Panasonic PV-L601 VHS-C Camcorder

Panasonic PV-L601 VHS-C Camcorder
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Panasonic offers a complete line-up of Palmcorder products to suit many different needs and applications. From VHS-C format camcorders to the latest in DVC digital technology Panasonic Palmcorders incorporate features designed to be both sophisticated yet simple and easy to use.The PV-L601 Palmcorder features a color viewfinder that is not only comfortable to use but it also saves battery power when used during recording and playback. The camera's VHS compatibility allows you to play all your recordings at home in your VCR and with its 20x Hi-Definition Zoom/150x Digital Zoom you always have extraordinary close-up shots and you are always close to the action. The Digital Electronic Image Stabilization system compensates for unintentional hand movement to help stabilize your picture.
Amazon.com Review
The Panasonic PV-L601 VHS-C camcorder offers a balance of technology and accessible design for recreational shooting. This camcorder requires little setup time, and with easy-to-use features such as autofocus you need only point and shoot. With the VHS-C format and included VHS adapter, the tapes play back in your VCR.

The sizable 20x optical (150x digital) zoom allows for versatility when shooting from virtually any range. The zoom performs as it should, and is clear and free of visual artifacts. When turned on, the digital zoom activates instantly once you zoom past the optical barrier for surprisingly discernable image detail. The lens reacts to finger pressure to change between four zoom speeds. The digital image stabilization does a good job of counteracting the shakiness that results from the compact size and light weight of the camcorder.

The camera automatically detects when the LCD is open and turns off the EVF, saving battery power. The monitor adjusts to almost any angle, which lets you shoot from some amusing angles, including self-portraits. The usual LCD caveat applies: the viewing angle is rather limited, so you have to be almost dead-on to see the image well. Both the EVF and LCD monitor offer optional display of battery life, date, and time, as well as the ever-present recording speed and zoom status. Using the PV-L601 with the LCD monitor open exposes a minor annoyance: you still must raise the viewfinder to access a number of buttons, including the zoom function.

The PV-L601's compact, abbreviated design makes for easy storage and one-hand operation. The padded hand strap keeps your hand comfortably snug while also adjusting for larger hand sizes. Evenly spaced buttons line the top of the camcorder for quick access to important functions such as digital zoom toggle, image stabilization, fade, and selectable backlighting. More immediate still, the manual focusing option is located within finger reach of your operating hand. Even titling a scene can be done in-camera. With the press of a button you can choose from a number of preset phrases to personalize your video content.

In VCR mode, the camcorder doubles as a full-feature VCR for viewing in-camera or on your TV with the included A/V cable. The battery compartment features a quick snap-in and release system, as well as an easy-to-reach rear position. Panasonic claims the battery lasts two full hours on one charge, but using the LCD monitor and lamp frequently will make the running time less than 90 minutes. The included battery charger takes near eight hours to charge a battery, while also doubling as an AC adapter for continuous play.

A convenient menu system allows you to cycle through a list of features including auto or manual selection of shutter speed, selectable fade options, titling toggle, and security mode. A built-in motion detector records automatically when motion is detected. For extended play, the camera records at SP and LP tape speeds; in LP mode an 80-minute tape holds 120 minutes of video. You can set the built-in light to on, off, or automatic according to light conditions. The light's definitely bright, but gives off a spotlight scope--a softer, natural illumination over a greater area is preferable. Just above the light is positioned the integrated twin-capsule, two-way microphone system.

The multilingual instruction manual offers up a suitable guide for charging, shooting, and setup. The Panasonic PV-L601 Camcorder comes with a one-year parts and 90-day labor warranty. --Husseni Rasiwal

Pros:

Large, adjustable LCD monitor
Color viewfinder, too
VHS-C tapes work in any VCR (with included adapter)
Compact, sturdy design

Cons:

Awkward viewfinder placement
Light is too artificial

Average customer rating: 5.0

Sharp, clear, wide range of brightness.
A+
It was sort of surprising really.
Are you ready for your next "Wow" toy?
NEC LCD Monitor is Really Good!

NEC MultiSync LCD1700M+ 17" LCD Monitor

Manufacturer: NEC-Mitsubishi
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00005JGP2

Related Categories:

17 & 18-inch LCD Monitors

| NEC-Mitsubishi | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics

17-Inch

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All Monitors

17-Inch

Amazon.com Product Description

This sleek flat-panel monitor brings exceptional clarity to your desktopalong with tremendous flexibility in equipment layouts. The small-footprintstand is easily removable, leaving the 3-inch-deep screen free formounting on the wall or on a swivel arm. To further reduce clutter, thestylish black frame of the 1700M-BK has two speakers built right in, bringing you a powerful multimedia experience in one small package.

With an optimal resolution of 1,280 x 1,024, a refresh rate of 76Hz, and16 million colors, you can be sure of clear, vivid pictures everytime. Plus, NEC-Multisync includes an impressive three-year warranty thatcovers parts, labor, and the backlight.

Product Description

The NEC MultiSync LCD1700M+ flat-panel monitor, another advancement in NEC Display Solutions's expansive line of LCD monitors, delivers superior image quality along with multimedia capabilities to enhance both your visual and aural experiences. Plus, with features such as NEC's XtraView wide-angle viewing and On Screen Manager (OSM) display setting controls, the MultiSync LCD1700M+ is geared toward making your time in front of the monitor as productive and comfortable as possible. With state-of-the-art speakers built directly into the cabinet, available in white or black, the MultiSync LCD1700M+ offers users remarkable sound quality while freeing up desktop space taken up by stand-alone speakers. Environments such as medical, financial, manufacturing, transportation and corporate, that have space or weight constraints but require a durable monitor with quality images can benefit from the MultiSync LCD1700M+. This monitor also offers a terrific technology value for home-office and small-to-medium business users, as well as system builders and white-box integrators. integrators.

