Performance

The VDR-D300 is equipped with 3 1/6" CCDs with 640K effective video pixels per CCD. Last year’s best DVD performer, the Sony DCR-DVD403, was armed with a 1/3" CCD and 3.3 MP. The DCR-DVD403 produced high quality video that was bright and sharp that rivaled video from some MiniDV camcorders. This Panasonic camcorder might be able to compete with and trump other 2006 high-end camcorders, regardless of the respective format.

Due to the hectic and confined nature of CES it is impossible to thoroughly test the performance of the display models. It is even tougher to make an extensive evaluation, though with its innovative imager one can speculate high quality video in bright light conditions from this model. On the CES show floor, parts of which are a fairly lit environment, the camcorder produced bright and sharp images with accurate color representation.

Low Light Performance

This model displayed fairly accurate color representation but was plagued with noticeable amounts of noise in the low light conditions on the darker parts of the show floors at CES. (Keep in mind that due to the uncontrolled environment, the VDR-D300’s low light performance could not truly be evaluated at CES. A more extensive assessment will be showcased in the upcoming full review.) The camcorder has an impressive imager which should affect its low light performance for the better, but this is merely an educated conclusion. The best DVD camcorder last year, the DVD403, had respectable low light performance. This model has a far better imager than the DVD403, and we therefore expect great things of this camcorder.

Format

Compression

The Panasonic VDR-D300 records standard MPEG-2 video and JPEG stills. The camcorder captures video at a rate of 8.5 Mbps at its highest quality and 6.5 Mbps in standard mode. In comparison, a MiniDV camcorders offer capture at 25 Mbps, providing better quality video. It comes at the cost, however, of convenience, and this simple trade off is spelling the end of MiniDV as a video medium.

Media

This year, all of the Panasonic DVD camcorders can record on DVD-R and DVD-RW, in addition to DVD-RAM. By allowing the use of multiple formats, the camcorder makes recording and viewing even more convenient to the user. Panasonic camcorders have caught up to the leading competitors in the market by providing media that is universally compatible.

Editing

The VDR-D300 offers very little on-camcorder editing options, which is common to the DVD medium. Only Fade In transitions are offered in the menu systems. Users wishing to be remotely creative in postproduction will have to do so with the supplied DVD Album software.

Tour

**The Front
**The 10x Leica lens protrudes from the front of the camcorder, eclipsing the stereo microphone and port cover that lay beneath it. The lens is adorned in metallic silver, with ridges on the side resembling a focus ring. Unfortunately Panasonic chose décor over function, as few things irk us more than the false tease of a focus ring. Hanging on the edge of the camcorder is the built-in flash to the right of the lens.

**The Right **

The DVD mechanism occupies all of the real estate on the right side of the VDR-D300. The mode dial bulges out of the rear onto the DVD mechanism. The DVD mechanism opens by sliding a small gray switch above the protruding mode dial.

The Back

This model’s rear has inherited the familiar design from previous Panasonic DVD camcorders. The battery slot governs the back of the camcorder, with a color viewfinder above it. The familiar record button and mode dial, with the joystick protruding from its center, are to the right of the battery slot. The Mode dial bulges out of the camcorder’s side. A gray Delete button and a Silver On/Off switch rest above the mode dial, while a small Menu button lies beneath it.

The Left

The entire left side of camcorder is governed by the 2.7" swiveling LCD. The Auto/Manual and Manual Focus switches rests underneath the wide LCD. Audio can be monitored with a small speaker that also dwells within the LCD cavity.

**The Top **

The top of the VDR-D300 is fairly barren. Towards the front, the bulging Leica lens is fused with the protruding DVD mechanism. The protruding mechanism provides the user with a firm grip. The cold accessory shoe sits atop the lens barrel. A silver zoom toggle and petite photo button are to the right of the cold accessory shoe.
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Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control

In Auto mode the VDR-D300 has jurisdiction over white balance, focus, gain, exposure and shutter speed. The camcorder performs most of these functions fairly well. The model’s automatic focus made swift and seamless adjustments to varying focal lengths. At full zoom, the camcorder’s automatic focus takes a little longer to adjust. The slight delay in focus is noticeable but acceptable. At CES the camcorders are confined to the display table, limiting ones ability to test response to different shooting conditions, but the VDR-D300’s other automatic controls responded well to CES conditions. A more detailed analysis of these features will be given in the upcoming full review.

