Customer Rating:  
Summary: Sigh
Comment: I bought this camcorder on sale about 1 1/2 years ago and was moderately happy with it until this last week when the firewire (IEEE1394) connection stopped working entirely. I've tried 3 new cables and 4 computers (including one Apple Powerbook) and nothing is working. I've contacted Panasonic and they keep telling me to locate a service center using their online site. I use the online site to discover that there isn't one withing an unlimited mile radius (hello!?) and that I should contact them by phone. Email contact has been fruitless. After two days of this and feeling like a yo-yo from going back and forth so much, I've broken down and bought a new camcorder with higher CCD resolution and a better warranty.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for the amatuer
Comment: This camera worked fine for shooting videos at close range. Since I have a preference to SLR cameras, I found I was a bit disappointed in the photo quality. But for the most part this camera worked well. I was impressed a bit with the abilty to take still frame shots along with being able to connect it to my PC. One thing that I really enjoyed was being able to connect the camcorder to my PC, I found the software that came with the camera made it easy for me to go through videos frame by frame to find the shot I was looking for.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A great value for beginners
Comment: After eight months, I still love my PV-DV100. I only wish I'd bought it sooner to record vacation footage a few weeks before. I can't wait to videotape my new baby when he or she is born this week! Compared to an average consumer-grade analog camcorder, the video is clearer, and the 16-bit sound is crisp (which I appreciate when playing back movies through my home theater system and making movies on my PC). Images look great on my 32-inch TV. I've actually started producing music videos for local bands with this camera, with good results.Pros: Small, lightweight design, image stabilization (but always use a tripod when you can!), easy control layout, 18X optical zoom (newer ones at this price only offer 10X), plenty of input/output jacks, and great (but not HDTV great) picture quality. Cons: (1) Microphones record camera's motor sounds (barely noticeable, only in the quietest footage). A cheap external mic would probably solve that problem. (2) Camera doesn't focus smoothly when panning from a bright scene to a dark one. You can avoid this by setting your AE mode accordingly for each scene you shoot. A simple fix, well worth the [money] saved by not getting a professional model.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Better Models Are Out There
Comment: Like most purchasers of camcorders, I had my first child last 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 PVDV201, based on the recommendations of several electronics salespeople. However, I spent quite a bit of time testing this camcorder. The PVDV100 is not a worthy alternative as a camcorder for several reasons.
First, the PV-DV100 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 all of the PV-DV models: 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 18X, which the 100 provides. The digital zoom is a bit of a marketing ploy. (By the way, the PVDV201 provides 20X optical zoom, a bit better)
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 [$$$] more for comparable features.
The picture quality on this model is not as good as others, like the PVDV201. I found this camcorder to okay in quality, but for slightly more money, the PVDV201 is a much better alternative.
A few additional concerns: (1) the digital still photos are okay for e-mails, nothing more; and (2) the picture quality is not as good as other similarly priced models.
Customer Rating:
Summary: GREAT CAM WITH A GREAT PRICE.
Comment: Im new to digial cams and i really enjoyed this cam. It's been working great and it's worth the small sum of cash you are paying. Not too bad. I recommend it if you want a cam for such a low price.
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