Panasonic PV-GS180 Camcorder Review

Compression (8.0)
The PV-GS180 uses MiniDV compression at 25 Mbps, a very mature algorithm that offers better video quality than the MPEG-2 format used by DVD camcorders. While Mini-DVDs can be played back immediately on a home DVD player and feature faster data transfer than tapes, they can’t yet compete with MiniDV when it comes to video quality. While the MiniDV will likely be replaced by HD and DVD in the next few years, this is a great time to buy a MiniDV camcorder because they offer more bang for the buck than any other format.

Media (8.0)
The PV-GS180 records video to standard MiniDV tapes, and captures still images to SD memory cards. The video compartment is located on the right of the camcorder, and loads from the top. The SD card slot is located on the camcorder’s underside, which is not a convenient placement because it precludes swapping SD cards when the camcorder is affixed to a tripod. Maximum still image resolution is 1760 x 1320, and the number of images that can be captured to a card depends on both the size of the card and the still quality setting. The PV-GS180 does not ship with tapestock or a memory card, but both formats are readily available at numerous retail locations including drugstores and electronics stores, or online.

Editing (8.0)
The PV-GS180 does not ship with video editing software, but numerous high-quality non-linear editing programs are available for free or at very low cost. Some of the best consumer-oriented editing programs are Avid’s FreeDV for both Windows and Macs, a freeware program, and Apple’s iMovie which is bundled free on new Macs. The PV-GS180 does not allow for in-camcorder video effects like fades or sepia, and we don’t think this is a drawback. With the advent of digital video editing tools that can do much more than any suite of in-camera editing features, there is no reason to work on video footage in-camera. For those who miss in-camera editing, the step-up Panasonic PV-GS300 does offer some effects and animations, as do the other camcorders mentioned in this article.