5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS35 MiniDV Camcorder w/30x Optical Zoom.

1. I like the camera very much... it serves my purpose.. It was hard to find a camera in my price range that had an external microphone connection... that was a priority... The light is amazing... picture quality good.... not too please with the stability option... when you move the camera around.. like walking while filming... not very good quality... if I had to buy it again.. I would.



2. I bought this camera 7 months ago and used it only rarely. (My total recording time was less than 2 hrs.)
   
   This week I opened the camera to find out that it is dead. No display, nothing. Called the customer service and they asked me to ship the camera to their Camera Repair company. And the fee for that service: 161.5 Dollars. This is a flat fee according to them, no matter what happens to the camera.
   
   I had a Sony 8mm camera for last 8 years and it still works fine. I am going to buy a Sony camera instead of wasting so much money on repair.



3. I've had this camcorder now for 6 months and it shoots great video. If you are looking for something for family type use it is perfect for that. The zoom is very nice and the image stabilization feature makes a huge difference.
   
   My only problem with this camera is the product support that Panasonic provides. I was able to successfully load two full tapes onto my computer before it simply doesn't recognize that the camcorder is even plugged in now. Panasonic doesn't offer a video driver for this model on their website so for now I am stuck recording to tapes and just storing them until I can find a fix.
   
   Other than that, I would recommend this camera for those looking to capture family type events.



4. For the price the picture is certainy great.
   
   An earlier reviewer had written about a problem with the tape getting tangled. One solution would be to record to the PC directly. As it is quite impossible to decipher the instructions from the manual I will briefly describe the procedure. Hook up the camera to the PC using the USB cable. Then start MotionDV Studio (which comes with the camera). Hit the play button, twice if necessary. What the camera sees should appear in the MotionDV window. Next click Capture and it will start recording directly to your PC, neat!
   
   One serious defect of the camera is that if you use the microphone jack, it records only to the left channel!!! I tested a couple of cameras and they both have the same defect. I wrote to Panasonic, but no reply. I had to extract the video track from the AVI using VirtualDub, then convert to mono and back to stereo using Soliton and finally adding it back again using VirtualDub.



5. Hey there! The camera is great; however, after taking it on a trip with me all my video turned out badly because there appears to be a problem with the head. I won't totally blame this on the seller, but will say that it was quite dissapointing to have a bad camera immediately after purchasing what I thought was a totally refurbed unit.

2 comments about Panasonic VDR-D250 2.3MP 3CCD DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. the picture quality is great one of the best I have seen. The optical zoom is pretty good but I wish it was like 25X or more. The 3CCD is really a great improvement ot regular picture quality. I give 4 stars because the zoom could be more but overall a great camera. I have a problem using DVD RAM so I am using only DVD -RW which gives easier playback both on the tv and on the computer.



2. Very Good & Easy to Operate.
   Good Qa;llity & Reasonable Price.

5 comments about Sony DCRHC40 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. Over the past 35 years that I have been shooting video, it has come a long way. Comparing this to the RCA TK-76 "Minicam" that I shot tv news with on 3/4" in 1977 is fun: 1/100 the cost and double the scan lines. Oh, and 1/80th the weight not including the 40 pound recorder. At first, I didn't think something this size could work this well. I needed something quick and inexpensive to do video cuts for inserting into PowerPoint. My boss was too cheap to buy equipment for the department and I needed training tapes. So I just bought a HC40, shot the material, edited it on my HP a622n and inserted into the PP. And then did it about a dozen more times on other training material. It looks surprisingly well 10' tall through a 2000 lumen projector. A handheld or wireless mic is a must. At least a key light, if not key, base and fill are a must. My Lowell Totalight kit works perfectly with a few scrims. Not broadcast quality of today although surpassing broadcast quality of 30 years ago. Just border line for industrial or PP if lit well with good sound. I am satisfied with it and it travels well.



2. The Picture Package software that comes with these Sony's is terrible - incompatible with most DVD/CD-R writers, meaning that you can't get your video off the MiniDV cassette tapes onto either your computer or a DVD or CD-R. I spent over 10 hours on the phone with Sony and Picture Package tech support, and ultimately learned that it is incompatible with my DVD/CD-R writer (in my Compaq Presario computer), and now am having to try to find some other solution for getting my videos off the cassettes to some other medium. The manuals are no help, and tech support is extremely time-consuming and ultimately found no solution other than telling me to use Microsoft Movie Maker - which takes FOREVER and I'm not even sure it really works. Before you buy this model - I highly recommend you seriously research whether it is compatible with your DVD/CD-R writer, and get some certainty about how you will be able to transfer the video tapes to computer or DVD or CD-R. I WOULD NOT buy this camcorder knowing what I now know.



