Rating: 
Summary: Panasonic PV-DV203. Ergonomic, Stylish, Functional.
Review: As an experienced digital camcorder and camera owner, I have
been on the move again. I was recently trying to decide which
digital camcorder to keep. Decisions, decisions. Immediately
after buying the 203, I tried out the new Sony TRV19. I found
that it had some nice Sony features, especially the Carl Zeiss
lens and touch screen LCD. I wish it had at least megapixel
still image quality or at least some type of interpolation. I
then returned to the Panasonic DV203 and have grown to like it a
lot. It offers nice features for the price and the overall
quality is fairly decent.
The Panasonic PAN PVDV203 that I originally, only briefly tried
out is looking better and better for the money.
Admittedly, the Panasonic PV-DV203 has some disadvantages and
might not be the "heavy duty serious" type of digital camcorder
that critical cameraphiles look for, but it has some nice features for the price. The non-glare LED
style light is a plus and it offers SD media
storage for [dollar amount]. There is a the "magic pix" setting for enhanced exposure although it contributes
to slow frame capture. Audio, a hallmark of Panasonic
not always mentioned in camcorder discussions, is superb.Unfortunately, the low light capability of the Panasonic PV-
DV203 is mediocre in a dark or dimly lit room but quality seems
to improve significantly using the LED light and/or Magic Pix
feature. I still need to use this camcorder under a lot of
different conditions to get a much better idea as to its
capabilities. Initial reaction is that Sony optics in particular
are definitely superior. Whether that justified the price
difference is another matter and a very subjective decision. I
will be doing a lot of outdoor shooting shortly, but of course
that is optimal for most digital cameras and camcorders. One of the major disadvantages is mainly the "interpolation"
instead of "real" megapixel still imaging. You can definitely
see the difference. A web designer I work with who is very experienced with digital
photography pointed out to me that low light video is usually
not that great with many camcorders and that the low or zero lux
features available on some are a nice and important feature only
if you happen to shoot in very dark or non-lit areas. After
examining and handling it, he also noted that the Panasonic
DV203 has some nice features and that suggested that I should
use it extensively rather than prejudging it by constantly looking for slight advantages or disadvantages. It does offer a
lot of functionality and I guess I am not going to find the
"perfect" digital camcorder in this price range. The bottom line
is that I need to get used to it, enjoy it and explore its
versatility, which is significant. It would also be nice,
... I am now leaning toward keeping this camcorder....
Rating: 
Summary: Easy to learn
Review: I bought this camera as a total novice. I think it was easy to learn to use and I'm absolutely fascinated with it. It provides good quality video, lighting options and most of the accessories come with it. I love it!
Rating: 
Summary: Dew detection problem
Review: I bought this product (Panasonic PVD203 MiniDV Digital Camcorder) for a Christmas present after doing, what I thought, was good research. After charging the battery and starting up a message came up that it had dew detection and would shut down in 5 sec. I left in a warm dry place overnight, thinking it would solve the problem. It did not. After "Googleing": Panasonic PVD dew, I found out that more then one person has had this problem and once it occurs does not go away. I never did get it to work so cannot comment on other features. Apparently, some of the Panasonic cameras in various models have bad sensors. I returned it and bought another brand that so far is working fine.
Rating:
Summary: Whatever you DEW, DEW not buy this!
Review: I got the same "Dew Detected" problem as another reviewer noted, and if you do a quick search on any search engine, you will find that this is a very, very common problem with this camera. I now own a very expensive paperweight.
Rating:
Summary: Family camcorder... I'm happy!
