Panasonic PV-GS500 Camcorder Review by David Kender Published on Jun 2, 2006 1:15 AM
Related ArticlesReviews: Panasonic PV-GS320 · Panasonic PV-GS300 Camcorder Review · Panasonic PV-GS400

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.0)
We know that a good portion of the Panasonic 3-chip camcorder fans are manual control enthusiasts, but every camcorder needs good automatic controls: fast and accurate responses to changing shooting conditions. Users engage the PV-GS500 (Review, Specs, $1040)’s auto mode by pushing up on the auto/manual/focus switch located in the LCD cavity. In auto mode, the shutter speed ranges between 1/60 and 1/250. The aperture adjusts automatically to accommodate changing light conditions. Manual aperture, shutter speed, gain, and scene modes all become inaccessible, which we assume is meant to keep beginners from screwing up what could be a great shot.

You will get a great shot in auto mode. If you start with big CCDs (and three of them, to boot) you should expect this kind of performance. But the GS500 goes above and beyond with great white balance, something on which many consumer camcorders fall short. Exposure control looks great, as well, but is nothing noteworthy.

The auto / manual switch is located in the LCD cavity.

No Panasonic would be complete without Scene modes, the automated exposure settings meant to optimize the camcorder for certain shooting conditions. The Scene modes (sometimes called Program AE on other camcorders) are merely approximations of what you need. Manual adjustments will always give you more accuracy, but, in a pinch, scene modes can be quite useful. They include Sports, Portrait, Low Light, Spotlight, and Surf & Snow. The GS500 must be in manual mode to access these features.

The wheel-shaped manual control menu also offers a few additional automatic controls. Backlight compensation will boost the exposure in order to prevent blacking out a subject in strong backlight (i.e., someone standing in front of a window). The telemacro feature allows you to focus on subjects up to 50cm (20 inches) and will automatically zoom to its full 12x extent. Soft Skin mode is a feature that recognizes certain skin tones (read: “North of the equator”) and softens the focus to smooth out facial flaws.

Overall Manual Control (7.5)
The GS500 splits its functions into two distinct menus: the main menu (which we’ll call the administrative menu) and the manual control menu. To access the administrative menu, you push the Menu button on the rear. In the administrative menu you’ll find a number of controls divided by sub-menus: Basic (Scene modes, record speed, wind cut, aspect ratio, clock set); Advanced (picture quality, picture size, flash, red eye, image stabilization on/off, fade color, audio bit quality, record lamp, hot shoe mic, USB function, digital zoom, zoom mic, mic level); Setup (onscreen display, date and time, power save, quick start, AGS, remote, beep sound, LCD set, EVF set, joystick LED light, initial set, demo mode); and Language.

If you’re in auto mode, many of the options will not be available. We list them all here, partly because the typical GS500 audience likes to know their options and partly to show you the extent of the controls in this menu. Navigating through the menu is smooth and simple with the joystick (more on that in a moment). However, the joystick pales in comparison to the GS400 (Review, Specs, $1099)'s ring.

Pushing in on the joystick engages the manual control menu, bringing up a mid-sized circular icon in the lower right portion of the screen. The manual control menu is split into four portions or pages, indicated by fractions (1/4, 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4), which you flip through by pushing the joystick in. Page 1 contains options for fade, backlight compensation, and the information function. This last function works to explain what each of the sometimes enigmatic icons in the menu mean – quite convenient, really.

Page 2 of the manual control menu lets you engage the Soft Skin and Telemacro modes. Page 3 has the MagicPix and 0Lux MagicPix modes. Page 4 has the Recording check option, which shows you the last 2-3 seconds of recorded footage, and Blank Search, which finds the next free spot on the tape.

