Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

Panasonic PVDV401 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
The PV-DV401 delivers high-resolution digital video that is so sharp, it must be seen to be believed. But that is just the beginning. It also features an 20X optical zoom lens, digital effects, i.LINK and USB interfaces, 3-inch color LCD monitor and color viewfinder, removable MultiMedia card, and a MagicVU, or IR filter that allows recording in near total darkness. Mini DV is the revolutionary digital video format that takes home video recording to new, previously unimaginable levels.
Amazon.com Review
The Panasonic PV-DV401 is a no-frills camcorder that's ideal for anyone who wants a digital camcorder but doesn't need a lot of extras. While perfectly adequate for general use, the camera didn't overwhelm us with good design and fantastic footage. The PV-DV401 is great for a family, but not the camera of choice for digital-video hobbyists.

Digital camcorders generally do very well in brightly lit environments, and the PV-DV401 was no exception. Low-light shooting wasn't too bad either; the picture was decent without being too grainy--a flaw of many digital camcorders. The lack of manual exposure control left much to be desired; in certain environments the auto exposure struggled between letting in too much light and letting in too little light. For nighttime shooting there is a nifty infrared mode where you shoot visible video in practically no light at all. Video playback was standard fare; however, at this price range it would be nice to include a remote control as a standard accessory. The large 3-inch LCD viewscreen is a big plus; it was very comfortable to look at during both recording and playback.

The overall design of this camcorder seems uninspired. With so many manual functions, digital effects, and settings, Panasonic could have done much better by bringing them out as buttons on the camera rather than tucking them away in hard-to-navigate onscreen menus. The jog wheel at the top of the camera performs many different camera functions, but it began to get tedious to use because of its odd placement and design. We inadvertently pressed the nearby photo button several times while trying to access the jog wheel.

Digital camcorders have been getting progressively better and cheaper the last few years. The PV-DV401 follows that trend, but has nothing to differentiate it from a crowded field. Simply put, it's just an average camera. --Bao Tran

Pros:

Large LCD viewscreen
Infrared low-light shooting
Lightweight and small

Cons:

No manual exposure control
Awkward design, menu, and buttons
No remote

Amazon.com Product Description
The PV-DV401 is a great introduction into the world of digital video. Featuring a 20x optical zoom, along with digital image stabilization (during both recording and playback), which helps eliminate those shakes and bounces common to high zoom levels, this model has everything you need to start capturing beautiful footage. You can use either the 3-inch color LCD monitor or the electronic viewfinder to frame your shots.

To help ensure that the footage you shoot will be the best it can be, the PV-DV401 has a five-mode programmed autoexposure that will adjust aperture, white balance, and other settings automatically. Also included are a number of digital effects and faders, letting you give your footage some fun, creative touches.

Still photos can be captured at a resolution of 640 x 480. Save them on either the included 8 MB Panasonic secure digital (SD) card or a MultiMediaCard. A USB port is built in for speedy transfer of your images. For those interested in video editing, the PV-DV401 has a built-in IEEE-1394 port for speedy, lossless transfer of your video and audio. Also included are analog outputs for viewing your home movies on your television, or for transfer to a VHS tape.

Average customer rating: 4.0

What you're looking for
ZIP 250MB Starter - 3 U250 Disks not included
Zip 250 MB USB-Powered
Almost Great
A fun little drive!

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Iomega 31653 Zip 250 MB USB-Powered Starter Kit with 3 250 disks

Manufacturer: Iomega
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00005B6TT

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Product Description

The solution was so simple, so complete, and so needed when the 100MB Zip drive first came on the scene, that it's no wonder the Zip drive has earned a rock-solid reputation in the PC world as the preferred way to save, backup and collect your important files. Now, the 250MB version of the classic 100MB blue Zip drive is available, extending the Zip product family and the technology that's meeting the needs of the digital age. In addition, the amount of digital information is skyrocketing! Consider the size of even basic office application files, presentations, digital music, scanned family photos, digital video, tax files, financial records, not to mention the millions upon millions of web pages packed with information. It can be overwhelming.From all these choices, you'll pick what's valuable to you. You'll create and save. You'll download, and piece together a growing collection of content that's important to you. Your Zip 250 drive should serve as the safe deposit box for your library of PC files. Easy to duplicate and backup, rugged, reliable Zip disks can protect your data from hard drive crashes and even physical computer theft. And how about flexibility? The Zip drive detaches easily and goes where you go. Light and compact, the 250MB Zip drive can be the traveling person's complete solution, attachable to virtually any PC in the world. So go ahead, give your files room to grow. And give yourself the flexibility, transportability and reliability wrapped up in the 250MB Zip drive. You won't regret it.

