, but after a lot of digging on obscure web sites, we found this older camera suffers from a dew detector light that goes off too easily, shutting down camera for hours. The PV-L424 just came out in 2004.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-L352 Analog Camcorder.

1. When I first recieved this particular product I have to admit i was skeptical. I had only bought this product because I was in charge of taping some scenes from a play. But, after using this product I would say that it has the most features and the easiest to use system you will find for anywhere near [item price]! It easy to use, sleek, hideaway LCD screen lets you see exactly what you are taping. It also lets you watch what you taped without having to go to a TV. Overall, what this procuct has to offer is far superior to some of its competitors.



2. I purchased one of these last year and although I can't complain about the quality of the picture, the service from Panasonic leaves a whole lot to be desired.

   My camcorder was accidently bumped about 8 months after I purchased it which caused the deck assembly and loading assembly to become unworkable. Even though the fault was mine, Panasonic doesn't seem to want you to have their products repaired, they would rather you buy another one, as the repair technician stated to me. The parts cost more than the camcorder did new.

   Needless to say I will never buy another Panasonic product again and neither will my friends and family.




3. I baught this camera around october and it is now august, and for some odd reason a couple weeks ago, it broke. i have no idea why, i wasn't being rough with it or anything, i'm sure i didn't bang it.

   for one, the loading part would'nt work but my dad somehow managed to shove the tape in (i have no clue how because he can't do it anymore) and when he did it wouldn't record, play, or anything else!

   other than the fact that, its a nice camera.




4. I purchased this model in March 2002 and in May 2003 - it just quit working! I thought the battery had run out - recharged it -nothing! Bought a new battery - still nothing. All it'll do now is make a click noise when you switch to camera or vcr. Cant even get my tape out of the damn thing now! Call Panasonic - what a joke! They wanted $149.00 for a diagnostic test and $102.00 service charge - I only paid about $300 for it new. I'll never buy another panasonic again - the service was terrible and they are not helpful AT ALL! Good luck if you buy one - get the extended warranty! They should sell them for $50.00 and just make them disposable!



5. I was given this video camera by a friend. It "apparently" worked when he last used but it seems the lens stopped working and was not picking up a picture. I figured out how to use the camera and all its functions quickly! The manual was easy to follow and menu was not complicated. I was over all pleased with it other than not being able to get a picture so I called panasonic. They were so helpful they spent a while trouble shooting with me. Even though I did not have a warranty or even buy the product new. They figured out what was wrong and gave me the info I needed to get it to someone who can get it to like new for me. I was so pleased not only with the product but with the service at Panasonic. Since the last reviews were a few years ago I would assume that they have tried to change their customer service!

5 comments about Panasonic PVDV202 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, IR Remote & 8MB SD Memory Card.

1. This is a nice camcorder that you can play with.
   This is a light and easy to operate camcorder( compare to JVC VLWD405 ). The quality of still picture and video is great.
   I think this is excellent model for the beginner.



2. I purchased this camcorder about 2 months back. Thought I'd share my experience with all. Overall, I am satisfied with this purchase.

   ''''''''''''''''LIKES :)'''''''''''''''
   1. 680,000 PIXEL CCD
   Camcorders at this price range (atleast the better brands) typically have 390,000 or 460,000 pixels. In a MiniDV camcorder, the number of pixels on each CCD significantly affect the video quality. So this one with 680,000 pixels should give you noticeably better video quality than others

   2. IMAGE STABILIZATION AND PICTURE EFFECTS
   It is surprising how much shake comes into a video even with what I thought was a steady hand at 10x Zoom. Image stabilization can make that shot much more viewable. The nice thing is that you can apply stabilization either while recording or playing it back. The other effect I use a lot is the Fade effect, to seperate different sequences of video

   3. AUDIO EFFECTS AND ZOOM MIC
   I like to be able to cut out the background noise caused by the wind howling. Also, in relatively quiet conditions, the Zoom Mic can filter out the ambient noise and try to make the sound (from the area you are zooming into) more prominent. Cute!