3. if you think SONY is a quality brand....YOU ARE CORRECT
   
   too bad i dont know how to use all the features....and you will use a camcorder less than you think....so dont spend too much....and buy a good still camera...the stills on this is low resolution



4. I just purchased this camera about a week ago and I received it a few days ago.
   
   The camera is absolutely wonderful. Even though people say the bottom loading tape is bad, I think it is actually a good feature. It makes the camera less bulky and it is so easy to carry around because the tape isn't top loading.
   
   I love the size and it's so convenient. I'm used to bulky cameras and this is way better.
   
   The touch screen feature is great. People say it is inconvenient, but I don't think it is. I think it's because I'm used to having cameras with the controls in the LCD itself. The touch screen is neat, and it means you don't have to press a gajilion buttons like some cameras to control the camera.
   
   Although people say the LCD screen looks "washed out" if you mess around with the LCD brightness and stuff light that, it'll look less washed out and it will look pretty good.
   
   Also, I learned that if you used your middle finger to use the zoom toggle, you have more control over it and it doesn't make the "zoom toggle noise" that gets recorded if you don't control it.
   
   The fact that this camera takes pictures is cool. Although they are not "digital camera" sort of pictures, what do ya expect? This camera is mainly used for recording, not pictures. But I love how you can take pictures with the nightshot on and it looks pretty awesome.
   
   I bought this camera primarily for its analog through digital passthrough and its amazing. Its so easy to transfer your videos to the computer. (via firewire, it doesn't come with the camera, but you can find some on amazon that are under five bucks) The software that comes with the camera isn't that great when it comes to transferring. I recommend ArcSoft ShowBiz and its really easy to use. I haven't used Microsoft Movie Maker for transferring it yet, but it will most likely work.
   
   
   It doesn't do well under low light, but that's what the super night shot plus is for. The supernight shot plus feature is awesome. I've never had a camera like this before that could do that. I went into a dark room to test it out, I could see almost everything that I couldn't see without the super night shot plus.
   
   The problems I had with this camera is its instructions on using analog through digital pass through. I never used a camera with this feature, so I didn't know how to use it. I spent 2 hours trying to figure it out through the manual that came with the camera, which didn't help much. I was so frustrated that I looked on the net on how to do it. Guess what? In less then five minutes from looking, I found the instructions and it worked. If only I had looked on the net first instead of wasting 2 hours of my time on how to do it... But, when I finally digitized my old analog tapes, they came out perfect.
   
   Another thing that I don't like about this camera is that the viewfinder doesn't tilt up, even though it pulls out.
   
   Other than that, this camera is amazing. I like the the zoom because I've used it to watch and record a play. With the zoom up all the way, it was very clear and it felt like I was sitting close up to the stage with this useful gadget.
   
   Sony is such a great brand and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another camera from them in the future.



5. I just needed a small camcorder for making video game movies and this fits that. My laptop recognized it right away. Transfer is good and I have not had any problems with this DV Camcorder. The only complaint that I do have is the touch screen. I prefer actual buttons, but the camcorder is still easy to use.

5 comments about Vivitar DVR-310 3MP MPEG4 Camcorder.

1. I bought this camera, my first video and digital camera, in the hopes of taking wonderful movies of my honeymoon & my new stepson and I feel cheated. I could have taken my money and thrown it out the window. The LCD screen doesn't let enough light in to see when you try to take the picture. And the video camera? Even worse. It's for outdoor use only unless you have florescent lighting in your house. It's impossible to take a good picture. You have to try and line it up 5 times to get it right and by that time you've totally drained the 2 AA batteries that it runs on. I called Vivitar and they wouldn't even hear of refunding me my money despite the fact that I'm so unhappy so if anyone has any idea what I should do with a camera that I don't want, please post it here cause at this point it's a paperweight. Don't waste your money on it like I did.



2. I bought this cheap and nasty "thing" and was utterly speechless to test this out before xmas, and the alkaline batteries (supplied) drained within a minute! (eh?) yes folks - it cannot do what it is upposed to do!. Avoid this at all costs unless you like hassle and losing money, by buying a proper product. Vivitar must be getting hard up. I used to use Vivitar lenses in my SLR (excellent quality) and flashguns (again excellent!). So imagine the suprise in store with this lump of you know what!.
   Again - Avoid Avoid Avoid, like the black death.



