Panasonic VDRM70 DVD Camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD w/10x Optical Zoom
Details
- Availability:
- No longer available through SilverGelatin.net
- List Price:
- $899.99
- Average Customer Rating:
- 2.5 out of 5
- Manufacturer:
- Panasonic
Features
- DIGA Palmcorder DVD Camcorder records on removable 3-inch (8cm) DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs and 1.2-megapixel stills
- 10x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 240x) and image stabilizer
- 2.5-inch LCD and color electronic viewfinder
- Low-light and 16X9, wide modes, can capture JPEG stills at SXGA resolution, and hot shoe for accessories
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack lasts for up to 2 hours and 15 minutes
Description
Panasonic introduces the sleek and compact VDR-M70 DVD Palmcorder Camcorders that is as full featured as it is easy to use. The DVD camcorder records high-quality digital video and still images onto removable 8cm DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, allowing for non-linear editing and within the camcorder.The VDR-M70 slim, compact design camcorder has a 2 1/2 inch color LCD monitor for easily capturing or playing back images. This DVD camcorder uses either DVD-RAM or DVD-R discs and offers a variety of recording and playback selections. The Digital Electronic Image Stabilization helps compensate for unintended hand and/or camcorder movement.
The stylishly small Panasonic VDR-M70 marks the next step in DVD video camcorders. As full-featured as it is easy to use, this compact camcorder records high-quality digital video and still images onto removable 3-inch (8cm) DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, allowing for non-linear editing and within the camcorder. The VDR-M70 features a 18x optical zoom, 240x digital zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD, 1-megapixel resolution, and SD memory card compatibility.
Optics and Resolution
The VDR-M50 DVD camcorder has a 1/4" 1-megapixel CCD, providing sharp and vibrant video. In addition to the 18x optical zoom, the 240x digital zoom allows you to capture that perfect moment, no matter how far away you are.
DVD Format
The VDR-M70 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 quickly and easily. 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-M70 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.
More Features
In addition to video, the VDR-M70 can capture still images up to 1280 x 960 pixel resolution, good enough resolution for 4 x 6-inch prints. (A DVD-RAM disc can store JPEG photo data and video together on the same disc.) You can save images either to the DVD or to Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards.
The VDR-M70M70 uses a USB 2.0 connection for high-speed transfer of content to a PC--a step forward from the slower USB 1.1.
Other features include:
- Digital Electronic Image Stabilization helps compensate for unintended hand and/or camcorder movement
- Thumbnail scenes display lets you select scenes recorded on a disc and arrange them to play back in any order the users want
- LUX rating of 12 LUX
- Low-light mode available for shooting in near-dark situations
- Hot shoe connector for accessories
Spotlight customer reviews
Good Camera for PC's ONLY!!
[ Posted: 2007-10-23 ]
I got this camera as a Christmas present and loved it for awhile until my Dell broke and I finally got a new Mac!! I was surprised to find out that that this camera does NOT work with Mac's unfortunately. Now I can't even use it because burning to a DVD and then bringing it into iMovie reduces the quality so much, it's not even worth the hassle. When I used this camera on my dell, it worked perfectly though so no worries there!
Despite it not working on Mac's, I have to say I was NOT impressed with the image quality. The auto focus is constantly searching and the manual focus doesn't work too well. I've used Sony MiniDV cameras and they are SOO much better for image quality. It's a good camera for anyone taking simple video and not taking too much action shots. Okay Camera, but there's better ones for your money out there.
Do NOT waste your money !
[ Posted: 2007-02-10 ]
One star is one too many for this camera. It will only work with RAM discs with frequent errors. Found many errors in owners manual. The drive motor has gone bad and now I have nothing. Panasonic wants $500 to fix it! I don't see myself EVER buying another Panasonic ANYTHING !
Good Camera, No Support!
[ Posted: 2006-12-04 ]
I have had this camera for about a year. I have used to record sports events, home events, etc. I have been satisfied with the recording capability. I did have to upgrade my home dvd player so that I can use the DVD format. I have been able to transfer movies to my PC for professional editing using third party software from Pinnacle and Dazzle. The software supplied by Panasonic for PC operations does not work, period. I have tried to contact Panasonic for support, and have received absolutely no response, not even an acknowledgement. There is no way I can find to replace or upgrade the software, or to get a human to answer questions. Customer support is crucial to me, I will not buy another Panasonic product given my experience to date.
Iv'e had it for a year and still can't get it to a dvd-r
[ Posted: 2005-12-08 ]
These instructions suck! They leave out vital information on procedures (like the exporting and burning onto disks) and then stick it somewhere else in the book. It does not give the "how to" in step by step format. I have had this complicated mess for a year and still don't have it figured out. Recording is a breeze but getting it off your dvd-ram onto your computer is a load of crap and best of all I have yet to find a place that sells the magical dvd-r's that are compatible to this thing. I finally exported my recording from the dvd-ram into the software and now I will have to thumb through these instructions for days to find out the small paragraphs just thrown about in bits and pieces throughout this manual to figure out how to save it to a dvd-r (wherever you find the ones that go with this fickle panasonic camcorder)
Don't let the DVD name fool you - poor video quality
[ Posted: 2005-03-24 ]
This camera uses MPEG-1 compression which is basically VHS quality, not MPEG-2 which is the current DVD standard of choice. Despite high pixel count for still images, MPEG-1 is only 352X240 and it shows. Also, software provided is PC only. Finally, the small (8cm) format discs don't play well in cheaper players. I've had problems where the small disc does not have enough mass to keep the spindle PLL in the player locked so the movie hesitates on playback. Very frustrating. All in all a big disappointment.