Panasonic PV-DV400 Digital Camcorder

The camera records videos in MiniDV, the most popular format for digital camcorders. Unlike some MiniDV camcorders, the Panasonic has approximately the same size, weight, and familiar bricklike shape of a traditional compact camcorder. It fits comfortably in one hand, and the controls are logically arranged. A three-way switch under your right thumb turns the camera off or selects record or playback mode, and a big red button in the middle of this switch starts and stops recording. To take a digital still image, press a separate button under your index finger. A big rocker switch under your middle and ring fingers controls the variable zoom--a light press gives a smooth, slow zoom, which speeds up with increased pressure.

Most of the camera's settings--special effects, digital zoom setting, white balance, and titling, for example--are selected with an onscreen menu system operated by a pair of controls near your index finger. A clickable scrolling wheel (like those that are becoming increasingly common on computer mice) lets you scroll quickly to the setting you want. A few operations--digital zoom, image stabilization, fade, backlight compensation--are arranged in a row on the left side of the camera, necessitating two-handed operation in these situations.

To record in the traditional pose (or to conserve power), there's a color eyepiece viewfinder. If you want a better view of the subject you're shooting, a bright, clear 2.5-inch color swivel LCD screen flips out of the camera.

Digital stills can be recorded on either tape or the included MultiMediaCard. This card is smaller than (and incompatible with) the more popular CompactFlash and SmartMedia formats, but it seems to be gaining acceptance and is often used in compact MP3 players. The camera captures stills at a resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)--perfect for sending e-mailed snapshots or posting on the Web, but don't count on producing sharp prints with your shots. To transfer images to your computer, Panasonic provides software on floppy and a connector that goes between your camera's serial port and the camera. Mac users are out of luck: both software and cable are Windows only.

As this is written, Panasonic sells five models of single-CCD camcorders ranging from the PV-DV100 to the PV-DV800, with this model precisely in the middle of the range. Compared to the less expensive PV-DV200, the 400 adds a bigger color LCD screen (3 inches vs. 2.5 inches), a color viewfinder instead of a black-and-white one, and a 0-lux infrared filter for shooting in near darkness. If you opt for the 600, you get all of the 400's features, plus Adobe PhotoDeluxe software for manipulating your stills, analog-in plugs for transferring your old videos to the MiniDV format, and a built-in light to capture better color in low-light situations.

Pros:

• Functions as both a camcorder and a digital camera for snapshots
• Infrared filter for shooting in near darkness
• Image stabilization helps to remove shakiness

• Digital camera function has lower resolution than some camcorders
• No analog audio and video in-plugs to transfer old videos to new format

The PV-DV400 offers several different digital effects in addition to zoom capabilities. 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. The PV-DV400 also can stretches the image horizontally and form multiple impressions of images in motion and gradually fade them out for a "trail" effect. The PV-DV400 gives you the option of playing back your recording in either B&W, sepia, or color.

This little camcorder has an 8 MB MultiMediaCard that lets you use the camcorder as a digital camera for still shots. You can link it to your PC with the PhotoVu Link RS-232C serial cable to transfer your still images to your PC, where you can edit and print. An infrared filter allows you to record video in near total darkness in B&W, blue, or green. The PV-DV400 has a 12-bit/16-bit PCM stereo with two sets of stereo audio tracks--this means you can add a second track of music or narration. This camcorder includes an 8 MB MultiMediaCard, PhotoVu Link (serial connection), and a PC interface (IEEE 1394).