5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS250 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. This is a great camcorder. The picture is excellent. It has well thought out features. I like the fact that you can also take high resolution still pictures. It is very small and compact. The only thing that could be better is the flash for the still pictures. I often get the glare from the flash in the picture.



2. I love my new camera!!! This is my first video camera and there is definitely no buyers remorse here. It is soooo user friendly!I researched many cameras and found this one to be most suitable for my needs. My company was subcontracted to work with another production company and my camera (PV-GS250) was used as a secondary camera for b-roll and it was fabulous. The footage was almost seamless between the two cameras when it was being edited. I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to using it more and more.



3. I did a lot of research before buying the PV-GS250. Now that I have the camera in my hands I know I made a great choice. Great image quality. Great build quality. The low light problems you read about are not really a big deal. In a noramlly lit room everything is fine.



4. I was looking forward to using this highly rated camera for taking video of our new son. Unfortunately, the camera tape mechanism went out after the first 4 months and I had to send the camera to Illinois to be repaired, and also to get the tape out of the camera. The camera was out for 6 weeks. The refurbished camera lasted approx. 6 more months, sent it back again and this time it cost me $168 to have it refurbished. Now after a couple of months the camera is showing a white LCD screen and will not function at all.
   Time to give up on Panasonic. Their customer service is non-existant and getting the camera repaired again seems like a waste of time.



5. This camcorder has many features to desire and can be used for everyday use in many conditions. This is the second camcorder I've had in this range and am really pleased with it. The only negative thing about it is the low resolution still camera functionality it has at 3.1 MP. Otherwise a great buy with good clarity, saturation, optical zoom and features.

4 comments about JVC GY-HD110U High Definition 3-CCD MiniDV Professional Camcorder with 16x ProHD Fujinon Lens.

1. This JVC camcorder with its Fujinon Lens makes Panasonic or Sony HD camcorders look like for amateurs. This is for those who want to work on documentaries/movies and not simply short takes at some news scene. The clarity of the picture is amazing . And you get a pro microphone with it along with a great viewfinder. And it all comes at a great price - unbeliveable.
   
   JVC has always been the leader in this technology . And they teamed up with Fujinon TV Lens to produce this amazing camcorder. Stuff for true professionals.



2. True 24p HD recording (same as movie film).
   720p60 composite out to computer. 720p30 and DV available if considering HD. Comes complete with TV Video lens and is adaptable for additional lens' via a bayonette adapter.
   Image Focus Assist is very helpful in the field and I use it often. Image smooth is available and SD save for your different set ups.
   I teamed it with Focus Enhancements HDD FS 4HD recorder and ADOBE software and that's it. Your ready for true film production in HD.
   Full Menu and shutter adjustments and shoulder style ENG/EFP shooting.
   You can't go wrong with this Camera.



3. My only problems are that adding an Anton Bauer Gold Mount on this is kind of clunky...also where's the 1080i JVC?
   
   Both of these not a problem if you upgrade to the 200...I know. Still a GREAT camera!



4. I bought one of these for an indie film that I am working on. I bought it one month early so that I would have enough time to learn everything about it. At the end of the month the right side of the screen started appearing a shade darker than the left side when viewing on an external monitor / TV (recorded to tape). I returned it to amazon and purchased a second camera... which also had the same defect (only this time it was much worse and visible on the LCD display). I spoke with a friend of mine who had the same camera and he had the same problem after his warranty had expired which cost him $1800 to fix. After the warranty for that work had expired it started doing the exact same thing again and now he doesn't even use that camera.
   
   Needless to say, I did not purchase a third camera but bought a Sony HVR-Z7U instead. It's a little more expensive but well worth the money. I noticed a significant increase in picture quality right away and it has many other features that I like much more. Recording direct to compact flash cuts my editing time in half.
   
   I really wanted this camera to work because it has some pretty great features for the price, but it wasn't worth the hassle for me.

5 comments about Canon Elura 85 MiniDV Camcorder w/18x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this camcorder recently and I am satisfied with its performace. The only reason I am taking off a few ** (stars) from this product is due to the reason that you cannot transfer videos from MiniDV to your computer using USB port. It required IEEE 1394 firewire cable (Cannon does not supply this cable with the camcorder) and a computer which has compatible port (not common in many computers and so you end up buying a suitable card for your computer if you wish to transfer the videos).



