Reviews for Panasonic Palmcorder Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD - CCD

Panasonic Palmcorder Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD -...

Strengths: Price for feature set can't be beat; Excellent video (3 CCDs!!!); Very nice low light capability; Mic input; S-video output; Nice quality stills for a camcorder

Weakness: No built in light; Viewfinder only slides back and does not tilt up; LCD has to be flipped out to put in manual focus mode; Menu system is a little strange; No supplied software

I did a LOT of research before deciding on this camcorder. For less $500, this camcorder is the best bang for the buck. A few people who aren't very technically inclined or as thrifty as I am have asked me why I didn't go with a camcorder which records to "the little DVDs" like all the Sony HandyCams do. Those are fine for people without computers or who don't want to edit their videos. I download and edit all my video anyway and I am getting a better quality picture for a better price. And the media is cheaper.

The three CCDs (this is the only sub-$500 camcorder with 3 CCDs) provide great color, even in low light. I've shot video in lighting conditions that would choke any JVC or Canon in this price range and still obtained decent video.

Some might be concerned about the "lack of zoom." In my opinion, the zoom factors are overrated. I need a tripod for anything over 10x anyway. The places where I'd want to use excessive optical zoom, I don't want to lug a tripod to. I've used the digital zoom to go to 12x and have still obtain good looking video, but I'll wait until I get my tripod set up before I try any further than that.

Panasonic did a great job putting ports on this thing. I was looking for an S-video out and was surprised to find that there are very few in the price range with one. Same thing with a microphone input. The only thing lacking in that regard is a built in light, but most of those are pretty weak any way. I get better results with my 7 LED flashlight.

The lack of software isn't really an issue. Chances are if you have a firewire card in your PC, you have some kind of capture software. If not, get some free SW from the web. Stills are downloaded via the supplied USB cable. Hook up the camcorder and it looks just like a drive, just like a digital camera.

All in all, if you are interested in shooting fairly quality video and are on a budget, this is the camcorder for you.

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Panasonic Palmcorder Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD -...

Strengths: Good Quality Video and Audio, Usefull wind reduction feature, loads tapes from the top.

Weakness: Almost too small, viewfinder not very flexible, hard to manually adjust focus and white balance.

This Panasonic camera is very good for a consumer camera. The video quality is very good and the camera has lots of usefull extra features. The buttons and ports are well laid out and it is easy to use. It's small size makes it very portable, but also awkward at times. The remote control is handy and it has all the ports you need to make professional looking home videos on DVD or VHS. It has very few buttons which makes it simpler, but it's hard to change some of the more advanced settings. The light on the front to indicate when it is recording isn't very bright which may cause some confusion. I would recommend this camera for anyone who wants good quality audio and video in a small package for a small price, but doesn't want a horde of extra features, and doesn't mind some inconvenience in figuring out how to change some settings.

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Panasonic Palmcorder Digital Camcorder - 2.5" LCD -...

Strengths: Same 3CCD technology used in Panasonic professional broadcast equipment, top-loaded mini-DV tape's clamshell, joystick that makes the camera easier to use, very light and easy to hold and balance.

Weakness: The color viewfinder no longer rotates vertically. It’s really too bad that they removed this feature, because it makes shooting through the viewfinder much more difficult.

I bought this a week ago, but on first use it sure is a sweet package. Very light and easy to hold and balance. Very good video.
The GS65, with its 3CCD Camera System, reproduces color in great fidelity by using a separate CCD for reds, greens and blues. It's the same 3CCD technology used in Panasonic professional broadcast equipment, resulting in 540 lines of resolution. You can count on 3CCD Digital Camcorders to give you colors that are as rich and vibrant. As the least expensive of Panasonic's 3-chip camcorders, the GS65 does a great job of combining advanced features with easy-to-use controls. The joystick makes the camera much easier to use, letting you control all basic operations with one hand. The GS65 features a zoom mic that increases mic sensitivity and acts similar to a shotgun mic as the zoom enlarges the image. The color viewfinder on the GS65 pulls out about an inch from the camcorder body but cannot be moved vertically. It’s really too bad that they removed this feature, because it makes shooting through the viewfinder much more difficult. Besides this, the GS65 makes a great all-around camcorder.

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Very good Cacorder for this price

Strengths: Good picture, good color outdoor, indoor, 3cd

Weakness: zoom only x10, not enogh accessories come with the package

Ti's really good camera come's with 3cd , good quality of picture outdoor in good and bad weather.
I tried it outdoor in cloudy weather, the picture was bright, coloreful,real and warm.
Indoor it was preaty good picture with good , natural colors and quality
Indoor with 40w bullb it was a little bit dark and colors were washed, but don't forget it is not professional camcorder in prise range under $500-600, I tried it only in automatic mode(the camera hase two naght modes Ididn't try).
Easy to use, nice camera
The conclusion is : It's really good camera for this price

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Great buy! PV-GS65 MiniDV Digital Camcorder

Strengths: Very clear, great resolution. Easy to use even for entry-level users. The size is perfect, not too big, and not too small that it is hard to shoot with one hand comfortably. Best in its price range.

