Panasonic PV-D209 Palmcorder Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: Quite decent
Review: Considering the fact that this is not a new model, the camcorder offers a decent variety of features, clear recordings, and, most impressively, a long-lasting battery.

Rating:
Summary: A great "first" camcorder - and a keeper, too!
Review: I bought my Panasonic PV-D209 when it first came out a year ago, and I absolutely love it! Though I'm very tech savvy (I'm an IS Manager by trade), this was the first camcorder I ever owned, and I still use it. (Hey, it's only been a year!) The PV-D209 is a VHS-C recorder, but it shoots gorgeous, bright, and detailed video. Superb monaural sound (you'll swear it's hi-fi stereo) from the built-in mike. The PV-D209 is a palmcorder - you slip your hand in through the palm strap to hold it - which means that it's a lightweight, comfortable unit that makes for smooth pans and transition shots. The camcorder may be small, but it's packed with goodies. The four-speed power zoom feature offers up to 26x natural and 150x digital zoom, backlight compensation, automatic or manual focus, and digital electronic image stablization (EIS). The built-in special effects include time lapse recording, 7-color fade-in/out screens, Y2K compliant time/date stamp, and titling. It even has a security mode whereby the camcorder starts recording as soon as motion is detected - great for hidden-camera monitoring at home or in the office! This is a great little camcorder for newbies - it comes with everything you need to start taping, and with the menu-driven screens, it's easy to add professional-looking effects. You won't be scratching your head in confusion - an easy-to-understand instruction manual is included. You also get a 70-minute battery, battery charger, cables to connect the camcorder to your TV or VCR, and an adapter for playing camcorder tapes in a regular VCR, and a shoulder strap. The battery charger doubles as an AC adapter, so you can run the camera off AC power for indoor taping and save battery juice. To get the most out of your PV-D209, I recommend recording in SP mode exclusively (SLP mode isn't that bad, though) and using premium VHS-C tapes. Invest in a good 3 or 6 hour battery and keep it charged. The charger provides for refreshing the battery - purging the voltage completely before recharging - which should be done after every 5 recharges to keep your batteries in good working order. If you want to copy your videos to standard VHS tapes for friends, connect the camcorder directly to your VCR. There is a big difference in picture quality - you get superior results if you copy directly from the camcorder. To sum up, the PV-D209 offers great quality video recording and the professional features and effects you would expect from a name like Panasonic. It's easy to use, even for rank beginners, though powerful enough for a pro. [For the money], it's an affordable, high-quality alternative to spending [more on] an 8MM camcorder ... or a digital camcorder. Whether preserving precious memories or just having fun, the PV-D209 is the camcorder for you!

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Decent Camcorder
Review: I bought one in May 2000. Its pretty good except for the fact that somehow the dubbing is not working. I can play it back fine on my TV but i cant record on a cassette. It might be a problem with my VCR but i will check it out . Overall it is really good quality and a great price.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Decent Camcorder
Review: I bought one in May 2000. Its pretty good except for the fact that somehow the dubbing is not working. I can play it back fine on my TV but i cant record on a cassette. It might be a problem with my VCR but i will check it out . Overall it is really good quality and a great price.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME
Review: Only two words. Buy it. I mean, it's even convenient in busy Chicago. I'm tellin' ya, if it works here, it works everywhere. It's durable, with awesome quality! It is, as we would say here in Chicago, "Da Camcorder"