Quick Review Camcorders : Panasonic VDR-M50

Like the lower-tier Hitachi DVD camcorder, the VDR-M70 features an 18x optical zoom, which is superior to the VDR-M50’s 10x optical zoom. It features the same mediocre manual control as other DVD camcorders, offering focus, white balance, exposure, and presets for shutter speed. These controls are available through buttons underneath the LCD screen or in the menu system. Unfortunately, these camcorders are certainly not really meant for manual adjustment; for that matter, they aren’t even meant for editing beyond those cursory functions available on the camera and through the rudimentary editing software included.

Like Hitachi’s DVD camcorders, the DZ-MV550 and the DZ-MV580, Panasonic’s VDR-M50 and VDR-M70 record to DVD-RAM discs, as opposed to the DVD-RW discs that Sony camcorders record to. All DVD camcorders record on DVD-R discs. While there is much debate as to which format is better, we believe it can be said that the DVD-RW/R format offers more convenience, as the DVD-RW disc can be reused and played directly on a conventional DVD player. DVD-RAM/R offers better ease of use on the camcorder during recording, better menu systems, and a more convenient method of converting footage from the 3.5” DVD discs that the camcorder records upon to the fullsized DVDs most people have in their collections. This is achieved on a Panasonic DVD recorder, and does not require a computer to translate, as the DVD-RW/Rs do. As both 3.5” DVD-RAM and DVD-RW discs probably won’t be used as final playable DVDs, the user will want to convert to fullsize DVDs. That said, it’s a choice between the convenience offered by the Sony camcorders (to play directly after on-camcorder finalization, on conventional DVD players) or the transfer options (both on computer and on DVD recorder) and ease of use of the Panasonic or Hitachi Camcorders.

While the VDR-M50 doesn’t offer the same excellent video or low light performance that Hitachi’s DVD camcorders offer this year, it does surpass the Sony DCR-DVD101 and DCR-DVD201 easily. It also beats the Sony in that it includes a still media card, recording at a resolution of 640 x 480, while Sony’s DVD camcorders only record stills to tape. While still recording on camcorders should be generally be avoided, the sheer magnitude of stills available on a 3.5 inch DVD is amazing -- upwards of one thousand, if no video is recorded. If a good still recording mechanism was put in these little guys, a whole vacation would require the use of only one DVD disc. The DVD-Ram compatible DVD camcorders of Panasonic and Hitachi are more desirable in this circumstance, as they offer a quicker, cleaner menu system, similar to a hard disk. Stills can be transferred to computers easily.

There is a cold accessory shoe, an S-Video in/out port, A/V in/out port, and a USB port. Don’t forget about the microphone input.

The VDR-M50 is a good options for those who want a decent performance out of DVD camcorder without spending a ton. There is a sacrifice in convenience to Sony's camcorders, and the Hitachi DZ-MV550 is pretty much equal to this is price with slightly better performance. If the VDR-M50 is your bag, take a look at the Hitachi's.

Panasonic VDR-M50 Compared to the...