With an ultracompact design that weighs a little over a pound, the Panasonic PV-DC252 is a feature-filled camcorder that can easily be toted around on vacations and other special events. It features a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, a 10x optical zoom, remote control, and digital still capability with a SD memory slot.
Lens With an optical zoom power of 10x, the DC252 also has a digital zoom, which works by electronically enhancing the optical image, and can magnify the picture up to 700 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.
Digital Stills You can store your digital stills directly onto tape or onto the included 8MB SD memory card using the camcorder's memory slot. The camcorder can be switched into a mode called progressive photo shoot, so that images captured will not have the jagged lines of interlaced video and will remain clear and undistorted. The digital stills are in JPEG format and have a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, good enough for e-mail or posting on the Internet.
Inputs and Outputs The DC252 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection. S-video and RCA connections are also provided for direct viewing on a television or VHS dubbing.
You can save video and still photography on removable Secure Digital (SD) cards. One 8 MB SD card is included with the PV-DC252.
MiniDV Format MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.
Using Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) technology, Panasonic's MiniDV camcorders provide pristine sound. Choose from 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.
- 16-bit audio includes a set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
- 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.
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 two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
At least, that's the initial impression you'll get on seeing this remarkably small digital camcorder. It's just 4 1/2" long, 3 1/2" high and under 3" wide. When you consider that includes room for the tape and is with the LCD display stowed, that doesn't leave room for a whole lot else. This has to be the work of gnomes. Even those with fairly small hands will be able to firmly hold the unit in just one hand (has to be the right-hand though). There's the usual strap to hold it in place, and the right side of the unit is ribber for extra grip. First - plugs and sockets. Since it's a Mini-DV camera there's the inevitable Firewire slot - no 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable is provided, though, so if you're planning to edit on your (Firewire-equipped) home computer, make sure you pick one up. It's also got a USB socket for downloading still images from any card you might have in the SD Slot. It *does* come with a cable for this, as well as an 8MB card, but SD cards now go up to 512MB in size, so there's plenty of room for expansion there. Still images are restricted to 640x480 though, so the still image capability isn't comparable to even a relatively (inexpensive)digital still camera. There's also a jack for an external microphone (1/8" mini jack), a multi-purpose jack that can be used for headphones, as an A/V output jack (cable provided) for hooking the camera directly to a TV for playback, or for the tethered clip-on remote control (also provided). Oh, and let's not forget the S-Video output. All of these connectors are hidden behind various covers with the exception of the SD slot, which is only accessible when you've got the LCD display opened. Next - zoom and focus. The optical zoom is perhaps a little weak at 10X, but unless you've got a very steady hand or plan to use a tripod a lot, this is adequate for most uses. The digital zoom goes up to a ludicrous 700X, although at much past 30X you end up looking at an unidentifiable fuzzy blur, like a dream sequence from a 70s movie. One interesting zoom feature is that the built-in microphone can be made to "zoom" along with the image. Zoom is easily controlled using a slider on top of the camera. Auto-focus works well, but it's easy to switch to manual focus if you need to. In addition to the customary large, tilt-and-swivel LCD display (2.5" in this case), the PV-DC252 also sports a full color viewfinder (which only operates if the main display is closed). Good for saving battery power. Ah, yes, batteries. The camera comes provided with an AC adapter for running directly off mains power, and the provided battery claims to last for two hours of continuous use. You can also buy a wide range of larger battery packs, all the way up to a belt pack that'd be more at home in a WWII submarine and that lasts for over 10 hours. Let's see, what else - electronic image stabilization, low-light level mode, backlit mode, both wired and IR remotes...the list just goes on and on. There are several dozen built-in effects and transitions, but I'd imagine most people buying one of these'll be doing their editing on a computer, so I won't go into them in too much detail. Provided software for PC is by Arcsoft, I've personally been using it with iMovie on my Mac without any difficulties. Good points - it's tiny, it's sturdy, it's feature-packed, the built-in mic works well (no camera noise), picture quality is excellent and with the exception of the Firewire cable it comes with pretty much everything you'll need to use it. Weaknesses - 10X optical zoom is a little on the low side, the clicky jog-dial gizmo you use to navigate the on-screen menus can take a little gettting used to (the price you pay for being this compact, I guess), a tendency for colors to become a little washed out in poor lighting (although the camera does have a shoe for adding a light if you need one), but really that's about it. All fairly minor problems and none of them any worse than the flaws that various similarly priced competitors have. Highly recommended.
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