2. This camcorder has been reviewed by several experts and has received very good recommendations. See for yourself at www.dvspot.com or www.camcorderinfo.com.
   As for the reviewer that complained about the firewire...ALL digital camcorders use firewire for video transfer to a computer since USB only has a transefer rate of 1,1 Mb/s vs Firewire which has a rate of 400Mb/s. 4 minutes of finished video takes up 4 Gb!!
   Nobody would want to transfer video using USB 1. NOBODY, not Sony, JVC, Panasonic, or Canon ships their camcorder with a firewire cable ($14,99 Amazon.com). Please get your facts right before you give a great camcorder 3 stars.



3. I like the features this camcorder has (although I have to confess I didn't buy mine on Amazon). I don't give it full stars because the picture quality just seems average instead of bright and sharp. The analog to digital conversion feature is getting hard to find in camcorders, and lets you run VHS tapes from your VCR through the camcorder and into a PC (or onto the camcorder's digital tape), and that's a major plus with this machine.



4. This is only the second camcorder I have owned. I've had it for about 2 months. So far, it has exceeded my expecations. I haven't gotten into the details of what you can do with it. But, the picture and the sound on the camcorder have been great. I would definitely recommend it.



5. I have not used this camcorder very much at all in the past two years I've had it. I've maybe recorded about 10 tapes with it and watched a few back on playback. Today I was getting it ready to film the birth of our second child and all of a sudden a message came up telling me to "Remove Cassette Immediately". I pushed the eject button and the cassette is totally stuck and will not move. I called Canon and they told me it would be around $150 to fix. I researched other blogs and electronics trouble shooting websites and read several comments from others with this exact same problem. VERY DISAPPOINTED!

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV25 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder w/ 2.5" LCD, MPEG EX, Memory Stick & Mega Pixel Video/ Still.

1. Sony brand name so no problem with quality. We went to Las Vegas & night shooting was too good. This has everything for indoor and outdoor shooting. It has good digital camera buit-in but you have to add memory stick (comes with 8MB). Only downturn is you have to use Sony's memory stick (money making tricks) We have Canon S30 digital camera in which you can use any memory stick.
   But performance wise & features are too good. We LOVE it.



2. I now have 3 Sony camcorders, this being my third. I bought a VHSC a long time ago, moved on up to Hi-8 in 1999, and just got this mini DV in December. I could not ask for more! This camera has it all. The features are remarkable and the quality is like no other.

   I began getting into video editing and saw the real need for a mini DV to produce more quality in my work. I actually first bought a Canon mini DV for its size and price. That went right back to the store! Its quality was worse than my VHSC, really it was. If you are serious about quality and durability go with Sony. I have never been displeased with any Sony I have owned and still retain all 3 camcorders!

   On a side note, if you are just looking for a camera to tape your kids sporting events, family functions, etc...you may not want to go as far as this mini DV only because there are so many features and things to learn it may take quite a bit of practice before it is ready to use. For those uses I would definitely recommend one of the Sony Digital-8 cams. Also note that the still picture quality is not what you would get with a digital camera, not even close. But that is not what this mini DV is for, so I totally dismiss that and consider it another cool feature to play with! One great thing also about this camera is that it will record MPEGS!

   All in all, an excellent buy!




3. This is a great camera to have if you just want to have fun with making movies with a small budget. I have had this camera since Christmas and it has never been a dissapointment. My buddies and I make movies a lot, and we all agree that it is great. There are many features that they dont tell you about in the editorial review like frame recording for animation.(eg. toy soldiers, cartoons, etc.)If you do get this camera and want a good professional look to your movies, I recommend also getting the Pinnacle Studio Version 7 editing software. With it you can capture movies on your computer, edit them, add sound and picture effects, and transitions. Then it is recorded back onto your camera.