3. i luv this camera....i was excpecting an ok camera that was just for taking pics....i was wrong....i luv this thing, it has a mp3 player, a video camera, and stills, everybody that visits me tells me that they are gonna take this camera home with them.....i luv it....
   
   
   buy this and i will garentee that u will luv it 2



4. The video quality on this camera was very poor in normal household lighting. To be fair, I didn't test it in the outdoors, but to be honest what good is a camera you can only use outside? It was simple to operate. I chose this camera because I was familiar with the Vivitar name as a good camera maker. This offering doesn't really come close to living up to standards.
   
   The price tag is good, but you're setting yourself up for frustration if you want to try and use this as a camcorder. Don't waste your money. Still pictures might be ok, but the video was just plain sub standard.



5. Its not as bad as some of the reviews state. Its easy to use and download in your computer. Ya it eats batteries up!I guess that is what I dislike about it. My suggestion is to wait for a sale, if you can pick it up for under say $80.00 go for it !!

5 comments about Hitachi DZ-MV730A DVD Camcorder w/16x Optical Zoom.

1. i have had this unit for over a month (summer 2005), took it on a trip to Vegas and even in very high ambient heat there, it has performed flawlessly. also used both mini DVD-R (best general choice for most people) but also used and recorded to the mini DVD-RAM discs which come in those nice protective case cartridges.
   
   AN IMPORTANT ISSUE;
   on the RAM disc issue.... my home PC system did not have a DVD which could read the RAM format, so... i bought an LG GSA 5163D external drive which is both very affordable, and very good. the mini DVD-RAM cartridges have a small spring clip on each side which, when pressed inwards, allows the disc to be removed and played or read in a normal DVD drawer inner (mini) table. i believe you have seen those small circular depressions in the inside DVD tray... the 8 cm ones.
   
   ('they' say that the predictable life of the RAM media is 100,000 cycles with the housing and only 1,000 cycles without it.)
   
   the LG drive also comes with a bunch of software and cables, connects both USB and Firewire, and is totally quiet.
   with that drive, i can use and reuse the DVD-RAM on this Hitachi camcorder. without it, again, i only suggest anyone using this camcorder try the mini DVD-R format which plays on most every deck i have tried them on lately.
   
   the camcorder came with one 120 minute battery. i bought an extra long life battery which is a good idea as i take this thing everywhere.
   
   the ability of this unit to handle delicate shades of color and smooth details is very rewarding. depending on the resolution i pick, one of these small discs can hold at least 60 minutes of video. taking videos in low light conditions works down to around 0.3 lux. by the way, i have a small vac brush and use it after every shoot outside, and this was especially true in sandy Las Vegas.
   
   Amazons delivery service is superb by the way!
   
   this camcorder was one of the least expensive ones i found, and seems to do everything my older Mini-DV does, and the DVD format takes a few steps out of the process.



2. Without purchasing another piece of hardware ,you cannot record to dvd via PC with this little number.All the other features are great but it's like traveling 500 ft and stopping short 1 foot from the destination .WTF!!!!
   Amazon advertises the Monster cable as an "accessory". Really?
   I have no idea why ,after spending the 39.99 for it and opening it like Ralphie from a Christmas story it may as well have been a bunny pajama suit.In hindsight I would have purchased the 780 not the 730,but it wasn't disclosed .



3. You are not going to get every option avaliable with this camera! But then again your not paying for for every option either! Just take the time to reaserch your needs and what your budget is. Personally I wanted to record family movies directly to DVD and convert my old HI8 and VHS video to dvd. This camera does this with no problem in fact really easy. If you want to edit on a computer which I also do with this camera as I did with my old HI8 you can purchase an external video input hub that connects through a usb port for around $30 but you can edit on the camera just the same. I compare the camera in terms of cars - Yes there are cadilacs but everyone can't afford to own one or don't feel the need to have the most expensive car on the lot (that will be outdated in a few years) A Buik is a nice ride to and is 10K less!



4. See other comments about the challenges of viewing this on your computer. They make it sound like you're just recording a DVD and you'll be able to pop it in anywhere. WRONG. And this model doesn't connect directly to a computer directly. Be careful when buying these to make sure you can do what you want to. I feel seriously abused having purchased this and it makes me far less likely to purchase from Hitachi in the future, or to purchase this type of electronics through Amazon (and I'm otherwise a very happy Amazon customer).