Most DVD camcorders offer Automatic Exposure settings to help the user cope with varying shooting conditions. These presets are calibrated responses to predetermined lighting conditions. The VDR-D300 offers the same AE features as last year’s DVD models: Spotlight, Sport, Portrait, Backlight, and Low Light. These presets are nestled within the menus of both the movie and still modes.

*Automatic Control *

Panasonic has equipped the VDR-D300 with a wealth of manual control options. Users will have autonomy over Exposure, Gain, Shutter Speed, Focus and White balance. This model’s little sister, the VDR-D250, does not offer manual control over white balance. The Panasonic representatives claim that all their camcorders provide such control, but were unable to demonstrate this in my presence. We’ll have to chalk this up to either a glaring oversight on the VDR-D250 or merely ill-informed booth attendants.

The VDR-D300’s manual controls are engaged by switching the camera to manual mode with the mode switch that is hidden underneath the 2.7" LCD. Similar to last year’s models, adjustments are made with the small joystick protruding out of the camcorder’s rear. A slight push on the joystick displays a superimposed wheel, with the manual control options, at the bottom right corner of the screen. A very welcome addition on this year’s models is an Info feature, which provides a detailed description of the plethora of icons displayed on the wheel. A camcorder’s menu iconography is often the most perplexing thing a new user must face, and any help the manufacturer can provide is immensely helpful.

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Zoom*

High-end DVD camcorders almost seem to have a uniform 10x optical zoom capacity, and the VDR-D300 and its little sister the VDR-250 are no exception. Like the VDR-D250, the D300 has a 700x digital zoom with the option of capping it at 25x.

*Focus *

Using the mode switch within the LCD cavity, one can engage the manual focus feature. Manual focus adjustments are made by angling the joystick towards MF+ or MF- icons superimposed on the onscreen icon wheel. By not providing numerical measurements, Panasonic has hindered the user from making precise focal adjustments. One has to eyeball the LCD to determine the correct modification, and LCD screens are prone to some distortion. While Panasonic is right in line with the industry’s tendency to omit this immensely helpful feature, we’re hoping they, or any manufacturer, will break rank and add it to next year’s models.

*Exposure (Aperture) *

This model’s exposure value can be expressed with 16 F-stops. The camcorder’s exposure ranges from f/1.8 to f/16. Numerical value provides the user with more optimum control over the quality of the image, which is something that was lacking from the celebrated DCR-DVD403.

Shutter Speed

Another rare treat for DVD users is the option to manually control shutter speed. Panasonic is unique in that it provides manual shutter speeds from 1/60 to 1/8000 in all of its DVD camcorders.

White Balance

The VDR-D300’s white balance options are manual, auto, fluorescent, and outdoor. These options are within the manual control menu at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Gain

Both models in the VDR-D series have manual gain options ranging from 0db to 18db, which is rare in most DVD camcorders. While it is nice to have manual gain as part of ones arsenal it should only be used in the most dire and desperate low light situations. Gain will brighten the image but increase the noise level as well.

Still Features

Still Features

The VDR-D300 captures stills on DVD disc or an SD card at 3.1MP, 1MP, and 0.3MP in 4:3 mode and 2MP in 16:9 aspect ratio. The D250, by comparison, has a maximum still resolution of 2.3 megapixels. The VDR-D300 has a built-in flash, which is something that the D300 lacks. Both camcorders have the same manual control options available in their respective still and video modes. While the still pixel resolutions offered by the VDR-D series are impressive, Sony’s high-end DVD camcorder, the DCR-DVD505, with its 2MP CMOS chip, is able to capture stills up to 4.0 MP.

