Panasonic VDR-D310 3.1MP 3CCD DVD Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 6 inches ; 6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M4M584
• Item model number: VDR-D310
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,385 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Camera & Photo > Camcorders > Digital DVD

• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 28, 2006

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Easy shooting and viewing. When it comes to shooting videos, simpler is better. Flip a single switch to start recording. When you're done shooting, you can view your pictures right away on a DVD player. Whether you're recording a special event or just taking a few casual shots, the DVD Palmcorder camcorder is perfect for people who like to take it easy when they're taking videos.

VDR-D310 Highlights

Multi-Format Recording

DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, DVD-R compatible You can choose whichever type of disc works best with your DVD player or recorder. Plus, other features make for easy shooting and viewing:

Quick, easy operation The DVD camcorder automatically fi nds a blank section on the disc for recording. The index screen makes it easy to search for a particular scene. You can view, delete and edit quickly and easily.

Easy, direct networking When you finish shooting, just take the disc from your DVD camcorder and slip it right into your DVD player or recorder. There's no need to connect any cables and you can start viewing right away.

High-Quality Pictures

3CCD camera system Most professional broadcast cameras use the 3CCD system. In a 1CCD system, all of the incoming light information is processed by the same CCD. The more advanced 3CCD system uses three distinct CCDs for processing, so there is absolutely no light loss. You can see the results in beautifully rendered images with vivid color, fine detail, and rich gradation.

O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) Panasonic's O.I.S. minimizes the hand-shake that can be such a problem with handheld shots. Because Panasonic's system is optical, there is no image quality degradation.

Leica Dicomar lens Leica AG of Germany is the manufacturer of fine cameras and lenses favoured by photographers everywhere. Drawing on Leica's renowned optical technology, this advanced lens captures clear, crisp, finely nuanced images with outstanding detail and contrast. Thanks to a multi-coating applied during the manufacturing process, the lens also minimizes flare and ghosts.

Advanced Pure Color Engine The Advanced Pure Color Engine is a special image processing circuit for 3CCD camera systems. It processes the R, G and B signals from the three CCDs individually, so it gives both moving and still pictures exceptional quality.

MPEG2 engine Panasonic's MPEG2 engine is a wide-range, highprecision engine that produces smooth, beautiful moving pictures. Because it precisely records the differences in each frame, it can render fast, complex motions with exceptional precision. The MPEG2 engine also uses the Variable Bit Rate system that Panasonic adopted for the high-end DIGA DVD recorder. Giving LP (long play mode) recordings nearly twice the resolution captured with previous Panasonic MPEG2 recording video cameras, this lets the DVD camcorder record clear, smoothly flowing pictures.

Ease and Versatility

Large 2.7-inch widescreen LCD The large, 2.7-inch LCD monitor displays bright, clear images. You can see even tiny details. It's more fun to shoot and view images on a wide monitor, and it's easier to picture just how the images will look on a TV screen.

One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting With One-Touch Navigation, just press the center of the joystick to display an operating menu. The operations you use most often are right on the monitor, so it's easy to change settings or operate the camera without looking away from your subject.

Mode dial Just turn the dial and you're ready to shoot or to view the images afterward. Just rotate the dial with your fingertip to select the icon that corresponds to the mode you want.

Trilingual menu The menu can be displayed in any of the following three languages. You can switch it to view all menus in the language you prefer for easy, comfortable operation.

Capture crisp, vivid images, even in low lighting, with MagicPix Leave the light off. MagicPix gives you images with color even in dim lighting (1 lux). Light is gentle and easy on the eyes, so you can snap shots of sleeping children without waking them up.

Soft Skin mode When this function detects skin tones, it softens the focus in that area. This has a skin beautifying effect, which makes wrinkles and lines appear less noticeable. When turned on, this function makes blemishes and moles look less conspicuous, while preserving resolution in areas of the picture outside of the skin.

Tele-Macro for sharp focusing, from a short distance Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a short distance from your subject. This makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus.

AGS (Auto Ground-Directional Standby) The O.I.S. linear motor system can detect when the camera is in an unusual shooting position -- when you've inadvertently left it on in recording mode. In these cases, the camera automatically stops recording, saving both battery power and disc or tape space.

Instant LCD/EVF saves battery life When you open the LCD, the power switches on. Shut it and the power goes off. Pull out the viewfinder and the power switches on. Store it and the power goes off. Instant LCD/EVF reduces the time required for operating the camera.