Customer Reviews:

Sharp, clear, wide range of brightness........2002-03-25

I looked at quite a few LCD monitors. None were as good as this. Every pixel works, the image is viewable from a very, very wide angle, and the bightness and contrast controls work over a very wide range, which was the most important feature for me. Most monitors provide bright displays, but none other could be dimmed as low as the NEC and still look great. I've found that bright displays and the UV light spectrum from LCD bulbs cause eye strain over time. The dimmer you can set a monitor and still see it well, the easier on your eyes over time it is. No other LCD monitor comes close to the NEC. Give your eyes a break, and buy this monitor! You will have to work with setting up your display: choosing larger display fonts, larger desktop icons, adjusting icon spacing and such to accomodate the 1280x1024 display, but it is well worth the time. This monitor grows on you. At first it seems kind of BIG. After a while, you can't imaging going back to those tiny 15" monitors. You'll love it.

A+.......2002-03-22

Well, I read the disgruntled reviewer's comments about the terribly small text and horrible quality at 1024x768 resolution. First, flat panel monitors (every one that I have ever seen) do not perform very well when they are not set at their maximum (or native) resolution. This is a fact and it's not going to change anytime soon. There are ways to counteract the effects of the really small text if you are a windows user. You can right click on your background and select properties. Click on settings and then advanced. From this location, you can adjust your text size for menus and icons. So, don't let the other reviewer's comments scare you away from a fine monitor. The NEC is extremely bright (I had to set mine at 50% brightness because 100% was just insane) and text is easy to read. It's SO much better than my 19" Trinitron flat screen I can't believe it, and, it is almost the exact same size. BUY THIS MONITOR!!!

It was sort of surprising really........2002-02-23

I had a compaq 8000 18" panel already. While I was pretty much happy with the clarity of my old monitor it got a problem that after running two hours it would start to flake out and I got tried of compaq not being able to fix the thing. I decided to buy the nec 1700M+ due to reviews and everyone comparing their models to it, and even though I lost a diagonal inch over my compaq, I felt that the price and reputation it was getting warranted trying it.
In a nutshell, I immediantly carried the compaq to the landfill, this monitor rivals my CRTs (proview, nec and sony) and made me realize the compaq had no business on my desktop. This thing has beautiful color across the spectrum, great contrast and plenty of brightness. While I realize the technology is probably newer than the one I had, I never expected it to be this good. In fact I still look at it in amazement every time I sit down in front of it, the speed, the color the contrast...some day I may be able to stop staring at it long enough to actually get some work done.

Are you ready for your next "Wow" toy?.......2002-01-03

Okay, face it there will be a flat panel monitor in your future sooner or later, so you might consider accepting this pleasure sooner rather than later.

My wife and I have both been using higher end 17" CRT monitors for a couple of years. Hers was a Sony, mine is a NEC, both splendid, high rez CRT monitors.

I bought her this LCD monitor for Christmas. It really knocked her socks off. This thing is clean and crisp and incredible.

One hint here, Amazon ships this monitor in the original factory box which has pictures and lots of clearly identifying typography. If it's for a present, have it shipped someplace besides where the gift recipient lives! Luckily, I had to go to UPS to pick it up so my wife's surprize was not ruined.

After reading some of the other reviews, let me offer a couple of hints. Use this device at full rez. You may have to readjust some of your defaults such as Icon Size - make it the biggest available, because at full rez they will still be small. There may be lots of screen defaults you may have to adjust and that may be a real pain. Live with the pain, you'll be glad you did. If you try to treat this device like your good old 14" EGA monitor that you used on your 286, you will be disappointed. Give it the respect it deserves and use it like the superb hardware gem that it is. If it doesn't thrill you, you are doing something wrong! Run a hot video card or suffer the consequences. If you feed this beast right, it will reward you handsomely.

Keep in mind that this 17" LCD and a 17" CRT are apples and oranges. Aside from the obvious differences, the display size is different. The CRT useable area is usually about 16.1" diagonally while the LCD is 17.0" - really, check it out.

In many of the reviews for cheaper competing models I read comments like, "Just as good as the NEC 1700M+! There were a few dead pixels, but they were barely noticable." If you want to compromise, then compromise. If you don't want to compormise, go with this one.

NEC LCD Monitor is Really Good!.......2001-09-03

In early August 2001 I bought an NEC/Mitsubishi LCD 1700M+ from Amazon.com after a considerable amount of product and price comparison shopping. This display was to replace a CRT 17" display that had failed after years of good service. I expected that the new NEC monitor would be an adequate replacement, taking up much less space and drawing less power from my UPS, while not presenting too many of the problems I thought would be inherent in the LCD technology. In fact, NEC's LCD technology appears to be superior to my previous CRT in almost every way. The colors are more vivid, black is totally dark, the overall image is sharper and much, much brighter. There is no viewing-angle problem: the image at 70-80 degrees off axis is still as bright as my CRT used to be on-axis. This is a very good product.
Update after six months: I still think this is a great monitor, and would recommend it highly. My only complaint is that there is no jack for headphones to bypass the built-in stereo speakers. My old monitor had a jack, so I could listen to webcasts without bothering other folks.
Update after 4 1/2 years: The monitor is still as bright and clear as ever, even after years of service. I keep it powered 24/7, and actually in use over 40 hours per week.

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