Panasonic VDRM30 DVD Digital Camcorder

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: Panasonic Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Electronics Brand: Panasonic Display Size: 2.5 EAN: 0037988250691 Feature: Camcorder records video directly to DVD disc Floppy Disk Drive Description: None Label: Panasonic Manufacturer: Panasonic Maximum Aperture: 1.8 Maximum Focal Length: 31.5 Minimum Focal Length: 3.15 Model: VDR-M30 Optical Zoom: 12 Publisher: Panasonic Release Date: 2003-06-15 Studio: Panasonic
Features Camcorder records video directly to DVD disc Captures up to 120 minutes of digital video and 1,998 still images to DVD media 12x optical zoom and 24x digital zoom with electronic image stabilization Saves digital stills to DVD disc or optional SD memory card Connects to PCs and Macs via USB for stills
Accessories Roxio Creator 2010 Final Cut Studio Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack Pinnacle Studio HD V14
Editorial Reviews: CL) AA) PANASONIC VDR-M30 DVD CAM
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Very good camcorder Comment: I have owned this camera for about 1 year, and it has performed very well and is fully compatible with Windows XP. It produces very good quality and has been completely reliable. I suggest that you should buy wide-angle and telephoto accessory lenses. These cost me about $100 CAD (they are "no-name", so I can't give you a specific recommendation). These increase its flexibility and improve quality by extending the optical zoom instead of using the digital zoom. To address some of the issues raised in earlier reviews: - Most camcorders do not include an accessory light, to reduce the initial purchase cost. There are various aftermarket choices available. - The DVD is in DVD-RAM format. If your DVD-ROM drive does not support this format, it won't be able to play it. This is hardly Panasonic's fault. Although DVD-RAM is not widely supported, you can find drives that support it. - The camcorder provides 3 levels of quality. Make sure you choose the Xtra setting; this gives a very good picture. -(...) Customer Rating: Summary: Great Camera, but the software is horrible. Comment: I bought this camera during xmas of 2003. The camera is really easy to use, but you need a Master's degree in computer programing to get the software to work. I have had little success in getting the usb connection to work. Still after struggling with this thing for over a year I discovered that you can use the dvd ram in a drive eliminating the need of the usb. A prior review suggests that you have to load the dvdram driver to make the transfer to the computer easier. In the configure menu you have to tell the software to read the disc in your dvdrom drive. The transfer is still slower then XMAS, but at least I don't have to pray to the electronic's gods to get my videos transferred. One last thing, the manual for the software is completely useless. Customer Rating: Summary: crashes and destroys everything I've recorded Comment: After less than two years, this recorder crashes and destroys everything I've recorded every time I try to record on a 60 minute DVD for more than 55 minutes. It works fine as long as I remember to stop it before 55 minutes, but losing everything seems like an awfully big price to pay for losing track of the time. I've called customer support and they say it shouldn't do this and they don't know why it does, and there's nothing to be done about it since it's not under warranty anymore. (They'll fix it for $300 + parts, but I'm reluctant to pour more money into this piece of junk.) For $700, I expect a product that will work reliably for more than a year! Customer Rating: Summary: what happened Comment: I bought this video camera to record the birth of my child. I got it and immediately checked it to make sure that everything was in working condition. It worked fine. Several months down the line I took the camera out to make sure what kind of card I needed to purchase for taking still photos. When I turned it on and tried to use it, I got the recording of sounds in the room but no picture. Now keep in mind I thought that I was maybe looking at the lens cap, but it was no longer covering the lens. I adjusted everything pertaining to the darkness of the screen and was still unable to get anything other than a black screen on the LCD or through the view finder. Thank goodness it is still under warranty or I would just be out $800. Customer Rating: Summary: Don't buy this product! Comment: I have had my Panasonic VDR M30 camcorder since Christmas, 2003. I have made five calls to their tech support line, where their technical people admit there is a problem and tell me they are working on fixing the drivers for the camcorder's software to make it work with Windows XP. They refuse to return my telephone calls, and they refuse to exchange my camcorder for another model. They treat their customers very poorly. I would give this product, and this company, zero stars if that were an option. More Reviews