   4. POWERFUL LIGHT
   I found this to be quite useful. Digital photography products generally struggle in low light conditions, so this was a must have feature for me. And while it would certainly take up more battery power, my batteries didnt seem to drain out very quickly either

   5. WEB CAM MODE
   You can also use this as a Web Cam. I've never used this mode but expect it will do as well as any dedicated Web cam in the market

   6. DECENT LCD
   Though not exactly great when in bright outdoor conditions, the LCD is about as good or better when compared to other camcorders in the market

   7. REMOTE - EASE OF USE; and RELIABLE
   I found this camcorder to be easy to use. The remote helps playback / operate from a distance. The Camcorder has good build quality and that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

   ''''''''''''''''DISLIKES :(''''''''''''''''
   1. OPTICAL ZOOM - 10x
   I think Optical Zoom is one feature which you can never have enough of! 10x is decent and useful, but frankly, there are tons of models there that offer 20x+. Though I would certainly love more zoom, be warned that the more the zoom, the more the shake that gets into the video; and the lower the picture quality (because there is lesser light incident on the lens). I never use Digital Zoom so Optical Zoom is all the zoom I've got

   2. USB CONNECTION AND STILL PHOTO MODE
   This has its caveats. Yes, you can transfer videos using the USB 1 connection, but its just not practical. One second of video takes 40 seconds to get downloaded onto the computer (because USB 1 has a bandwidth of only 12 Mega bits per second). Also, you can download only 1 minute of video at a time (which will take you 40 minutes anyway). Just not practical!
   I wonder if Panasonic will be upgrading these models with USB 2 support soon - that will be good - its 40 times faster!
   Regarding the still photo mode, I was disappointed. I thought 1.3 Megapixels (albeit interpolated) would give me decent shots, but it doesnt. Take others advise and plan on using a [good] camera for stills, they'll leave this for dead. And dont get impressed by the Memory Card feature - its not very useful to have poor quality shots caught on the card.

   3. FIREWIRE TRANSFER LIMITATION
   Honestly, I don't know how many people would use this feature to store / process their digital recordings. In case you are like me and intend doing so once DVD Writers are cheaper (so that you can dump about 1 hour of video after doing the necessary modifications on 1 DVD), there's a caveat. The firewire transfer mode only does 3 minutes of video at a time. I don't know about other digital camcorders, but this sounds like a trivial irritation

   ''''''''''''''''MUST HAVE ADD-ONS :O''''''''''''''''
   1. MORE BATTERY
   The battery that comes with the camera is good for about 40 minutes of Video - with LCD usage and Zooming. I found this out the hard way - the very next day I bought this camcorder, I went out on a cruise by the San Francisco Bay to watch the 4th of July Celebrations. I had captured details of the Alcatraz; and after waiting out in the cold for 3 hours, the fireworks finally started. And as Murphy would have warned, the battery gave way immediately! :'(
   You've been warned. There's a decent Panasonic battery that I purchased for [a moderate amount]- that gives me about 2 hours more. Must buy!

   2. VIDEO CASSETTES
   These days you can buy a 60 minute cassette for [a small price], you'll need them as long as you don't start burning your videos onto DVD

   3. FIREWIRE CARD and DVD WRITER
   To burn videos onto DVD. I'll probably wait for DVD technologies to stabilize and prices to drop - maybe a year or two before I buy these

   4. CARRYING CASE

   5. OPTICAL LENS
   I haven't done this yet, but am planning on buying a 2x Telephoto Zoom lens and a Wide angle lens. This way, I get to overcome my main gripe with this camcorder - the 10x zoom




3. The camera locks up when recording, and it's already fallen outside of it's 90 day parts warranty.

   I can't find much out about what's wrong on the Internet, and of course, since most of these types of repairs can cost nearly as much as what the camera cost, it's turning into an expensive paperweight.

   This camera has disappointed me because I couldn't take movies of my Kauai trip.




4. This is an excellent Digital Cam. It has great features that are easy to use. Also, the quality is very good. The only negative is the slow digital picture taking between clicking and being to take another picture. I have owned this camera since it came out. I use it alot and never had any problems with quality or functionality.



5. I'm giving this product three stars, because our PV-DV202 was a very good camera.. until it quit working. The quality of the video and even that of the still shots was very good. Panasonic cameras are also generally very user friendly. Beware though of Panasonic's customer service. Its Internet and telephone contact system is notorious for not returning requests for assistance, routing its callers through a confusing phone tree to poorly synthesized voice messages or long waits to talk to a customer representative. If you are seeking to repair a product that is out of warranty, your camera has actually just become a very expensive doorstop because repairs will usually cost you more than the camera cost new. We found this out the hard way. We were very happy with the camera for the two years of gentle use we gave it. Suddenly, the tape head went bad and we discovered the ugly truth about Panasonic, that it sells its cameras at a competetive price by reducing its customer service overhead. If you are nonetheless willing to take this risk or choose to buy an extended warranty for the camera, then Panasonic's customer service situation would be a non-issue for you.