4. Great camcorder. Excelent outdoor pictures and sound! Easy to use. Still indoor pictures somewhat grainy though.



5. I have been using this camcorder for some time now; I'm really impressed by this great camera.
   
   Its features are remarkable and the quality is amazing. It is also the best priced camcorder for its features and quality.
   The color and sharpness of this camera is fantastic, but the video and still photos are grainy with low light. So either you buy a light for the camera or make sure to have a good indoor light source.
   Video Editing with this camcorder is really an easy enjoyable experience,
   To get the best out of your camcorder, you will definitely need to add few accessories:
   1 - One or two memory stick.
   2 - One or two Extra batteries.
   3 - A wide angle lens, which is very essential in some situations indoors as well as outdoors.
   And, that is all what you need to enjoy you memories with your family and friends.

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!!

5 comments about Canon ZR80 MiniDV Camcorder w/18x Optical Zoom.

1. I took it to europe thinking I would get great video, instead I arrive at London and it says SORRY NO LIGHT SOURCE FOUND. Ever since then it has been pitch black vido and picture. Even though it says it has a warranty, they say I broke it no refunds. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY, GET JVC!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. Canon recalled this item for a faulty CCD, the symptoms of which are static or no image at all recording to the tape. After about 15 hours of use I ran into this problem and was pretty bummed out, but after checking the Canon website I noticed that they had recalled the product and were offering free repairs (and free shipping). So, if it breaks, check the site, and send it in!
   
   I've used this camcorder for home movies, school projects, and short video profiles. I now use a more professional 3CCD camcorder for my projects, but I keep this little one around as a backup, or use it for situations where portability is important. It has served me very well in the 4+ years I have owned it, but does have a few drawbacks.
   
   Pro's:
   -Good picture for a 1-chip portable camcorder
   -Decent audio for an internal microphone (zoom out and get as close to your subject as possible for better audio, or get a wide-angle lens for best results)
   -Feels solid
   -Manual modes; white balance, focus, shutter speed
   -Decent night shot
   -Syncs and imports perfectly with editing software (like iMovie)
   
   Con's
   -No external mic input (this is my only "real" complaint)
   -Loud bass records static (doesn't do concerts very well)
   -Lens cap falls off way too easily
   -Faulty CCD, but free repair
   
   They sell on eBay for about 50 bucks, and even 4 or 5 years after its release, it's an overall good buy.



3. We got this camera 3-years ago as a baby shower gift. The camera does not have high quality video indoors, the battery life is really short (lasts only about 30 minutes after being fully charged), and we ended up with the black screen of death (see reviews for Samsung SCD23 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5 LCD). I would expect a video camera to last much longer than 3-years. I'm very disapointed with this camera and would not recommend it to anyone.



4. I bought a ZR80 about 3 years ago. It really seemed the perfect camera for me, new mommy who wants to record all the baby stuff. I got lovely videos and everything worked perfectly for almost 2 years. Suddenly, the screen started to appear black. It would record only the sound but not the image. It worked randomly, sometimes it would record the image, sometimes it just wouldn't..... very frustrating and disappointing! I have read other reviews stating similar problems. I will never get another Canon camera, as I don't plan to replace it every 2 years!!



5. I purchesed this camcorder 5 years ago. Haven't used it a lot but when I have I have bee happy with it. The only thing is the batterry. It only last 25-30 minutes. It sopose to last an hour. The tapes are 1 hour so you have to find a plug that you can use and are not in the way while shouting. The quality is great.

5 comments about JVC GR-D270 MiniDV Camcorder w/25x Optical Zoom.

1. Great for those of us who are new at this type of camera and affordable.



2. Haven't used it A LOT...but so far...easy to use...works in low light...decent sound...great video...



3. Good product, had it for a year now. Wish I had bought the one with a jack for an external microphone. Consider that if you are buying a camcorder that will be used for recording teachings or other educational event. It has good sound pick up but not good enough for proper recording of teachings.



4. this camera is an excellent camera. i bought it and it took great videos and good still pics. about a year after i got the camera i started getting an error message on the screen. it said that the unit was in safeguard mode eject and reinsert tape. upon doing so, nothing happened. the message still showed up on the screen. i tried everything i could think of to reset the camera. i removed the battery for several hours and tried again and the message still appeared. i have recently sent a message to jvc and am waiting for a reply on how to solve this problem. if you buy this camera make sure you get an extened warranty on it.



