Product Description

The PV-GS39 is a Digital Palmcorder MultiCam Camcorder featuring 30x Optical Zoom, 1000x Digital Zoom & 2.7" diagonal LCD.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11378 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: PV-GS39
• Dimensions: 6.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Features 30x optical zoom and 1000x digital zoom
• Low-height, compact design with a convenient side-load mechanism for tapes
• 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD display
• Joystick control for easy operation and navigation

Amazon.com Product Description
The Panasonic PV-GS39 MiniDV Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom combines versatility, ergonomic design, a powerful zoom and enhanced PC connection options. With a new, low-height, compact design featuring a convenient side-load mechanism for inserting and removing tapes, the Panasonic PV GS29 offers the ultimate in point-and-shoot ease. The PV-GS29 includes a DV output (firewire) for easy digital connection to compatible PCs or digital video editing equipment, a 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD display, built-in LED light, and a 30x optical zoom and 1000x digital zoom. The camcorder also allows you to record in wide-screen format and includes a secure digital memory card slot. Joystick control offers users with easy operation and navigation.

Manufacturer Description
Combining digital imaging versatility, ergonomic design, powerful zoom, and enhanced PC connection options, the Panasonic PV-GS39 digital camcorder offers point-and-shoot ease with high-performance features. Digital camcorders should be fun, versatile, and easy to use, and state-of-the-art digital technology should be accessible and user-friendly, whether you're a beginner or an accomplished videographer. This camera offers a multitude of advanced functions, features and easy-to-use navigation that will appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers who will appreciate how Panasonic makes it easy to capture life's precious moments.

The camcorder features a new, low-height, compact design with a practical side-load mechanism for inserting and removing tapes. The PV-GS39 features DV output (Firewire) for easy digital connection to compatible PCs or digital video editing equipment; color viewfinder; 30x optical zoom and 1000x digital zoom. It also features easy-to-use one-finger navigation with joystick control. The PV-GS39 adds true 16:9 widescreen format recording, SD Memory Card slot and SD card USB reader/writer. The widescreen video recording format integrates perfectly with viewing HD content on television, you can capture their own widescreen images and view them on a widescreen display. Movies and many TV shows are in the 16:9 format. Now your personal videos and still shots can be, too.

Features include:

• 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD display
• Widescreen format recording
• Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot
• SD card USB reader/writer
• Color viewfinder
• Built-in LED light
• 30x optical zoom
• 1000x digital zoom
• Easy Operation and navigation
• Joystick control

What's in the Box:
Panasonic PV-GS39, PV-DAC14D battery charger, AC adaptor cable, AV cable, shoulder strap, CGR-DU06 lithium-ion battery.

Customer Reviews

Outrageous Value
After spending countless paychecks getting the *best* (read: expensive) electronics, I took a step back and decided to get the best value instead. Little did I know I wasn't giving up much.

Like most Panasonic products, the interface on this camcorder is intuitive and easily deciphered. This model has a joystick in the center, a red record button and just five icons surrounding the joystick. Without reading the manual, I can tell you that the icons stand for PC interface, photo playback, picture-taking mode, video playback mode, and record video.

My husband usually wants me to show him how to use our new gadgets. This time, he didn't ask. In fact, he was the first one using it, picking it up for the first time and shooting without any guidance. His rating is a big thumbs-up.

The fact that this camcorder is extremely small and compact also adds to its allure. This week, without planning in advance, I picked up the GS-39 on my way to my son's school event and put it in my medium-sized purse. It was easy for me to quietly take casual video from the sidelines without looking like an overenthusiastic proud mama. The camcorder is less than the size of my D-SLR camera and, unlike the camera, makes no shutter noise.

After taking the school video, I went home and uploaded it to my computer (using Adobe Premiere Elements -- this product does not come with software, but then again, how many people actually use the product that comes with the camcorder?). The product worked seamlessly. There were no dropped frames, and the video was clear enough for the standard user. By that, I mean that it looks like what would have been considered superb three years ago.

I confess that I haven't had the opportunity to use the photo mode, which records still frames to a SD card. I like having the option, but like most integrated products, the resolution isn't as high as with a stand-alone camera.

To sum up this review, the GS39 is an excellent product at a fantastic price. The compact size and weight make it more likely to be taken to events and utilized. Don't let the price fool you. You'll still get all of the major features you need in a camcorder.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AFTER 2 WEEKS OF CONSTANT USE:

I still rate this with five stars for the reasons above. However, I would like to add these observations for consideration. This camera takes excellent natural light photos, but is a little on the dark side under low light. It does have a built in light which you should turn on even when the video on the camcorder screen looks okay.

The photo mode was a nice idea, but captured video actually comes out nicer than still pictures from the photo mode.

All in all, I still don't think there's a better value on the market today.

Good starter camcorder with poweful zoom
I was looking for a relative inexpensive camera gift for a graduating senior. While looking in a local store this Panasonic PV-GS39 camcorder caught my attention. It's got a clean, attractive styling, compact size, and the video quality looked good on a nearby TV to which it was hooked up. I've had positive experiences with Panasonic camcorders in the past -- in fact my current workhorse camcorder is the beloved VDR-D300 3CCD DVD model (see my review on Amazon). The GS39 also seems to be user-friendly, and the salesman confirmed to me that it's got better video quality than some of the more expensive models out there. The 30x optical zoom with image stabilization technology would be a boon to the gift recipient who's about to embark on a yearlong world "study" tour. (Of course, we all know what young people do on such tours.) Finally, the price was definitely perfect as a graduation gift, so I bought it.

BTW, buy before July 1 and get a free camcorder bag and 3 free blank tapes from Panasonic. You can get the rebate form in store or on Panasonic's website; e-mail me if you can't find the rebate link.

In short, this is a terrific value and starter camcorder.

Top value
THerre are many camcorders in the market and many are superior to this one. However you have to pay much more money, In this price range it wouldbe impossible to find a better camcorder. Easy to use with a powerful zoom (better and more powerfull that more expensive camcorders) connects easily to a mac or pc it offerssomething that similar camcorders do not: the possibility to set your manual settings (if you wish to do so) and experiment. For the users that ewant it simple, the auto settings will deliver you an excellent result. Again if you want something more than you should look elsewhere and pay more. But for the price this is the best buy