5 comments about Panasonic PVDV102 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Color LCD and SD Drive.

1. A great camera, small with lots of great features.



2. I am an aspiring film director and find that with the appropriate settings and tapes, that this camcorder performs famously. It has a lot of bells and whistles, which to some, may not be needed. However, for those of us who enjoy the detailed aspects of film making, it is a good choice. The picture is clear and concise, it loads fast, and so on and so on. The only flaw I would point out, would be that the batery is a little below average. You can of course upgrade and get a higher standard battery, which basically means that flaw is not a major worry.



3. This is an excellent camcorder. I have had mine for a about a year and I have had no problems at all with it. The buttons on top are a little small for large hands but if you buy the optional remote control then you don't have to worry with them. I create digital movies on my computer using the USB cable that was provided. The special effects built into this camcorder work excellent. I have recommended this camcorder to all of my friends.



4. I can't say enough good things about this camcorder. I've made a Las Vegas documentary, a skateboard movie, and simple home movies with it. Not only that, I managed to make them look professional. It transfers video without flaw onto the software I use to make movies (Windows Movie Maker) and also makes flawless re-transfers back onto the tape. Using an SD card, it can be used as a digital camera (albeit a very low quality one... it's still-pic mode is only .5 megapixels).

   Pros:
   -Great for beginners to home movie making
   -Great for beginners to digital camcorders
   -Amazing film quality
   -SD card slot to save still pictures
   -Great sound
   -LCD screen

   Cons:
   -Poor explanation of how to use the digital zoom
   -Lens cap is detatched
   -Doesn't come with a FireWire, which is necessary to transfer video to the computer
   -Still pics saved to the SD card are very low quality

   Besides these four problems with this camcorder, it is a dream come true for those into amateur movie making. It really couldn't be any easier to use, save the digital zoom control. Other than these flaws, the camera is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make professional-looking home movies. Great product, strongly recommended.




5. I bought this camera my birthday and thought it was great. A couple months later, I began to notice that the sound skips, and it would constantly eat tapes. And then it goes on some sort of safety mode where it wont let you do anything on the camera because it thinks it might break itself. And whats up with all that extra space around the flip screen? I should have done more research before I bought this camera, and now im paying the price.

5 comments about Panasonic PVDV701 MiniDV Digital Palmcorder Camcorder with 3.5" Color LCD Monitor.

1. Mine did. When customer service finally found the unit lost in its repair facility, they were of little or no help in making it right. I have had to have it repaired three times in 6 months. Until I brought my attorney into it, Panasonic was slow to help.



2. Nice camera but Windows XP users should be advised that this camera does not support XP drivers and will not work with Windows XP. I wish I had known this prior to purchase. Panasonic says that XP drivers will be ready in early Summer of 2002. We can only hope.



3. I purchased this unit because I liked the features and the price was reasonable. It comes with a light that fits in the hot shoe, and a remote control. It has both digital and analog inputs/outputs, and USB & firewire interfaces. However, my experience has not been good. Thirty days after my purchase, I used it for the second time. I noticed a dead spot in the video. I contacted Panasonic Customer Service and they instructed me to send it to the Service Center for repair. Well, as of 4/3/02 they have had it for three weeks and they are still waiting for a part. Worse yet, they said that they are consolidating the Factory Service Centers and it will be 7-10 weeks before a technician is assigned to repair the unit. In my view that is ridiculous. They will not replace the unit. Panasonic seems to be completely comfortable with this absurd repair time. I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THIS UNIT, and any other Panasonic product unless you can get the retailer to extend their return policy to 60-90 days -in writing.