Networking

USB 2.0 (HS Mode) and Video Class compatibility USB 2.0 compatibility lets you upload DV data to a PC at high-speed over a single USB cable. Video Class compatibility allows real-time transfer of DV moving picture data over the same USB cable.

Use an SD/SDHC memory card to transfer image easily SD/SDHC memory cards are the ideal recording and storage media for today's visual communication and networking. They make it easy to instantaneously transfer image data to a PC or printer.

Product Description

Panasonic VDR-D310 DVD camcorder captures crisp, high-resolution digital video on convenient 8cm DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs. Pro grade CCD technology - Individual CCDs are used to reproduce the red, green and blue colors that compose an image for vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable depth and presence. The VDR-D310 also features the sophisticated Leica Dicomar lens, which has become known for its ability to capture and finely render the most delicate nuances of light and shade. The VDR-D310 3.1 mega-pixel still image recording, 16:9 widescreen format recording, and a widescreen 2.7" LCD. To steady shaky video, the VDR-D310 uses Optical Image Stabilization, which intuitively compensates for any hand movement, so that every shot if beautifully crisp and clear. The VDR-D310 also includes a manual focus ring giving the user more creative control over the video being captured and a Tele Macro function that allows you to shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of about 24 inches from your subject. 3.1 Megapixel Still Picture Recording - Resolutions - JPEG, 2048 x 1512 (4 - 3); 1920 x 1080 (16 - 9); 1280 x 960 and 640 x 480 (4 - 3) Multi-Format Recording -- DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R or DVD-R DL (8cm DVD-RAM Ver.2.1 / 8cm DVD-R for General Ver.2.0 / 8cm DVD-RW Ver.1.1 2x-speed (2x / 1x) / DVD-R for DL Ver.3.0) Built-in SD / SDHC Compatible Memory Card Slot High-Picture-Quality - 4 - 3 Standard and 16 - 9 Widescreen Mode Recording 2.7-inch Diagonal Widescreen Color LCD Monitor Stereo Zoom Mic With Wind Noise Reduction Included IR Remote Control USB 2.0 High-Speed port for data transfer with a PC or Mac computer Variable Bit Rate XP, SP and LP Recording Modes Manual Focus Ring Offers PictBridge Direct Print Compatibility for printing stills on a compatible printer without going through a computer Other connections - S-Video Out; Video Output; Audio Output; Aux mic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panasonic VDR-D310: Well worth the cost and the wait, May 27, 2007

By	J.B. King, esq. (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

I've been searching for what, for me, would be a versatile, quality digital camcorder for over a year, both online and in various local stores. I have not owned a camcorder before (although I've used a friend's), devoting myself primarily to still photography with my Nikon D70. I wanted high quality visual images, especially under conditions of available light indoors, as well as fine stereo sound. I wanted a camcorder that would produce good results when on "automatic" but would also be readily customizable when conditions, or my desire to be creative, called for it.

In the week and a half I have had the camcorder after ordering it from Amazon, I have found the Panasonic VDR-D310 to deliver all of the above, and then some. I have been especially impressed with its performance under lower lighting conditions (within reasonable ranges, of course). An indoor video I took just last night of my wife showing our 2-year-old granddaughter how to color with crayons, taken under available incandescent light, was warm and well exposed. The results were outstanding. Videos taken outdoors are superb.

I have shown this camcorder's videos on our new HDTV, and they sparkle there. Stereo sound is true and clear as well.

I do suggest that Panasonic improve the versatility of the computer-editing software it packs with this camcorder. (One can edit the videos on the camcorder itself, however.)

I highly recommend this camcorder.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Camcorder!, November 20, 2007

By	JM Smith (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

The picture quality for this camcorder is superb. I was very, very pleased with the product. It also does well under low light conditions and you can purchase a video dc light (cheap) to attach to the top of camcorder for low light and night shots. It does not have a built in light, but this does not seem to effect the image quality.
I bought it to film and pop out the DVD to play on the DVD player. I can't say much about the software since I probably won't ever use it, but if you are looking for high-quality camcorder just for filming, I rate this one Number 1 !!!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Camcorder, July 12, 2007

By	J. Lampe (Cedar Rapids, IA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great camcorder. Lots of options and great video quality. The camera functionality isn't the greatest but its a camcorder not a camera. I was really suprized by the great performance of the low light functionality.