Panasonic VDR-M75 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Nick Hyacinthe
Published on Mar 3, 2004 12:00 PM



The VDR-M75 was the middle child of the three Panasonic DVD camcorders introduced this year at CES. Not much progression has occurred between this model and last year’s VDR-M70; both seemingly share the same 10x optical zoom lens with a 1/4 inch, 1.0 MP CCD. The most significant development is that the VDR-M75 uses a bare naked disc for capturing. The DVD R/Ram disc does not need a special cartridge, or special disc. Another improvement is the start up time has been shortened; Panasonic has leaped from last years agonizing 20 second startup to the VDR-M75’s 9 seconds.

Video Performance
The conditions at CES are such that it is impossible to employ any extensive testing on these camcorders; but one can assume that since this and its parent model (the VDR-M70) share the same image specs that they will also share similar performance. The VDR-M70 contains a 1/4 inch CCD with 400K effective video pixels and 960K still pixels, coupled with a 10x optical and 240x digital zoom lens. The VDR-M70 performed well under normal daylight conditions (3000 lux). There existed a bit of washing especially in the blues and purples as well as the greens and yellows. The evidence dictates that a similar performance is likely to come from the VDR-M75, though at this time we can’t be sure. Stay tuned for a full review.

The Front
The silver 38mm 10x optical zoom lens commands attention at the front of the camcorder. Underneath the lens sits a stereo microphone decked in black plastic. At the base of the camcorder sits the silver port cover containing the USB, A/V Out and Microphone Input port.

The Right Side
The right side of the VDR-M75 is governed by the DVD mechanism. The DVD mechanism is clad in light gray plastic, emphasized with silver oval plastic in the middle, surrounded by a gray Velcro strap. This mechanism is accessed through an open switch on the top corner of the camcorders rear.

The Back
On the top right corner of the back of the VDR-M75 sits a PC access indicator lamp, followed by an open switch for the DVD mechanism. Underneath the switch is a silver record button that sits atop a rotary mode dial, accentuated by a bright red dot. A baby blue locking button can be found to right of the rotary dial. The battery slot takes up much of the space found on the left of camcorders rear. An extending viewfinder sits atop the governing battery slot, though it can only be moved straight back.

The Left Side
The left side of the camcorder is consumed by a silver circular cut which was inflicted to match the shape of the DVD mechanism found on the opposite side. Inside this etched ring, beside the lens barrel is the circular navigational key pad huddled with the menu, select, disc navigation and stop button. The silver navigational pad can be used to make the necessary manual control adjustments, navigating through the menu system, and steering through the captured media during playback. Pressing the Disc Navigation button will allow the user to travel to any random part of the disc or SD card during playback, and allow the user to make advance in-camera edits; splicing, fading, pacing.

In the middle of this ring is the VDR-M75’s 2.5 color LCD screen, which is accentuated with metallic silver lettering. Several function buttons (Auto, Focus, Exposure, Backlight, Volume + or -, and display) take refuge underneath the LCD screen. The volume + and – buttons are also responsible for adjusting manual focus and exposure. Beneath these cluster of buttons lays the VDR-M75’s SD card, and the USB port both adorned in silver.

The Top
The top of VDR-M75 is a fusion of metallic silver and light gray plastic. The Lens barrel sports silver chrome at the front end of the camcorders cap. A light gray plastic cover trails at the back of the camcorders top accentuated by the hot metallic accessory shoe protruding from its front. In the rear of the crown sits the silver zoom toggle and photo button. To the left of silver feature buttons is the gray viewfinder. The viewfinder extends but sadly does not rotate. This can be a handling problem, because a bulky battery rests underneath it.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
Full automatic control can be engaged by pushing the auto button found underneath the 2.5 inch color LCD screen. The Camcorder offers automatic control for exposure, shutter speed, focus and white balance. Unlike last year’s VDR-M70 this model’s automatic focus adjustments had a relatively adequate response time, but at 10x optical zoom (full optical zoom capacity) the VDR-M75's modifications seemed delayed.

AE setting presets are given as an alternative to shutter speed and exposure control; Sport, Spotlight, Portrait, and Low Light provide automatic exposure setting for specific scene conditions. Although the presets are helpful, the user is ultimately hindered by the lack of control over shutter speed.

