We have opened a new forum at Pana3CCDUser.com for the Panasonic 3CCD miniDVD camcorders such as the VDR-D250 and VDR-D300. I look forward to your participation in the forum!

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Guy

Camcorder User Network

so I have this brand new camcoder out of the box and no software of any kind. where do I get a w98 driver?
This camera is not listed on the panasonic website Jeeeeze!!!

I am trying to make this a better site. This is a fast review. I am giving a min review in hopes other people do the same when they test their camcorders
I tested both the 403 from Sony and Panasonic vdr 250
The sony had more color , strange because Panasonic 3ccds are known for this .
The sony could be finalized very easily with dvd + rw softward. the Panny could not use any dvd with plus in it. After going thru a few different dvds I finally found the type that worked in my computer.
The video could not focus as good on the Panasonic as it could for the Sony probably because Sony had a better lens and Pannys stripped down model didn't have their better quality leica lens (this I read not sure if its true) like they might have used on the vdr 300 ( this i read) . So so far the Sony wins in most categories.
The biggest negative was Panasonics camcorder could not finalize in the camcorder without taking off the battery, replacing it with their charger and plugging all this in and waiting for camera to finalize, then having to unplug the charger and putting on battery , and not counting waiting for the doors to open on camera and dvd player, thats allot of taking off and on each time you want to look at tape . Then you got to open and wait for camera to digest the dvd Think about it, this is why this was returned. I could handle everything else and in fact I tended to love the feel of the Panasonic. much better in my hand then the Sony. Panasonic should definitely keep that form factor. I think the Panasonic had slightly less compression in their shots a very good thing. But Sony had more real looking video and thats maybe why the compression? I dont know. Maybe sony used more effective pixels . I think the Sony did a better job finalizing too cause you could do it without supplied battery charger! and didn't have to put on the cumbersome charger. I can't possibly think what Panasonic was thinking. In short see if the same things must be done on the vdr 300 before you buy. In short making you do all this on the Panasonic almost defeats the purpose in using a faster media type like dvd.
In the end It will be interesting to see if reviewers give the vdr 300 a better video rating. Till then I tried to give a fast review, see for your self how it compares. I have seen the Pansonic go low in price but its not as good as sony in most respects including important color although its adequate and better then the 1/6 single chips..Panny stripped this baby but good. I do think it handled low light alright the same as sony.

Have had this toy now for a week and am still mystified how to download video titles from the mini DVD-RAM to a regular DVD on the PC or at least get them to the HDD for later editing etc.

I managed to do it once - before even reading the manual. Now that I've digested all 128 pages I can't get the computer to recognize the camera as another USB device.

The software - via "Preferences" in the top right corner - presents a drop-down menu that says "MEI-Camcorder" or some such. All I get is a list of all my drives.

Help anyone?

I also agree that the attaching of the battery and AC converter is a ridiculous time-waster. Then again, the high resolution stills (which have to compete with my Panny Lumix...) can be considered excellent if a separate still camera in the luggage of a tourist is a problem.

The heft and feel of the camera, however, has no par with any other brand. One-handed shooting, absence of a dangly lens cover, remote, are all pluses.

However, until I can actually burn a DVD for sharing, this product only gets four stars.