Panasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder Multicam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [6.01mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 2.9 x 3.5 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008GK6V
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,986 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 3, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The compact Panasonic PV-DV53 MiniDV camcorder is an affordable way to enter into the world of digital video. It features a 10x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom, built-in light, and 2.5-inch LCD.

Optics
The PV-DV53 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV73's 10x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom. With Panasonic's introduction of Dual D-EIS (digital electronic image stabilization), you can use this same technology in both the record and playback modes to remove additional jitter from previously recorded video.

Digital Stills
The PV-DV53 still can capture digital still images and store them on the MiniDV tape. You can then use Panasonic's PhotoVu serial connection to transfer images to your PC.

More Features
The cinema mode enables you to record video in wide screen mode, giving you a 16:9 aspect ratio that's the same as a movie screen. When played back on a television the result is dramatic looking cinema-like movies at home.

The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video you're recording. The still image is taken using the PhotoShot digital still feature and appears on the right side of the video you're recording. The video and miniaturized still shot then appear together during playback

Other features include:

• 2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.
• Electronic Image Stabilazation to correct camera shaking, giving you smooth and stable pictures.

Inputs and Outputs
The PV-DV53 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.

Size and Contents
The camcorder measures 3.5 x 2.9 x 7.1 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. This package includes the PV-DV53 camcorder, CARD LINK PhotoVu Link, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, lens cap, and CD-ROM with digital still and video editing software.

Product Description

CL) MU) PANASONIC PV-DV53 MINI DV

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value., January 25, 2004

By 

J. DEATS (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder Multicam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD (Electronics)

If you're looking for a digital camcorder you'll notice three classes of product. $300-$400, $400-$600, $600+. If you're looking to buy you might be suspicious of the less expensive models, you shouldn't. Most MiniDV camcorders under the thousand dollar price point have the same limitations the 680,000 CCD (690k) with 520 lines of horizontal resolution (this exceeds most non-digital camcorders by about x2), picture quality varies between units, but a lot of the high-end features you'll p[ay for have nothing to do with quality. It's more about compact size, ports (for S-Video, RCA, USB, etc..) and accessories (FireWire cable, PC software, etc...). The camcorders on the low-end (including the PAnasonic PDVDV53) share a lot of the same features: samller LCD (2.5" on all less than $500), limited optical zoom (only 10x), no FireWire able/software (and limited information on how to use this powerful feature). The postive thing about the less expensive models is the outstanding price. For me the high-end features (even things like 16x zoom) were overkill, so which one to get. I compared the PDDV52 with the JVC GDR30, the Samsung SCD23 and the Canon ZR60. I perfered the Panasonic for namely two reasons: 1. The Panasonic Dual D-EIS technology does an amazing job stabilizing the image (when its on the image is so still you'd swear the camera was on a tripod at all times) 2. With this camera I seldom have to use the light, it works amazingly well in normal indoor lighting.

If you buy one definately check out the FireWire (aka IEEE 1394) output option, on these lower priced camcorders this is a little tucked away treasure waiting to be discovered. The feature lets you control your camcorder with your PC and download the video directly in, then you can edit away, add text and effects and burn to DVD+R or VCD. You can pay $50 or more for the card alone if you aren't careful; don't do that! Shop around on-line and you'll find a deal like this one: http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3506224 where you can get the IEEE 1394 adapter card, a cable and video editing software for less than twenty dollars.

Excellent value.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Camera for the price, November 19, 2003

By 

"[e-mail]" (Manhattan, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder Multicam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD (Electronics)

Pros: Price, built-in light, features
Cons: Design oddities - see full review

I paid $290 for this camera in Oct, 2003 and for the price, I can't complain much. This was my first camcorder and so far it has worked great for me. I capture all of my video onto the computer with a firewire card. Picture quality is good, colors are accurate. In most lighting conditions, the camera without the light works fine (with some manual adjustment of the lighting mode in lower indoor lighting situations). For lighting situations darker than this, you can always depend on the built in light. The light does drain the battery quickly however, within 5 minutes or so if my memory serves me correctly. If you use the lcd sparingly, and use the viewfinder most of the time, the battery should last a good 90 minutes, with the lcd, maybe 30-40 minutes. The camera itself has some design oddities. For example, you have to have the LCD at least partway open to plug in the firewire card. You have to buy the separate serial cord and software to transfer pictures from the camera. (This isn't a big problem for me since I just take screen-shots of the video.) You can't run the camera and charge the battery at the same time. But if these issues don't bother you, then I would say get this camera. It's a pretty good deal.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this camcorder!, January 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic PVDV53 MiniDV Palmcorder Multicam Camcorder with 2.5" LCD (Electronics)

For the price of this camcorder, I was not expecting it to be wonderful - BUT IT IS! I got it mainly to tape my 3-year-old. The sound is excellent, the picture is great - if you take stills in the Magicpix mode, it's actually pretty good! It is small and light, I trust Panasonic much more than some other brands, the battery lasted longer than I expected, it is very quiet, it has a built-in light, image stabilizer... This is all that I wanted, and I am VERY happy with my purchase. The menu is easy to understand, and the camera was easy to operate - I didn't even read the manual first because I was too excited to try it out. Mine came with a separate battery charger, a lens cap, a shoulder strap, and A/V hookup, etc. The battery charged very quickly. My neighbors have a more expensive version of this camera, and they have never had a problem, which is why I decided on this one. I am so glad that I did.