Panasonic PV-GS500 users should be pleased with the options and settings provided with this 3 CCD camcorder, which include  zoom levels, shutter speed, focus, white balance, aperture, and gain. However, they shouldn't be happy with the controls themselves. Panasonic made a big mistake in dumbing down the GS500's control. Although a manual focus ring is a great control option, this actually comes as a downgrade from the 3CCD predecessor to this model. The PV-GS400 (Review, Specs, $1099) was equipped not only with this manual focus ring but also with a manual zoom ring, which made the camcorder stand out from the rest of its price range and provided options that were entirely unavailable to consumers with competing manufacturers.

The manual joystick control on the back of the camcorder body functions as the interface for control over settings like white balance, shutter speed, aperture, and gain. While this control is easy to access and engage, actually navigating sections of the menu may be less than simple or immediate; this arrangement does not surpass dials and real button control. Setting changes are complicated, due to the constant need to activate the joystick when moving through each manual control feature’s range. While this isn’t an issue for a setting like white balance, the plethora of impressive settings encountered with the aperture range will require a bit of patience to navigate. The GS500 doesn't offer the ease of control and quick access that prosumers need.

Users who can’t quite afford the price of the Panasonic PV-GS500, but love its the manual control variety and range, can find the same options on any of the camcorders being released by Panasonic this year. Even one-chip and DVD camcorders possess the same options as those found on the PV-GS500, although they have no external focal ring. The added control that the PV-GS400 offered over the other models was one of the biggest justifications for buying it. Panasonic has taken that justification away: now there are virtually no control differences between the PV-GS300 (Review, Specs, $469.99) and PV-GS500. The PV-GS500 does offer more control, and more intelligent control than any other camcorder in it's price range, however, and it's tough to argue with that.

Zoom (7.0)
A toggle located on the top of the camcorder body controls the zoom level for the Panasonic PV-GS500. This control is comfortably accessed with the index finger on the right hand and was highly sensitive to slight adjustments to speed levels when shooting. It could snap to each end of the zoom spectrum as well as proceed at a sloth-like and controlled pace. When the PV-GS400 was released two years ago, Panasonic got strong accolades from this publication and others, due in part to the inclusion of an external zoom ring as well as a manual focus ring. Unfortunately, consumers should note the obvious lack of a zoom control in the new PV-GS500: if zoom and focal rings are important to your shooting style, it would be wise to look at this camcorder’s predecessor.

There are no fixed zoom speed options, something you'll find on many higher end camcorders as well as all the 2006 Canons, starting at their entry level models.

The GS500's zoom toggle and focus ring

Zoom Power/Ratio (12.0)
The GS500’s 12x optical zoom level is definitely adequate, although markedly lower than those of one-chip camcorders being marketed by Panasonic this year. For instance, the GS39 (Review, Specs, $212.8) comes with 30x optical zoom and last year’s PV-GS31 (Specs, $299) had 24x optical zoom capability. However, high zoom levels require a tripod or a truly impressive optical stabilization feature; without them, they probably won’t see much use.

There is also a digital zoom range available when shooting with the PV-GS500, although users should expect to see a fairly immediate and discernible level of image degradation. Digital zoom may be set with a cut off point of either 30x or 700x. While some users may find the degradation up to 30x to be tolerable, the 700x digital zoom level is just preposterous and entirely unusable.

Focus (6.5)
The GS500 offers a better than average focus control with the inclusion of a focus ring. The GS400 offered a multi-function ring that could also control zoom, so we’re glad they decided to spare at least one feature. To access the manual focus, push down on the auto/manual/focus switch located inside the LCD cavity. A small “MF” icon will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. The ring can then be used to adjust focus.

Despite the good handling that a ring offers (compared to joysticks and touch screens), there is no numerical indicator to tell you where in the focus range you are. The image in the LCD can only be of so much help at the relatively small size of 2.7”.

The Sony HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99) uses a multi-function dial on the side of the lens barrel, or alternately, + and - buttons on the LCD, to adjust focus. While the GS500 has a better feel, the HC3 at least provides distance readings on screen. No consumer Canons have focus rings.

