Panasonic PV-GS19 First Impressions Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Mar 17, 2005 12:00 PM



The camcorder that leads the way in Panasonic’s one-chip MiniDV line is the PV-GS19, a small periwinkle camcorder, replacing last year’s similar PV-GS9 (Review, Specs, $355.99) and PV-GS2 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $269) (Review, Specs, Recent News, $269) (Review, Specs, Recent News, $269). This little daddy includes the SD card capability that the PV-GS9 lacked, a whopping, (relatively) 24x optical zoom. This increase in optical zoom is definitely a drastic change from last year, when the highest-priced one-chip camcorder offered by Panasonic topped off at 24x optical. Panasonic has also changed the menu and navigational systems on these new camcorders, the PV-GS19 included. The PV-GS19 is available for a nice US$349.

Video Performance
While video performance on the PV-GS19 could be neither thoroughly tested in our testing tent, nor cursorily observed using a working model at CES (Panasonic only offered the PV-GS35 (Review, Specs, $359.95) (Review, Specs, $283.25) for observation), we can speculate that this model will perform similarly to the PV-GS9 and PV-GS2 as far as color accuracy and crispness is concerned. Aside from the camcorder’s new joystick control system, Panasonic has kept the same zoom toggle and slide focus functions as last year, meaning that performance should be similar as far as ease of use and handling go. The joystick does improve manual adjustment a bit.

The Front
The front of the PV-GS19 places the camcorder’s lens barrel towards the top and the camcorder’s stereo microphone immediately below. Under the stereo microphone is a port cover which conceals the camcorder's A/V output.

The Right
The right side of the Panasonic PV-GS19 features the camcorder's MiniDV mechanism, which has a grooved panel upon which the hand rests and cradles the camcorder. A bulbous section of this panel juts out from the side of the camcorder near the back to form the purchase for the camcorder’s mode dial and joystick navigational controller. Below the grooved panel is a long, slender port cover, which runs underneath the equally long and slender hand strap. The port cover reveals the camcorder’s Firewire, USB, and A/V input/output port. To the upper left of the grooved panel is the Manual/Automatic mode switch. Because Panasonic has moved the switch from underneath the LCD screen (where it was on last year’s models) to this external location, it is now easier to reach and adjust focus. The switch still functions as a manual focus slider when in manual mode.

The Back
The back of the PV-GS19 features the camcorder’s battery slot and color viewfinder, which, aside from extending straight back, is stationary. The camcorder’s off/on switch is located directly to the right of the viewfinder with the quick start button and the menu button located directly below it. Beneath these buttons are the record button and the mode dial, which encircles the new navigational joystick.

The Left Side
The camcorder’s left side is relatively sparse in the features department. One of the big moves by Panasonic this year was to place the buttons usually found under the LCD screen into the menu system. This has left the LCD cavity free of buttons aside from the switch which opens the SD card slot, located, as it was last year, on the lower edge of the LCD cavity.

The Top
The top of the PV-GS19 features, on one side, the camcorder’s lens barrel, and on the other, the camcorder’s photo button, placed familiarly behind the zoom toggle, which is the same as last year's. Toward the front of this half of the top is the MiniDV mechanism’s ejection switch.

Picture and Manual Control
Automatic Control
The PV-GS19 is definitely able to shoot in automatic mode, an option that is selected on the right side of the camcorder. While automatic functions could not be tested on the PV-GS19 specifically, automatic controls on the similar PV-GS35 were pretty good. Automatic focal adjustments during that camcorder’s extremely long 30x optical zoom, were great, with minimal blur and adjustment time. While it was hard to test automatic exposure adjustments in a lighting environment as controlled as an exhibition booth, adjustment seemed fine. There are also preset Auto Exposure options for Sports, portrait, low light, close-up, and night mode.

Overall Manual Control
Continuing their tradition of offering plenty of manual control even on low end, one-chip, cheap as dirt, consumer camcorders, Panasonic offers plenty of manual control on the PV-GS19. All of this is accessed using the new joystick button located in the center of the camcorder’s mode dial which navigates the camcorder’s on-LCD menu system. While the joystick feature is definitely a very easily accessed control, the fact that all manual control must be accessed in the menu system might be cumbersome - though I’d say it beats the under-LCD button control of last year's model.

Zoom
The optical zoom of the PV-GS19 is definitely the camcorder’s most important feature. Its sheer magnitude is impressive, weighing in at 24x, the same strength as the PV-GS15 (Review, Specs, $350), the Panasonic camcorder with the highest optical zoom of last year. Unfortunately, the zoom is controlled with the same mediocre zoom toggle of last year - though it isn't too bad. There is also an option for up to 800x digital zoom.

Focus
Manual focus can be controlled in two ways. The user can instantaneously manually focus the camcorder to whatever is in the frame by sliding the manual mode slider, which is located on the upper right side of the camcorder, slightly forward and releasing. For “more” manual focus, the user can enter the camcorder’s menu system, using the joystick, and within the second menu field, move the joystick left or right move the lens through its focal field.

