Panasonic PV-DV951 Mini DV Camcorder
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- Recording System: NTSC
- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 10x
- Weight: 1.48 lb.
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Panasonic PV-DV951 MiniDV Digital Camcorder With 3-CCD Design And Leica Lens
Pros
Optical stabilizer, leica lens and 3-CCD, picture quality, features, price
Cons
None
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The Panasonic PV-DV951 is a very advanced piece of equipment.
The Panasonic PV-DV951 is a 3-CCD MiniDV digital camcorder. The camcorder uses three separate CCD sensors (each for its own primary color) to provide the best possible resolution and picture quality.
Picture
The picture quality is excellent, due in part to the 3-CCD design and 1.6-megapixel resolution. The detail level is very high and the edges of the objects are well-defined. The camcorder also uses optical image stabilization and Leica Dicomar lens. The LCD is supplemented by a color viewfinder.
MiniDV
As the majority of digital camcorders, the DV951 uses MiniDV format. The 60-minute MiniDV tape holds 60 minutes in SP mode or 90 minutes in LP mode at a cost of $6-10; the tape can also hold still pictures.
With MiniDV, the recording is digital and provides up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution. MiniDV tapes are smaller than either VHS-C/S-VHS-C or 8mm/Hi8/Digital8.
Zoom
The DV951 has 10x optical / 100x digital zoom with several zoom speeds. Since the camcorder has a 1.6-megapixel resolution, the digital zoom does not decrease the picture quality.
Focus
The camcorder allows you to adjust the focus manually, using the focus ring when you need to (which doesn?t happen often).
Sound
The camcorder uses 12-bit/16-bit (selectable) PCM stereo with two sets of stereo audio tracks (4 channels total in 12-bit mode), which allows you to add a second track of music or sound. Audio dubbing can be used in 12-bit SP mode.
Optical Image Stabilization
The DV951 uses optical image stabilization to remove excessive shaking and movement while shooting. The stabilizer is quite effective even at high magnification levels.
The use of optical image stabilizer is generally more expensive but provides better picture quality. The higher price of the optical stabilizers makes them a features found only in the higher priced models.
Analog Inputs
The DV951 has analog inputs, and you can convert your old analog footage into a digital format for archiving purposes or advanced editing.
Digital Effects
The digital effects can be applied during both recording and playback. The "digital mirror" creates a mirror like symmetrical image, while "strobe" digitally freezes a series of images. You can also stretch the image horizontally and form multiple impressions of images in motion and gradually fade them out for a "trail" effect.
"Mosaic" turns the image into a mosaic pattern, and "slim" expands the image vertically. You can also play back your recording in B&W or sepia in addition to playing them in color.
Still Picture
The DV951 can take still pictures at up to 1488x1128 resolution. The pictures can then be stored on MultiMediaCard (or SD Media Card) or MiniDV tape. You can use a supplied RS-232C serial cable and software to connect the camcorder to your PC to transfer your still images to the PC for printing, editing or sending by email.
The camcorder comes with a 16Mb SD memory card and a USB SD reader/writer. The use of the USB connection makes the task of transferring your pictures to the computer easier.
MMC
The MultiMediaCard (MMC) or an SD Card can be used as a "digital film." You can take pictures until the card is full and then either remove it and replace it with a fresh card or erase any or all of the images from the card and reuse these "empty areas".
PhotoShot? with MiniDV Tape
You can also store your pictures on tape. The tape can contain still pictures, audio and video. But the access speed will be much slower than when using MMC or SD card. The i.Link can be used to transfer still pictures to your PC.
i.Link, IEEE 1394, FireWire
The FireWire (i.Link, IEEE 1394) can be used to transfer your video to the computer for editing or to another digital camcorder or VCR for editing and making copies. The cable is not included, so you will have to buy it separately.
The better solution may be a software package, like Pinnacle Systems? Studio DV, which comes with a FireWire PCI card for your computer, cable and software. You can find my review of it at http://dkozin.epinions.com/content_30718791300
Remote Control
This model comes with an infrared remote control, which gives you index search capability, slow and frame advance modes and other advanced functions.
