Panasonic Mini-DV Camcorder - NV DS27 Camcorder Best Buys

Panasonic DS27 - 04 Jan 2002

28 out of 32 found this review helpful.

We are pleased as punch with this dvc, we have shot over 5 tapes on holiday in Hawaii and the play back is better that we ever thought. The quality is outstanding. The facilities on the dvc are easy to use and even in low light we still have good shots. On transfer to the pc and using the edit software we have the results are almost ready for the big screen.

Panasonic NV DS27. Go get one! - 29 Dec 2001

47 out of 48 found this review helpful.

I looked in all the shops, big and small, but kept coming back to the Amazon web site to see this product at a saving of 30% compared to anywhere else. I ordered it 18th Dec.It arrived Chritmas Eve, despite Amazon crediting me with a £3.00p voucher because they were concerned it would'nt arrive before the 25th.
With no previous Knowledge of camcorders,within the time it took to charge the battery I was viewing video clips of my dogs walking down the drive in front of me on the TV, it was that easy to set up.
The picture quality,sound and colours are all first class as promised by other reviews.
Take a look at the spec. of the NV DS27 and you would only expect to find these on a more expensive range.Don't be put off by the price, There's no catch, go get one!

Pros.
Excellent value for money.

Cons.
Get a stamina battery.

Panasonic NV DS27 review. - 10 Dec 2001

56 out of 56 found this review helpful.

Those nice people at Amazon delivered my new Panasonic NV DS27 in just two days from ordering it. This is my first camcorder, although I've used many others, and I chose it mainly for the price... The camera feels well balanced in your hand and all the function controls are within reach. The facilities are comprehensive with 'auto' taking care of everything and the manual controls for those who like to intervene. I thought the zero light feature was fantastic. An infra red light under the lens enables you camera to work in complete darkness. Using the camcorder is simplicity itself and the results are spot on. The built in speaker makes reviewing material a breeze and the flip out screen helps in framing your shots. All in all its' fab, and I would recommend the Panasonic NV DS27 to anyone who fancies a hassle free camcorder...

Excellent cheap DV camcorder - 07 Dec 2001

59 out of 61 found this review helpful.

I have just bought the Panasonic NV DS27B camcorder from Amazon, and it has exceeded all my expectations for such a cheap digital camcorder. I have enabled DV-IN on mine very easily... It works a dream connected to my PC using Pinnacle DV Studio.
It works exceptionally well in fully automatic mode, but all the manual overrides are there if you need them. One feature I did not expect was 'motion sensor', where the camera goes into standby mode until it detects motion. It then records until the picture is static again. I have found this brilliant for capturing birds feeding on my bird-table. I am also amazed by the quality of the sound recording.
Do not be put off by the 'tubbiness' of this camera. It is very easy to hold and control. My wife is also very keen on it and is already contemplating her own projects with it.

A Great cheap camcorder - 29 Nov 2001

145 out of 146 found this review helpful.

I took the camera to film around Europe, with the intention of digitally editing the footage when I got back. In daylight recording the image quality is nearly as good as any documentary you will see on tv. The camera fits comfortably in the hand, with the recording and zoom functions well placed for thumb operation. The camera comes with the usual digital effects, like mosaic, motion blur, sepia and black and white etc.
The long play function is particularly good, extending the tape length from 60 min to 90 min without loss of image quality. If you are into digital editing, then the digital output is particularly useful, and very easy to use. Just plug it into a firewire connection on your computer and the camera is automatically detected (true plug and play).
The camera has a good image stabiliser, so if you make an effort to try and hold the camera steady, then the camera will do the rest. All my filming was hand held, and many of my shots look like they are done from a tripod!
One feature that I didn't expect was night vision. This did (and still does) impress me alot. It allows you to film in complete darkness, and you'd be surprised at how good the image is. Everyone I have shown this feature has been amazed.
The only real gripes are the lack of a DV-In so you can't digitally record your footage back to the camera once you've finished editing it (This incurs a higher import tax because the camera is classified as a video recorder), and sometimes the digital photoshot can be a bit blocky.

All this said I think this is a really great camera, and will be very good for the majority of people that want to do some family or holiday filming and even if you want to try some home movie making on a budget.

Pro's:
-Good image quality
-Easy to use
-Image Stabiliser
-and if all else fails to impress the night vision wsurely will!

Con's:
-The digital photoshot is sometimes blocky
-no DV-In