Panasonic VDR-D100 Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Mar 7, 2006 5:00 PM 
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The Front (5.0)
The Panasonic video lens is positioned at the top of the VDR-D100 (Review, Specs, $299.95), with space on the right side for fingers so that the lens doesn’t accidentally become covered when shooting. The 30x optical zoom lens has a filter diameter of 30.5 mm and a focal length of 1.9 mm to 57 mm with f/1.8 – f/3.9. This camcorder has an external lens cap which can be attached to the strap on the right side of the camcorder when not in use.
Directly beneath the lens of the camcorder is the in-camera stereo microphone. The white balance sensor is placed below the right channel microphone and in a position that allows it to be obscured by the port cover when it is open. This port cover protects two ports, the A/V-out and the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed port, and is opened via a tab located on the edge between the front and base of the Panasonic VDR-D100. But this tab is blocked by a tripod plate when the camcorder is connected to one, thus blocking access to these ports. It will be necessary to remove the camcorder from the tripod and then open the cover. A second problem with this port cover comes once it has been opened. The cover is attached to the camcorder via a strap in its upper right corner, and while the rubber hinge works fine, it places the cover so that it masks the white balance sensor.
The Right Side (7.5)
The primary feature located on the right side of the Panasonic VDR-D100 is the massive DVD compartment. Slightly behind the back edge of the compartment and above a mound formed by the Mode Dial is the Disc Eject tab. To operate this, the user merely needs to slide the tab backwards to open the DVD compartment. Above and slightly to the front of the disc eject button is the access/PC light. This feature lights when the compartment is open or the camcorder is connected to personal computer.
A strap for the right hand is placed at a slight horizontal angle on the right side of the camcorder. The strap angles downward from the back to the front and feels neither sturdy nor thick enough to be successful. The camcorder had a tendency to flop back and forth in the hand when not being tightly gripped.
The Back (5.5)
The electronic color viewfinder is positioned in the upper left corner of the VDR-D100’s back side and is surrounded by an uncomfortably hard plastic eyepiece. This viewfinder is extendable and when pulled from the camcorder this feature has more than enough clearance over the battery pack located beneath. The battery pack itself may be removed by pressing a tab on the bottom of the camcorder. If users wish to switch from battery to wall power, they must interrupt recording to remove the battery so that the DC-in port can be accessed. The placement of the DC-in port in the battery cavity is unfortunate; switching power sources can interrupt shooting and result in lost footage or footage with distinct time code breaks. Between the battery pack and the viewfinder, the user will find an amusing little button with the words Push/Open printed to its right. This button must be plunged into the camcorder in a way more reminiscent a Hi8’s operation than a DVD camcorder’s. The push/open button will pop the LCD screen on the left side open and provide access to this viewing device and LCD cavity controls.
To the right of the viewfinder is an off/on switch. While small, this control is easy to use; it is activated by pressing a blue button it its center and then sliding the control to the left or right. Below the on/off switch is the camcorder’s delete button, which when pressed prompts a pop-op onscreen that asks users whether they really wish to delete the content of the DVD. Also, the control is placed in a location that isn’t going to get accidentally bumped or hit.
To the right of the delete button is the Panasonic VDR-D100’s mode dial. This mode dial is well sized, although it unclear why Panasonic wanted one--users can only switch between playback and record mode, which leaves more than 335 degrees of this control unused and pointless.
The joystick control for the D100 is located in the center of the mode dial and allows users to navigate menu structures and manual controls cleanly and concisely. The small joystick is well-designed and positioned so that users of varying hand sizes will be able to manipulate it. The kidney shaped record button is to the left of the mode dial and beneath the delete button, and it too can be reached easily. The record button while well sized does not have a label, which seems odd, although perhaps only controls with an absurdly poor design like the push/open control necessitate an explanation. To the right of the top edge of the battery pack the user will find the well labeled menu button which allows users to enter into the administrative menu structure. To access the manual control menu, the user can press the joystick, which prompts the display of a diagram in the lower left corner of the LCD screen.
The Left Side (7.25)
Users who become disgruntled with the absurd push/open button will find that, with a few days of fingernail growth, it is possible to pry open the LCD via a small sliver of a divot located between the screen and the back edge of its cavity. Once open, the 2.5” LCD screen of the Panasonic VDR-D100 is revealed with an approximate pixel count of 105,000. In the LCD cavity is the switch for auto/manual focus, located near the top, and easily altered by pressing down to reset. Speaking of reset, the reset button is set into the camcorder directly to the front of the auto/manual switch and will require a pen tip or other pointed object to reset. A finger isn’t going to be able to accidentally (or purposefully) trip this control. Beneath and slightly behind the auto/manual switch, the playback audio speaker will provide at least a rudimentary sense of audio levels of recorded footage. By not placing manual controls in the LCD cavity, Panasonic has enabled its users to control manual settings and menu structures while only using the electronic color viewfinder, a great design for when battery power is low or the light is not optimal for LCD viewing.
The Top (6.0)
The Panasonic VDR-D100 has only one feature placed on the top. The zoom toggle switch is located near the back of the camcorder and works on a sliding design which doesn’t display the sensitivity or accuracy of Canon camcorders from this year. The zoom toggle is also placed in an awkward position so that slight strain is necessary for clean and concise control with the index feature. When reviewing video footage in playback mode, users will find that this toggle also doubles as the Panasonic VDR-V100’s volume control.