Panasonic PVDV201 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [3.81mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005A3LU
• Item model number: PVDV201
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,805 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

The PV-DV201 is a great introduction into the world of digital video. Featuring a 20x optical zoom, along with digital image stabilization (during both recording and playback), which helps eliminate those shakes and bounces common to high zoom levels, this model has everything you need to start capturing beautiful footage. You can use either the 2.5-inch color LCD monitor or the electronic viewfinder to frame your shots.

To help ensure that the footage you shoot will be the best it can be, the PV-DV201 has a five-mode programmed autoexposure that will adjust aperture, white balance, and other settings automatically. Also included are a number of digital effects and faders, letting you give your footage some fun, creative touches.

Still photos can be captured at a resolution of 640 x 480. Save them on either the included 8 MB Panasonic secure digital (SD) card or a MultiMediaCard. A USB port is built in for speedy transfer of your images. For those interested in video editing, the PV-DV201 has a built-in IEEE-1394 port for speedy, lossless transfer of your video and audio. Also included are analog outputs for viewing your home movies on your television, or for transfer to a VHS tape.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Time Digital Camcorder Buyer, July 3, 2001

By 

D "sub" (Metro Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV201 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

Like most purchasers of camcorders, I am having my first child in August. Thus, I decided to buy a camcorder to take hours of video that I will never watch again. On the other hand, if I didn't buy a camcorder, I would be a horrible parent, right?

Anyways, I did a fair amount of research online and in print (Consumers Reports). I finally decided to purchase the Panasonic based on the recommendations of several electronics salespeople.

First, the PV-DV201 is a MiniDV format digital camcorder. The Digital8 camcorders (generally sold by Sony) are a little cheaper for the tapes. On the other hand, the camcorders are a bit larger and a fair bit heavier. If you have old 8mm tapes you want to replay on a camcorder, Digital8 is probably the format for you. This was my first camcorder, so I went with the MiniDV format because of the weight difference, and also because the picture quality seemed a bit better.

One caveat about the PV-DV201: The digital zoom requires you to press a separate button, which is a bit awkward. That being said, it is rare (in my experience) that you will need zoom power in excess of 20X, which the 201 provides. The digital zoom is a bit of a marketing ploy.

If you have previously fallen for the Sony marketing blitz, and think that only Sony can make good consumer electronics, just shop the prices, and you will see Sony is $100-150 more for comparable features.

I found this camcorder to be a high quality starter camcorder in the digital format, for a very reasonable price.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Video...Horrible Stills!, November 4, 2001

By 

Edward Lee (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV201 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

My title pretty much says it all. I was looking for an inexpensive DV solution ever since my son was born, and it took me a month to come up with this one.

While this camcorder is considered low end, I have to say it is definitely much better than low end. The resolution is fine for home movies (much better than VHS or 8mm, and much better than other DV camcorders in it's price range) and I like the fact I can edit and do whatever I need to do with the footage I shoot, with little to no generation loss.

Pros:
Good solid digital video recording and PC transfer. I'm using Windows XP, and while Adobe Premier will not transfer the video to the PC, I'm able to transfer from Windows Movie Maker....
2.5" Color LCD.
MultiMediaCard support for still images.
Hot Shoe for a lamp only.
VERY light!
FireWire!!!!
PCM Stereo....

Cons:
Software is not Windows 2000 or XP compatible (all video transfers are done through Microsoft's software, not Panasonic's).
Stills cannot be transferred at all through USB on Windows XP (ME and 98 work fine).
Still images are poor (no amount of Photoshop work will help...get a real camera).

Words of caution...more than likely you will need more Hard Drive space than you have. 18 minutes of higher resolution DV will take upwards to 9 GB of Hard Disk space. And while you're at it, you could probably use more memory as well.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Camera for a Low End Model, December 21, 2001

By 

Jay (Long Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV201 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

I've used the camera for about three months. It is everything I expected. I wanted a lightweight, small, easy to use camera with the ability to take still photos. The video picture quality is very good. The stills are pretty good considering this is a low end model.
I use Windows ME and the software provided is very, very good and easy to use. It would have been nice to be able to plug in a better mike but you can't. Also I'm left-handed and like most cameras for us, the buttons are a little hard to use.

Overall I don't think you will go wrong buying this camera. If you have Windows XP I would contact Panansonic to see if there are upgrades for the software.