Exposure (Aperture)
The PV-GS19 has iris manual adjustment options including settings at OPEN, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4, F4.0, F4.8, F5.6, F6.8, F8.0, F9.6, F11, F14, and F16. These options are available only in manual mode in both camera and camcorder modes, and only when the brightness feature is not selected.

Shutter Speed
Shutter speed options are available for 1/60, 1//100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, 1/8000. When in digital camera mode, options from 1/60 to 1/500 are available.

White Balance
White Balance options are available within the camcorder’s menu system using the joystick. Options include: Automatic white balance, outdoor, indoor, and manual set. To manually set the white balance the user must select the manual icon and hold the joystick in the upwards positions.

Gain
The PV-GS19 offers manual gain options, accessible using the camcorder’s joy-stick, from 0dB to 18dB, similar to last year’s models.

Still Performance
Same set of controls used to access manual Settings when in Video Mode are used when capturing to the Memory Card. The user can, by sliding the Automatic/Manual slider to Manual, control Manual Focus, White Balance, Shutter Speed, and Manual Iris settings. Shutter speed options are reduced to 1/60-1/500. The same photo button located behind the camcorder’s zoom toggle is used to take still photos in either tape or card mode. Picture Playback mode allows the user to view garnered images in either a slide show or Multi-up format. Picture Quality settings of Normal and Economy are available and Burst Mode shooting. The same Picture Playback options are available as on last year’s camcorders. JPEGs are recorded at 640 x 480 to both tape and card. Auto exposure presets are available and the shutter effect (the digital closing of the shutter) can be turned off.

VCR Mode
The joystick is used in the PV-GS19’s VCR mode to navigate the footage. Its functions include play, fast forward, rewind, stop, and pause.

Low Light Performance
While the PV-GS19 has not been tested yet for its Low Light Performance, the camcorder shares the same imager found on last year’s PV-GS2, PV-GS9, and PV-GS12 (Specs, $401.99), etc, so mediocre low light performance is expected. Stay tuned for the full review.

LCD/Viewfinder
The PV-GS19 has a 2.5 inch LCD screen and a color viewfinder. While adjusting manual control no longer requires opening the LCD screen, the camcorder’s menu system, as viewed by both the LCD screen and the Electronic view finder, is necessary to make manual adjustments. The viewfinder extended directly backward about a half an inch while the LCD can rotate.

Audio
There is no accessory shoe or microphone input on the PV-GS19, limiting audio options. The user can choose whether to record in 12 or 16 bit, within the menu system. There is a built-in stereo microphone located on the front of the camcorder body. Like last year there is a wind-cut function to reduce wind noise and a zoom-mic option.

Handling
The PV-GS19 handles decently. Panasonic has certainly made some small improvements over last year’s one-chip camcorders. While the user must still enter the menu system to access nearly every manual control, the manual focus slider, originally located underneath the LCD screen has been moved to a convenient external position on the right side of the camcorder. Also, the new joystick allows for easier navigation of the camcorder’s manual control options. It also enjoys a cozy external position within easy access of the thumb. Panasonic has kept the periwinkle body from last year on this little guy, and he does well.

The Ports
The A/V out /Headphone port of the PV-GS19 is located on the front of the camcorder beneath a port cover. The Firewire and USB ports are located under a port cover beneath the hand-strap of the camcorder.

Other Features
Windcut This feature reduces the amount of noise picked up by the stereo microphone in windy weather.

Brightness Aide Available in both automatic and manual mode, this feature aids the brightness of the image. If selected, this feature does not allow manual adjustments to shutter, iris, or gain to be made.

Soft Skin Available within the menu system, this feature’s icon resembles a female head. Skin tones are softened.

Improved Menu System Panasonic has over-hauled their menu system to include a new aesthetically-pleasing one with nice graphics and a new joystick navigational feature. Widescreen ModeThere is a wide screen mode available within the menu system.

Burst-Mode Available in digital still mode, the burst function allows for continuous capture of still photos.

Analog to Digital Pass-Through The PV-GS19 does not support analog to digital pass-through.

Conclusion
The PV-GS19 is nice little camcorder. It packs into a small body, and small price, lots of manual controls, no exception for Panasonic. The drastic increase we’ve seen this year for Panasonic optical zooms is great, and to have a 24x optical zoom on a camcorder less that $400, is certainly impressive. With an SD card slot, the PV-GS19 is a great camcorder. Compared to last year’s Panasonic’s the optical zoom alone is a great improvement, but Panasonic has also added a completely new menu system, and navigational method, making it easier for users to access, the still unfortunately menu-based manual controls on the PV-GS19. Good entry-level camcorder.

***Some of the pictures in the this article are of the PV-GS35, as both the PV-GS19 and PV-GS35 share body types.***