The Panasonic PV-DV702 is a MiniDV digital camcorder with a large 3.5” LCD, 1.3-Megapixel CCD, 1600x1200 PhotoShot digital still camera mode and a built-in video light.

The camcorder is very compact and features a ring around its lens for manual focusing when auto focus is disengaged. The built-in light below the lens is helpful in low-light conditions (but drains battery). The left hand side has a switch in front of the large 3.5 LCD that you can use to turn “MagicVU” 0 lux feature on.

Performance

The DV702’s picture quality is excellent in both SP and LP video modes, due in part to its 1.3-Megapixel CCD. The SP mode is more stable in terms of storage and allows you perform audio dubbing. The camcorder features a built-in stereo microphone that zooms with the camcorder.

In SP mode you can have two stereo soundtracks. With 16-bit mode the dynamic range is better. The 0 lux mode (MagicVU IR filter) allows you shoot in darkness in black and white, green or blue color using a built-in infrared light.

D-EIS

The Dual Digital Electronic Image Stabilization (D-IES) provides good image stabilization in both record and playback modes to remove excessive shaking from previously recorded images as well as while shooting. I suggest that you use it in the recording mode, because using it in the playback mode reduces resolution more than if you used it while shooting.

MiniDV

The camcorder uses a de-facto industry standard – MiniDV tape with digital recording in DV format. Two speeds are available (SP and LP) with one 60-minute MiniDV tape holding 60 minutes in SP mode or 90 minutes in LP mode for a cost of about $7. The video resolution depends on the camcorder itself and can exceed 500 lines of horizontal resolution.

Zoom

The zoom is 10x optical and 700x digital with several zoom speeds (according to the finger pressure), including slow speeds for making a professional-looking video. The optical zoom must be sufficient for virtually all situations but if you need more than 10x, digital zoom takes over.

Since the camcorder uses 1.3-Megapixel high-resolution CCD, the digital zoom looks much better than in cheaper camcorders. This is one of the things where the extra money go.

LCD

The DV702 uses a 3.5” LCD, which is on a large side for the contemporary camcorders. The LCD’s visibility in sunlight is good and it can be rotated in all directions, so you can even see yourself while shooting yourself (crap, this sentence doesn’t sound right, but I’ll leave it this way ;-) ).

PhotoShot™

In addition to video, the camcorder can take still pictures in JPEG format and store them on either the MiniDV tape or the memory card. The 8 Mb SD memory card is supplied. There photos can be taken at up to 1600x1200 resolution.

You can use the supplied USB cable and software to connect the camcorder to your PC to transfer your still images to the PC for printing, editing or emailing.

i.Link

You can also use FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link, IEEE 1394) to transfer your video to your computer for editing or to another digital camcorder or VCR for editing and making copies. The FireWire interface allows you send digital video in both directions as well as signals to control the camcorder.

Special Effects

You can apply picture effects and A/V faders/transitions during recording or playback. You can also edit your video later on with your computer if you get a FireWire port and video editing software.

Remote Control

In the past Panasonic sold entry-level digital camcorders with no remote control and offered you buy them separately. The DV702 comes with remote control. Some functions can only be accessed from it (index search, slow motion, frame-by-frame, etc.).

Bottom Line

At less than $830, the 1.3-Megapixel Panasonic PV-DV702 is a good choice.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 829