Panasonic PVDV203 MiniDV Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and 8MB SD card

You can also record MPEG4 video, which uses a higher compression setting and is great for posting to a Web site or e-mailing to friends and family.

Still images and MPEG4 video are stored on the included 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and can be transferred to your PC via USB connectivity (compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0).

Web Cam Capability The PV-DV203 is equipped with a built-in Web Camera that gives you the ability to send live video to family and friends over the Internet. The still image is taken using the PhotoShot digital still feature and appears on the right side of the video you're recording. Shooting from far distances is no problem with the PV-DV203's 10x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom. With Panasonic's introduction of Dual D-EIS (digital electronic image stabilization), you can use this same technology in both the record and playback modes to remove additional jitter from previously recorded video.

Digital Stills and MPEG4 Video The still mode is capable of capturing crystal-clear still images comparable to the best digital still cameras. Also requires Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 98SE or Windows 2000 Professional preinstalled PC with USB port. The ultracompact Panasonic PV-DV203 MiniDV offers advanced features such as digital still photo capability and the ability to create high-quality MPEG4 video clips. The PV-DV203 features a 10x optical zoom and 2.5-inch color LCD.

Optics The PV-DV203 offers a 680K pixel CCD providing crisp, sharp pictures. When played back on a television the result is dramatic looking cinema-like movies at home.

The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video you're recording. Image quality ranges from 640 x 480 up to 1280 x 960 (through pixel interpolation). Driver software and USB cable are included.

More Features The cinema mode enables you to record video in wide screen mode, giving you a 16:9 aspect ratio that's the same as a movie screen. Both computers must be equipped to make a direct dial-up connection. Microsoft Windows Messenger or Windows NetMeeting is required for both sender and receiver. The images are stored onto the available Secure Digital (SD) memory card in JPEG format. This package includes the PV-DV203 camcorder, 8 MB Secure Digital memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable (mini-3 RCA), serial cable, remote control, and lens cap. You can even set up the PV-DV73 as a simple home monitoring or a videoconferencing tool. MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. The video and miniaturized still shot then appear together during playback

Other features include:

• 2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.
• Electronic Image Stabilazation to correct camera shaking, giving you smooth and stable pictures.

Inputs and Outputs The PV-DV203 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format MiniDV is the preferred format for .9personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.

Size and Contents The camcorder measures 3.5 x 2.6 x 4.9 inches and weighs 16 ounces. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.