Panasonic PV-GS320 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Guy Bruner
Published on Jan 8, 2007 11:00 PM

Intro Performance
Format Tour
Auto / Manual Controls Still Features
Handling and Use
 Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features Comparisons / Conclusion
Specs/Ratings  
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Ease of Use
Automatic controls on the PV-GS320 make it very easy for point and shooters to use.  When a user feels more adventurous, the manual functions are easily accessed using the menus and joystick navigation.  Optical image stabilization virtually eliminates handshake while maintaining image quality.

Handling
The PV-GS320 is a compact, light camcorder that sits easily in a small hand.  The normal operating controls such as zoom, photoshot, record/pause and joystick are easily accessed.  Panasonic's manual control interface is not as approachable as those offered by some manufacturers, in particular Sony, with its practically idiot-proof touch screen interface.  However, Panasonic camcorders like the PV-GS320 offer infinitely more image control to the practiced user.

Menu
The menu system is logically arranged into a series of pages.  The location of the user in menus with multiple pages is indicated by a page number out of the total number of pages.  For example, if a user was on page 2 of a set of 4 pages, the location is indicated by 2/4.  Selection of options works either by moving the joystick to highlight the option icon or by pushing in on the joystick.

LCD and Viewfinder
The LCD is very bright with saturated colors.  Although the LCD is 16:9 in aspect ratio, 4:3 video may be displayed through pillarboxing (black bars on the left and right).  I found both the LCD and EVF displays to be very sharp and easy to see.






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