Panasonic PV-GS2 Camcorder Review

The viewfinder is an electronic black-and-white model that can only be used properly in point-and-shoot recording, due to manual features masked by the LCD screen.

Audio (5.0)
There is a stereo paired microphone located on the front face of the camera body, and a speaker located underneath the LCD Monitor on the left side. The A/V out port located beneath the microphone can also double as a headphone port. There is no external mic port, and the user must either rely on another audio recording device separate from the camcorder, or suffer through the audio quality of an in-camera microphone.

Handling (6.0)
With its small, tightly contained buttons, the physical constraints alone make handling the Panasonic PV-GS2 tedious. With most manual control and playback options located under the LCD screen, the viewfinder is, for the most part, rendered useless. The small body, while light and easy to hold, makes such features as the Zoom lever seem misplaced, forcing my fingers back and forth awkwardly when I am using the hand strap. Also, the buttons located under the LCD screen are not the fast-access manual controls a user would presumably desire; instead, they are such features as Soft Skin Mode, Magic Pix Mode, and Backlight Mode. The only nearby manual control option is the Focus switch, forcing the user to otherwise constantly re-enter the onscreen menu, making expedient and concise control changes nearly impossible.

Ports (7.0)