5. Excellent product with awesome zoom. Battery that comes with it last a long time as well. I would buy this product again without any hesitation. I have not used thew camera part yet because I have a digital camera. But I will use it sometime.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS65 3-CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I have purchased the pv-gs65 and everytime I use the camera with autofocus it makes everything blurry and only stays in focus for about 3 seconds. I returned my camcorder and got another one (pvgs65) and I am still having this problem. everytime i have used the camera i have to use manual focus.
   
   If anyone else has had this problem or knows how i could get this fixed please email me or post another review.
   
   brandonwg8677@comcast.net
   
   Thank You.



2. I bought this camorder around 3 months ago and so far I am very happy with it. First off let me say that I am a complete amateur when it comes to camcorders. I did a lot of research online though before buying this particular camcorder and saw nothing but positive reviews and for a 3 CCD camcorder I only paid $400 for it, which is the same as a good 1 CCD camcorder. I have a 20 month old baby and I use it primarily for home video footage. I was able to take it out of the box and use it very quickly. I keep the setting on 'auto' most of the time and that works just fine for me. The picture quality is excellent, the colors and vibrant and the camcorder is easy to use. I read a lot about camcorders not performing well in 'low light situations' and this camera does pretty well, even though I do notice that when I shoot video in my basement (which is not very bright) the picture is slightly grainy. However when the room is bright or when I am outside the picture is incredible. The zoom is not great but I am not shooting more than 10 feet away anyway, so that doesnt bother me. I am going to buy a video light and see how that improves my indoor video. Overall, I am extremely happy with this camcorder and highly recommend it.



3. Having just finished a half-hour video documentary using the Panasonic GS65 means I've seen the good and not-so-good. First, let me say that viewed via LCD projector on a giant screen, the color and image quality were satisfyingly rich. And I found the joystick controller terrifically easy.
   
   Along the way I racked up hours of interviews. The principal problem I found was a basic one rather than a Panasonic one: shooting with a bright background surrounding the face of the interviewee - backlighted - rendered uncomfortably dark faces. Still, I think better cameras (I had a top-of-the-line Sony for 6 years) are less severely affected by this common lighting situation.
   
   The good news for amateurs who need to rescue unintentionally-silhouetted footage is that today's software will allow you to boost the brightness in a scene as you edit. I use iMovie HD on my eMac and it proved an effective tool for tweaking both audio and video.
   
   I found the GS65's mic input and hotshoe to be essential for my interviews. I used an Azden clip-on mic with 9v-powered transmitter and receiving units and was very happy with my audio. And, by the way, I hope you realize that audio is one of the most difficult factors in bringing home a watchable video.
   
   One last bit: I noticed a bit of extra headroom on every shot despite composing tightly. I suspect that allowance needs to be made for a discrepancy between the view provided by the viewing screen and the camera's actual capture.
   
   I'm afraid the lure of Better Video via the 3-chip technology was only partially realized. Thank goodness the GS65 cost less than $400.
   
   Serious amateurs (skateboarders, teachers, etc) probably ought to save their money for a higher quality unit.



4. I bought this camera in January and have been very happy with the performance. Bang for buck, you really can't go wrong.
   
   HOWEVER, please look at the warranty on this camera before you buy. Panasonic has 12 months warranty - but the FINE PRINT says that after 3 months you, the consumer have to pay any service charges. Now we are into May, the camera mangles my tapes continually, and I have to pay for labour charges to get this fixed on a camera I have barely used and is still under warranty.....
   
   Panasonic does pay for parts - which are of course virtually free to Panasonic.... You will then need to send the camera away to a random 3rd party that may or may not fix the camera, and may or may not charge you a fortune for labour.
   
   Seriously sucks.....



5. I just bought this for about $190 at the local PX. I am impressed so far. I was going to buy the GS180, but for the sale price I would be crazy to pass this up.
   SO far the low light is much better than a single CCD. The video playback is quiet compared to a few other camcorders that record the motor noise onto the tape.
   I plan on buying an extended battery and a tripod today at the same sale.
   I will use this camcorder mostly for home videos of my son and vacations we take around Europe. I look froward to using this camcorder a lot!

5 comments about Sony DCR-HC32 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom, Handycam Station, & Extra NPFP50 Battery.

1. Sony does a great job again. It could be a bit better in low light conditions, but with the 'back light' option it works well.



