Camcorder

Easy-to-use DVD camcorder exceeds tape's image quality A loyal reader has called periodically during the past couple of years to ask what I thought of DVD camcorders. I've finally got some good news for him when he calls next. The Panasonic VDR-M30PP DVD Palmcorder Camcorder ($899) does much of what you would expect of instant DVD recording with few hassles. The technology allows you to record on 1.4-gigabyte, 8-cm DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, but playback can be tricky. Some users have reported problems playing back DVD-R discs in DVD players, and DVD-RAM won't play in a regular DVD player.

A 26-year-old Ellicott City man pleaded guilty yesterday in Howard County Circuit Court to charges of rape and child sexual abuse, said T. Wayne Kirwan, spokesman for the state's attorney's office. His trial was scheduled to begin today. According to charging documents, Donald K. Jones was accused of engaging in sexual acts with a preschool-age relative in a bedroom and recording the activity on a camcorder. Police recovered the camcorder while serving a search warrant. During a hearing yesterday before Howard County Circuit Judge Louis A. Becker III, Jones pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense and sexual abuse of a minor, Kirwan said.

POLICE LOG* Savage: 8500 block of Howard St.: A resident returning home found a burglar standing inside an apartment Thursday night. Police said the man fled out a rear sliding door when the victim ran to call police. A pistol, camcorder and cash were taken.* Jessup: 7800 block of U.S. Route 1: A burglar smashed the front window of Jessup Discount Liquors and took cigarettes Friday morning, police said.

POLICE LOG* Hickory Ridge: 10400 block of Fair Oaks: A VCR, television, camcorder, phones, computer system and jewelry were stolen from a home Wednesday or Thursday. Police said burglars forced open a ground-level window and ransacked the house.* Harper's Choice: 11900 block of Little Patuxent Parkway: A would-be car thief tried to steal a 1985 Ford Tempo early Wednesday morning, police said.12200 block of Green Meadow Drive: Someone attempted to steal a 1990 Acura Legend Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, police said.

POLICE LOG* Greenhaven: Burglars broke into a home in the 600 block of 208th St. and took jewelry and other property. The value of the property was not known.* Pasadena: Someone broke into a 1984 Ford truck that was parked in the lot of Chesapeake High School Monday and took stereo equipment valued at $988.* Pasadena: Someone smashed the window of a 1986 Plymouth that was parked in the 1000 block of Siske Road Wednesday.* Greenhaven: Burglars broke into a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice that was parked in the 800 block of 223rd St. Tuesday and took jewelry and a camcorder valued at $900.

$5,000 in items stolen from homeAnnapolis police are investigating the theft of more than $5,000 of items from a home on Thursday.Police said someone threw a brick through a living-room window and entered the home of Joe Ando, 33, of the first block of Gentry Court.More than $4,000 worth of jewelry, a videocassette recorder, stereo, camcorder, frozen meats and a small amount of cash were stolen.The theft occurred between noon and 3 p.m.

Two men wearing Halloween masks broke into a Pasadena home early Wednesday, pistol-whipped a resident and two guests and took cash and electronic gear, county police said.David Netzer, 39, told police he was at his home in the 8000 block of Ritchie Highway with two friends shortly before 1 a.m. when the men, one armed with a handgun, broke in and attacked them.Netzer handed over cash, and the assailants took a camcorder and a compact disc player before running away, police said.Pub Date: 7/25/97

It seems like a no-brainer: Since digital camcorders and digital still cameras use the same kind of electronic sensor to record images, why not build a single device that does both really well? Like many ideas that seem simple on the surface, the devil is in the details. It's almost impossible, for now at least, to design a sensor that delivers outstanding performance both ways. The result, which I've seen over and over in recent years, are digital camcorders that take bad still pictures and digital still cameras that shoot bad video.

North Laurel:: 9100 block of Tumbleweed Run: Someone kicked in a front door between 1:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday, and stole a VCR and a TV.* 9200 block of Gold Dust Court: Someone kicked in a front door between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, and stole a TV and personal papers.* 9000 block of Old Scaggsville Road: Someone forced open a rear sliding door between 10:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday and ransacked the house. A camcorder, stereo, jewelry and a TV were stolen. The TV was recovered on the deck.

POLICE* Westminster: A South Bishop Street resident reported someone stole a blue, 21-inch Huffy mountain bike from the 200 block of E. Main St. Friday. He estimated the loss at $50.A resident of North Colonial Avenue told police someone broke into his vehicle and stole items valued at $50 Thursday.* Aspen Run: A resident of Eikon Lane reported someone broke into his house Sunday and stole a camcorder and a VCR valued at $1,200.FIRE* Westminster: Westminster, Reese, Pleasant Valley and Manchester were dispatched for a water heater fire in the first block of Chase Street at 9:16 a.m. Tuesday.