Panasonic VDR-D100 First Impressions Camcorder Review

Automatic Control
Automatic controls on Panasonics are always somewhat mediocre, and this camcorder is no exception. There is an automatic mode, which locks everything that can be controlled manually (shutter speed, white balance, aperture, gain, and focus) and makes automatic adjustments itself. This mode can be turned on using the switch underneath the camcorder’s LCD screen. While such a cheap camcorder might scream “use my auto mode!” to some, you might actually miss out by not using manual mode. After all, you should be able to learn from your camcorder, and this is a great entry-level teacher.

Program AE presets for specific environments are found in the camcorder’s menu system. They include Sports, Portrait, Night, Spotlight, and Snow & Surf. These are standard options.

Overall Manual Control
Panasonics have famously offered tons of manual control even on their lowest-end models, and the VDR-D100 is a case in point. The camcorder offers manual control over focus, aperture, shutter speed, gain, and white balance, and even offers a pretty easy way to access them. However, on such a cheap, visually uninteresting camcorder, these manual options may go to waste depending on who buys such a machine.

Zoom
One of the best things about this model is that Panasonic has incorporated the enormous optical zooms of last year’s MiniDV Panasonics on this year’s DVD camcorders. The VDR-D100 features a whopping 30x optical zoom, which is certainly something, and perhaps the main selling point for such a cheap camcorder. The bad thing is zoom control - still the traditional Panasonic zoom toggle, and is frankly not my favorite as far as zoom controls go. The design is a sliding switch that shifts left and right, rather than a raised knob. Look at the new toggles on Panasonic’s MiniDV models for an example of the company putting their R&D money to good use.

Focus
Manual focus on the VDR-D100 is controlled using the switch under the camcorder’s LCD panel in conjunction with the camcorder’s joystick. This is a pretty standard adjustment for a Panasonic camcorder. First the user must pull down the switch under the LCD screen from auto (at the top) past manual (in the middle) to focus (at the bottom). At focus the switch will spring back to manual mode, and an “MF” icon will show up on the LCD screen. Now the user can use the joystick to move through the focal field, pressing either left or right. Unfortunately, all you have to gauge the focus with is your own eyes.

Exposure (Aperture)
Manual adjustment of exposure is done using the camcorder’s joystick as well. Pressing down on the joystick enters the camcorder’s manual control menu system, a system introduced last year. In this system, the user sees the recorded image on the LCD screen, but there is also a superimposed circle, manipulated by the joystick, with different options corresponding to different directions of joystick push. Pressing directly down on the joystick again will move to a different section of the menu. Manual exposure on the VDR-D100, as well as every manual option except for manual focus and zoom, is located on the second section of the manual control. The user presses down on the joystick and once exposure is accessed, can press left and right to move to the desired F-stop. F-stop options from f/2.0 to f/16 and Open are available.

Shutter Speed
Shutter speed on the VDR-D100 is adjusted in a similar fashion as exposure: by using the camcorder’s joystick. One of the beauties of the joystick system is that you have everything you need right under your thumb, making for a centralized, organized experience. Shutter speed options exist from 1/60 to 1/8000 of a second. It would be nice to have some slower shutter speeds, but this is a stripped-down camcorder.

White Balance
White balance options are also available using the same manual control menu system and camcorder’s joystick. In fact, the system is set up so that you really end up adjusting every manual control at once, which, though sometimes cumbersome, makes organizational sense. White balance options include standard presets for indoors and outdoors, an auto mode, and a manual mode. The joystick is used to set the balance.

Gain
One of the special things about Panasonic camcorders is that nearly all of their cams offer manual gain control, even the least-advanced models like the VDR-D100. Gain options are accessible in the same manner as the exposure options and white balance. They run from 0dB to 18dB.