Panasonic PV-GS2 Camcorder Review

Comparisons
The Panasonic PV-GS2 has a 22x optical zoom, a 1/6-inch 680K CCD, a black-and-white electronic viewfinder, and a 1.5-inch LCD screen. It retails for around US $285. It has USB and FireWire / DV in/out ports, and an internal microphone. The periwinkle color and matte black plastic body make the camera feel even cheaper than its budgeted price, and many of the buttons and port covers felt as though constant use would cause them to break. It does have a 22X optical zoom, and its fairly lightweight and compact body make it quite portable.

Panasonic PV-GS9
The Panasonic PV-GS9 ships with a 1/6-inch CCD and 680 pixels, with 20x optical zoom and an 800x digital zoom. It does have a 16:9 aspect mode, but all in all, performs similarly to the PV-GS2 and the PV-GS12 in low light and bright light video situations.

Panasonic PV-GS12
This camera retails for approximately US $399.95, and has a slightly lower optical zoom rating of 20x. It also has a 1/6-inch 680K CCD, and its built-in LED light makes it more functional under low light than the PV-GS2. It weighs in the same as the GS2, with practically the same physical design layout and the same tacky periwinkle color. It has the same 2.5-inch LCD screen and black-and-white viewfinder. In lighting tests, the Panasonic PV-GS12 has an overall lack of brilliance in its colors, much like the PV-GS2, and the yellow and blue are both compromised, with a large jump between the two lightest tones in the gray bar. In the lower light situations of 60 and 15 lux, the focus is gone on the image and, although tonal integrity is fairly even, it is dark, with over-saturation occurring in the warm color bars, and the color at 15 lux being dull.

JVC GR-D33
The JVC GR-D33 has been found online at US $349. It has a 1/6th-inch-thick 680K CCD and a 16x optical zoom rating. The camera is fairly accurate at 3000 lux in both saturation and color accuracy, with a slight blue tinge to certain areas of the color test, and a bit of bleed through occurring on the cool side of the color chart. However, the focus is still strong at this lighting level. In lower lighting levels, the JVC actually performed fairly well for its price, and does a better job with color over the Panasonic PV-GS2, with the warm colors staying stronger, and more accurate, although there is more and more bleed through in the greens. The focus by 15 lux has become almost entirely compromised.

Samsung SCD103
The Samsung SCD103 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a black-and-white viewfinder, and an 18x optical zoom. It can record to both tape and memory card, with MPEG4 format used when recording video to the memory card. It has a 1/6-inch 680K CCD, and a retail price of approximately US $300. In lighting tests at 3000 lux, the color bars lacked clarity and brilliance with a fair amount of blurring and noise occurring overall. In low light conditions, the camera performed even worse; the gain was out of control at 15 lux, with bleed through occurring throughout the chart, and the grayscale lost all specificity between the bars. It does have an LED light, unlike the Panasonic PV-GS2.

Canon ZR80
Although higher in price, I included this camera to give a comparison for the consumer. First of all, there is no SD memory card available, although it does have a 1/6th-inch 680K CCD and a 2.5-inch LCD. The overall color at 3000 is strong, though a bit dull, with low light levels producing a higher level of gain and noise with most if not all of the saturation and color brilliance absent.

With all of these cameras, lighting quality and overall shooting accuracy is fairly uneven. In general, the consumer would be better off buying a slightly more expensive camera that would allow them more manual control and much better image quality with focus, color accuracy, and saturation levels.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (5.0)
The Panasonic PV-GS2 is probably best suited for the point-and-shooter, especially those users with a tight budget and little to no need for manual control, aesthetic design, or add-on features.

Budget Consumers (8.0)
For the budget consumer, I suppose this camera makes sense, if only considering its low price. However, with poor handling ability, awkward control placement, a black-and-white viewfinder, and plenty of other downfalls, the Panasonic PV-GS2 really only makes sense if money, and not quality, is the major concern.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.0)
While this camera functions as a hybrid model, and has the capability to record still images during video/audio recording, this camera would only be a logical choice for a budget consumer wanting a point-and-shoot model. It is fairly simple to switch between modes, and there are manual options; however, better quality cameras are available without spending too much more money.

Gadget Freaks (2.0)
This camera is a stripped-down, basic, point-and-shoot model. The gadget freak, I am afraid, would be sorely disappointed in the lack of features and intrigue, with few to no options available to impress even your most gullible of friends.

Manual Control Freaks (2.0)
With the manual control options secreted away inside the recessed LCD portion of the camera body, there is no way that the manual control freak, wanting instantaneous and immediate control changes, is going to be pleased with this camera. The hassle of finding the features is enough to deter, and the small button size made my fingers feel fat, so even when found, the features were hard to control. Constantly having to scan the menu using the Fast Forward, Rewind, and Enter buttons with their petite size quickly became arduous.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists(1.0)
There is really no good reason for the pro or serious hobbyist to purchase the Panasonic PV-GS2, unless a cruel practical joke is in order.

Conclusion
The Panasonic PV-GS2 retails for US $285 on the low end, and has a 22x optical zoom and a 1/6-inch 680K CCD. It has a 2.5-inch color LCD screen, and a black-and-white electronic viewfinder. It has both Memory Card and MiniDV recording ability. With its low price, this camera is best suited, or at least intended, for the first-time budget camcorder consumer. However, its port placement is really pretty bad, and the overall design makes little to no sense at times. I spent a fair amount of the testing time worrying that I was about to snap off a piece of the camcorder body in my hand. The low price of this camera is reflected in the quality of its manufacturing. The user will, I believe, get what they pay for.

The color performance in strong light was fairly successful, although when it entered low light situations, the camcorder suffered, with colors bleeding and becoming overly darkened with a high level of gain and noise. Without an LED light on the camera, shooting in most conditions becomes worrisome, unless brilliant and strong lighting is constantly present. However, the PV-GS2 does perform, as do the PV-GS12 and PV-GS9, surprisingly better than some of the more expensive Sony camcorders in low light situations. So, if budget is a big issue for the user, perhaps this camera will work. That said, I would highly recommend saving more money and finding a way to buy a camera that will last longer, have better recording options and formats, manual control, design construction, and overall quality.