5. I really like this camera a lot. It is easy to use. DVD-RAM idea is great, but not super compatible.
   
   My goal was to take videos with the camera, then burn the DVD-RAM disc's images onto DVD-R type disks and then be on my way.
   
   This version of the camera does not have a USB port, so the only way to get your videos on your computer is by taking the DVD-RAM out of the camera and inserting it into your computer CD/DVD drive. The only issue here is that most DVD drives that I know of do not read DVD-RAM discs, so I had to go out and buy a new DVD drive for my computer.
   
   Now I can get the files from the DVD-RAM to my harddrive, but now I can't get any of my DVD programs to edit the file. I ended up buying Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD but that was pretty expensive. This software allows me to edit the movies and then it gets the video all ready to be written to a DVD-R disc that you can play in your TV-based DVD player. The only problem with Womble (an otherwise awesome video editting software tool) is that they do not have DVD burning software bundled in with the program, so you have to use Nero or something like that to burn the disc.
   
   Someone who wants to buy this camera and can use my review above to learn what you have to do and what tools you need to do it will have a much easier time that I did.
   
   I am all set up now and completely love it, however, there were a lot of growing pains in the learning process. I hope this review makes it easier for you!

5 comments about JVC GR-D350 MiniDV Camcorder w/32x Optical Zoom.

1. JVC is noted for its sound quality and reliability. I am not disappointed.



2. This camcorder is the best deal if you are looking for something easy to use and don't need the newest bells and whistles. It's small and light, making it easy to hold and record. The options are there for zooming, light, snapshots, etc. So far the quality has been great. Even if it lasts just a few years, at this price it was still well worth it. Would definitely recommend it.



3. The product is compact and portable, seems solid and well made. The zoom is good, and the functions are all fairly simple. Hooks up to a tv easily enough.
   
   The nigh vision feature, while providing better visibility, creates more of a strobing effect than I would have liked. Also, I have not yet figured out how to transfer video to a computer (I have the right cable), but I haven't tried too hard to figure it out.



4. This was a great buy. Really happy with the picture, sound, and ease of use. Size is perfect and as good as anything else we saw but much better price.



5. been using now for some time I really like the 32 optical zoom man its good. I play lots of golf and I was able to zoom in on the group in front of me over 200 yards away. Too bad camera did'nt come with a stabilizer.. cause it really flutters when you zoom in so far away..Hey JVC make next camera with some stabilizing for this price....

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV350 Digital8 Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick capabilities & Remote.

1. The good:

   Clear picture when viewing the digital tapes directly on a television. I like the fade in/out button. Good value.

   The bad:

   The manual is worthless. ilink is the same as firewire? Won't read that in the manual. Uploading video to your PC via the USB port does not work. The software the camera comes with is horrid. Had to buy a memory stick. The still pictures are horrid. Apparently, through reading other reviews, to get decent uploads of video for burning to VCD's you need firewire. Now I have to buy a cable (35 bucks) and a firewire card for my PC. Perhaps I should have just bought a camera that burns directly to DVDs. Low light shots are not the best quality.

   All in all, for the money and my first Camcorder, I am getting great shots of my four month old daughter.

   As with all electronic things (first computer, dvd player, mp3 player, etc.), I will be a much more informed shopper on my SECOND purchase.




2. I would like to start of by stating its great film quality. Also with its perfect resolution and zooming, it makes this a bullzie for sony. On top of its great control, it has simple and easy to use and fun features. I was very suprisied when my parents bought this also and learned how to use this withen two days [a new world record ;)]THese features include fade, freeze frame (great for an intro) and many others. While the playback on the camera is OK, the sound isnt very good, but then again, you werent ment to watch the movie on the camera, watching it on the TV is what your supposed to do. Which brings me to uploading, The loading it onto the computer takes a longggggggggg time using a USB cable, but using the FireWire(which i am disappointed to say does not come with the package but is supplied at a low price on Ebay) takes a matter of a few minutes. Watching it on the TV is what it all comes down to, because, thats just what you want. To watch your Steven Speilberg movie on the big screen ;). Anyways...My friends and i have a blast fooling around with the features while making suprisingly excellent movies.
   Overall: 4.5 STARS Great product



3. Considering this camera is my first, I think it is a decent camera. I am a high school student who loves to make short films. Even though there are better cameras, I think this camera is very good considering it's price. You need, however, to have a decent amount of light in a room you want to film. Another flaw is the camera does not come with a firewire cable (iLINK). I had to go purchase my own which was about 30 dollars. The editing program that came with this camera is terrible. If you are going to purchase this camera, you should get another editing program as well.
   
