Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
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Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom For impressive video and still images, Panasonic PV-GS320 is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but is not short on innovative features. This camcorder incorporates the same type of 3CCD imaging system used in Panasonic’s celebrated professional camcorders. Individual CCDs are used to reproduce the red, green and blue colors that compose an image for vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable depth and presence. The PV-GS320 also features the sophisticated Leica Dicomar lens, which has become known for its ability to capture and finely render the most delicate nuances of light and shade. The PV-GS320 also offers 16:9 widescreen format recording (to fill the screens of new widescreen TV models) as well as standard 4:3. It has a 2.7″ widescreen LCD on camera for easy viewing. It uses Optical Image Stabilization, that compensates for normal hand movement, to reduce blur and assure that still and video images are beautifully crisp and clear. High-resolution digital still images can be captured via the GS320’s built-in digital still camera feature, which records to a stamp-sized SD or SDHC Memory Card. The PV-GS320 features high-speed USB 2.0 for high quality full-motion video transfer, in addition to standard audio and video connecting ports. High-Picture-Quality 16 - 9 Wide as well as standard 4 - 3 visual screen record and play modes 2.7 Diagonal Widescreen Power LCD Monitor and Color Viewfinder Built-in SD / SDHC Memory Card Slot for inserting optional SD cards USB 2.0 High-Speed for image data transfer to a PC or Macintosh computer / May also be used as a Webcam Audio Dubbing (SP Mode Only) High Speed Shutter 5-Mode Program Auto-Exposure Manual Focus Ring Allows PictBridge Direct Print Compatibility Video is recorded on MiniDV tapes Record sound as a 12-Bit or 16-Bit digital soundtrack in stereo or mono Still picture resolutions up to 2048 x 1512 [4 - 3] and 2048 x 1152 [16
Customer Review: If you want good picture quality for a reasonable price
Choose this camera if you want quite good picture quality but don’t care about extra features.
(I’ve owned this camera for six months and use it fairly regularly.)
The Leica lens and the 3 CCD’s are normally in much more expensive cameras (often called “prosumer”)
The picture quality really does look great — the video picture is sharp and the colors wonderful (not so much on the still pictures, though). I am totally happy with the quality and, for me, that’s the main thing.
It DOES have a few “extras” that I use:
1) The still camera. While not a good quality as my dedicated digital camera, it is adequate. It solves the problem of having to carry two cameras.
You can also take “web quality” frame grabs from footage as you review the tape. This is pretty useful if you are posting trip photos to a blog.
The photos conveniently go onto a card which can easily be removed and put in a card reader.
2) A/V out
You can hook this up to your TV and it works nicely. This is one of the few feature for which you don’t have to remove the battery.
3) “Quick Movie Magic” software
This is very basic software to get the footage onto your hard drive. It works nicely and allows you to fairly easily divide the scenes up and the like. I then use the clips in the editor of my choice.
4) Manual focus
5) Back light
6) Find end of tape, search
(All these items are easy to find and turn off/on)
Honestly, that’s about all the extra features that I use.
FEATURES MISSING:
I don’t care about bells and whistles and I like basic “do the job” equipment.
However, I miss:
1) Plug for an external mic.
2) Plug for headphones
3) A proper shoulder strap
4) White balance
Customer Review: Awesome camera; but no AV Input
I bought this camera for two purposes: 1) to replace an older VHS camera and 2) to use for converting my VHS tapes to DVD’s. I give it 4-1/2 stars for #1 and 0 stars for #2. (In my research before buying the camera, I managed to miss the fact that the GS320 does not have AV input, so can’t be used to convert analog to digital. Rats!)
However, for everything else I wanted, I was very satisfied. Other reviewers have pretty well expounded on the pros and cons. I’ll just say that the quality of pictures (both video and still) that we get with this camera is really great. When I first got the camera, I handed it our son who is studying Film Production and works with professional camcorders. After fiddling with the controls and looking over its features, he expressed great delight with my purchase. (Yesss!)
It took me a while to figure out the menus and I haven’t enough experience to handle the manual control options well, but overall, I would highly recommend this camera.
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Customer Rating:
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First tagged “panasonic camcorder” by Luis Rodriguez Saenz
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