Panasonic PV-DV400 Digital Camcorder

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [2.27mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004T1M3
• Item model number: PV-DV400
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,986 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Panasonic's PV-DV400 digital camcorder is a great all-around camera. Though other camcorders may be slightly smaller, have more powerful zoom lenses, or a more extensive set of features, the DV400 has a hard-to-beat blend of size, features, and price.

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

Cons:

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

Amazon.com Product Description

Panasonic's PV-DV400 digital Palmcorder camcorder is a compact high-resolution camcorder that uses the high-quality Mini DV digital format. It's a perfect choice for home users who demand both high quality and flexibility. The 18x optical/300x digital zoom allows you to use seven zoom speeds to zoom in for close-ups or zoom out for wide-angle shots. Panasonic offers digital electronic stabilization technology in both record and playback modes to remove excessive movement from previously recorded images as well as while shooting.

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).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Cam, October 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic PV-DV400 Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

Great Camera! I did a ton or research on camcorders and this one just delivers the most bang for the buck for a digital. I was looking for quality of image, compactness/light weight, image stabilizer (to stablize the image from my shaky hand). Additional features I was impressed with: You can record in pitch black dark. I love the 'wind cut' switch, which can eliminate the noise in outdoor windy areas (at the cost of minor reduction in bass sounds). It Can take digital stills,although quality not as good as a full blown digital camera but ideal for passing around on the internet.

109 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Video Camera w/digital camera w/ near-dark recording, June 14, 2000

By 

Debra King (Binghamton, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic PV-DV400 Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

I am very happy with this digital camcorder. We were looking for a small, light-weight recorder that was easy to use and this is exactly that. It takes nice pictures with quality audio and a very nice range on the zoom. THe battery charges quickly-less than an hour. It's easy to transfer the recording onto a VCR tape. I would highly recommend this to anyone including a mom with 4 children in tow, such as myself. I usually have a toddler on my lap while I'm recording I'm able to hold the Palm-corder easily with one hand.

48 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Digital camera as small as your hand, June 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic PV-DV400 Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

Bought this digital camcorder 2 weeks ago from amazon.com, the size is amazingly small and very confortable in holding it while shooting. Picture and sound quality are excellent. the 3-way PC LINK is easy to connect and an excellent features that I ever seen. The 3" LCD is very clear and and reduce strain on eye. The digital zoom plays very well and picture is clear and bright. I am pleased with it so far for all the features and will write again once I have more experinece on it.