2. Working perfectly 3 years after I bought it with heavy use. Good quality videos too. Great buy.



3. This camera is not very good - poor video resolution after recording it on a memory card. The software is horrible and Sony tech support just plain lousy.



4. I once thought this was a great camcorder for all the reasons already noted. Great video and audio quality, easy to use, good price.
   
   But guess what? It's broken and out of warranty, and in order to even get a quote on the cost to fix it, I must send it to Sony, because Sony doesn't allow anyone but Sony repair their cameras any more. So, instead of going to one of the hundreds of capable and convenient repair shops in Denver, where I can get an estimate and repairs fast, I have to mail my camera to Texas. TEXAS!
   
   So what's wrong with it? The camera refuses to properly load any miniDV tapes now - I get an error that says "Reload tape" and the error message won't go away no matter how many times I reload the tape. Apparently this is a common failure, a quick google search shows this same problem in discussion threads all over the net. And, believe it or not, the most common suggestion to fix this error is to smack the camera repeatedly on the side to "unstick" a stuck part. This did not work with my camera, but good luck to you if you buy this piece of junk.
   
   This is the last Sony I will ever purchase. Been burned too many times by Sony now - a TV, a PDA, a digital camera, and now this. I'm buying a Panasonic PV-GS80 miniDV Camcorder to replace this doorstop. I bought an Olympus 790SW camera to replace my broken Cybershot, and it works great. I should have learned my lesson by now, but I'm brand-loyal to a fault. Sony pushed me too far this time. No more Sony. Never again.



5. Bought this to digitize tapes shot on my procam. Now I use this more than the HDV camera. Has all the controls I need but I wish it had the audio functions I miss on the prosumer camera. Never thought I would prefer this over the big brother. I haven't had disappointments with the zoom but I did install a wide angle adapter for better room coverage. Keep it mounted ALL the time.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS300 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. Bought this camcorder for christmas to film my little baby boy. I send dvds to my relatives who live far away and they love the picture quality. All of my friends who own camcorders agree the picure is very sharp. The camcorder is easy to use and comes with everything you need to get going except minidv tapes. Buy these with your online purchase because they are too expensive in stores. The only complaint I have would be the low light recording quality. It is only average(all camcorders are bad in low light). The camera does have a low light feature, but it produces tracers and ghosting with fast moving objects. The camera does have full manual control that will help with the image, but you need to learn camera jargon and take time to adjust before the shot. You can buy a mountable light to put on the camera, but they are not cheap. If you want a camera with good low light features, buy a sony. I'm am very pleased with this camera and would recomend it to a friend who does not shoot at night.



2. I bought this for my trip to India. It i so simple to use and the joystick feature for the umns is a breeze to get a hang of. I did not like the idea of having to touch the screen to do everything with the Sony's. I wanted the Canon Elura 100 but the idea of a noisy camera turned me off.
   
   Like the other guy said, buy the tapes online because they are pricey in the store.



3. Just the camera is 3.1 Mpixel and I have a Nokia N70 mobilephone with the same quality picture, but the 1Mpixel camecorder are very nice. Dont buy these camecorder for the camera, and the battery durantion are very good.



4. Paid well under $600 after shipping and haven't discovered all of its features but it is a lot of camera for the money. Some of the controls are typically Japanese - meaning they are sometimes obscure and the controls themselves are made for rather small fingers/hands. Overall, the camera is light, takes marvelous video (given adequate light). Most 3CCD cameras seem to require a bit more light to look good than the std. single CCD cameras. Wish it could shoot video in 1080i but oh well...



5. Contrast is great, saturation, color accuracy, due to the 3 CCD's.
   
   Now what I don't like: resolution spec for stills is misleading. It's not true pixel resolution, as the pixels are interpolated across the 2.3 megapixel spec.
   
   Still, this is the only camcorder in the miniDV family I've seen that offered the ability to shoot virtually uncompressed via Firewire connected to a computer.
   
   The low light is not very good, though. Very small CCD's =GRAIN. The size of each of the three CCD sensors is only 1/6". But at least there are three of them. One of the most popular camcorders in the PV-GS series for Panasonic in 2006. This is the camera that put me on the map.