Panasonic PV-GS35 First Impressions Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Jan 19, 2005 12:00 PM



The Panasonic PV-GS35 is the top of the line of this year’s Panasonic one-chip camcorders. While maintaining the same body design and imager that the PV-GS31 and the PV-GS19 retained from last year’s one-chip GSs, the PV-GS35 adds some features which make it stand out from not only its sister models, but one-chip camcorders in general. One such feature is the unprecedented 30x optical zoom. It also adds an S-Video port and a microphone port to this year’s GS model.

Video Performance
At Panasonic’s spread at CES, we were able to cursorily assess the video performance on the new PV-GS35. While the camcorders were not subjected to light levels the varied drastically, it was naturally hard to get an idea on how the PV-GS35 would perform in different environments. Nonetheless, the PV-GS35 performed well, offering nice handling and some very nice features. Most notably was the 30x optical zoom. While actual color reproduction quality could not be assessed (stay tuned for our full review), we did notice that the automatic adjustments, to focus especially, were good. The video performance benefits from the camcorder’s handling in general. Panasonic has kept the same zoom toggle and slide focus functions as last year, meaning that performance as far as ease of use and handling goes should be similar, though the slide focus function has been moved to a more convenient place. The new joystick navigational function does improve manual adjustment a bit.

The Front
The front of the PV-GS35 includes the camcorder’s lens barrel towards the top with the camcorder’s stereo microphone immediately below. Below this is a port cover which, when lifted, reveals the camcorder’s microphone jack (a step up from the PV-GS31 and PV-GS19) and the A/V output/headphone port.

The Right
The right side of the PV-GS35 mainly consists of a grooved panel where the hand resets. Below the grooved panel is a long slender port cover which running underneath the hand strap. The port cover reveals the camcorder’s Firewire and USB ports. Panasonic has moved the mode switch/focus slider from under the LCD screen to the upper left of the right side of the camcorder, making it easier to access.

The Back
The camcorder’s battery slot and color viewfinder are located on the back of the PV-GS35. The color viewfinder can only extend directly backwards about a half an inch. The camcorder's on/off switch, menu button, quick start button, and video light button are all located to the right of the camcorder's viewfinder. Below these buttons are the record button and the mode dial, which encircles the new navigational joystick.

The Left Side
While the left side of the camcorder is pretty sparse this year, Panasonic has moved the buttons usually found under the LCD screen into the menu system, freeing up the LCD cavity from clutter and hard-to-get-to controls. The LCD cavity still includes the PV-GS35's SD card slot.

The Top
On the top of the PV-GS35 is the camcorder's tape mechanism ejection slider, the camcorder's zoom toggle and the photo button, both located within easy reach of the user's index finger.

Picture and Manual Control
Automatic Control
Automatic mode is selectable using the mode switch on the upper left of the right side of the camcorder. While focal adjustments during fast zooms are often difficult for one-chip camcorders, the PV-GS35, even with its 30x optical zoom didn't have any problems with this. Automatic adjustments to exposure in such an unvaried environment as an exhibition booth are hard to test; however, the PV-GS35 performed well offering quick and accurate adjustments to both exposure. Auto Exposure options for Sports, portrait, low light, close-up, and night mode are availanble.

Overall Manual Control
Traditionally, Panasonic has offered tons of manual control options on even their one-chip camcorders, and with the PV-GS35 there is no exception. Using the new navigational joystick, manual controls can be accessed. While the manual control is still accessed through the menu system, as it was last year, the new joystick adds a bit more convenience to last year's models.

Zoom
The PV-GS35 offers an unprecedented 30x optical zoom, with a 1000x digital zoom. This is pretty amazing considering that the most Panasonic offered last year was 24x optical, and especially considering manual adjustments to exposure and focus don't have problems operating during such long, quick zooms. The zoom toggle is located, on my hands anyway, directly under my middle finger (the photo button being directly under my index finger). It would be nice if the toggle was under my index finger, and I suppose the zoom could be adjusted by the index finger, but it would not be natural.

Focus
Manual focus can be adjusted on the PV-GS35 in two ways. One, using the slider included with the manual/automatic mode switch, and two entering the menu system using the joystick to move the lens through its entire focal length. Menu system based exposure adjustment can be a pain, especially if you’d like to achieve an out of focus shot, or do any kind of rack focus.

Exposure (Aperture)
Manual iris adjustments on the PV-GS35's include OPEN, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4, F4.0, F4.8, F5.6, F6.8, F8.0, F9.6, F11, F14, and F16. These options are only available in manual mode, in both camcorder and digital camera mode. Again, menu-based manual adjustment can be a pain and cumbersome, but if you plan ahead, it shouldn’t be too much of a pain, especially with iris adjustment. The thing to mention here is how nice it is for Panasonic to have included this feature at all.

Shutter Speed
Shutter speed options are available for 1/60, 1//100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, 1/8000. In card mode, these options are limited to options between 1/60 to 1/500. These are consistent with the options of last year's models. Again, menu-based adjustment is cumbersome, but bravo for including such an open at all.

