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| Panasonic PV-SD5000 SuperDisk PalmCam |
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Hardware Reviews April 2001 • Vol.4 Issue 4 |
Panasonic PV-SD5000 SuperDisk PalmCam | ||
 Three very significant characteristics of the PV-SD5000 SuperDisk PalmCam from Panasonic jump out at you. The first and most apparent attribute is its size. The second is the camera's memory, which is unique and mammoth. The third is the price, which unfortunately is also considerable. Weighing more than 1.5 pounds, plan on connecting the camera's neck strap right away and using it. The camera measures about 6 inches high and spans more than 4 inches wide, making it anything but inconspicuous. The size does enable Panasonic to include a huge 2.5-inch LCD (liquid-crystal display) and built-in speaker on the back. The spacious design also includes a mode dial and four-way jog button to navigate the menus fairly easily. The PV-SD5000's size is a direct result of the camera's ability to use either 120MB SuperDisk or 1.44MB floppy diskettes to store shots. Not only is this memory solution ultra-convenient, it enables the camera to store up to 1,500 shots when you insert a SuperDisk (only about $10 each). In turn, the memory is the primary reason for the camera's $1,000-plus price tag. Fortunately, Panasonic throws in a great deal for those dollars. To start, the shooting resolution hits an impressive 2,048 x 1,536 pixels. You can also shoot at 1,024 x 768 pixels, take up to 120 consecutive shots at 320 x 240 pixels every 0.1 seconds, and record 12-second video clips with audio. Finally, a Time Lapse mode lets you take shots from once a minute to once every 24 hours. In addition to the standard assortment of features most cameras typically include, Panasonic packs the PV-SD5000 with 3X optical and 3X digital zoom, a burst mode to take five straight shots in 0.9-second intervals, and a RapidFire mode to shoot 12 images before they write to memory in JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files. Oddly, the camera doesn't have an optical viewfinder, and deleting shots is more difficult than need be. However, the feel of the camera is wonderful, and a lithium-ion battery provides an excellent power source. In addition, shots we fired with the camera definitely rate above average, with details especially sharp and colors vivid and strong. The PV-SD5000's price automatically makes it appealing to a select few consumers, but the camera's storage, features, and overall package should appeal to anyone. The combination of superb storage and fine images and options make the camera a solid choice, provided you can find the financial resources to obtain it. by Blaine Flamig
$1,100 Panasonic (800) 211-7262 http://www.panasonic.com
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