Product Description

Panasonic PV-GS300 is a 3CCD Ultra-Compact Digital Palmcorder MultiCam Camcorder with 3.1 Megapixel Still Picture Recording.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3401 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: PVGS300
• Dimensions: 6.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Features professional-quality 3CCD imaging system
• 2.7-inch wide LCD display
• 3.1-megapixel still image capture
• 10x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom brings you close to the action
• Records to miniDV or directly to PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces

From the Manufacturer
The Panasonic PV-GS300 3CCD Digital Palmcorder MultiCam Camcorder with 3.1 MP Still Picture Recording offers superior images and features. This small digital camcorder uses the same type of 3CCD imaging system used in professional broadcast equipment, giving you 540 lines of breathtaking resolution in a more affordable package. The 3.1-megapixel still image recording lets you record vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable colors. And featuring a 10x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom, the PV-GS300 helps you capture every detail. Record to a miniDV tape or directly to a PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces, for high quality full-motion video transfer. The color viewfinder and 2.7-inch LCD display make it easy to preview photos, and feature navigation is a breeze with the easy, one-finger joystick control.

Advantages of a Panasonic 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder

3CCD Camera System
Most professional broadcasting cameras use the 3CCD system. In a 1CCD system, all of the incoming light information is processed by the same CCD. The more advanced 3CCD system uses three distinct CCDs for processing, so there is absolutely no light loss. You can see the results in beautifully rendered images with vivid colour, fine detail, and rich gradation.

Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S)
Panasonic's O.I.S. minimizes the hand-shake that can be such a problem with handheld shots. Because Panasonic's system is optical, there is no image quality degradation. When you're shooting a still picture, the MEGA O.I.S. system automatically activates, doubling the corrective power. With O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S., the e.cam is equipped for clear, beautiful shooting of both motion and still pictures.

3.1-Megapixel Still Picture Recording
Both motion and still pictures are superb. Photos are so vivid and real, you can enjoy them as high-quality prints or as breathtaking images on a large-screen TV.

10x Optical Zoom
Distant subjects can be enlarged so they appear to be right up close. This allows dynamic shots of both motion and still pictures.

Get close to the action with high-quality zoom

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.

What's in the Box
PV-GS300 camcorder, remote control, and software.

Customer Reviews

Solid camera, not quite home, not quite pro
I've only had this camera for a few days, but I am quite pleased with it.

Before buying this camera, however, take a look at what else is out there. This camera sits in a very strange place between consumer cameras and pro level (or at least prosumer) cameras.

While it has some excellent features like 3 CCDs (so it captures richer color), optical image stabilization, and fully manual controls; it also lacks certain desirable qualities such as a real focus ring (it has manual focus, but it's joystick driven and imprecise), a headphone jack (although it does have line-level audio out), and the ability to pass analog video through to digital video.

To get all those features, you'd need to spend about $200 - $300 more on something like the PV-GS500. For $200 - $300 less, you can get a very comparable camera that simply omits the 3CCDs and has digital image stabilization.

What those extra features give you, however, is a richer picture with less noise and more detail, and a much more stable handheld image. You will especially notice the richer image detail if you edit your video in the built in software or iMovie or Final Cut or whatever you use. You can make much broader color and image adjustments on the picture from this camera than you could with a 1-CCD camcorder.

Personally, I am very pleased with this camera. I very much like the controls (although I definitely recommend trying out the Panasonic-style joystick control before buying -- some people can't stand it, although I think it's definitely the way to go). The ability to go full manual permits me to take excellent shots in low light, backlit, or otherwise strange situations. The auto mode, however, takes care of 99% of what I need, and does a surprisingly good job managing white balance and shutter speed.

The only things that makes me give this camera less than five stars are the manual focus, which requires that you be in full manual mode and also requires two button presses (one on the side of the camera, and then you adjust using the joystick), rather than being entirely joystick-driven as all the other manual controls are; and the AC adapter/battery charger which can EITHER charge the battery or power the camera, but cannot do both at the same time. Expect to buy a separate charger for long shoots.

Quality cannot be beat!!!
Got this for $480. There is no new camcorder on this planet and at this price which can give you better quality.

The 3CCD capture colors and detail like nothing in this price range. I've compared this to the Sony DVD403 camcorder and the GS300 is light years away. One reason why the GS300 is so much better than the Sony DVD403 in the same price range is because the Sony uses 1 chip. 1 chip will not be able to reproduce the colors realistically.

This past weekend I've shot footage at the NOPI XBOX at MIR in Maryland with a home made shoulder stabilizer and everyone who has seen it told me that I can make DVDs and sell them (it was that good).

A big feature is OIS. Optical image stabilization. Unlike EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) OIS does not degrade the picture quality. EIS is found in lower end camcorders.

