Panasonic PV-GS2 Camcorder Review

The Left Side (7.0)
The predominant feature on the left side of the Panasonic PV-GS2 is the 2.5-inch LCD screen, which can be opened via a tab located on the bottom back corner of the screen housing. When not in use, the screen fits back into the camera body to sit flush with the surface of the camcorder. When opened, it can be pushed forward slightly past ninety degrees. This hinge also allows the screen to be spun 180 degrees when turned up, and 90 degrees when spun down from the center axis. When pressed past 90 degrees, the hinge feels fragile and gives off a worrisome feeling of low quality construction. Without too much effort, this portion of the camera could easily be broken during rough or fast movements.

Underneath the LCD screen cover, recessed into the body of the camera, is a series of buttons and controls for manual settings, playback, and extra features. At the front of this section, the user will find the in-camera speaker: fine for general playback listening, but if audio quality is a concern, it would be best to listen to the recording through an external second source to truly gauge audio quality. Moving back from this point and along the top of the recessed section, the user will find the Recording/Recording Check button, which is used while recording in Playback mode by pressing the Recording and Backlight button at the same time. By pressing this button when in Recording Pause Mode, the user can view the last few frames of footage garnered. The next button is the Magic Pix button, which allows the user to record images in dark situations. However, I am leery of using the optimistic language of Panasonic that states that this feature will “record color images brightly in a dark place.” One back from this button is the Soft Skin feature, which allows for skin colors to be recorded in a softer tone. Best results are achieved if the background is not tonally similar to that of the subjects' skin colors. The Multi P-in-P button allows for up to six photos to be displayed on the LCD Screen or Viewfinder simultaneously, although if the Viewfinder is used, the user will have to re-open the LCD screen to access any of the controls, thus negating the Viewfinder's usefulness here.

Below the Multi P-in-P button is the Menu button, which, when engaged, allows the user to enter and exit the onscreen LCD Menu. Underneath this button is the Auto/Manual Focus slide which, when the Manual Focus setting is being used, allows the user to adjust focus via the Rewind and Fast Forward buttons which are part of the four-way controller. The four-way controller can be used either to highlight or navigate the onscreen Menu, choosing selection changes via the centrally located Enter button, or when in Playback, it functions as the VCR Mode controllers. Starting at the top and moving clockwise, the user will find: Still, Fast Forward, Stop, Rewind, and the centrally located Play button. Underneath the Record button, slightly in front of the four-way controller, the user will find the Back Light Compensation button, which allows for adjustment of lighting when a subject is strongly lit from the back, darkening the surface that's facing the camera lens. At the base of the camera is a switch that, when pushed forward, reveals the memory card slot, with its pleasing royal blue plastic cover.