Panasonic Annouces New DVD Camcorders

Panasonic today announced three new DVD camcorders for their 2005 lineup. The new DVD camcorders increase the convenience of last year's models and fall more in line with the compeition. While not offering many upgrades from last year's models, the new DVD line does include a third DVD camcorder with an imager with 2.1 MP, more pixels than any DVD camcorder had last year.

The new VDR-M54, VDR-M74, and VDR-M95 replace last year’s VDR-M50 and VDR-M70. It should be noted that the VDR-M54’s model name is not final, as these new camcorders will not be released until April 2005.

With their new DVD camcorder lineup, Panasonic is increasing the number of DVD camcorders offered, from 2 to 3. This allows Panasonic to offer a third more advanced (and expensive) DVD camcorder in addition to two that replace last year’s VDR-M50 and VDR-M70, the VDR-M54 and VDR-M74 respectively.

VDR-M95

The main feature of the new Panasonic DVD camcorders is their reduction in price from last year. The VDR-M54 is available at US$699, $100 less than last year. The VDR-M75 is available at US$799, $100 less than last year. The new price points for Panasonic DVD camcorders should work to help Panasonic compete against Hitachi and their budget DVD camcorders. At the same time, Panasonic is also going for the high end DVD camcorder market with their VDR-M95 priced at US$1,099.

VDR-M95

National marketing manager of the Panasonic Optical Group, Rudy Vitti told CamcorderInfo.com what makes this year’s Panasonic DVD camcorder lineup distinctive, "I think it's the format support also the things were addressing like the quick start up time, with a camcorder a lot of times things that happen are instantaneous, while 30 seconds could be quite a lifetime [for startup time] if some things happen that you want to record. 9 seconds is a big improvement on that."

VDR-M75

With the new DVD camcorder lineup, Panasonic is also stressing the convenience that the new DVD camcorders offer users. In doing so, Panasonic cites the new camcorders’ improved start-up time. Especially with DVD camcorders using DVD-RAM discs, start-up times on all DVD camcorders are pretty high. Panasonic has reduced the startup time on all three models to around 10 seconds.

"The advantage of the DVD-RAM format is the ability to do non-linear editing and basically convenience. Having instant access to your recordings, but some of the things that we've done is, for one, gotten rid of the cartridge that is necessary for recording with our DVD camcorders and once again, this is to help the consumer make the connection between the DVD camcorder and the DVD player and make it simple," stated Vitti.

VDR-M54

Also, aiding to the convenient factor, Panasonic has removed the plastic covering that shielded DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs for last year's Panasonic DVD camcorder. Those very covers made the transition from camcorder to computer cumbersome, as the user was required to removed the plastic cover from the disc before inserting it into the computer.

Panasonic’s new DVD camcorders retain the ability, seen on last year’s models, to record to both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. Panasonic continues to sing the praises of the DVD-RAM format’s ease of editing and playback both on-camcorder and off-camcorder. DVD-RAM discs can also play on conventional DVD players which are compatible with the DVD-RAm format. These include DVD players made by Panasonic and supporting manufacturers. Also, DVD-R discs, used by all DVD camcorders, can play on all conventional DVD players, but can only be recorded once. Panasonic has not adopted the DVD-RW or DVD+RW formats.

VDR-M54

Many things have remained the same on Panasonic’s 2005 DVD camcorder lineup. The 18x optical zoom on the Panasonic’s entry level model, the VDR-M54, has remained consistent with last year’s model. Similarly, the increase in the CCD size on the upper level models, the VDR-M75 and VDR-M95, is coupled with a decrease in their optical zooms, relative to the entry-level model. The VDR-M75 and the VDR-M95 have 10x optical zooms.

The VDR-M54 includes the same imager found on the VDR-M50, a 1/6 inch, 800K CCD, with 340K effective pixels for both video and stills. Likewise, the VDR-M75 includes a 1.3 Megapixel CCD similar to last year’s VDR-M70. The new VDR-M95 tops the list with a 2.1 MP CCD. With the VDR-M95 Panasonic is releasing a DVD camcorder whose image resolution exceeds any of last year’s DVD models in pixel count.

There are relatively few upgrades between models within this year’s DVD camcorder line, aside from CCD size. The VDR-M75 adds hot accessory shoe to the VDR-M54’s cold shoe, and the VDR-M95 adds a flash to the VDR-M75’s specifications.

VDR-M54

The body designs of all three new DVD camcorders are by and large the very similar to last year’s models. The main difference in body shape is the rounded nature of the DVD mechanism, as the new models can record to discs without plastic covers. This results in a design more stream-lined and less clunky than last year’s VDR-M50 and VDR-M70. Also, the lens barrel on the VDR-M75 has been reduced in size making the camcorder more slender horizontally.

Some buttons have moved on the camcorder body as well. While the familiar Auto, Focus, Exposure, Back Light, Display, and volume buttons remain under the LCD screen on these new camcorders, the Select, Disc Navigation, Menu, Stop, and compass navigation and playback buttons have been moved from the external panel just right of the LCD to the external panel just above the LCD screen. The USB port has been moved from behind the LCD to the front port cover of each camcorder, which also houses a Microphone jack and an A/V port. All three camcorders include SD card slots under the LCD screen.

The VDR-M54, VDR-M75 and VDR-M95 will all be available in April. The VDR-M54 will be available for $699, VDR-M75 $799 and VDR-M95.