Panasonic VDR-D300 Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Feb 2, 2006 5:00 PM 
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Ease of Use (6.5)
The joystick navigation control on the Panasonic VDR-D300 (Review, Specs, $534.89) is the primary boon in its ease of use. Compared to most camcorders, the joystick is probably the best navigation system available, allowing fast access to and quick control over the general menu settings. The administrative menu (the one that appears when you press the Menu button) has a well designed and simple structure, with a linear text format and abbreviated menu length, that is easy to move through and will let beginning users alter features without feeling lost or confused. However, the diagram that appears for manual control and image quality settings is less intuitive and harder to navigate due to the small icon size. Thankfully, they have included a new feature this year – Info – which explains what each the icon means. Changing the actual settings for individual manual controls isn’t always simple. Altering manual white balance settings is easy and quick, while shutter speed and aperture settings make navigation difficult because movement between each single setting requires a push on the joystick.
Handling (6.5)
In terms of handling, Panasonic has provided a camcorder which fits comfortably in my hand and permits concise control over the zoom toggle as well as immediate access to the Photo Shot, Record, and joystick controls. The Delete and Menu buttons were out of the reach of my right hand and demanded the use of my left hand to activate. This button placement, while certainly better than that found on other models produced by Panasonic (e.g. the VDR-D100 (Review, Specs, $299.95)), is still somewhat frustrating. It would be nice if the controls located on the right half of the camcorder body were accessible by the fingers of the right hand, and likewise for the left.
One of the biggest handling issues experienced with this camcorder was DVD processing time. A good bit of time was spent watching messages like “Reading Disc…” and “Please Wait.” This is not the speedy convenience that a MiniDV user is used to.
The only other issue with handling surrounded the aperture and shutter speed controls, which required the user to press the joystick each time movement between each new setting was desired, meaning an inordinate amount of pushing was needed to move from one end of the scale to the other. Otherwise, the minimal external control structure and the use of a joystick rather than a four-way key pad means that users will have fast and readily accessible features which are neither complicated nor overwhelming. This year Panasonic reduced the size of all their camcorder bodies, and while still not light as a feather, the feel of the VDR-D300 model conveyed a sense of sturdy design.
Portability (6.0)
Although it is not nearly as small as an ultra compact camcorder, Panasonic did manage to reduce the size of the VDR-D300 in comparison to last year’s DVD models, like the VDR-M75 (Review, Specs, $669.99) and VDR-D53. The D300 has dimensions of approximately 5 and 6/8 inches in length, 3 inches in width, and 3 and 3/8 inches in height including extending features and battery pack in place. This camcorder weighs an advertised 0.24 pounds. The advertised dimensions were 2.40 x 1.26 x 3.58 and are only attainable when the camcorder is measured without battery, viewfinder, controls, and other features which are present and ought to be accounted for. After all, they take up space in a bag, too.
The battery life is adequate, and permits about 95 minutes of shooting. Depending on your purpose, this may provide just enough juice to avoid the purchase of a second battery. However, when considering portability, one must also consider the effect of the camcorder’s media. Shooting in XP mode will result in a maximum of only 20 minutes of footage on the average one-sided DVD, which is hardly a full day at the beach. Users will need to purchase a plentitude of these easily damaged three-inch DVD discs and carry them during their travels.
LCD/Viewfinder (6.5) The LCD on the Panasonic VDR-D300 allows users to view their widescreen images fully on a 16:9 display which measures a sizeable 2.7 inches. While large in size this feature is unfortunately low in pixel count, providing a scant 123K pixel resolution to a screen which would be a feature of note if the pixel count were doubled. As it is, this screen won’t give users the most accurate image readings and legibility of subtler scenes may be compromised. The DVD505 (Review, Specs, $664) from Sony, for example, has an LCD of 211K.
The electronic color viewfinder has a diopter adjustment feature and a 123K resolution, allowing users a feasible alternative to the LCD. Often, camcorder manufacturers place manual control settings in the LCD cavity, which is a hindrance to those who want to use the viewfinder rather than the LCD. Luckily, Panasonic has placed these controls outside this area and on the back of the camcorder body, thus allowing users to control these settings while engaging this alternate viewing option.
Battery Life (9.4)
The included CGA-DU12 battery was tested for life expectancy during recording. We left the camcorder in a room temperature environment, in auto mode, with a 4:3 aspect ratio, the optical image stabilization turned on, and the Power LCD off. Video quality was set at the highest mode, XP. Because the battery lasts longer than the average DVD disc, we did have to change discs during the test. At these times, the battery was removed, the disc was changed, and the battery was reinserted to record again. In total, the battery lasted 1 hour, 34 minutes, and 30 seconds (94 minutes, 30 seconds).
