Panasonic VDR-D100 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby Matt CullerPublished on Jan 11, 2006 12:00 PM
|
Advertisement
|
||||||||||
The Front
The front of the VDR-D100 features the camcorder’s lens towards the top. Below this is the camcorder’s built-in stereo microphone. This is the only microphone you’ll get to capture audio, as there is no audio input. Below the microphone is a video light, which seems like an odd inclusion on such a stripped-down camcorder. I would gladly trade this out for a microphone jack. On the bottom of the front is a port cover revealing the camcorder’s A/V output ports and USB port.
The Right Side
The right side of the camcorder contains its DVD loading mechanism. To its left is the slider to open the DVD compartment. The camcorder’s strap runs along the bottom of this side.
The Back
In addition to the viewfinder and battery, the back of the VDR-D100 contains the main control center for the camcorder. It is largely the same design as last year’s re-designed Panasonics. The main inclusion there was the joystick navigational control that offered the new Panasonics excellent menu navigation, allowing for easy one-handed operation. Next to this joystick is a record button that is just the right size, and in a perfect location related to the joystick control: both can be operated by the user’s thumb. Below the record button is the camcorder’s menu button, allowing access to the camcorder’s menu system.
The Left Side
The left side of the VDR-D100 most prominently features the camcorder’s LCD panel. This is only a 2.5” LCD screen, unlike the widescreen panels found on many of the other new camcorders this year. Underneath the panel is a small speaker as well as the switch that controls the manual and auto modes on the camcorder and the manual focus as well. This is a common switch on Panasonic camcorders.
The top of the VDR-D100 features nothing except the camcorder’s zoom toggle and photo capture button towards the back of the camcorder.
|
Advertisement
|