DIGITAL CAM W/COLOR LCD - 10x OPTICAL, SD SLOT, 1 MEGAPIXEL
The stylishly small Panasonic VDR-M70 marks the next step in DVD video camcorders. As full-featured as it is easy to use, this compact camcorder records high-quality digital video and still images onto removable 3-inch (8cm) DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, allowing for non-linear editing and within the camcorder. The VDR-M70 features a 18x optical zoom, 240x digital zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD, 1-megapixel resolution, and SD memory card compatibility.
Optics and Resolution
The VDR-M50 DVD camcorder has a 1/4" 1-megapixel CCD, providing sharp and vibrant video. In addition to the 18x optical zoom, the 240x digital zoom allows you to capture that perfect moment, no matter how far away you are.
DVD Format
The VDR-M70 combines all the technological benefits of the rewritable DVD-RAM format with the compatibility of write-once DVD-R media. DVD-RAM offers the highest quality in digital imaging, huge storage capability--capturing up to 120 minutes of digital video and 1,998 still images to DVD media--and rewritability up to 100,000 times, with virtually no degradation of picture quality no matter how many times the disc is played back. The DVD-R format offers the ability to record onto affordable DVD-R discs for sharing with friends and family, and archiving memories for everyone to enjoy.
With the DVD-RAM format, you can access recorded scenes quickly and easily. Indexed thumbnails are displayed on the 2.5-inch color LCD. In addition, the camcorder will automatically find blank space on the DVD-RAM disc whenever a recording begins, eliminating the possibility of recording over what you've already shot. Camcorder editing features include delete, rearrange, fade in/out, wipe, divide, and splice.
Recorded video and still images captured by the VDR-M70 can be played back on DVD-RAM and the majority of DVD-R compatible MPEG2-conforming devices. Just slide the disc out of the new disc cartridge and place it into the DVD recorder or player, or into a PC or laptop computer equipped with DVD playback.
More Features
In addition to video, the VDR-M70 can capture still images up to 1280 x 960 pixel resolution, good enough resolution for 4 x 6-inch prints. (A DVD-RAM disc can store JPEG photo data and video together on the same disc.) You can save images either to the DVD or to Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards.
The VDR-M70M70 uses a USB 2.0 connection for high-speed transfer of content to a PC--a step forward from the slower USB 1.1.
Other features include:
- Digital Electronic Image Stabilization helps compensate for unintended hand and/or camcorder movement
- Thumbnail scenes display lets you select scenes recorded on a disc and arrange them to play back in any order the users want
- LUX rating of 12 LUX
- Low-light mode available for shooting in near-dark situations
- Hot shoe connector for accessories
1 Don't let the DVD name fool you - poor video quality
This camera uses MPEG-1 compression which is basically VHS quality, not MPEG-2 which is the current DVD standard of choice. Despite high pixel count for still images, MPEG-1 is only 352X240 and it shows. Also, software provided is PC only. Finally, the small (8cm) format discs don't play well in cheaper players. I've had problems where the small disc does not have enough mass to keep the spindle PLL in the player locked so the movie hesitates on playback. Very frustrating. All in all a big disappointment.
2 Don't buy this camera!!!!!
If you are concerned with picture quality don't buy this camera. This cameras selling feature is that you can record to dvd. Which is does very well. The picture quality is very poor. The color fidelity and saturation is very poor. The detail in the blacks is non existent. If you are like me and tape the kids bithday party's, etc & want any kind of picture quality don't buy this camera. Most of my recording was being done under 3 60 watt light bulbs. Such as in a living room or kitchen. So there's plenty of light to work with. What you are paying for with this camera is the dvd recorder. As others have said the supplied software is useless.
At this point I was fed up with the consumer garbage camera's out there so I went out and bought a Canon GL2. This camera Rocks. Email ne if questions. mrrjm@1meg.net
3 Picture quality....WOW!!
I've had this camcorder for three months now, and it still amazes me. It's so simple and I was able to play with it straight out of the box. The stills are great quality. Most images taken with camcorders are pretty bad, but this unit take great still shots. Even in low lights, it does wonderfully. This camcorder was rated really high in consumers report as one of the best camcorders out on the market. The editing on this unit is very easy and no need for a PC and I was abe to play it back on my DVD player right away. You cannot go wrong with this.Happy filming!
4 out-of-site camera
The Panasonic Digat Palmcorder DVD Camcorder is one of the easiest and most advanced dvd cameras I have used to make movies and stills. The instruction book is very easy to use and all the pictures in the instruction book are very clear and look like the camera itself. After I got the camera it was not long before I was taking videos, stills and learning about all the extras in the menu line up. Also putting the dvds in and out of the camera was a breeze. What really impressed me was the joy stick. By just moving it right, left, down, or up you could access any of the thumbnails or start the dvd anywhere you wanted. If you are looking for a good dvd camera that takes exceptional movies and stills and makes it easy, the vdr70 is the camera for you!