   I've had my camera for a little over a year now, and it is still in good shape.
   
   I recommend this camera to any who are looking for a camera at a low price.



4. I was looking for a camcorder to transfer my old 8mm tapes to computer and then probably to some other format. The model I purchased from the seller was just what I was looking for. It was priced a little higher than similar models from other sources but I was willing to pay the difference for one in great condition. When it arrived, I found that Garron (the seller) was true to his word. Although I've not explored all the features of this unit yet, it has performed admirably in the short time that I've owned it. Thanks again Garron.



5. I like the Sony DCR-TRV350 Camcorder Very much. I agree with all of the positive reviews I have read about this Camcorder. One thing that I like about this camcorder is that I can put video clips on my computer files by either inputting to my computer with the AV cable any files I put on my memory stick. I also can input video files to the computer using my Firewire cable. Some Camcorders do not have the firewire connecter and some do not have a memory stick that allows you to do a video file over one minute in length. The Sony DCR-TRV350 can do both and does a very fine job doing it. This is an excellent Camcorder and I highly recommend it.

1 comments about Vivitar DVR-510 5MP MPEG4 Camcorder.

1. We are professional photographers and travel writers who bought the DVR-510 to experiment with branching out from still photography to video. This was our first attempt with any video at all, and we are absolutely delighted with the experience.
   
   It's a snap to use. Just open the flip screen on the side and rotate it into good viewing position. Push the on/off button and you're ready to go. You can zoom in or out on the subject, start videotaping and pause whenever you like.
   
   We took "Old Faithful" erupting and had a chance to set up the shot --- with the camera placed flat on a viewing bench (to avoid "camera shake") and centered on the geyser. It filmed the whole eruption without stopping and even captured the sounds. Very nice.
   
   Coming back, we got caught in a "buffalo jam" --- a buffalo herd was wandering all over the roadway, so all traffic stopped and everyone stayed put and quiet. Buffalo are very big, unpredictable, and often dangerous. Asking them to pose was not an option. With the video camera hand-held out the car window and pointed (as best we could) at the buffalo, we had no real expectation of success. Surprise --- the video turned out just fine (a little jumpy in places, but fine). A little editing cut out the jumpy parts, and we are very pleased with the results.
   
   If you're looking for a handy, friendly, small video camera to have fun with, this one's for you!

5 comments about Canon Optura Xi MiniDV Camcorder w/11x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought my Canon Optura Xi two months ago. I almost bought a Canon GL2, until I studied the spec sheets. Both camcorders have the same features: 16-bit stereo recording; f/1.6 lens; 11x zoom; Av, Tv, and manual exposure control, etc. What stands out as different in their spec sheets is their CCDs (the chips that record the image). Digital video (DV) is 640 x 480 pixels, or 307,200 pixels, or one-third of a megapixel. NTSC broadcast video is 525 lines with a 4:3 aspect ratio, or 367,500 pixels. To get color you need three times that number of pixels (for red, green, and blue), or about one megapixel. In the past, CCDs had far fewer pixels, so camcorders had three chips to get enough pixels. The GL2 has three 1/4" chips, each with 380,000 pixels. Three chips demands a lens three times bigger. Splitting the light three ways requires a big, heavy prism. 3-chip camcorders are big, heavy, and expensive.
   
   The Optura Xi takes a different approach. It uses one chip with 1,230,000 pixels. The CCD is between 1/3" and 1.4"; in other words, bigger than the GL2's 1/4" chips, but smaller than the XL1S's 1/3" chips. (Pro video cameras have three 1/2" or 2/3" chips, making them much bigger and heavier.) The Optura Xi has more pixels than the GL2, yet doesn't need the prism. The lens and body are smaller and lighter, and the Optura Xi is half the price.
   
   I've found that my Optura Xi has accurate colors (unlike my old Canon Optura 200MC), and it performs well in low light conditions. The GL2's colors look a little better (more saturated) but only a little. The Optura Xi looks much better than previous one-chip camcorders.
   
