Panasonic VDRM30 DVD Digital Camcorder

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [9.65mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008RUET
• Item model number: VDR-M30PP
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,691 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 6, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The innovative, sleek VDR-M30 DVD camcorder records high-quality digital video and still images onto removable 8cm DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, offering the ability of non-linear editing of home videos right in the camcorder. Other features include a color viewfinder, 10x optical/240x digital zoom, digital electronic image stabilization, and compatibility with Secure Digital memory cards for storing still images.

DVD Format
The VDR-M30 combines all the technological benefits of the rewritable DVD-RAM format with the compatibility of write-once DVD-R media. DVD-RAM offers the highest quality in digital imaging, huge storage capability--capturing up to 120 minutes of digital video and 1,998 still images to DVD media--and rewritability up to 100,000 times, with virtually no degradation of picture quality no matter how many times the disc is played back. The DVD-R format offers the ability to record onto affordable DVD-R discs for sharing with friends and family, and archiving memories for everyone to enjoy.

With the DVD-RAM format, you can access recorded scenes without the hassles of searching, fast-forwarding or rewinding. Indexed thumbnails are displayed on the 2.5-inch color LCD. In addition, the camcorder will automatically find blank space on the DVD-RAM disc whenever a recording begins, eliminating the possibility of recording over what you've already shot. Camcorder editing features include delete, rearrange, fade in/out, wipe, divide, and splice.

Recorded video and still images captured by the VDR-M30 can be played back on DVD-RAM and the majority of DVD-R compatible MPEG2-conforming devices. Just slide the disc out of the new disc cartridge and place it into the DVD recorder or player, or into a PC or laptop computer equipped with DVD playback. The camcorder has a USB port for easy direct connection to a PC.

Optics
The VDR-M30 is equipped with a 12x optical zoom, and also features a 240x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills
In addition to moving pictures, the VDR-M30 can record still images (640 x 480 pixels) onto a DVD disc or SD Memory Card. A DVD-RAM disc can store JPEG photo data and video together on the same disc. The VDR-M30 lets you keep family memories, in both still and moving pictures, on a single disc. You can also save still images to an optional Secure Digital (SD) memory card

More Features
The XTRA mode uses an advanced MPEG2 data compression technology called VBR (variable bit rate) to record high-quality images. Real-time VBR controls the rate of MPEG2 compression in real time, depending on scene complexity, varying it to enable more efficient recording. In XTRA mode, the VDR-M30 can record continuously for 36 to 120 minutes on both side of an 8cm DVD-RAM disc.

Other features include:

• 800K pixel resolution
• 2.5-inch LCD screen
• 5-mode Program auto-exposure (AE)
• USB 1.1 connectivity
• S-Video and A/V output
• Stereo microphone

Size and Contents
The camcorder measures 2.25 x 3.5 x 5.3 inches and weighs 1.1 pounds (without battery). This package includes the VDRM30 camcorder, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (M3-RCA), lens cap, USB cable, DVD-R disc, and video editing software.

Product Description

CL) AA) PANASONIC VDR-M30 DVD CAM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great camcorder but it's missing something, September 4, 2003

By 

S. Shanahan "disappointed mom" (Inglewood, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic VDRM30 DVD Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

I absolutely adore my camera... but I'm glad I got it as a gift. It's extremely expensive. The dvd viewing capability is good, the film quality is excellent but...
It has no light. In dim/dark situations, it films ok and plays ok on the viewer but other readers like the computer or dvd player can't see anything. There needs to be a light for this. It looks like there is a place to buy one and attach it to the top but I can't find it anywhere at the Panasonic website.
The software is also a bit of a problem. It doesn't work well with Windows XP.
So, while the camcorder itself is excellent, it's peripherals aren't.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this product!, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic VDRM30 DVD Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

I have had my Panasonic VDR M30 camcorder since Christmas, 2003. I have made five calls to their tech support line, where their technical people admit there is a problem and tell me they are working on fixing the drivers for the camcorder's software to make it work with Windows XP. They refuse to return my telephone calls, and they refuse to exchange my camcorder for another model. They treat their customers very poorly. I would give this product, and this company, zero stars if that were an option.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Half Decent, November 15, 2003

By 

"rubbernipplesalesman" (Boyertown Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic VDRM30 DVD Digital Camcorder (Electronics)

I purchased this camera for the birth of my first child. I figured this was the way camcorder technology was going (actually, this is considered a "palmcorder" due to its small size). All digital. Compatibilty with Windows XP is questionable. I had difficulty getting software to load. Resolution at high zoom is grainy. Other than these two issues the camera has a nice dynamic controller joystick for on-screen navigation. It also is extremely small and easy to carry. Be prepared to fork out a pretty penny for DVD RAM recording media until more manufacturers start making is type of camera.