CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 10/13/2004
- Released on: 07/20/2004
Design aspects to file under "dumb things to do:" the manual-focus mode switch and the manual-focus control buttons are grouped under the LCD, so you have to flip it out to access them. That shuts off the electronic viewfinder, powering up the LCD as your viewing screen. Unfortunately, your hand can partially obscure the LCD while manipulating the focus controls. That aside, our only real bone to pick with the VDR-M70's design is its monstrous battery pack. If you don't fully extend the viewfinder, you're guaranteed to smack yourself in the cheek with the battery pack. Even with the viewfinder extended, the battery will still rest against your face, and after about 20 minutes of continuous use, both the battery and the camera get noticeably warm.
The 1/4-inch, 1-megapixel CCD delivers a maximum effective 400,000 pixels for movies and 1 megapixel for stills. The three video-recording modes--Xtra Fine, Fine, and Standard--respectively deliver 18, 30, or 60 minutes of recorded video per disc side.The Panasonic VDR-M70 is another in an emerging lineup of mini-DVD camcorders that we feel are not quite ready yet for prime time. On the plus side, DVDs are more durable than tape. Mini DVDs, however, are irrationally expensive compared to their full-size counterparts and hold about a third of the data. And what of Panasonic's claim that 8cm single-sided DVD-R or double-sided DVD-RAM discs in their round plastic holders are available everywhere? After trying five RadioShacks, two CompUSAs, and a Circuit City, I retreated to the Internet to order a few. On eBay, I did find aftermarket telephoto (2X) and wide-angle (0.42X) lenses as well as UV, polarized, and color-correcting filters to increase the camera's effectiveness.
DVDs, unlike tape, aren't necessarily linear. They require the camcorder's operating system to keep track of where things are. That can add anywhere from a one- to six-second delay between when you stop recording or insert a disc to when you can start recording again. The camcorder can host an optional SD card for stills, but that becomes mandatory if you want to take snapshots while using a mini DVD-R disc. The VDR-M70 can take stills with only DVD-RAM discs. If you are shooting stills, consider the optional flash unit, which connects to the top-mounted hotshoe.
The VDR-M70 offers the usual list of menu options, allowing you to run the camera in anything from full-automatic to manual-adjustment mode, with backlight compensation, low-light mode, and a select group of exposure programs. You can even do limited editing if you're using a DVD-RAM disc. You use a tiny joystick embedded in the lower-left side of the camcorder to navigate and to select the various options. Wide-screen fans will appreciate the availability of 16:9 aspect ratio, but don't use it unless you have a 16:9 display. This isn't letterbox, and trying to cram a 16:9 video image into a standard 4:3 display environment squishes the image in at the sides and distorts the proportions.
Panasonic has gotten things right in quite a few areas. Without resorting to low-light mode, the VDR-M70 seems to have an uncanny knack for using available light to the best advantage, although you might notice a small delay as the aperture adjusts to the ambient light and the focus follows along. On the subject of light, the Backlight setting worked well, but the VDR-M70's low-light mode is basically a waste of time compared to similar features on Sony's DVD camcorders. The VDR-M70 was unable to focus on the shadowy images it detected, and even stationary subjects drifted in and out of focus as the camera seemed to be latching onto nearby light sources instead of the object itself.
Continue readingMost helpful user reviews
- Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 6 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 3 of 6 user reviews
-
6 out of 6 people found this helpful
-
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
-
1 out of 2 people found this helpful
- See all 6 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
