Panasonic NV-DS65B Review

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Panasonic NV-DS65B
3.5 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.5 out of 5

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Adamsd's Review of Panasonic NV-DS65B

21st Jan 2004

Overall Rating

2.5 stars
  • Value for money
    3.5 stars
Good Points

Excellent features like SD card, DV In/Out, USB


Bad Points

Pathetic low light performance


General Comments

I bought this Panasonic NV-DS65B Digital Camcorder on Christmas Eve, just in time for some festive pictures with the family, etc. It was an insurance replacement for my JVC GRDVL150 which had gone wrong, so I was really impressed with the small size and extra features the DS65 had.

However, right from the start, I was a not impressed by the excessive "noise" grain when taking low light video. I noticed it more than ever when playing back a tape that had some indoor recordings made on the JVC... and when the new recordings from the DS65 came on they were so much worse you wouldn't believe it.

I decided to return the camera to Jessups, who looked at my tape, took some more footage, and ultimately had to agree that it was very poor. We even tried other DS65's and they were just as bad. This was despite trying to improve the picture with all the available menu settings like white balance and so on.

Jessups were brilliant, and they allowed me to exchange it for the Sony DCR-TRV22 (which cost me a little extra), and you wouldn't believe just how much better it is - even indoor shots come out crystal clear, and when I now play my original tape back, it is painfully obvious where the DS65 ends and the TRV22 begins.

My message is clear.... if you want quality video in preference to lots of features, you are much better off with the cheaper Sony's like the TRV14 or TRV19. If you want the features as well, then go for the TRV22 or TRV33 (though they will cost you more).

Although the DS65 performs ok'ish outside, it still isn't as good as the TRV22. My ratings reflect the very poor inside and low light performance rather than the acceptable outdoor performance. Very disappointing.

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