Panasonic PV-DV100 digital Palmcorder camcorder is Panasonic's cheapest digital model. The "cheapest" in most cases means "basic".

Fortunately this is not the case here - this model has excellent picture quality and a rich set of features.

It has 18x optical/300x digital zoom that allows you to use seven zoom speeds. This model also features dual digital electronic image stabilization in both record and playback modes to remove excessive shaking both from previously recorded videos and while shooting.

Although the digital image stabilization in theory should decrease resolution (the picture should become "grainy"), high-resolution CCD allows to minimize this image degradation.

It is helpful when shooting from the moving vehicles, and even in regular shooting it helps prevent image shaking (since the camcorder is lightweight, the slight shaking of your hand can introduce it, and the use of zoom might seriously magnify it).

DV100 features Variable Playback Speed that allows you to playback your recordings in 1/5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, and 20x speeds in both directions.

Bookmark Search allows you find the end of your last recording.

18x Hi-Definition Optical Zoom
The camcorder has an optical zoom that magnifies images up to 18x by mechanically increasing the focal length of the lens, just like a telescope. You can zoom in for close-ups, or zoom out for wide-angle shots, using any of seven different zoom speeds.

The use of 7 different zoom speeds allows you to go from wide angle to full telephoto in 2 to 22 seconds.

The advantage of the optical zoom comparing to the digital zoom: it does not decrease image definition. However, the ability to zoom optically is restricted by the camcorder size. Also, optical zoom, if used constantly, consumes a lot of energy.

300x Digital Zoom
Digital zoom brings objects up to 300x closer by electronically magnifying images. The digital zoom activates after the highest optical zoom setting is reached. 300x zoom is more than enough. And the good part is - the use of digital zoom does not seem to degrade the picture quality significantly.

Color Enhancement Light and Hot Shoe: In low-light conditions, the light mounts to the top of the camcorder and improves the color reproduction (but drains battery). It also sticks out and looks fragile.

Dual Digital Electronic Image Stabilization (D-EIS)
The Digital Electronic Image Stabilization reduces image "shaking". It allows to compensate for any unintentional hand and camcorder movement, especially when recording from a moving vehicle or while walking.

With Dual D-EIS, you can use this same technology in both the "Record" and "Playback" modes to remove additional jitter from previously recorded video. The reduction in quality when using it, if exists, is virtually unnoticeable.

In theory, digital image stabilization decreases the image resolution and thus should provide worse image quality than the optical image stabilization. But optical image stabilization is more expensive and provides worse results in "stabilization" itself.

The camcorder allows you to record using SP and LP tape speeds. In LP mode, an 80-minute tape holds 120 minutes of video.

The image quality is excellent in both LP and SP modes, and the even the digital zoom does not make it worse. Additionally, you are highly unlikely to use the full power of 300x digital zoom, it is too powerful.

The image quality is the same in both SP and LP modes due to the digital technology used to store the information. Because of this fact, the use of SP speed does not make sense.

PV-DV100 offers several digital effects. The "digital mirror" creates a mirrorlike symmetrical image, while "strobe" digitally freezes a series of images. "Mosaic" turns the image into a mosaic pattern, and "slim" expands the image vertically.

It can also stretch the image horizontally and form multiple impressions of images in motion and gradually fade them out for a "trail" effect. In addition, it also gives you the option of playing back your recording in either color, B&W or sepia.

PhotoShot™ allows you to use this camcorder as a digital still camera. The PhotoVu Link RS-232C serial cable allows you to connect the camcorder to your PC to transfer your still images to your PC for printing and editing.

You can store approximately 1,000 still images on an 80-minute MiniDV tape in LP mode. The MiniDV tapes were designed to hold digital video, so storing still pictures does not involve any "voodoo magic".

Virtually all possible connections are present: S-Video, RS-232 and i.Link® (IEEE 1394).

The camcorder is quite compact, and convenient to hold, unlike JVC's GR-DVM50U and GR-DVM70U, which have boxy shapes.

Instead of individual VCR buttons, DV100 has buttons located in one line, without any separators, which can be annoying when you try to locate the button you need in the darkness.

Usually this kind of “engineering” is used to reduce production costs and/or make the device look more stylish. It would be nice to at least have “bubble-type” buttons – the type of buttons JVC GR-DVM models have on their remotes.

The index search capability and slow motion/frame advance modes are available only using the optional remote control. I think, the camcorder is expensive enough by itself to have the remote control as a standard accessory.

Rebate
If you buy this camcorder before July 1st, you can get $100 back via a mail-in rebate. Rebate form can be obtained at Panasonic's web site.

This camcorder, although inexpensive, has excellent picture quality and a rich set of features. This, along with Panasonic's reputation for reliability, makes this camcorder a very good choice.


Recommended: Yes