Panasonic PVDV102 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Color LCD and SD Drive

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [3.15mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 2.9 x 3.5 inches ; 2.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005YTWZ
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,374 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 Product Description

Combining 1.3-megapixel stills--albeit interpolated--with a 10x optical zoom, the PV-DV102 wraps some great features in its plastic and metal body. Images are stored on SD cards (sold separately), and they can be downloaded to your computer via USB. For those that like to shoot in low-light conditions, the camcorder also features a built-in color-recording mode for those types of situations. According to Panasonic, the mode will help reduce the graininess often associated with low-light shooting.

A zoom mic and a built-in light are included with the PV-DV102, along with an MPEG-4 movie system, which lets you capture compressed video clips for e-mailing to friends and family. The camcorder also features a composite video out, and, of course, IEEE 1394.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good - But dont get misled by the Digital Camera feature., March 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV102 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Color LCD and SD Drive (Electronics)

Lets get down straight to the pros and cons of the product

Pro
1. Extremly small - really 'palm held'
2. Extremly Light
3. Jog dial a very nice feature

Cons
1. The pictures captured on the SD card are "average" quality
2. No remote comes with this
3. The SD Card is additional priced
4. The software is so very average.

Considering that I moved up from the DV 52 model for this model hoping to get

a. Remote (optional I am told)
b. Digital picture capability (v v average)

c. Software (that fell way short)

I would suggest that you buy the Panasonic DV 52 Model.Its a 100 bucks cheaper and buy yourself a seperate digitial camera - even at 1.2 m pixles they will outperform these palm comders !!

Tough learning but I hope you learn from my mistakes !!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT!!!, November 11, 2003

By 

L. Powles "mpowles" (Palatine, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV102 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Color LCD and SD Drive (Electronics)

I can't say enough good things about this camcorder. I've made a Las Vegas documentary, a skateboard movie, and simple home movies with it. Not only that, I managed to make them look professional. It transfers video without flaw onto the software I use to make movies (Windows Movie Maker) and also makes flawless re-transfers back onto the tape. Using an SD card, it can be used as a digital camera (albeit a very low quality one... it's still-pic mode is only .5 megapixels).

Pros:
-Great for beginners to home movie making
-Great for beginners to digital camcorders
-Amazing film quality
-SD card slot to save still pictures
-Great sound
-LCD screen

Cons:
-Poor explanation of how to use the digital zoom
-Lens cap is detatched
-Doesn't come with a FireWire, which is necessary to transfer video to the computer
-Still pics saved to the SD card are very low quality

Besides these four problems with this camcorder, it is a dream come true for those into amateur movie making. It really couldn't be any easier to use, save the digital zoom control. Other than these flaws, the camera is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make professional-looking home movies. Great product, strongly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Camera, Still Pics and Software Awful, February 18, 2003

By 

R. Brown "R. B." (Atlanta, GA, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV102 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Color LCD and SD Drive (Electronics)

The camera itself gives you crystal clear movies, they transfer perfectly to VCR with great video and sound quality. Image transfer to PC via FireWire (cable and card not included) is also outstanding. Only problem is that I had to get seperate software (Adobe Premiere which is expensive) because the included software was, without excaggeration, one of the worst applications I've ever worked with weather multimedia or otherwise. It appeared to be written by someone with very basic programming ability! I emphasize this fact for those of you looking to do PC stuff with it. The still pics from the [optional] memory card are average but OK for Ebay and emailing pics. Overall: great for price range. I'm happy with it.