Product Description

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15968 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: GS320
• Dimensions: 10.00" h x 14.00" w x 12.00" l, 2.45 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• 3CCD imager for vivid color, fine detail, and rich gradation
• Leica Dicomar lens; Advanced Pure Color Engine
• 3.1-megapixel still-picture recording
• One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting
• Tele-Macro for sharp focusing, from a short distance

Manufacturer Description
If you want to enjoy shooting videos, enjoy viewing them and enjoy creating your own video collection, you'll love the Digital Palmcorder camcorder. This convenient camcorder also lets you add previous recordings to your video collection.

PV-GS320 Highlights

Advanced Imaging Technologies for Capturing Beautiful Videos

Exceptional Leica-certified image quality with Leica Dicomar Lens Leica AG of Germany is the manufacturer of fine cameras and lenses favored by photographers everywhere. Drawing on Leica's renowned optical technology, this advanced lens captures clear, crisp, finely nuanced images with outstanding detail and contrast. Thanks to a multi-coating applied during the manufacturing process, the lens also minimizes flare and ghosts.

Advanced Pure Color Engine The Advanced Pure Color Engine is a special image processing circuit for 3CCD camera systems. It processes the R, G and B signals from the three CCDs individually, so it gives both moving and still pictures exceptional quality. This innovative engine also achieves truly superb color reproduction for high-zoomed pictures.

Take breathtaking stills with 3.1-megapixel still-picture recording The PV-GS320 records 3.1-megapixel still pictures. It captures all of the outstanding detail, color and sensitivity. Whether you take still pictures in 16:9 wide mode or 4:3 mode, you get beautiful images. You can print beautiful photos as well as view slide shows on a TV in any mode you like.

So Easy to Use, Even Beginners Get Beautiful Results

One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting With One-Touch Navigation, just press the center of the joystick to display an operating menu. The operations you use most often are right on the monitor, so it's easy to change settings or operate the camera without looking away from your subject.

Mode dial Just turn the dial and you're ready to shoot or to view the images afterward. Just rotate the dial with your fingertip to select the icon that corresponds to the mode you want.

Trilingual menu The menu can be displayed in any of the following three languages. You can switch it to view all menus in the language you prefer for easy, comfortable operation.

The Joy of Creating Videos that Perfectly Capture a Scene

Tele-Macro for sharp focusing, from a short distance Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a short distance from your subject. This makes it much easier to capture extreme close-ups without your body or camera casting a shadow on the subject and while keeping the background in soft focus.

Soft Skin mode When this function detects skin tones, it softens the focus in that area. This has a skin beautifying effect, which makes wrinkles and lines appear less noticeable. When turned on, this function makes blemishes and moles look less conspicuous, while preserving resolution in areas of the picture outside of the skin.

MagicPix for low lighting Leave the light off. MagicPix gives you images with color even in dim lighting (1 lux). Light is gentle and easy on the eyes, so you can snap shots of sleeping children without waking them up.

More Convenient Shooting Functions

Instant LCD/EVF saves battery life When you open the LCD, the power switches on. Shut it and the power goes off. Pull out the viewfinder and the power switches on. Store it and the power goes off. Instant LCD/EVF reduces the time required for operating the camera.

Easy to see, even outdoors - Power LCD Simply press the Power LCD button and the LCD becomes brighter, making it easier to see outdoors or in other bright locations. Also, a new scanning technology allows the LCD to show diagonal lines more sharply.

AGS (Auto Ground-Directional Standby) helps prevent wasted shots The O.I.S. linear motor system can detect when the camera is in an unusual shooting position, and when you've inadvertently left it on in recording mode. In these cases, the camera automatically stops recording, saving both battery power and disc or tape space.

Easy Networking -- For More Fun When the Shooting's Done

USB 2.0 (HS Mode) and Video Class Compatibility USB 2.0 compatibility lets you upload DV data to a PC at high-speed over a single USB cable. Video Class compatibility allows real-time transfer of DV moving picture data over the same USB cable. Video Class is a standard format that allows the real-time transfer of moving picture data over a USB cable.

Comes with Software that Makes It Easy to Transfer and Edit Images The included editing software is just the tool you need to make polished, smartly fi nished productions. It lets you load images into your PC for easy editing, add special effects, and dub in a soundtrack - all from a single, easy-to-understand screen.

Use an SD/SDHC Memory Card to transfer image easily SD/SDHC Memory Cards are the ideal recording and storage media for today's visual communication and networking. They make it easy to instantaneously transfer image data to a PC or printer.

Web Camera Function With the camera connected via USB cable to a PC, start up Windows Messenger and the camera instantly turns into a web camera. Ideal for teleconferencing over the Internet, or for surveillance camera use.

