Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5'' LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD

Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5'' LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
The stylish, ultracompact Panasonic PVGS70 digital video camcorder boasts a 3CCD camera system that's the same used in Panasonic's professional broadcasting equipment. It also offers such advanced features as 1-megapixel still image resolution, MPEG4 video capability, and a Leica Dicomar lens.

Optics
The PVGS70 utilizes a 7-element, multi-coated Leica Dicomar lens that preserves your videos and still images with a high level of detail and subtlety. The 3CCD system uses a separate CCD for the reds, greens, and blues that compose an image and delivers high-fidelity color reproduction--up to 540 lines of resolution.

The PVGS70 also utilizes quad-density pixel distribution technology, which was originally developed for broadcast-quality cameras to help maximize picture quality. It utilizes vertical and horizontal pixel shifting to yield improved clarity and performance.

The camcorder is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, and also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills and MPEG4 Video
Each CCD delivers 460K pixels that, when combined with the quad-density pixel distribution, captures up to a 1-megapixel still image (1280 x 960 pixels). You can also record MPEG4 video, which uses a higher compression setting and is great for posting to a Web site or e-mailing to friends and family.

Still images and MPEG4 video are stored on the included 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and can be transferred to your PC via USB connectivity (compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0).

More Features
The camcorder also doubles as a Web cam when connected via USB to your PC. The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video that is being recorded, to enhance the aesthetics of the final cut of the video.

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.

Other features include:

2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.

External microphone jacks allow for professional sound recording.

Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, and slow motion.

S-Video in/out; analog in.

Inputs and Outputs
The PVGS70 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. With 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, 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.

Contents
This package includes the PVGS70 camcorder, 8 MB SD memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable, USB cable, wireless remote control, wired remote control, lens cap, and software.

Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD
Average customer rating:

Better color?... Don't believe the hype.

Good color reproduction and cheap for a 3ccd camcorder

Great Color / Features / Useability

Nice, but...

The best mini dv no matter what the price...

Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD

Manufacturer: Panasonic
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

3CCD MiniDV camcorder with 10x optical and 700x digital zoom with electronic image stabilization

480K pixel resolution on each CCD for 1.3 MP total resolution; Leica Dicomar lens

2.5-inch color, swivel LCD, cinema mode, MPEG4 video

Saves digital stills to SD memory card; 8 MB card included

Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394); USB transfer for stills

ASIN: B00008RUES
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com Product Description

The stylish, ultracompact Panasonic PVGS70 digital video camcorder boasts a 3CCD camera system that's the same used in Panasonic's professional broadcasting equipment. It also offers such advanced features as 1-megapixel still image resolution, MPEG4 video capability, and a Leica Dicomar lens.

The camcorder is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, and also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Still images and MPEG4 video are stored on the included 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and can be transferred to your PC via USB connectivity (compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0).

Other features include:

2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.
External microphone jacks allow for professional sound recording.
Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, and slow motion.
S-Video in/out; analog in.

Customer Reviews:

Better color?... Don't believe the hype........2004-06-15

There are a lot of features about this camera that I like (alluded to in other reviews), but the vivid colours due to 3ccd technology is not one of them. I did a side by side comparison with my buddy's 3 year old Canon single-ccd and guess what? When played back thru his tv, my tv, my video projector, etc. his looked better. First of all, the resolution of the image seemed much better, and the colours were more accurate than my PVGVS70. For instance, we both shot a yellow sign -- it came out orange with the Panasonic.
Mind you, it all looks good on its tiny lcd screen (providing you're looking at it absolutely directly head-on.)
Also, as mentioned in the other reviews, the image stablizer is next to useless. Try full optical zoom and see if you can hand hold it -- hah! Makes the tele-macro function a waste of time, unless you're on a tripod. And furthermore, I see no point in the digital zoom function on any camera, let alone the PVGVS70 digital zoom which goes up to a whopping 700 X!! Even on a tripod, you can't get a decent picture at full zoom. It's all video pixel mush. Completely, utterly useless.
I am so disappointed, as I was hoping to buy quality at $1000 (Can.), and the 3ccd held out a lot of promise. Also the good reviews I've read here and elsewhere... but I think the positive reviewers haven't done a true comparison. Believe me, it doesn't hold up and I intend to return my Panasonic today.