Weakness: Haven't seen any so far. This is the best thing you can have, 3 CCDs for the price of 1.

This is truly a great buy! My husband and I are both first-time users of digital camcorders, and started shopping and found this great model. We checked it out in a local store and compared it with some other Sony models (which, at that time, was one of the others we were considering). But nothing can compare to the 3CCD feature! The picures are really clear! Low light performance is also great, we have recorded in room light and had no problem at all.

The size is also perfect, it is not too big and not too small. We can easily record with one hand comfortably, while zooming in and out. But this may differ from person to person, so we recommend that before you buy, go to a local store and try it yourself to feel.

The time that it takes for the machine to get be ready to record is also pretty fast.

This is a really great buy! We really love it!

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GS75 - Straight out of the box and firing from all...

Strengths: Ease of use; crisp and vibrant colour; quiet operation (including zoom); compact size; almost sexy! A joy to use; joy stock control beats buttons and touch screens!

Weakness: The manual is a bit busy for easy quick reference but...(read comments). So far nothing to make me clap my hands to my face.

I bought the Panasonic GS75 (1.7megapixel) model yesterday. Having read many reviews with negative comments prior to my purchase on bad user manual and instructions, I was pleasantly surprised how my 16yr old daughter got it recording and playing back within minutes of it being out of the box (after battery charging of course). By that afternoon we had it playing back on TV and transferring .avi file to my laptop via USB. In the evening we managed to record to VCR from camera! So all this as a first time camcorder owner and without reading the manual. So I must say the camcorder controls and menu were simply intuitive. Most camcorder owners must surely must have been digital camera owners and therefore found the camcorder controls quite familiar. So all in all worth every dollar spent (and not too many of these either). I love my camera and y ou will too.

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Great product and good price

Strengths: 3 CCD provide great pictures. Very good price.

Weakness: Viewfinder does not tilt up; lack of software

I want to buy a 3CCD camcorder. According my budget, this one is the only one. I did a lot of research about DV camcorder. The reviews for this one is very good. And it is very impressive for the low light recording on this camera for it's price range.

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Panasonic PV-GS65

Strengths: Easy to handle, manual controls, 3ccd

Weakness: Night mode, Zoom, Some menu options aren't conveniently located.

I read as many reviews as possible and chose this camcorder because it received excellent marks. I returned a Sony to purchase this because of the touchscreen and docking station, both which I thought were inconvenient. However, the night mode on the Sony is much better as the Sony uses an infrared light to capture video. Night mode on this camcorder is useless. I also expected much greater things from the 3ccd's. The video is good, but since this is my first camcorder I guess I had higher expectations. The joystick is much easier to use than the touch screen, and I like how this camcorder feels in my hand. I am pleased with this camcorder, although there are a few things that I would change. I haven't taken stills with it, because I would rather know I'm going to get quality stills by using my digital camera. I do wish that in had included software and had a more detailed user manual. The zoom (10x) is also pretty weak compared to other camcorders in the same price range. I was able to capture some decent video of my baby in low light (A Christmas play with lights dimmed pretty low) The color held up good. Overall I would say it's a good camcorder for the money, and seems to have more manual controls than most in it's price range.

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not for the novice

Strengths: light in weight,very good color in non hazy conditions and fairly good at 16 lux low light.

Weakness: noisy zoom,very slow fader,poor battery life,very poor clarity in hot,hazy and glare conditions,lousy instruction manual hard to see not much difference between auto and manual settings.

After extensive reading of camcorder reviews,visits to the camcorder stores,it was down to Sony or Panasonic.I liked the idea of a 3CCD camcorder and the fair price of the Panasonic.I did read an excellent review of the PV.GS65. So far I'm not very happy with the PV-GS65. Let me say right away that I am a rookie camcorder operator and this is my first camera. I bought it for vacations and general use.I admit I don't know much of the technical aspects of filming but thought I would have much better results from the PV-GS65 after reading the review by the professional reviewer.
There are a FEW things I like about the camera. It is light in weight,takes good video in non hazy/glare conditions and is fairly good at low light (16 lux)
Sadly the rest is mostly negative.
First of all the zoom is very noisy both on and off film despite lowering the volume level
The fader takes an age to kick in and kick out.
The MajicPic function using the LCD turned around is useless.
Results after filming on a hot,hazy bright day were very disappointing. Colors washed out and images were blurred.
Even after changing to manual mode there seemed to be nothing in the way of improvement.
The joystick setting button does not always work efficiently sometimes requiring two or three presses to activate.
The instruction manual is hopeless for a rookie like myself who requires all the help he can get!!! It does not explain things in a clear and precise manner.
As I wanted a video camera first before a digital camera I have not tried out the still camera side of the camcorder. Perhaps with patience and practice my videotaping will improve allowing me to enjoy the PV-GS65 more

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Panasonic PV-GS65

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