Some reviewer complained about the RCA output. I recommend making DVDs or using S video. Why would you buy a camcorder that can produce such high quality video and then try to run this in via RCA? Everyone has a DVD player or Xbox or PS2 that can play them, and a blank DVD is 22 cents. I've looked at the RCA and S video quality and you can tell S video is better. Me personally I just make DVDs.

The camcorder has a ton of manual controls for gain, IRIS, white balance, etc.

For low lighting conditions the camcorder will not do so good as some Hi8 camcorders I've used. Here is a BIG TIP. Shoot in manual and adjust the gain down and shutter speed (you have to adjust the shutter first). The reason people get sucky low light video is because they have it on AUTO and the picture is boosted through the roof to 18Db which adds a lot of noise. Shooting in manual and adjusting the noise down then brightening up the video in post with you favorite NLE is the same way the pros do it.

The number 1 accessory to get is a UV filter. It is cheap insurance to protect the lights and blocks out the UV ray which can make the video look purple. Then get a polarizer to make the colors look natural and give it a nice contrast.

Another thing you may want to get unless you have it is Sony Vegas 6. Best $100 ever spent. Renders super fast, does not crash (like Ulead and Premier). Easy to learn (unlike Premier). Best NLE I've used.

I would recommend getting an additional battery so you can record more.

I've used the multi RCA SVideo cable and I don't find any problems with it.

Using the firewire you can write back your edited video on the MiniDv tape. Nice feature for archival purposes. I just edit and then make DVDs.

The fact that you can transfer using USB makes it a bonus (there is no qulaity loss if you go USB or Firewire).

Great Camcorder
After reading many reviews I settled on this camcorder (Panasonic PV-GS300) because I wanted something that produced above average video results, and was easy to use - yet still had plenty of manual control functions so as my skills improved I could make use of them. Most importantly I wanted a camcorder that was priced under $500. This camcorder fit the bill and I am very happy with it.

Many professional reviews noted that this camcorder does not have
analog-to-digital pass through (for changing your old analog tapes to digital), a focus ring (focusing is done with the joy stick, but focusing is not needed in automatic mode, and rarely needed in manual mode), and no headphone jack. None of these features were important to me.

Of course I considered DVD and hard drive camcorders but was turned off by reviews mentioning loud noises, etc. Plus, video editing may not be an easy or high quality option with those choices, nor is there any guarantee that the the DVD media used in DVD camcorders will play in all DVD players. Of course there are real advantages and disadvantages to DVD, hard drive, flash, and miniDV (which this camcorder is) which ends up being a personal preference issue. I chose to go with the one that is tried and true, has the most software that is compatible with it when editing or transfering it to other media, and can produce the best videos. MiniDV allows for a high quality digital backup (DVD and Hard drive camcorders typically cannot compare in digital quality). I chose Panasonic over Sony because Sony is moving toward only allowing their high priced accessories with their camcorders, and I like to be able to buy generic brands if I want to.

What I love about this camcorder:

1) The images are great! My husband keeps commenting on how good the videos look. (We have only recorded school plays, home video, etc.) I use a firewire connection to my computer (firewire cable not included) and burn the images to a DVD, then view them on my tv. I use Sonic to do this rather than the included software. This is a fairly easy process. (Note: your video is only as good as the quality of the media you transfer it to and the tv you view it on) Low light has not been a problem, however, there is a manual option to improve videotaping in low light situations (as well as options for sporting events, surf & snow, portrait, wind noice reduction, etc.)

2)It is very easy to use. I just looked at the operating instructions for a few things, but anyone with any familiarity with a camcorder could figure this one out in a second. (Like most instructions manuals, this one could have been better, but it is adequate).

3)The still images are better than average. Plus, stills can be taken while videotaping. Transfering of the stills with the included usb cable is easy.

4)It is so compact and lightweight. It is not the smallest or lightest, but one hand operation is comfortable.

5)It has nice features. The optical image stablity (no more shaky video), 3CCD for richer colors, good sound, good battery life, wide screen LCD, etc.

Previous Concerns:
I was worried about the camcorder only having a 10x zoom, but this has been more than adequate so far. I was also worried about the joystick control, but this has made operating the camcorder easy.

Cost:
Camcorder ($479.99 at Amazon)

Additional Purchases:
Add $50-$100 for additional accesories.
-Extra longer life battery ($24.99 Digital Concepts)
-SD Secure digital card for still images ($32.99 San Disk)
-Camcorder bag ($15)
-5 MiniDV tapes ($13.99)
-4pin/6pin firewire cable ($9.45)

Future Purchases:
-lense filter
-screen protector for LCD screen

Also available
-Additional light
-Additional mic

Other comments: I am pleased with my purchase. For the price I do not think I could have gotten anything much better. I will update this review if I find any weaknesses. Having Windows XP SP2 eliminates the necessity of having to install any drivers for the USB cable connection. I had problems using this camcorder as a web cam with Yahoo, but it works fine with Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger.