3 Megapixel Image - 10x Optical Zoom - 700x Digital Zoom - Optical IS - 16 MB Secure Digital SD Card Included - Firewire - MPN: PVDV953
Strengths: Optical image stabilization, zebra effect for oversaturation, still photo effect in movies, 3.0 megapixel stills in SD card, colorbar generator.
Weakness: low light capability
I have used this for a 2 week tour of Europe, a wedding, several stage productions and home video. Except for the low light situation, it is a dream camcorder. The many effects and adjustments available, cover almost all that a non professional could ask for. The 3.5 in LCD is especially useful. This is my 4th camcorder, but first DV. I love the resolution when played back on my 32" TV.
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TopStrengths: Well made, excellent video, many great features, 3 chips, Great price.
Weakness: Cheezy remote controller.
Well gang, I finally did it. I finally made a decision on a new camera... I think I'm probably like a lot of the potential buyers out there-I was looking for an above average camera, but I didn't want to spend $2000. After reading about and handeling the GL2, VX2000, and the VX2100, I started to lower my standards, just a little, because I couldn't afford the $2000 range. I also looked at some of the cameras under a grand, and some of them looked pretty good but I wanted to get a three chip, if I could, so I narrowed it down to the PV-DV953 and it's baby brother the PV-GS70. I really liked the 70 but it didn't have as many features and I think the chips are a little bigger on the 953. Soooo... I decided to buy the 953. Got that baby in the mail and my heart was pounding. I'd been wanting a good DV camcorder for quite a while so I opened the box. The first thing I noticed was it's size. I thought it would be a lot bigger, but after holding it and messin with it for a few minutes, I started to dig the feel of the thing. It has a very comfortable feel and I realized, that if I was going to do any gorilla filming, i.e. shoot the inside of a department store without getting permission and not attracting too much attention, or something like that, this might be the one. Well... I read the quickie setup page just so I could shoot a little bit of footage and I was very impressed with the picture on the LED monitor. This camera really looks and feels like it's well made. I looked at some of the features which I won't go into too much because most of you have read or could read the technical descriptions of the features on the net, and everything looked great until I got to the remote controller. I'm not talking about the wireless remote, I mean the little, and I do mean littl one that controls the zoom, record and still picture taking. This is the only thing I was really disapointed in besides a (not quite slow as I'd like it, but pretty darn slow zoom). This controller looks like they picked it up at Woolworths and decided to stick it in with the camera stuff. That may be a little strong language, but in all honesty, it just feels cheap. I can't understand why they'd give you a killer, well built, $1000 or so camera and then put in a $1.98 controller. Well reluctently I plugged it in and at least it works. My main discontent with it is that I couldn't make it do a vari-zoom. It zoom's but only at one speed. If I'm wrong on this, please, someone, let me know and I'll change the info in this review. However... the thing does work and even though I wanted the really knockout one that controlls the zoom speed and feels like the same quality of the camera, I wouldn't let this one thing keep you from taking a serious look at this camcorder.
The only other thing that bothered me at first was the fact that I wanted a REALLY slow zoom for those creepy crawls, like say at a wedding, s l o w l y zooming into a close-up of the brides face. The slow I'm talking about, I'v only found on the higher, higher end cameras and one of the three I mentioned earlier. I cant mention the name because of the rules here but after fooling around with this camera for a while I realized it's a pretty darn good, slow zoom and a very smooth one to boot. I wanted to have a 20x zoom but again, price, so I just ordered a 2x extenter which should do the trick. I shoot a lot of surfing video so I also bought a 3x. Not sure how the 3x is gona fly here, but I figured I'd give it a try. As far as the features go, if you want features, this is the one. I can't say enough how thrilled I am to have this many features for the price I paid. Take a look for yourself and compare, but if I'm not wrong, this camera has almost as many features as those $2000 models, only lacking in an introvolometer and a few things. Not bad for under $1000.
If you want a camera that is well built, shoots great looking video, has automatic or manual shooting capibilities, has all the good features and has 3 chips for under $1000, this might be it. I don't think you can do any better for the price and I honestly think it could have sold for fifteen hundered bucks or so and still wouldn't be a bad deal.
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TopStrengths: Beautiful 3 chip color range, and a great still digital camera to boot.
Weakness: I agree with the first reviewer the still shot button and the zoom knob could have been shifted to 45 degrees from the top to make them more accessiable when your hand is in the strap.
I went to a track meet with my daughter who has a SONY TRV25. The color was much better on my 953 and the optical stablization made my shot noticable less shaky then her camera.
Having a "real" over 2 mega-pixel still camera, built in was also a great benifit, here the optical stablization, the 10 to 1 zoom, the 3.5 inch viewer, and and instant response when you press the still shot button were all big benifits over still digital cameras. I have only had this camera for a few week but so far I am more than impressed.
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TopStrengths: Still picture, 3 CCD camcorder
Weakness: none
It is easy to handle, a lot of customization. Fot the low light situation, you still can video taping with the normal room light, I don't like the night shot of any 0 lux camcorder because the quality of the video is not good enough to bother. In case of low light situation, I rather use the built in digital still camera and use software to add them to my video clips.
It is a good camcorder, well built. I am really enjoying it.
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TopStrengths: Good Quality Video in good light
Weakness: low light situations
When Compared to other 3ccd 1/6" cameras in its class it rocks. I think it can fairly be compared to the TRV950 but comes in a close second in the video quality test. The other features would beat out the TRV950 in ease of use and overall control. Both the TRV950 and PV-DV953 have limited low light capabilities, the 953 has less, and suffers from it. You can not fairly compare it to the GL2. The GL2 BEATS both the 950 and 953 in almost all areas except - price and size. The GL2 video quailty in both outdoor and indoor lowlight wins no questions ask. I did a side by side comparision of all three cameras - the GL2 is still KING, TRV950 Queen, and PV-DV953 royal knight.
If you do mostly outdoor shoots in good light either the Sony 950 or Pan 953 would be a great choice, it would boil down to your wallet. If you must have the best of both worlds the GL2 is really the only choice between the three.
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TopStrengths: Excellent video quality, great LCD screen, very good optics, wired and wireless remote, amazing pricepoint.
Weakness: Few, but I think the lack of discrete I/O ports for audio/ and video (particularly audio) Overall build quality. but hey what do you expect for under $1200??
This camera kept getting comparisons to cameras in price categories easily double it's cost, so I checked out the unit on line, then at my local electronics store. I'm blown away by the quality, features, optics, potential. It's the most impressive camera in it's price range, for sure. Easily performing on par with some of the more expensive cameras in the pro-sumer category. Remarkable value. I ordered one immediately. I expect I will be shooting with it before weeks end. I intend to produce independent, very low budget feature length motion pictures with this camera, and I am confident it will produce results that I, and my audiences will be more than satisfied with.
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TopStrengths: Good image quality, optical image stabilization.
Weakness: Slow USB 1.1, slow SD card drive
I'm very satisfied with this 3CCD camcorder, the video quality is excellent, and the still image is better than my old Sony 2 mega pixel digital camera. It capture pictures without any delay, however, it takes seconds to save the picture to the SD card (the camcorder stops responding until it's done). The USB 1.1 connection is slow, though you can always take the SD card out and use a USB 2.0 card reader to transfer your pictures.
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TopStrengths: Large viewscreen, portability, image quality, good feature set
Weakness: Not great for low light, too many buttons, non-intuitive interface
The first thing I noticed using the camera is the quality of the optical stabilization. It's really remarkable, much better than the Sony vx1000 I had been using previously. It's also much smaller and the viewscreen is large.
I wasn't thrilled about the low-light capabilities of the camera, but I'll have to play with the exposure settings to really make a solid judgment. Adjusting the image settings on the old Sony is much easier, but I guess I'll just have to read the manual. Sigh.
This is a high quality, versatile camera. I haven't had it long, but so far, so good.
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TopStrengths: Large viewscreen,Quality and Manual Control 3ccd way better then the sony 950
Weakness: have yet to find any, I dont know about low light recording because I dont believe in it , so I always look for lighted places outdoors
after using my soony 950 and reviewing and testing a dozen other dv cams in the price range this panasonic beat them all down singled handed, and I thing is going against the canon gl2.
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TopStrengths: Quality and Manual Control
Weakness: Menus, Menus, Menus!
I feel like the are too many buttons all over the camera and that they could have been placed more strategically.
Holding the camera at times is a bit awkward cause in one position you have access to certain buttons but when other buttons are needed near the same hand you must pull your hand out of the strap.
This is my first Digital Camcorder so perhaps there are worse. It's not too bad on the other hand. I feel once I've really gotten used to it, it will become cake.
I've only had it 2 days so I will leave another review in about 2 weeks.
Auggybendoggy
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TopStrengths: Image quality is pretty good, easy to use, LCD is really big
Weakness: Does not do good in low light but what can you expect for $25
If I decide to buy this it will be my first mini DV camcorder.It has 3CCD, it's great.The zoom can be a little pixelated if you zoom really far.If I buy this I will get these with it: the wide angle lens,extra battery, and a tripod for the maximum benefits.
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Video is Excellent according to 11 Camcorder experts. -- "superior video"-pcworld.com -- "deep, rich colors in both normal and low-light situations"-pcworld.com -- "the video performance is very good - making this a great hybrid."-camcorderinfo.com Read more to find expert opinions on more features like Optics, Battery, Interface, etc.
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Panasonic PV-DV953 receives an overall TopTenREVIEWS score of 2.7 out of 4.00. It is ranked the #61 MiniDV camcorder of all time. The overall rating represents an intelligent balance of features, value as a function of price to features, and a summary of reviews from a variety of sources. The TopTen REVIEWS' formula gives a picture of important consumer features, market value, and a product's...
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Panasonic Palmcorder PV-DV953 Digital Camcorder -...
Strengths: Image quality, ease of operation, LCD huge, quality of construction, firewire to video transfer, USB card image transfer, optical image stabilization and electronic.
Weakness: Input and output connections a little difficult to use because of locations. Low light is a weakness, but it is so good otherwise..I don't care.
I have owned Sony, Canon and now Panasonic. This is the first MiniDV camcorder and the image quality as a 3CCD is great. It is easy to use with too many features to list.
The zoom above 50X is a little pixelated but they all are..
This is a must own camera/camcorder IMHO.
Buy the wide angle lens and 9 hour battery pack and use a tripod for the maximum benefits. Spend a few days filming everything you can and testing all the various menus and it will become a wonderful addition to your family videos.
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