Amazon.com Product Description

The Zip 250 MB USB-Powered Drive Starter Kit from Iomega includes an ultrathin, portable SuperFloppy drive and three Zip 250 MB disks. Providing high-capacity removable storage for PC and Mac computers, the Zip 250 MB drive comes with a USB cable that transmits both data and power; no external power source is needed. At 1-inch thick and weighing just under a pound, the Zip 250 USB drive is easily transported.

Compatible with most major operating systems, standard Zip 100 MB disks, and all 250 MB Zip disks, the Zip 250 MB USB drive comes with a one-year limited warranty. Iomega offers a 10-year limited warranty on the Zip U250 MB disks.

Customer Reviews:

What you're looking for.......2003-08-14

If you need an exterior Zip drive, you've found it. This is perfect for your every zip need. It is very small- not much wider then an actual zip disk. In addition, it comes with a rubber stand that can make it take up even less desk space by making it vertical. It is extremely light and therefore portable and easily plugs into your computer with a fast USB cable. There is no necessary installation either. Also, it is good to note that this is a good MB zip drive to get for two reasons- it can still take 100MB ones (the size smaller) and there is no real need for most to get a 700 MB drive (the size larger) because if you're dealing with that much information most people would use a CD instead and it is very hard to find a 700 MB disk. Also, take into account that this is a very good price especially considering it includes 3 disks- which can run $$$ each sometimes.

ZIP 250MB Starter - 3 U250 Disks not included.......2003-01-03

This starter kit doesn't contain the U250 disks (10 year guarantee), but the regular 250 MB zip disks (5 year guarantee). I am sending 2 kits back today. Iomega quit making the U250 Zip disks. Someone at Amazon knows about the problem, but the website has not been updated. Don't waste your time !

Zip 250 MB USB-Powered.......2002-12-13

Product worked well for about 6 months. Eventually it got slower and slower until it no longer would read any diskettes. Called the company and they said the drive was out of warranty and would cost $80.00 plus tax and shipping to fix it. I only had the drive for about 14 months and didn't even use it very much. IOMega refused to make any type of concession. Well they just lost a customer over their cheap dealings.

Almost Great.......2002-12-11

This is a neat little drive. The only reason I got this was because the new Macs don't come with built in zip drives anymore, and I have alot of data on zips. I didn't get the 750MB drive because the specs say it won't write to 100MB zip disks, which this one will.

At first I was concerned with the funny noises I heard coming from this little drive (remember, my previous experience was a built in 100MB version). It took me a while to realize these were the same sounds that came from the old drive, only much much louder. I don't know if click of death is still an issue with Zip drives, but those noises sure had me worried at first.

The portability is great, not only can you take the disks anywhere, but the drive itself is small enough to be transported easily. Simply unplug the thing, and you're good to go, it'll work on any computer with a built in USB port.

Compatibility is another story. I've had no problem reading and writing to Mac100 zip disks. On PC100s and PC250s, disk access is much slower. That's why this is only getting three stars, instead of four or five.

A fun little drive!.......2002-09-13

I've had my Zip 250 drive for over 2 years, and I love it! It's a snap to install, easy to use, compact, lightweight, quiet, and dare I say cute? I've only used it on my husband's computer which has USB. Recently I ordered a parallel port cable from Iomega.com.... So this drive can be made parallel port-compatible. I haven't tried it yet, so can't comment on how speed is affected (for those who are obsessed with such things!). If you're looking for an easy, reliable and affordable storage solution you can't go wrong with this drive. My first one was defective, and Iomega replaced it promptly with no hassle. And this one is going strong these 2+ years.

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