Panasonic PV-GS300 Camcorder Review

Ease of Use (6.0)
The GS300 (Review, Specs, $469.99) is as easy to use as is any Panasonic camcorder. For the completely uninvolved shooter, there is a clearly marked switch inside the LCD cavity for automatic mode. Once the switch is flipped, you troubles are over. Even the white balance, which we recommend all people learn, is very good.

For those even slightly more interested in tackling the menu, the first time can be a little confusing. I’ve described the menu layout in the Manual Controls section. In short, there are two menus: administrative and manual control. The administrative menu is all text, and simple to understand. The second menu is icon-oriented, and ascertaining the meaning of the icons could make for an interesting dissertation on semiotics. Thankfully, Panasonic took note and implemented a Info function that explains each icon and its purpose. This is found in “page 1” of the manual control menu (read the Manual Control section for more on this).

The GS300 can’t really compare with Sony for ease of use, but it is about even with Canon, whose Auto mode is much the same as Panasonic’s auto mode.

Handling (8.5)
The GS300 handles very well for a camcorder of its considerable performance. The body is compact, measuring 61mm (2.4 inches) wide x 32mm (1.26 inches) tall x 91mm (3.58 inches) long. It has shrunk considerably since the PV-GS250 (Review, Specs, $1299.99), particularly in height. While most manufacturers have chosen to slim down their camcorders in width, Panasonic is of the belief that low, fat bodies are easier to handle. I agree. A low body gives you plenty to grip, and the added ridged surface on the top and right sides make you realize how slippery the smooth surface of other camcorders can be.

The joystick on the rear of the body is the main attraction for handling. While some people staunchly refuse to accept them, this is probably the best navigation system available for consumer camcorders. Pro cams have plenty of room for dedicated buttons, but a body like the GS300 will never have enough room, so you can count that out. What about a less obtrusive touch pad, like on the JVC Everios? The controls are typically far too small. Touch screen? Not even close. We’re often skeptical of touch screens, but for good cause. First, the icons are necessarily large, and therefore mask much of the picture. Secondly, you are required to get your sticky, greasy finger prints all over the primary device you’re using to judge the quality of the picture in the first place. Is that Uncle Bill’s face out of focus or mayonnaise from your sandwich? Third, they necessitate the LCD screen being open, which costs battery power. Joysticks are the winner by far.

Of course, a good menu layout helps with handling, and the GS300 has that too. As described in the Manual Control section above, the menu is split into two types – administrative and manual. The latter is a small menu divided into 4 or 5 “pages” that take up only a small portion of the screen. This is good, because you’ll want to see the effects of your iris, shutter speed, gain, white balance, and other changes immediately.

The loss of the focus ring found on the GS250 is a real shame. A premium feature like that can only be found on the GS500 (Review, Specs, $1040) now.

Portability (5.0)
The GS300 is not an ultra compact, if that’s what you’re in the market for. It has undergone quite a diet from last year, but it would still be a bulky addition to a purse, and would never fit in a pocket. The manual indicates that the battery should last for 2 hours and 15 minutes at room temperature. This is a good amount of time and should preclude the need for toting along the battery charger.

LCD/Viewfinder (6.25)
The LCD on the Panasonic PV-GS300 (Review, Specs, $469.99) is a widescreen 2.7-inch LCD with 123,000 pixels, which will give you mediocre image quality standard for this price range. Within the LCD cavity is the Power LCD button for increasing the brightness of the LCD screen. The LCD has improved from last year’s GS250, which had a 2.5-inch LCD. No surprise on this upgrade though; all non-entry level camcorders have switched over to a widescreen LCD this year.

The electronic color viewfinder may be extended from the camcorder for easier use and comes with an adjustment for the field of view. The viewfinder had a tendency to over-saturate colors and was a little too small to be as comfortable as larger viewfinders found on more expensive camcorders. However, at least there are no navigation controls in the LCD cavity; users can navigate menu structures and other controls while using the viewfinder. The menus are certainly harder to read and navigate when using the viewfinder and pressing the camcorder to your face, but when battery power is low this may be the only way to get that last great shot. Last year's GS250 had a pivoting viewfinder.

Battery Life (11.6)
We tested the included CGA-DU12 battery for life endurance by continuously recording video with the GS300 until the battery died. As with all camcorders, we set it to capture in 4:3 in auto mode with the image stabilization on, LCD backlight off, and no manual controls or zoom engaged through the course of the test. In total, the battery lasted 115 minutes and 57 seconds (1 hour, 55 minutes, and 57 seconds). This is a decent battery score, and statistically identical to last year’s battery.