Panasonic PV-GS300 Camcorder Review

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS250
Some will view the GS300 as a downgrade from its predecessor, the GS250; others will view it as an upgrade. There is no focus ring anymore. Panasonic’s penultimate MiniDV cam has been assigned the joystick-controlled focus found on every other camcorder they make. Also, the headphone jack has been stripped. The aperture doesn’t open quite as large anymore, and maxes out at F/1.8 instead of F/1.6. The filter diameter has been reduced from 43mm to 37mm, so old attachments will now require a converter. Also, the viewfinder no longer pivots up at an angle. The SD card slot has been pushed further under the bottom, making it impossible to access with a tripod. Finally, the GS300 no longer has analog-to-digital passthrough.

What about the improvements? Video performance appears to have gotten sharper. The LCD has increased from 2.5 inches to 2.7 (widescreen) inches. You can now take stills in 16:9 at two resolutions. The body has been reduced in size, making it more portable.

When you put the pros and cons up against each other like this, we think the scale really tips in favor of the GS250. Of course, the GS300 is coming in at $300 less than the GS250—yes, $300 less. The GS250 had an MSRP of $999, while the GS300 has an MSRP of $699. Kind of softens the blow, doesn’t it?

You won’t get the same features anymore, but if you are plan to spend $1,000 on a camcorder, maybe you should look at the next comparison.

Panasonic PV-GS500
For $300 more, the PV-GS500 offers larger CCDs, each measuring 1/4.7 inches with a gross pixel count of 1.07 MP. The zoom is increased from 10x to 12x optical. The filter diameter is larger, and matches the GS250 at 43 mm. The GS500 offers a higher maximum still resolution of 4.0 megapixels, over the GS300’s 3.1 megapixels. You’ll find that coveted focus ring on the GS500, and the accessory shoe on the GS500 is hot.

The GS500 also offers a third video shooting mode, Cinema Mode. This is not true progressive scan, so don’t get your hopes up. It’s a pseudo-progressive scan mode carried over from the GS400.

Aside from this, the camcorders are similar. The GS500 is about 20-30% larger, but they handle much the same way. Obviously, the enhanced specs on the GS500 are going to result in a better picture. But if price is a concern, the GS300 holds its own quite well. We recommend holding off on the GS500, mainly because it’s such a lackluster follow-up to the GS400. Track one of those camcorders down while you still can (they are flying off the shelves) and consider it well.

Sony DCR-HC90 and DCR-HC96
The HC90 is last year’s top of the line Sony MiniDV camcorder, replaced this year by the HC96. We haven’t gotten a chance to review that model yet, but we’ll briefly describe differences. Both camcorders have the same 1/3 inch Advanced HAD CCD with Primary Color Filter. The only major upgrades between the HC90 and HC96 are a smaller body and an external rather than internal battery placement. Click-to-DVD technology, which works with select VAIO computers to automatically capture and convert MiniDV footage to DVD, was available with the HC90, but it's become a marketing point for Sony this year. 

The GS300 was able to produce a better picture in strong light, but the low light showed a heavy saturation in the HC90. Some people may prefer this image, but we tend to like more accurate color representation.

The HC96 has an MSRP of $800. It lacks the mic input, but has a docking station and a LANC jack. The HC90 has better automatic controls than the GS300, and the HC96 will likely follow suit. The zoom toggle is definitely better, offering more precise control. But the touch screen cannot compare in handling to the GS300. Also, the HC90 and HC96 have the Sony deficiencies in manual controls. The GS300 is our strong preference.

Canon Optura 60
Sony’s second in command in the MiniDV line runs for around the same price as the GS300. In bright light, these camcorders had a similar picture, with a little more noise in the Optura. In low light, the GS300 was the clear winner.

The Canon Optura is easy to use handles with as much alacrity as the GS300. We definitely liked this camera, and the 1/3.4 inch CCD made for a great picture. The zoom is a larger 14x, but the manual control contest definitely falls in favor of the Panasonic. Automatic controls are a draw.

Overall, Panasonic is the better choice of the two. Canon has not yet announced updates to the Optura series, so we’re waiting to see what they can come up with for the ever-dwindling world of MiniDV camcorders.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (4.0)
The GS300 probably costs a little more than a point and shooter is looking to spend. And its strengths lie in the manual controls, which a point and shooter is not going to be interested in. On the whole, it handles easily though, and will still take great video in automatic mode.

Budget Consumers (3.5)
At a $699 MSRP, this is not a budget cam except for those intent on a 3-chip. Even then, there is still the next step down GS180 to consider.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.5)
A maximum still resolution of 2048 x 1512 is very good, and still features like a flash, red-eye reduction, and burst mode are enticing. But the burst mode only works in low-res pictures, and the GS300 doesn’t even ship with an SD card. This is not the hybrid of your dreams, but it works.

Gadget Freaks (2.0)
Nothing new or ground-breaking here. In fact, the whole world on MiniDV has become stagnate. If you’re a true Gadget Freak, you’re probably not even reading this review right now.

Manual Control Freaks (8.0)
Panasonics are it for the Manual Control Freak. Iris, shutter speed, white balance, and gain help to distinguish them from every other manufacturer. The joystick navigation system, new last year, makes changing the picture quality easy as pie.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (6.0)
Serious hobbyists adored the PV-GS400, which means they probably had a soft spot for the GS250. The GS300 has lost of lot of features since last year, but it also dropped a lot in price. The GS500, at $1000, is probably the one to check out.

Conclusion
The PV-GS300 is the most perplexing type of “replacement” model. The key features that made its predecessor so popular have, in part, been tossed out the window. Say goodbye to analog-to-digital pass through, a focus ring, the headphone jack, and an easily accessible SD card slot.

To ease the pain of your loss, Panasonic has knocked 300 bucks off the price. It’s starting to look like a better deal now, isn’t it? And to boot, the body is smaller, the LCD is widescreen, and the video performance is better. That is a $699 camcorder we can get behind. This is a camcorder of operatic drama. It suffers the slings and arrows of public criticism because of what preceded it.

A $700 camcorder and a $1000 camcorder are two different beasts. Yes, it is a shame that Panasonic has chosen to strip the consumer cams of their pro features. The GS500 has suffered the same fate, and is a far cry from the beloved GS400. What you are witnessing is the slow and painful death of standard definition MiniDV. 

However, if you’re simply a consumer in the market for a solid performer in this price range, the GS300 might suit you just fine.