White Balance
White balance options, available in menu system, include: Automatic white balance, outdoor, indoor, and manual set. These are standard and functional.

Gain
Using the PV-GS35's joystick navigator, the user can make adjustments from 0dB to 18dB. While manual gain adjustment, especially on a one-chip camcorder like this one, can add unnecessary noise, it is a nice option to have. Thanks, Panasonic.

Still Performance
The PV-GS35 can capture 640 x 480 JPEG images to both tape and SD card. The same photo button located behind the camcorder’s zoom toggle is used to take still photos in either tape or card mode. Manual control opens are available in still photo mode, but are limited as shutter speed option are only available from 1/60 to 1/500. Also, Picture Playback mode allows the user to view garnered images in either a slide show or Multi-up format. Picture Quality settings of Fine, Normal and Economy are available, along with title creator, and Burst Mode shooting. The same Picture Playback options are available as on last year’s camcorders. The SD card slot on the PV-GS35 is located underneath the LCD screen, and accessed by opening the plastic flap it is shielded by.

VCR Mode
The new joystick found on Panasonic's new one-chip GS camcorders is used, in both card and tape mode, to control playback in VCR mode. The camcorder's A/V output is located under a port cover on the front of the camcorder, and the S-Video port is on the back of the camcorder underneath the battery port. I would have liked ot have seen just plain buttons becuase the VCR stick is a little difficult to operate.

Low Light Performance
A first-impression review is nowhere to talk about the low light performance of a camcorder, and while the PV-GS35 shares the same 1/6 inch CCD imager found on many of last year's one-chip Panasonic's, we can only wait until we can get the camcorder into our testing tent to make full judgment. Please stay tuned for the full review.

LCD/Viewfinder
The PV-GS35 has the same 2.5 inch LCD and color viewfinder seen on last year's one-chip GSs. While many of the buttons have been removed from underneath the LCD screen, the actual hardware and rotate-ability is the same. Unfortunately, the camcorder’s viewfinder can only be pulled straight back. A dioptric adjuster is located on top of the viewfinder when it is extended.

Audio
While there is no accessory shoe on the PV-GS35, there is a microphone input located on the front on the camcorder. There is a built-in stereo microphone located on the front of the camcorder body. Like last year there is a wind-cut function to reduce wind noise and a zoom-mic option; also, the PV-GS35 can record both 12 and 16 bit audio.

Handling
Some small improvements have been made on the PV-GS35 compared to last year's GSs. The manual focus slider, once located underneath the LCD screen has been moved to a convenient external position on the right side of the camcorder, allowing a tad more convenient access to manual focus. It also negates the need to open the LCD screen to access manual focus. Also, the new joystick allows for easier navigation of the camcorder’s manual control options, as an external button within easy thumb access. The record button is also within excellent reach of the thumb. The zoom toggle is similar to last years’, but is most naturally accessed using the middle finger, instead of the index. I’d rather control the zoom with the index. The camcorder’s strap is a snug fit for my big hands. All and all though, this is a small camcorder that feels great for its size (and its zoom).

The Ports
The A/V out /Headphone port as well as the microphone port of the PV-GS35 are located on the front of the camcorder beneath a port cover. The Firewire and USB ports are located under a port cover beneath the hand-strap of the camcorder, with the S-Video port located on the back of the camcorder within the battery cavity. All of the ports are placed well, except the USB and Firewire, as they are underneath the strap and kind of hard to get too. Luckily, the strap is easily removed and reattached.

Other Features
Windcut This feature reduces the amount of noise picked up by the stereo microphone in windy weather.

Brightness Aide Available in both automatic and manual mode, this feature aids the brightness of the image. If selected, this feature does not allow manual adjustments to shutter, iris, or gain to be made.

Soft Skin Available within the menu system, this feature’s icon resembles a female head. Skin tones are softened.

Improved Menu System Panasonic has over-hauled their menu system to include a new aesthetically-pleasing one with nice graphics and a new joystick navigational feature.

Included Software The PV-GS35 includes Panasonic's Motion DV Studio Video Editing Software. USB The PV-GS35 includes a 2.0 High-Speed USB port as opposed to the PV-GS31's regular USB.

Widescreen Mode There is no wide screen mode on the PV-GS35.

Analog to Digital Pass-Through The PV-GS19 does not support analog to digital pass-through.

Conclusion
It doesn't really offer much more than the PV-GS31 and PV-GS19 aside from this optical zoom increase. While the introduction of a microphone port and S-Video port may be worth the extra money, with these one-chip cheap Panasonic camcorders, I think the 30x optical will be more tempting. As for the manual control, this Panasonic offers as much as any Panasonic, a good deal, and while it may be cumbersome to access such control as it is trapped in the menu system, the new sturdy, joysick navigator on the PV-GS35 will help out. But again, zoom seems to be the key here.