Panasonic VDR-D310 and NV-GS320 video cameras
I’m a Panasonic fangirl. Of all the Japanese electronics brands, Panasonic wins for me (Nintendo falls under gaming brands). Sony come up with great technology but then proceed to screw them up somehow (overpriced, released too late, proprietry media) while Toshiba… well, let’s just never speak of that again. Sanyo has won a few brownie points, especially with their Xacti brand of camera/video hybrids, but for now Panasonic reigns supreme.
So I always keep a look out for any new Panasonic electronics. This week, it’s two new video cameras, although the only difference between them is the media used. The VDR-D310 has a 3CCD sensor for optimum image recording, 3 recording modes (XP at 10Mbps, SP at 5Mbps and LP at 2.5Mbps) and now has a DVD burner which can accept DVD DL, DVD-R/RW and DVD RAM.
This means Panasonic is moving away from MiniDV tape media (although not too quickly, as the NV-GS320 is the same camera but with MiniDV capabilities) and I think it’s about time too. DV technology has been around since 1994 and is getting redundant. Tape technology will never be as good as non-magnetic media.
As most video cameras these days do, these two come with a digital photo camera built in, with 3.1MP capability and Panasonic’s image stabiliser technology. The cameras weigh around 500g. No word yet on prices.
Link:
Panasonic
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