Review on 📹 Panasonic PVDC252 MiniDV Ultra Compact Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD, SD Slot & Digital Still Capability (Discontinued Model) by Elvis Bragg

The PVDC252 wasn't on my Christmas list as I was looking at vertical camcorders, specifically the JVC GRDVM76U. Then I happened to see the PVDC252 in an electronics store and it really caught my attention. The silver framed lens looked very nice, along with the cold shoe mount and of course the price caught my eye. It had everything that was in the JVC, just in the traditional "horizontal" design. I played around with the device and it got me hooked pretty quickly. I did some final research and even looked for the Sony MicroMv DCRIP5 but kept coming back to the PVDC252. I bought a PVDC252 the whole week before Christmas - and never looked back :-) The camcorder was really good for the price and quality. yes, very compact (in length). The kit included many extras (IR remote, wired remote, USB cable, charger/adapter). Controlling the device is easy and the controls are within easy reach. The video output is quite exceptional and connecting to a PC via firewire is very easy (I used Adobe Premiere to capture the video on my HD). As a backup I got an extra battery (Lenmar LIP120). The main battery also works great and offers more than 1 hour of recording. The LCD is clear and easy to read, and the viewfinder is easy to use despite its small size. It also has a built-in speaker so you can hear audio while playing recorded movies on the device. Protected digital photo slot - certainly don't expect digital camera quality pictures - even better left to dedicated digital cameras, and in my opinion the digital "photo capture" features in DV camcorders are just an added convenience, not a replacement for digital cameras. However, still images are suitable for sending via e-mail/electronic album. :-) The zoom lens is smooth and easy to control. The pickup is very good. The camera also has a "zoom mic" that allows you to zoom in on the audio at the same point you zoom in on the image. And the wind reduction function helps to mask wind noise during recording. And what is very noticeable (or not) is that no engine noise is registered (unlike some Canon models). Conclusion: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - worth its price! And bring a good camcorder case (the Case Logic DVC-30 camcorder case fits really well, check it out on the Revain list here).