Handling and Use

Handling

This camcorder can be handled with relative comfort. The DVD mechanism protrusion at the top of the camcorder provides the user with a firm and secure grip. This model is bigger than most DVD camcorders. While the size limits the camcorder’s portability, its evenly distributed weight provides more stability. The buttons are situated directly underneath the user’s thumbs and index finger for easy access. The most important handling feature is the joystick at the back of the camcorder. This allows users to access and adjust nearly all control functions with one’s thumb. The joystick can be cumbersome, but it is a far better navigational option than the touch screen menu, because the camcorder can be operated with one hand and the user doesn’t have to fumble around just to access the functions.

A small but priceless addition to this year’s menu is the Info icon that will provide the user with a brief description of what each icon represents. This helps the users that are new to Panasonic understand and better utilize the menu system.

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LCD/Viewfinder**

This camcorder has a 2.7" swiveling LCD and color viewfinder. The wider LCD makes recording 16:9 images more convenient by allowing the user to see the full spectrum of what is being captured. The LCD solarizes terribly when viewed at an angle, hindering the user from effectively shooting at varied angles and positions. In the DVD market, only Sonys provide hybrid LCDs that can perform adequately at all angles.

The Color Viewfinder extends about an inch towards the user but does swivel up. This lack of mobility limits one from taking low angle shots using the viewfinder, but it’s good to see that they have not dropped them entirely. Sometimes only a viewfinder will do the job.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio

The VDR-D series features stereo microphones housed underneath the lens on the front of the camcorders. The VDR-D300’s advantage over the VDR-D250 is a microphone input port found in the front of the camcorder. This model offers a Zoom In feature that allows the user to turn the built-in microphone from a multi directional mic to an omni directional mic. This convergence works the same way the optical zoom does; it magnifies the audio signal from a specific direction. The Wind Cut feature reduces audio noise when shooting in unfavorable weather.**

VCR Mode**

Playback mode can be accessed by turning the mode dial at the camcorder’s rear. In Playback mode, captured footage is represented by thumbnail images onscreen, allowing you to jump to the desired part of the footage.

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Ports**

Most of this camcorder’s ports are huddled under a gray port cover at the bottom of the camcorder’s front; USB, A/V in and out (for analog-to-digital conversion), and a microphone-in port. An SD card slot rests at the bottom of the camcorder. The VDR-D250 only offers an SD card, slot stripping away the camcorder’s flexibility. Both camcorders have a cold accessory shoe atop the lens barrel. A cold accessory shoe means that an external mic cannot draw power from the camcorder. A hot accessory shoe would of further justify the $999 price tag.

With the all the vacant space on both these camcorders, more ports could have been offered, or the existing ports could have been made more accessible. Too often the user has to juggle with the camcorder to access the ports.

Other Features

Other features*

OIS* - Unlike the VDR-D250, the VDR-D300 offers Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) as oppose to Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). OIS will produce better results of the two.

Fade In - This feature allows the user to add black or white fade transitions between shots. Wind Cut The Wind Cut feature will reduce wind noise by reducing low audio frequencies when shooting outside.

Zoom In - This function allows the user to focus the microphone on a specific direction.

Comparisons / Conclusion

Conclusion

In 2006, the VDR-D300 carries both the promise and the burden of the DVD camcorder format. This camcorder’s 3 CCD imager gives the hope of providing high quality video with the ease of the DVD format. Of course, like all DVD cams, it lives under the shadow of MiniDV camcorders in terms of video quality. We realize that the writing is on the wall for MiniDV, but the image quality is so clearly superior that we will continue to sing its praises until the ship has sunk.

In short, the spec sheet only talks the talk, and the D300 has yet to show us what it can do. The camcorder performed adequately at CES, but this is clearly not an ideal environment to make confirmed assessments.

With a wealth of manual controls, this model should quench the thirst of those who seek to tinker with the inner workings of image quality. This model can be handled and operated with relative ease. The inclusion of an Info feature, which explains what each icon in the menu represents, will help beginners quickly acclimate themselves to the navigational system. Its new ability to record on DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM will make capturing and viewing immensely more convenient, as DVD-RAM alone was receiving many complaints from the public. At a few dollars shy of a grand, is it worth it to buy a camcorder that could be unmatched in its field but merely adequate against MiniDV? The answer rests with its performance under more rigorous testing, and whether or not it can provide both quality as well as convenience. We’ll do our best to get you those answers first.