Good color reproduction and cheap for a 3ccd camcorder.......2004-05-20

I would recommend this product over the pv-gs120 as they took this camera and stripped it down to be able to market it at the $700 price point, you will not lose anything by getting this camera. As for the image stabilization, the newer models are not any better. The trick is that most of the time it will not work unless the following circumstances are met, the camcorder must have a direct light source (indoor rarely works for me) and the unit must be able to focus on an object. When the light is present, it engages and does a good job; otherwise, the display will just blink at you. Most reviews say "use a tripod," yea right! I did not buy this to put on a tripod or it would be a larger unit. I found outdoor use to be great (manual white balance as much as possible or you may get a Tele-Tubby world effect.) Pictures are average at best, but I did not buy this for the pictures (the flash is awesome, however.)

I bought this for less than half MSRP because it was last years model.

Great Color / Features / Useability.......2004-04-14

I'm new to the world of video but have a lot of experience putting complicated technology into people's hands. The GS70 is very nice to use out of the box. However, as you grow into it over time, it also has quite a bit of manual control for optimization. I agree in principle with most of the previous reviewers except that I havn't had any breakage or problems. This camcorder has great spectacular color. It may also have slightly lower resolution than some of the single chip Sony's I've compared it with. I prefer the overall quality of the Panasonic because of the beautiful color. It also held its own when I taped a stage performace at our church in low-light mode. If you read forums, you can do even better with manual settings. The GS70 also has both microphone and a headphone stereo jacks -- features absent from comparable Sonys (new 04 models) and very important to me since I use remote mics. Tape-Toploading is also very nice. I have uploaded the video and edited in Premier without difficulty. Sound is good to my ears. I think this is a great option for a hobbiest in the 500$ range. This camera is also small and light so you can take it with you anywhere. Batteries are small and last several hours. The manual is a bit on the arcane side until you catch on to Panasonic's format. The macro mode is very impressive. Bottom line -- Great color and useability with possibly slightly less detail in the images.

Nice, but..........2003-12-23

Nice camera for all of the above stated reasons. One serious flaw for a highly portable camera, DURABILITY. This camera can not tolerate humid / moist environments. I was overseas and used the camera sporadically. Some of the environs were misty weather (NOT raining). Upon returning state-side, I discovered the camera was dead. Panasonic repair returned the camera as a total loss, stating that there was water damage to the mainboard, which was irreparable. A total loss, NOT COVERED by warranty on a camera that is otherwise in immaculate condition and 80 days old. A tech person at Panasonic confided that all that needs to occur is a drop of condensation to form on a ribbon cable. If it does, it will track down the ribbon cable to the board and kill it. They did offer to give me a new camera at a price that was more expensive than what I paid for it (at Beach Camera).

Other commentors have complained of problems after minor drops of the camera. For a highly portable camera, this really isn't acceptable.

The best mini dv no matter what the price..........2003-12-04

When you consider all the features of this really tiny camcorder that weighs just a little over a pound, there is no question that it is the best mini dv product out there. The picture clarity is just incredible. Sharp and colorful video in almost any situation.

I live near Washington DC and I go with the kids to the National Mall and to the Smithsonian every couple of months or so. The other day I finally bought this little camcorder and it gave me an excuse to take another sightseeing trip downtown DC (ok I really enjoy looking at what my tax money stands for...). Anyway, i basically used the camcorder all day long and it is the best quality video I have ever taken. I have bought an extra battery pack and I still had plenty of power left on the second battery at the end of the day. I also bought a 256 mb SD card for stills. I used the camcorder outside on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol, and the Washington monument. Then inside the National Gallery of Art, the Air and Space and the National History. It is just fantastic. I think I am going to throw out all my old video tapes of the same stuff and start a new collection. I am thrilled.

If you are looking to get something really good get this one.

Merry Christmas.

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