   Apparently the size of the pixels make a difference. Imagine a CCD with tiny pixels the size of one photon. The state of such a pixel could be described with a one or a zero (either a photon hits the pixel, or no photon hits it). Imagine a CCD with pixels one million times bigger. You'd need a number between one and a million to describe how many photons hit each pixel. This illustrates that a camcorder with bigger CCDs (and a bigger lens) should produce more color detail, especially in very bright or very dark parts of your picture.
   
   The GL2 is only slightly better than the Optura Xi, and costs twice as much. To get a camcorder substantially better than the Optura Xi you'll have to pay many times more, such as for a Panasonic AG-DVX100A or a Canon XL2. I'm saving my money until HD camcorders are available. (I don't consider the JVC GR-HD1 to be high-def, as it has one 1/3" CCD with 880,000 pixels trying to fill a 1280x720 one-megapixel format!)
   
   My advice is to buy the Optura Xi, then spend your money on microphones, and good tripod, lights, video editing software, etc. You'll make better videos than people that blew their budget on a GL2.
   
   Another word of advice. I did a "price search" on the web and found various places advertising prices lower than Amazon (and lower than eBay prices). When I ordered from them, they were "out of stock" and tried to bait-and-switch me to other camcorders. I found that the lowest prices for camcorders that really existed are on Amazon.
   --
   Review by Thomas David Kehoe, author of "Hearts and Minds: How Our Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships"



2. I recently purchased this camera for $1000 (with the $200 rebate) this was a steal. I had a Canon ZR65 earlier and I wasn't too happy with it's low light performance and hence decided to buy this camera. The other thing I didn't like about the ZR65 was it's inability to reproduce true colors.
   
   This camera is amazing. We took a helicopter ride recently and the pictures of the sky , the terain was stunning. Once we played it back on our TV, the quality was was as good as broadcast quality playback. It was truly amazing!!! I highly recommend this camera.



3. This cameras amazing one of the best canon has to offer (for the price anyways) this camera has great zoom features not to mention it takes great pictures which is half the reason I bought it. I recomend buying this if you have nice video editing software...I dont think imovie will cut it but vegas 5.0 is very compatible with this camera..I have not had a problem yet...



4. Nice features which are included because Canon saved money by using a cheap tape transport. Within very little time expect to be continually exposed to the "Remove the Cassette" which can, apparently, only temporarily fixed at the Canon Repair Center. It appears that the cheap transport is not model specific. Caveat Emptor



5. I've owned the Optura Xi since June 2004 and my experience has been wonderful. I am a novice user in that I have not spent a lot of time learning the intricacies of the many, many features on this camcorder, such as the aperture settings and things of that nature and outside of using the zoom feature, I let the camcorder figure out the best options for what I am filming.
   
   But what I can share is that the video is clear, crisp, and I give it very high ratings. The image stabilization is great and the zoom feature is awesome. The audio is so-so and if you are filming something that requires adequate audio, you may want to invest in one of those boom microphones that can be attached to the camcorder. The low light limitation is also pretty frustrating and the filming in my house did not have very good results more than half the time. I had to turn on way too many lights to get a halfway decent video. I have actually broke down an ordered the VLF-1 auxilary light to combat this limitation. I haven't received yet, but I am pretty sure it will vastly improve my problems when filming indoors.
   
   All in all, it has been almost a year and I still get a thrill when I play back something that I have taped and see the clarity and resolution. I have also made some great DVD's of home videos, with music, cut scenes and narration...pretty cool, indeed!!

1 comments about Panasonic PV-GS320 - Camcorder - widescreen - 2.4 Mpix - optical zoom: 10 x - supported memory: MMC, SD, SDHC - Mini DV.

1. I bought this camera for two purposes: 1) to replace an older VHS camera and 2) to use for converting my VHS tapes to DVD's. I give it 4-1/2 stars for #1 and 0 stars for #2. (In my research before buying the camera, I managed to miss the fact that the GS320 does not have AV input, so can't be used to convert analog to digital. Rats!)
   
   However, for everything else I wanted, I was very satisfied. Other reviewers have pretty well expounded on the pros and cons. I'll just say that the quality of pictures (both video and still) that we get with this camera is really great. When I first got the camera, I handed it our son who is studying Film Production and works with professional camcorders. After fiddling with the controls and looking over its features, he expressed great delight with my purchase. (Yesss!)
   
   It took me a while to figure out the menus and I haven't enough experience to handle the manual control options well, but overall, I would highly recommend this camera.