Panasonic PVDC252 MiniDV Ultra Compact Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, SD Slot & Digital Still Capability

With an ultracompact design that weighs a little over a pound, the Panasonic PV-DC252 is a feature-filled camcorder that can easily be toted around on vacations and other special events. It features a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, a 10x optical zoom, remote control, and digital still capability with a SD memory slot.

Lens
With an optical zoom power of 10x, the DC252 also has a digital zoom, which works by electronically enhancing the optical image, and can magnify the picture up to 700 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes.

Digital Stills
You can store your digital stills directly onto tape or onto the included 8MB SD memory card using the camcorder's memory slot. The camcorder can be switched into a mode called progressive photo shoot, so that images captured will not have the jagged lines of interlaced video and will remain clear and undistorted. The digital stills are in JPEG format and have a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, good enough for e-mail or posting on the Internet.

Inputs and Outputs
The DC252 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection. S-video and RCA connections are also provided for direct viewing on a television or VHS dubbing.

You can save video and still photography on removable Secure Digital (SD) cards. One 8 MB SD card is included with the PV-DC252.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.

Using Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) technology, Panasonic's MiniDV camcorders provide pristine sound. Choose from 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.

• 16-bit audio includes a set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
• 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.

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 two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.