Overall Manual Control
All the manual controls can be adjusted with the volume + / – soft buttons which can be found underneath the LCD screen. The focus and exposure buttons are also located in that hidden enclave. This can be problem because the user has to press against the body of the camcorder in order to make these adjustments; this can disrupt any steady or tracking shot. Manual control options are not made with a true numerical value, instead manual focus settings are indicated with the pictograms of a mountain or portrait, and the exposure settings are designated with a + or – icon that appears on the screen. The user is limited because without a numerical value the focal and exposure measurements are not precise. For any manual control features to be accessed and exercised the LCD screen must be open. This limits viewfinder use to only when the camcorder is in full automatic mode. These comments are consistent with last year's model the VDR-M70 as well.

Zoom
Similar to last years model the VDR-M75 has a 10x optical with a 40x and 240x digital zoom. Be warned that Digital zoom will create considerable noise and distortion on the captured image. The zoom toggle sits at the rear of the camcorder’s cap. Panasonic's zoom toggles should be better. While they can be managed other camcorder manufacturers present better options.

Focus
The manual focus on the VDR-M75 can be adjusted with the use of the volume + / – soft buttons found underneath the LCD screen. Not having specific numerical values hinders the user’s ability to make specific and precise adjustments. Pictograms of a landscape and portrait indicate the focal range. These buttons are found underneath the LCD which creates handling problems for the user. Although manually focusing the image will provide optimum control, it will also alter the shot because one has to push against the body of the camcorder. A focus ring or jog dial would be ideal for seamless focal modifications.

Exposure (Aperture)
Manual exposure is engaged once the exposure button underneath the LCD is pressed. Specific adjustments can’t truly be made, a + and – meter is used instead of numerical F stop measurements. Sadly the user is force to gawk at the LCD screen and make assumptions as to the right exposure settings.

Shutter Speed
Manual shutter speed is not offered as an option on VDR-M75. Exposure presets such as Sports, Portrait, and Low Light offer calibrated exposure and shutter speeds settings for precise taping environments. The presets are helpful but limiting since the world we record in is unpredictable.

White Balance
The VDR-M75 offers manual white balance to its users. Manual white balance is activated by pressing the silver menu button (above the LCD) and finding with the silver navigational pad to its right, the manual white balance function is in the menu. Once manual white balance has been selected the user will press the play button to set a true white setting, and the stop button to exit that function. White balance presets (indoor, outdoor) are also offered in the menu system, but manual white balance will provide the user with optimum control.

Gain
Manual gain is not offered on the Panasonic VDR-M75.

Still Performance
The silver photo button is located on the top of the camcorder near the back. The Panasonic VDR-M75 has the ability to capture stills on an SD card or DVD-RAM disc. Similar to last year, quality setting of Fine, Normal, and Economy are provided when recording stills on SD card, the user must be in SD mode to access these settings; camera mode will only record at Fine quality. These options must be engaged through the menu system. The camcorder is equipped to capture up to 999 stills per side on the DVD-Ram disc. All available manual controls (exposure, focus, and white balance) are offered when capturing stills.

VCR Mode
The VDR-M75 provides the user with a wealth of playback options. Playback can be activated, through the use of the menu, in all three modes (Movie, SD Card, and Camera). The user can jump to any specific point on the media to preview the captured images. A disc navigation feature allows the user wide range of advance in-camera editing options to choose from; splicing, fading, and pacing are offered when using a DVD-RAM disc.

If the media is on a DVD-R disc these editing options can only be achieved with the use of a computer via the included Movie Album Software. The VDR-M75 offers connection to a computer through a USB port found underneath the LCD.

Panasonic has made its playback easier with its naked DVD-RAM disc compatibility available on their new camcorders, meaning that the disc no longer needs a special cartridge to record. A small bit of freedom is provided to the Panasonic user.

The VDR-M75 can input video or still images from any other source or media onto the DVD-RAM Disc, making it a low end DVD recorder.

Low Light Performance
The VDR-M75’s could not formally be tested for low light performance at CES. Panasonic VDR-M70 and its offspring the VDR-M75 share identical imaging specs, and therefore will most likely have the same low light performance results. The VDR-M70 displayed crisp and defined colors at 60 lux, which is the equivalent of a well lit office. At 15 lux the grain on the image increased and the colors were muted and dulled. Similar results can be expected from the VDR-M75. Still Panasonic’s DVD camcorders performed well compared to Sony’s camcorders.

