Panasonic VDR-D230 DVD Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
by Panasonic
Our Price: $799.95
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PanasonicRelease Date: 2007-02-15
Model: PV-GS320
Color: SILVER
Product features:
- DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, DVD-R compatible
- 32x optical zoom; O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
- Large 2.7-inch widescreen LCD
- One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting
- Use an SD/SDHC memory card to transfer image easily
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to B-Male Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Mini-B Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)
- AmazonBasics 3RCA Component Video Cable (6 Feet)
- AmazonBasics IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin FireWire Cable (6 Feet/1.8 Meters)
- Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 [Old Version]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Panasonic VDR-D230 DVD Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Customer Review: Finalization - a painful process
Summary: 3 Stars
I don't have too much complaints about DVD camcorder initially. I thought it's a good idea to directly get things done. But after playing it a while I got big concerns with DVD camcorders. For DVD-R/RW materials, this camcorder requires you to finalize the DVD which takes "MINUTES" to finish. After that you can view it on DVD player. I accidently move the DVD-R to play in a external player without finalization. The result is this disc got damaged(can not be finalized) and I can only view it in the camcorder. This is a very painful experience. What if this is your treasure? I think this is going to happen when you have several kids. They'll sure to mess up someday. I don't know what the hell can I do to get videos out from the disc to computer. Its software is not capable of getting things out of the disc either(why the camcorder can?). Since I only got it for a day, I'll return it to B&H.
It seems DVD format(a bad IEEE product) is very painful to deal with even with the DVD camcorder. I really miss the tape camcorders. I think HDD camcorder should be much easier than DVD camcorders. I really feel sad about those competation about different DVD formats, DVD-r/rw, dvd-ram, dvd+r/rw. Why manufactures can not get a agreement to make things easier?
I tried DVD-RAM which doesn't need finalization. It's a good alternative. I got Panasonic 3pack for $7.99 at Fry's today. You'll need to burn the content to another DVD-R/RW for viewing in a DVD player(sony player support DVD-RAM format). Though Hard Disk camcorders can serve in this way better.
Finally I returned this unit to B&H for the reason of Date&Time stamp not working on external DVD player and PC player. Called Pana tech support and knew that the Date & Time is not phsically recorded. In order to play it back you'll need to play it back in the camcorder currently. My DVD player and powerDVD software can't support it.
In summary: I returned it for the following reasons:
1. Date & Time stamp can't be played back on external DVD player and powerDVD software.
2. For DVD-R/RW, it requires a process "Finalization" to be able to play on DVD player.
3. The DC power in is under the battery pack. Which means you have to detach the battery pack to be able to use the DC. There are many cases that the camcorder refuse to work without external DC.
4. The resolution is good, but the color is really blank. Don't like it as well.
Hope my experience is helpful to someone. I'm going to try Canon ZR-700(cheap miniDV). Hope it can work out for me.
Description of Panasonic VDR-D230 DVD Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Mini DVD Camcorder,w/SD Card Slot,2.7LCD,32x Optical,SRCamcorders
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