Panasonic PV-D300 VHS-C Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD ENTRY-LEVEL VHS-C CAMCORDER FOR THE PRICE
Review: I purchased my Panasonic PV-D300 less than a week ago, so this is a review of my initial impressions. I'll let you know in 3 to 6 months what I think of it then. It's an inexpensive and easy-to-use entry-level unit. I had it up and running less than 2 hours after I got it home. In the time it took for the initial battery charge, I was able to digest the easy-to-read instructions and play with the controls enough to be fairly comfortable with it right when I first popped in a tape and started it up. The controls are convenient, well-placed, and easy to use. The displays in the viewfinder are helpful without being obtrusive. The camera focuses well in all modes and re-focuses quickly after zooming in or out. the picture quality is very good for a camera in this price range. the sound quality isn't great but it's acceptable. Rewind and playback thru the viewfinder is a bit slow, and of course lacks audio, but not a major problem, and a good way to preview what you've just shot. The play-pack provided to use the VHS-C tape in a standard VHS machine was easy to use. Thus far (knock on wood) I've had no humidity-related problems like I saw in the review from Texas, and I live in Florida where high humidity is a fact of life. My only complaint so far is that the battery didn't seem to hold a charge as long as I thought it would, so (a word to the wise) get a spare battery when you buy the camera, and keep it charged and close by. Otherwise, you may be in the middle of taping something important and the thing will very quickly go dead on you. Naturally, this camcorder lacks some of the refinements and gimmicky options of high-end units, but it's a good deal if you're just starting out and just want to shoot some reasonably decent home movies. It's compact, light-weight, and easy-to-use. Hopefully, it will also prove to be reliable and not need frequent repairs since I opted out of the fairly expensive extended warranty/maintenance agreement the store offered with it.

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD ENTRY-LEVEL VHS-C CAMCORDER FOR THE PRICE
Review: I purchased my Panasonic PV-D300 less than a week ago, so this is a review of my initial impressions. I'll let you know in 3 to 6 months what I think of it then. It's an inexpensive and easy-to-use entry-level unit. I had it up and running less than 2 hours after I got it home. In the time it took for the initial battery charge, I was able to digest the easy-to-read instructions and play with the controls enough to be fairly comfortable with it right when I first popped in a tape and started it up. The controls are convenient, well-placed, and easy to use. The displays in the viewfinder are helpful without being obtrusive. The camera focuses well in all modes and re-focuses quickly after zooming in or out. the picture quality is very good for a camera in this price range. the sound quality isn't great but it's acceptable. Rewind and playback thru the viewfinder is a bit slow, and of course lacks audio, but not a major problem, and a good way to preview what you've just shot. The play-pack provided to use the VHS-C tape in a standard VHS machine was easy to use. Thus far (knock on wood) I've had no humidity-related problems like I saw in the review from Texas, and I live in Florida where high humidity is a fact of life. My only complaint so far is that the battery didn't seem to hold a charge as long as I thought it would, so (a word to the wise) get a spare battery when you buy the camera, and keep it charged and close by. Otherwise, you may be in the middle of taping something important and the thing will very quickly go dead on you. Naturally, this camcorder lacks some of the refinements and gimmicky options of high-end units, but it's a good deal if you're just starting out and just want to shoot some reasonably decent home movies. It's compact, light-weight, and easy-to-use. Hopefully, it will also prove to be reliable and not need frequent repairs since I opted out of the fairly expensive extended warranty/maintenance agreement the store offered with it.

Rating:
Summary: Nice camcorder, poor reliability
Review: I've owned a Panasonic of this type for about 6 years. Nice zoom capability, good picture quality. However, it is not rugged at all. Mine has had to have been repaired twice, and now needs it again. I don't treat cameras hard at all, so this is very frustrating and I am now in the market for a new camera. Microphone placement with this unit is poor. It picks up a great deal of wind noise when outside. Also, the unit has a self protection feature that senses moisture. While this seems like a nice feature, I've missed MANY pictures because of high humidity situations. I don't mean just normal condensation like moving from air conditioning to outside-but in almost any humid atmosphere, this unit shuts down. Very few outside pictures in Alaska or Texas. Overall, very disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Nice camcorder, poor reliability
Review: I've owned a Panasonic of this type for about 6 years. Nice zoom capability, good picture quality. However, it is not rugged at all. Mine has had to have been repaired twice, and now needs it again. I don't treat cameras hard at all, so this is very frustrating and I am now in the market for a new camera. Microphone placement with this unit is poor. It picks up a great deal of wind noise when outside. Also, the unit has a self protection feature that senses moisture. While this seems like a nice feature, I've missed MANY pictures because of high humidity situations. I don't mean just normal condensation like moving from air conditioning to outside-but in almost any humid atmosphere, this unit shuts down. Very few outside pictures in Alaska or Texas. Overall, very disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Make your own video !
Review: It's a really good camera and also a very good brand.

Rating:
Summary: Competent Performer
Review: We have found this camcorder to be a competent performer that is generally easy to use and takes good pictures. So far we have used it in the cold air of the Sierra Nevadas and the relatively humid, warm air of Houston without any problems. One unusual omission is its lack of an earphone jack; one can only monitor the audio by playing the tape back through a TV or some other monitor.

Rating:
Summary: Competent Performer
Review: We have found this camcorder to be a competent performer that is generally easy to use and takes good pictures. So far we have used it in the cold air of the Sierra Nevadas and the relatively humid, warm air of Houston without any problems. One unusual omission is its lack of an earphone jack; one can only monitor the audio by playing the tape back through a TV or some other monitor.