LCD/ Viewfinder
The VDR-M75 offers its consumer a rotating 2.5 color LCD screen with 123K pixels. Manual focus and exposure control features cannot be accessed without the LCD being opened. This creates handling problems since the user has to press against the body of the camcorder.

The Viewfinder on this camcorder is troublesome, because its of lack of mobility. It extends about a half an inch outward which clearing the bulky battery underneath it. The VDR-M75’s viewfinder does not swivel or rotate which requires one to nearly press their cheeks against the battery.

Audio
A stereo microphone rests below the 38mm lens of the VDR-M75. A red microphone jack lies inside a silver port cover at the bottom of the camcorder Audio can be captured in both 12 bit and 16 bit. These settings can be changed in the menu system.

Handling
The Panasonic VDR-M75 is comfortable and handles with relative ease, fitting securely in the users palm. The zoom, photo, and record buttons are conveniently placed under the user’s thumb and index finger. The zoom toggle provides the user with favorable control over varying zoom speeds.

The manual function buttons under the LCD provided handling problems, due to the fact that the user must push into the body of the camcorder. Pushing into the body of the camcorder will likely shake the camera, and provide the user with an unclean shot. In a camcorder this small, button placement is a tricky subject. The Sony camcorders provide the touch screen LCD in which all functions must be operated by tapping the screen. The good news on the Sony DVD cams is that the buttons are not huddled underneath the LCD forcing that discomfort, but LCD screen becomes plagued with menu functions. The world needs a happy medium where transition between manual control settings can be made, because they both are a nuisance. However Panasonics button cluster, though ugly and somewhat cumbersome, is probably better than Sony’s touch screen menu because not all of the manual controls are locked within a complex menu system

The viewfinder extends only about a half an inch and does not rotate which hinders any possibility of a smooth transition between shots without the use of the LCD.

Most DVD camcorders take a considerable amount of time to be capture ready. Panasonic has improved the start up time for VDR-DVD series to approximately nine seconds; it is a considerable drop from last year’s, but it is still a long time to wait to capture life’s precious and unpredictable moments.

Ports
An intelligent accessory shoe lies on top of the VDR-M75. The USB port and SD card slot hides underneath the LCD. The microphone input jack and A/V port can be found under a silver cover at the front of the camcorder.

Other Features
Disc Navigation
In playback the Disc Navigation feature offers the user the ability to travel to any given point on the disc, fast and within an easy to use menu system. In many ways, this enables the user to navigate a DVD-RAM disc much like a computer disc.

16:9
A digitally manipulated 16:9 Widescreen is offered by the Panasonic VDR-M75.

Input Source
Input Source allows the user the ability to input images from any other source/ media (VHS, MiniDV, etc.) onto the VDR- M75. It works as a small scale DVD recorder.

Wind Cut
Wind Cut, which can be accessed through the menu, is a feature that helps reduce the unwanted noise from the microphone when recording in windy and stormy environments.

Analog to Digital Pass Through
The VDR-M75 does provide Analog to Digital Pass Through for converting analog video to DVDs.

Conclusion
There haven’t been many improvements made by the VDR-M75 from its parent model the VDR-M70. The image specs are about the same which leads us to believe that it will not perform better than the VDR-M70. The design and manual control features has remained consistent with last year’s stats. Hassles like the placements of the key feature buttons under the LCD screen still plague the user. The placement of the manual focus and exposure buttons force the user to push against the body of the camcorder which can shake the camcorder. These functions can only be operated with the LCD open.

Panasonic has made advancements with the naked disc compatibility; the disc does not require the protective plastic cover needed to record on last year’s model. This is a welcoming addition but captured memories still can’t be viewed on conventional DVD players. The nine second start up time is another favorable improvement. Nine seconds is still a long time to wait but it is a great leap from previous Panasonic DVD models. The input source feature allows the user to input a variety of media (VHS, MiniDV, etc.) into the VDR-M75, turning the camcorder into a low end DVD recorder.

However, while these are all nice features, Panasonic’s few adjustments on this year’s DVD camcorders probably won’t cause as much of a stir as Sony’s completely remodeled DVD camcorder line. The deciding factor will be the low light performance. If Panasonic can retain its superiority in the low light department, users may pick these camcorders over Sony’s.