Panasonic PV-DV 600 Digital Camcorder

[filipinolegacy]

The PV-DV600 is a middle range camcorder in Panasonic�s Digital line. It has an MSRP of $1,299. The camcorder has the standard IEEE1394 FireWire editing protocol that transfers your footage to a computer for digital editing. The camcorder includes an 8mb smart media card, which you can save pictures onto. The card is removable which means, if you choose to shell out the extra $100 or so for another one, you can capture more pictures. You transfer the pictures using Panasonic�s interface, so you don't have to buy anything else for the transfer to the computer. The camcorder has a relatively low 18x digital zoom, and a high, but useless, 300x digital zoom. Don't even bother looking at the power of a digital zoom on any camcorder. When you shoot video with a digital zoom it looks so horrible, you shouldn�t ever use a digital zoom. The camcorder has the standard electronic image stabilization feature, which Panasonic also put on the playback mode. So, if you did not have the stabilization feature on while recording, the video is stabilized in playback mode. The camcorder comes able to shoot in the dark, at 0-Lux, which is helpful when you want to shoot in the dark. The night shot feature on this camcorder is not bad and is presentable. The camcorder comes with a 3.0-inch, flip-out, color LCD screen and a color viewfinder. The color viewfinder diminishes the camcorders worth since you shoot and focus better in black and white. If you really like the 400, you may want to save the $100 or $200 and improve the image quality by going down to the PV-DV100 or 200 models since they have black and white viewfinders.

The PV-DV600 is very similar to the PV-DV100, 200, and 400 models. It also lacks the features necessary for any operation level higher than the beginner level, like the manual control. It does, however, include some editing features such as the Panasonic 5 pin editing control. The camcorder also includes Adobe Photo Delux image editing software and analog input. Photo Delux is not worth much, because it is included in EVERY digital photo product. The analog makes the camcorder respectable and worthy of your money. Panasonic does not include a focus ring or manual speed zoom, which creates shooting problems. The battery on this camcorder limits you to a very short recording period. Though it lacks the manual features for serious videography, the PV-DV600 has an editing protocol (but a proprietary protocol used only by Panasonic) and analog input, which makes it the best of the middle range Panasonic Digital line. This is not a good camcorder for anyone planning to do serious shooting and it does not allow for good control over the image. It is good for "vacationers", people shooting events, and for family videos. Either way, look at the Canon ZR-10, the Vistura, and the Sony middle range camcorders before you buy the PV-DV600.

I will provide a full inspection and test of the item to any potential buyer.
$265 shipped, $250 local p/u 90502

Thanks for looking,

mike
filipinolegacy@hotmail.com