Combining 1.3-megapixel stills--albeit interpolated--with a 10x optical zoom, the PV-DV202 wraps some great features in its plastic and metal body. Images are stored on SD cards--an 8 MB card is included--and can be downloaded to your computer via USB. For those that like to shoot in low-light conditions, the camcorder also features a built-in color-recording mode for those types of situations. According to Panasonic, the mode will help reduce the graininess often associated with low-light shooting.
A zoom mic and a built-in light are included with the PV-DV202, along with an MPEG-4 movie system, which lets you capture compressed video clips for e-mailing to friends and family. Additionally, Panasonic includes a software suite from ArcSoft for organizing and printing still images. The camcorder also features a composite video out, S-video out, and, of course, IEEE 1394.