Superior Quality Video!
Feb 28 '00
On a recent vacation trip with my family, I had the pleasure of using the Panasonic PV-L600 series camcorder. Let me first start off by saying that I really enjoyed the video quality of this camcorder. It was superior to most of the other camcorders I have used over the last few years. I currently own a Sony Handycam which takes HI 8 tapes, and it truly blows it away in overall final playback quality.
Even though I thought the picture quality was superior, I did find some flaws with the Panasonic PV-L600 series video camera. But, before I get into the negatives, lets talk about some of the positive features that make this a fine camera.
Usability:
The camera easy to use and light enough that your hand did not get tired from lugging it around. The buttons, most notably the wide-angle and zoom buttons were easily accessible for just about anyone’s size hands. My Sony buttons are higher up the side of the unit, making you stretch with your fingers to get to them. This was not a problem with the Panasonic.
The viewfinder was easy to swivel to find just the right angle. When I was using the camcorder in the car, I had to adjust the viewfinder to get an optimal view of attractions that I was recording.
The record On/Off and pause switch was also well located and could be quickly triggered with your thumb when you had the camera in the filming position.
If you want to playback what you just recorded? No Problem. Just slide over the playback/record lever to playback. Now use the VCR controls that our mounted on the arm of the Viewfinders. Select rewind and then Play. You can either view the tape by looking into the Color viewfinder or Open up the built-in 4 inch LCD panel that opens on the side of the unit. Not only can you see, but you can also hear your production thru these options too.
Positive features:
The Digital EIS Stabilization works great. Most people when filming have a hard time holding their hand steady. If your walking and filming at the same time, this is especially true. Well, I must confess, this option is very impressive. I was filming a lot inside a moving car and the shots came out great. You would have thought we were at a stop sign. (Great feature)
This is a true VHS-C (compact) tape, not a super or HI 8 like most other camcorders on the market. This means you can play the tapes on a standard VCR without converting them to VHS. This format seams to product a much higher quality product.
The one caveat is that the VHS tape is smaller than the standard tape player. Therefore, to play on a VCR, you must put the smaller VHS-C tape into a regulation size adapter tape. This special adapter is easy to use, just pop it open, put in your smaller VHS-C tape and put it into your VCR. Push Play and your playing what you just recorded on your home VCR.
The front of the camera has the microphone mounted on the top. This did a good job a recording, as long as you were pointing the camera at the subject doing the talking. Also just under the microphone as a light for filming in poor lighted situations.
There are many video edit feature and special effects that you can utilize when making your tapes. There is a time lapse option for spying on your Nanny. There are many fade in and out options to give you video that polished look. You can also have the time and date or other announcement stamped on your video. “Happy Birthday” is one example.
Negative or missing features:
No video or audio out – This made it difficult to play right from the camcorder or do a tape to tape recording to another VCR.
No remote control or ON off button on front of Camera – If you were the only person in your production, without these features, it was difficult to film yourself without getting up and moving around the camera to the on/off button.
Not a smooth transition between Video recording and playback. – The unit when through a few clunky gyrations when you switch it from video recording to playback. If was very annoying and made it difficult to watch what you just recorded.
AC power adapter not easy to use. – Instead of having an AC adapter that fit in the same place as the battery like other Video camera, this unit has you go hunting for the place to plug in the AC adaptor. (not convenient)
Microphone does not work well in first person – When recording in the first person, the recording quality really diminished. I had to speak very loud or you really couldn’t hear what I was saying. There was also no where to adjust the recording volume.
Longer battery life – I found that you really never got two full hours of battery life. It was more like an hour and a half.
No strap that goes around your hand when filming - Other camcorders have one that is adjustable and can be made tighter, so a person with thin hand would lose their grip. This strap can also be used as a handle when you want to pick up your camera.
Conclusion: A very good video camera if you concerned with ease of use and video quality. Even though, I have found some flaws, I would still recommend buying one.
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pweisenberg
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Member: Peter Weisenberg
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Reviews written: 261
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
Enjoying the ride, only 19 more years til I retire!
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