High-Speed Data Transfer to a DVD Recorder With DVD's high-speed data transfer, you can dub your recordings quickly and easily onto a DVD video recorder's hard disk drive. Enjoy sophisticated editing with the DVD recorder, or save your recordings onto DVD and create a collection of your own DVDs.

Customer Reviews

Poor low lighting...
My wife and I purchased this item to film our family events over the coming years. After a lot of research I narrowed it down to this and the Sony DCR-HC96 (in fact several online reviews compared these two as well). It came down to price, which was better at Circuit City. Unfortunatly I will be paying a 15% restocking fee now as we have decided to return it and go with the Sony. The Panasonic, I feel, is a really good camera. The colors are bright and crisp...during the day. However we felt that most of the use would be during the evening hours indoors. With all three lamps turned on in our living room, "Auto" mode showed faint images and shadows when not pointed close to a light source. After several adjustments in "manual" mode we managed to get a decently lit picture on the viewfinder (...the picture will not show up as bright on your tv). Poor lighting is a big problem with Digital Camcorders, so I was actually somewhat content with this picture quality. Where this camcorder falls short IMO is the lack of an onboard lightsource. It has a "cold shoe" on the top where you can add your own light. However it will have to run on it's own batteries since it's not powered by the camera (also the only lights I have found so far are on ebay). Knowing that this is a problem with every brand of camcorder, I simply don't understand why companies insist on not putting better, if any, light sources on their equipment. Oh well...at least the Sony has a "hot shoe" to add a light source if needed.
Overall I think that this is a VERY nice camcorder...if you plan on staying in well lit areas. Just my two pennies worth :)

My first 3CCD...
I purchased this nifty little camcorder primarily for making
low-budget movies. I read the reviews and compared prices on
numerous models and decided the GS320 was the most affordable
and suitable model (GS500 was unavailable at the time). The
box arrived in the mail and I began some film testing and was
quickly impressed with the video quality, especially outdoors,
creating some clear, vivid images. It's true, the low lighting
isn't the greatest and the colors typically fade with the lack of
proper lighting. If you plan on filming a lot at night or
creating some dark creepy scenarios then this model probably
isn't what you want (The GS250 however has some great low
lighting capabilities, although, it too was unavailable at the
time).

The GS320 is very lightweight taking much stress off of the
arm and wrist, and the handstrap is also adjustable to fit practically
any size hand. You can purchase high-quality mini-tapes which
bring about an even more impressive looking picture (I've found
these to cost about $10-$12 per tape).The zoom is nice, although
you do lose some picture quality as already mentioned in several
reviews. This camcorder also has some neat special features, one
of which cuts down on that typically uncontrollable background noise
by concentrating its built-in mic on the speaker. The built-in OIS
works well in keeping the image steady for those distant, closely
zoomed in shots. Since I use Adobe Premeire Elements 3.0 for movie
editing, I only dabbled briefly with the 320's effects, most of which aren't very useful to my purpose. APE 3.0 is a great editing tool to
use with the 320; it's fast and simple and allows for much creative
freedom. I bought the APE 3.0/Photoshop Elements 4.0 bundle which
ran about $100 and is indispensable to a striving movie-maker.

For the price and quality, the GS320 seems to be unparalleled.
An unregrettable choice so far.

Nice camera albeit missing a few things
I just picked up this camera locally to use as a backup/crash cam for a AG-DVX200 prosumer camcorder. It works fine and by all means is a good camera for the money but there a few features that are annoying enough that some folks might want to avoid it (none of these points are a deal breaker for my purposes).

1) There is no audio input so you're stuck with the microphone that is in the camera.
2) The USB, DV and power ports are located behind the battery. This wouldn't be so bad except for the next point.
3) The charger will not power the camera and charge the battery at the same time. This is a good way to force us to purchase a second battery. We need a second battery anyway..
4) The hand strap position makes NO sense. It is far too low slung making the camera fit loose in your hand. Once you loosen your grip on the camera, it flops around in your hand uncontrollably. Not a problem if once you grip it again. Bah!
5) The hot shoe is actually a cold shoe so there is no way to trigger an external flash when using the still camera mode.

While those points are enough to sway away most users, this camera is about low cost high quality video, not the normal features consumers have come to expect. The camera is solid and produces a fine picture. The controls are usable with one hand so you can make adjustments on the fly fairly easily. Pressing the camera button during video recording or playback will cause a still image to be recorded to the SD memory card - kinda neat. Finally, it works with Linux so dvgrab just pulls down video on demand.

I'd give this camera a 7 overall and a 9 on picture quality. For the price, it's probably the best picture wise. You have to decide if the negatives are a show stopper or not.

I think for someone who is interested in a low cost high quality SD (standard definition) camcorder with picture quality being the number one requirement, this little camcorder is the ticket.