Bottom Line
The Panasonic PV-DV951 is a very advanced piece of equipment. The use of 3-CCD design, Leica Dicomar lens and optical stabilization produces excellent picture quality, which, combined with great set of features, make this camcorder very desirable.
Picture
The picture quality is excellent, due in part to the 3-CCD design and 1.6-megapixel resolution. The detail level is very high and the edges of the objects are well-defined. The camcorder also uses optical image stabilization and Leica Dicomar lens. The LCD is supplemented by a color viewfinder.
MiniDV
As the majority of digital camcorders, the DV951 uses MiniDV format. The 60-minute MiniDV tape holds 60 minutes in SP mode or 90 minutes in LP mode at a cost of $6-10; the tape can also hold still pictures.
With MiniDV, the recording is digital and provides up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution. MiniDV tapes are smaller than either VHS-C/S-VHS-C or 8mm/Hi8/Digital8.
Zoom
The DV951 has 10x optical / 100x digital zoom with several zoom speeds. Since the camcorder has a 1.6-megapixel resolution, the digital zoom does not decrease the picture quality.
Focus
The camcorder allows you to adjust the focus manually, using the focus ring when you need to (which doesn?t happen often).
Sound
The camcorder uses 12-bit/16-bit (selectable) PCM stereo with two sets of stereo audio tracks (4 channels total in 12-bit mode), which allows you to add a second track of music or sound. Audio dubbing can be used in 12-bit SP mode.
Optical Image Stabilization
The DV951 uses optical image stabilization to remove excessive shaking and movement while shooting. The stabilizer is quite effective even at high magnification levels.
The use of optical image stabilizer is generally more expensive but provides better picture quality. The higher price of the optical stabilizers makes them a features found only in the higher priced models.
Analog Inputs
The DV951 has analog inputs, and you can convert your old analog footage into a digital format for archiving purposes or advanced editing.
Digital Effects
The digital effects can be applied during both recording and playback. The "digital mirror" creates a mirror like symmetrical image, while "strobe" digitally freezes a series of images. You can also stretch the image horizontally and form multiple impressions of images in motion and gradually fade them out for a "trail" effect.
"Mosaic" turns the image into a mosaic pattern, and "slim" expands the image vertically. You can also play back your recording in B&W or sepia in addition to playing them in color.
Still Picture
The DV951 can take still pictures at up to 1488x1128 resolution. The pictures can then be stored on MultiMediaCard (or SD Media Card) or MiniDV tape. You can use a supplied RS-232C serial cable and software to connect the camcorder to your PC to transfer your still images to the PC for printing, editing or sending by email.
The camcorder comes with a 16Mb SD memory card and a USB SD reader/writer. The use of the USB connection makes the task of transferring your pictures to the computer easier.
MMC
The MultiMediaCard (MMC) or an SD Card can be used as a "digital film." You can take pictures until the card is full and then either remove it and replace it with a fresh card or erase any or all of the images from the card and reuse these "empty areas".
PhotoShot? with MiniDV Tape
You can also store your pictures on tape. The tape can contain still pictures, audio and video. But the access speed will be much slower than when using MMC or SD card. The i.Link can be used to transfer still pictures to your PC.
i.Link, IEEE 1394, FireWire
The FireWire (i.Link, IEEE 1394) can be used to transfer your video to the computer for editing or to another digital camcorder or VCR for editing and making copies. The cable is not included, so you will have to buy it separately.
The better solution may be a software package, like Pinnacle Systems? Studio DV, which comes with a FireWire PCI card for your computer, cable and software. You can find my review of it at http://dkozin.epinions.com/content_30718791300
Remote Control
This model comes with an infrared remote control, which gives you index search capability, slow and frame advance modes and other advanced functions.
Bottom Line
The Panasonic PV-DV951 is a very advanced piece of equipment. The use of 3-CCD design, Leica Dicomar lens and optical stabilization produces excellent picture quality, which, combined with great set of features, make this camcorder very desirable.