Exposure (Aperture) (5.5)
The aperture range for the PV-GS500 is located within the joystick screen display set-up. To access this control, users must press the joystick; the fifth menu screen will provide them with manual control for Iris, White Balance, and Shutter Speed. With the Iris control, users will be able to control both Aperture and Gain levels. Pressing the left and right arrows on the joysticks scans the aperture levels for the Panasonic PV-GS500. Unlike some camcorders, which would allow you to scan the menu settings by merely holding the joystick, the GS500 demands that users press the joystick for each control transition. Switching from one end of the aperture control to the gain control involves pushing this external control upward of forty times: what fun.

Besides this control design snafu, the Aperture range and numerous settings are highly satisfying for fine tuning the camcorder’s iris setting. Aperture settings of Open (F1.6), F1.7, F2.0, F2.4, F2.8, F3.4, F4.0, F4.8, F5.6, F6.8, F8.0, F9.6, F11, F14, F16, and Close are available when scanning the Aperture range. The next model down, the GS300, has a smaller maximum aperture of F1.8. Each setting on the Aperture scale has two steps, but there are eight steps from F16 to Close, an interesting detail which will allow users to control brighter lighting with a higher level of nuance.

This is the same aperture range as the GS400. Canon gives you Aperture Priority mode, which allows you to adjust the aperture while the camcorder automatically adjusts all other controls. Sony only allows exposure control in EV steps, and it cannot be adjusted independently of shutter speed.

Shutter Speed (7.0)
To access shutter speed control, users must enter the camcorder into manual mode and proceed to the fifth menu, which also provides access to manual control over white balance and aperture/gain control. The shutter speed range begins at 1/60th of a second at the slow end and provides settings of 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, and 1/8000. These controls are easy to navigate and, with a shorter menu than Aperture, continually pressing the joystick won’t be nearly as much of a hassle.

The GS400 had the same shutter speed range. Canon offers Shutter Priority mode, which allows you to adjust the shutter speed while the camcorder takes over control of all the other controls. Sony offers no shutter speed control.

White Balance (7.0)
Situated within the Joystick menu icon are white balance controls, including a full auto mode, a couple of presets, and a full manual control that is easy to use and set when shooting quickly. The white balance mode will allow users to select between preset indoor and outdoor mode options. While a start, these will probably not stand up to the demands of multiple source lighting situations. Luckily, the manual white balance setting should produce accurate results through a simple control structure. Users must select the manual white balance mode: once the image is flashing on the LCD, they can press the joystick upward. The screen will flash black temporarily. A 3CCD sensor automatically sets the black balance when the manual white balance level.

Gain (7.0)
The Gain control is located in the other portion of the Iris menu. It allows users to set Gain levels to numerically displayed settings of 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 15dB, and 18dB, with settings located between each shift. Gain control has the same problematic structure as the Aperture range, and users should be aware that scanning these features won’t be a feasible fade in/fade out without post processing time compression. That said, the settings are generally highly satisfactory and comprehensive, providing gain control that is not often found on camcorders within this price range.

Pressing the joystick in and selecting the Iris sub-menu displays the Gain menu along with the aperture range for the Panasonic PV-GS500. Gain levels for the PV-GS500 will provide users with a number of settings which should produce more concise results than are often found with this control on similarly priced camcorders. Each numerically displayed setting also has one other step before the next Gain level is displayed. This means that each setting has two steps, even more control options than may be initially expected.

The gain range and the aperture range share the same control interface problem: users must press the joysticks left and right to initiate each new setting. This means that switching from 3dB to 9 dB will necessitate the user pressing the joystick at least four times. Without a sliding scale, transitions between settings are neither smooth nor cleanly executed. Viewers will immediately able to visually recognize changes and the hand which initiated them. If not bolted onto a tripod, the camera can easily jar and shift during gain control.

Other Manual Control (0.0)
There are no other manual control settings on the Panasonic PV-GS500, many of which were lost on the PV-GS400. . With an extensive number of subtle settings, including aperture and gain controls, and an external focal ring, the options found with the GS500 should be more than satisfactory. The GS400 offered options to adjust the picture color, exposure, and contrast.