Review: I purchased this digital camcorder on May 4th to be used primarily for family events. After an exhausting two hours or so reading all the reviews on the Sony, JVC and Panasonic MiniDV camcorders I decided on this one. I am not a photographer or videographer, just a father of a two month old baby boy who wants to record special events. So far, I am very happy with this camcorder. I can't compare this camera's performance to the Sony or JVC in real world experience, but I can't see how they could be any better. Interior recording, even in low light, plays back very nicely - even on a 52" projection TV which highlights imperfections. The recording was comparable to a DVD movie! The MagicPix low-light recording feature is not very useful in my opinion. The framerate is slowed down so much and there is a LOT of motion blur. My friend has a Sony Digital8 camera with Nightshot and that is a far superior low light recording capability. However, I don't plan on shooting many scenes in complete darkness so this is a moot point. After two weeks of ownership, the only thing that annoys me about this product is that the battery must be remvoed from the camera to use the AC adapter. If you plug the camera into the battery charger while the battery is charging, it will stop charging the battery until the camera is unplugged. In a nutshell, as a family man wanting to record special events, this camera is awesome. The Electronic Image Stabilization feature will let you record anything without all the wibble-wobble and is HIGHLY effective compared to the other brands. The images are sharp and colors crisp. I'm extremely pleased!
Rating:
Summary: Family camcorder... I'm happy!
Review: I purchased this digital camcorder on May 4th to be used primarily for family events. After an exhausting two hours or so reading all the reviews on the Sony, JVC and Panasonic MiniDV camcorders I decided on this one. I am not a photographer or videographer, just a father of a two month old baby boy who wants to record special events. So far, I am very happy with this camcorder. I can't compare this camera's performance to the Sony or JVC in real world experience, but I can't see how they could be any better. Interior recording, even in low light, plays back very nicely - even on a 52" projection TV which highlights imperfections. The recording was comparable to a DVD movie! The MagicPix low-light recording feature is not very useful in my opinion. The framerate is slowed down so much and there is a LOT of motion blur. My friend has a Sony Digital8 camera with Nightshot and that is a far superior low light recording capability. However, I don't plan on shooting many scenes in complete darkness so this is a moot point. After two weeks of ownership, the only thing that annoys me about this product is that the battery must be remvoed from the camera to use the AC adapter. If you plug the camera into the battery charger while the battery is charging, it will stop charging the battery until the camera is unplugged. In a nutshell, as a family man wanting to record special events, this camera is awesome. The Electronic Image Stabilization feature will let you record anything without all the wibble-wobble and is HIGHLY effective compared to the other brands. The images are sharp and colors crisp. I'm extremely pleased!
Rating:
Summary: Buyer beware
Review: If you purchase this product, I hope you are completely satisfied. It is my opinion that the reliability of Panasonic products has slipped in recent years, and this was confirmed to me when a product I purchased quickly failed. The reason I'm posting this is to warn you that the warranty that accompanies Panasonic products only has value if the company chooses to stand behind it. In my case, they weaseled out of it, leaving me with a total loss and no further recourse. Good luck with your decision.
Rating:
Summary: Panalousy
Review: Okay, I bought this camera back in June and I only played with it a couple times. In August I went to Austria and visited a couple of landmarks and by the end of the day is was buggy. We were down in some mines and I guess it got moist because it said Dew Damage. Luckly for me I have a Panasonic dealer who sent it in for repair and I just got it back and now it eats tapes, you have to pry open the mini dv tape holder, and the record but is sticky.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, could be better
Review: Overall, i'm satisfied with this product. Two things you should be aware of. The Sony DCRTRV series camcorders have better zoom resolution than this product. Also, the tape loading door locking mechanism is a piece of junk. It is very tempermental and sometimes will not lock.
Also, be sure to get a bigger battery. The one that comes with it does not last
Rating: 
Summary: Good and simple - gets the job done...
Review: The optics on this camcorder don't make the rich colors I'm used to on my Sony Hi-8 8mm camcorder, but the camera is nice, lightweight and very easy to use. And the battery seems to last forever. DO NOT bother with the still photograph to SD card feature. There is *no* excuse for how bad the picture quality is. Get any cheap digital camera, if you want still pictures. You can find these for far less than the original US$600 MSRP now, which makes them a good deal...
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