4. I was going on vacation and decided to get a videocam/still camera to record the festivities. After reading reviews from many different sites (epinion, various computer and video mag sites) I decided on the PVDV701. I have used it numerous times for still shots and video without a single glitch. The monitor is bright, the menu system easy to use, and the video quality is great. I have read some complaints about drivers and repairs. Maybe I've been lucky, but I also did things to prevent myself from getting in the same situation. I bought a 3rd party extended warranty which covers everything, including replacement of the unit, which anyone should do anyway for a 800 dollar investment. Also, I have experienced the same problem with the Windows XP drivers, but in foresight, I bought the Pyro Digital Video 1394DV card/software package at the same time. It included a firewire care and software for 69 dollars which is more than worth the investment. I get my video via Firewire and still shots via SD card and USB. Using USB to pull down video cannot be fast or good quality (this is just my opinion, considering the slow rate of USB data transfer). My videos come down at full speed, no dropped frames and highest quality audio that the camera will allow.
   I've been to the Panasonic site and the have updated all but one of the drivers to XP compatability, which I have updated and have had no problems with them.
   For the price and the features I think I got the best value for the money.



5. I bought this camera because it earned Editors' Awards from ... extremely reliable on their reviews. Considering that comparable models from other makers...were priced well above [$], the sub-[$]price was also a significant plus.
   I've owned this since March and it has delivered fully in every aspect. Very small yet not too small, it is very light and portable. It shoots great pictures, and contrary to other reviewers here, I haven't had any trouble at all using it in conjunction with my Windows XP PC for editing using Pinnacle Studio 7. Not one problem. In fact, I did some really heavy duty stuff with the PC and the camera delivered with aplomb.
   For anyone with average/moderate video needs, I think this camera would be perfect. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Panasonic Pro AG-DVC80 3-CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. The Panasonic AG-DVC80 is kind of a little brother to the fantastic, 24p-shooting DVX100. Most of us who aren't planning to convert video to film probably don't need 24p, and the DVC80 offers just about all the same features as the DVX100 for a thousand dollars less. The only thing I miss (so far) from the DVX100 is the ability to shoot time-lapse images. The DVC80 delivers great video, has a fine Leica lens that goes wider than most without an adaptor, and has a vast array of image control features. The manual is a little thin on the use of the various image controls -- this is not a beginner's camera. Yet it is a great camera for documentary filmmakers, commercial users, and the like. I'm shooting several independent film projects (docs, shorts), and so far this camera offers everything I need.



2. I am a television video producer, I deal with professional video equipment every day and knowing what good video looks like is part of my job. I have been using the AG-DVC80 as my personal video camera for about half a year now. I am 100% satisfied with it. I use my video camera almost every day to take video of the same events in my life that everyone else with a home video camera takes. I use it for birthdays, weddings, parties and so on. I will occasionally use my AG-DVC80 for video production, when a full sized ENG camera is not needed or available. To the majority of the population, the quality of the video and audio that this camera produces can not be distinguished from the video and audio of the DVC-PRO cameras we use for production. I occasionally see this model and the DVC100 being used in TV shows. Trading Spaces, Wild Boys and MTV Cribs are a few of the shows that I have noticed these cameras being used.
   My best friend uses the Cannon XL1 (not the XL1 S) and we personally do not see much of a difference in video quality between the camera images. The AG-DVC80 cost less than half the price of his XL and it is smaller and lighter. His XL1 does not have an LCD monitor, great for above head shots.

   The Good:
   3 CCD, a must for professional video
   2 XLR plugs with easy to use volume controls
   LCD monitor (not found on the Cannon XL1)
   Half the price of a Cannon XL1
   Solid constructions
   Optical stabilizer
   Good looking and intuitive design
   Small and light weight

   The Bad:
   Built in microphone is fragile
   Plastic guards for plugs are cheap
   Strange joystick for VCR control

No comments about Lorex VQ1630 Weatherproof Color Bullet Camera with Deluxe Sunshade.

No comments about Panasonic HDC-SD5 - Camcorder - High Definition - widescreen - 560 Kpix - optical zoom: 10 x - supported memory: MMC, SD, SDHC - flash card - with Panasonic VW-BN1 DVD burner.

2 comments about Sony DCR-TRV33E PAL-Format MiniDV Digital Camcorder.

1. WHEN I MAKE CD USING THE USB CABLE I DO NOT GET AUDIO , CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN ME THIS , HOW TO RECORD CD WIHT AUDIO AND VIDEO

   THNAKS
   KAISER
   kaiser@pacific.net.sg




2. Yes, KAISER could you tell me what software you are using, if you have capture option in your capture software then choose the sony audio instead your PC audio then you will be able to capture audio too. Hope this will help you

No comments about Sony DCRTRV830 Digital Camcorders.