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

Ease of Use (6.0)
Panasonics offer a lot of great features, but ease of use is not one of their stronger points. The company emphasizes video quality and manual controls. Most users with a little experience will appreciate that, but truly green beginners might have a hard time learning their way around the PV-GS500 (Review, Specs, $1040).

Unlike Canon and Sony, who put their auto or “easy” modes out in the open for everyone to find, the GS500 hides the auto/manual control in the LCD cavity. If you are only interested in point and shoot operation, you’d probably be able to record your kid’s baseball game with no problem, once you switched the camcorder to auto. Now if Panasonic had maintained the prosumer features on this camcorder, it might make sense that the ease of use options were a bit hidden. But they didn't, they dumbed it down without improving the ease of use for what you think is their new target market for the PV-GS500. Unfortunately, you’d never be able to take advantage of the huge list of manual controls and automatic features. For that, the camcorder must be in auto mode. And, once in auto mode, you must tackle the menu.

The menu (as described in the Manual Control section above) is split into two parts: the main (or administrative) menu and the manual control menu. The former is simple to navigate; the latter is complicated enough to warrant a special “info” feature just to explain what all the icons mean. In fact, if you dug around, you’d probably find the menu featured in some semiotics case studies.

Handling (8.5)
Panasonic’s design teams are virtuosos when it comes to cramming lots of functionality into their high-performing but compact camcorders, and the PV-GS500 is no exception. This is not a large camcorder at 61mm (2.4 inches) wide x 32mm (1.26 inches) tall x 91mm (3.58 inches) long, and is smaller (e.g. more portable) than the PV-GS400 (Review, Specs, $1099). In terms of look and feel, Panasonic has chosen not to adopt the common upright compact (a.k.a. pistol-grip) shape as Canon did with the Optura 600 (Specs, $1099), and opted for a more traditional, barrel-like design. We think this is a wise choice, making for more comfortable handling.

Accessing the numerous controls of the PV-GS500 is done primarily via the joystick, which we find to be the most efficient interface for navigating menus and controls with the exception of the combo ring which was on the PV-GS400, which is why we reduced the score. We also prefer a jog dial and real button control to what they've included. While prosumer camcorders are large enough to accommodate dedicated buttons, consumer camcorders just don’t have the surface area to accommodate them. Touch pads work like joysticks, but tend to be more awkward to use, especially for people with large fingers. Touch screens become greasy and smudged over time, a big drawback when the LCD is your primary means of assessing image quality. They also suck battery power and necessitate large icons that can obscure the image during a shoot. Kudos to Panasonic for choosing a joystick as the main camera control device. This year, the joysticks made their way onto every consumer camcorder in their line.

The PV-GS500 menu layout is also streamlined and easy to navigate – assuming you have taken the time to learn about the considerable functionality offered by this camcorder. The menu is divided into an administrative section, which reads and functions like a typical menu, and a manual control section. The manual control section is accessed by pressing the center of the joystick, providing quick access to commonly used adjustments like white balance. The unobtrusive placement of this menu in the screen’s lower right corner allows you to see the effect of adjustments to the image immediately. The manual focus ring works very well, though it is no longer the multi-function focus/zoom ring found on the PV-GS400.

Portability (4.75)
The PV-GS500 is not terribly compact – it’s not a camcorder you could fit in any but the largest of coat pockets, and, at this price, you’ll want to invest in a decent camera bag anyway. What it does better than most camcorders on the market is pack a lot of power and manual functionality into a small package. By this “power per pound” measure, the PV-GS500 is still an exceptionally portable dynamo, like its arguably superior predecessor, the PV-GS400. It is also slightly larger and heavier, and therefore less portable, than the PV-GS300 (Review, Specs, $469.99) – but that’s to be expected with added features. The bottom line: there are smaller camcorders out there, but few that pack as much power into a body that weighs in at a little over half a KG.

LCD/Viewfinder (6.25)
The LCD screen on the Panasonic PV-GS500 is a widescreen display with a 2.7”. Solarization tended to be a problem with this camcorder, despite options to adjust the LCD screen brightness by manipulating the Power LCD button on the left side of the camcorder body.

An extendable, pivotable Electronic Color Viewfinder displays menus as well as images and functions quite nicely as a backup viewing device when necessary. This viewfinder, unlike less expensive models being produced by Panasonic, comes with a rubber rather than hard plastic eyecup, great for those who use this feature regularly. A diopter adjustment feature underneath the viewfinder adjusts the focus. The GS400 had a larger 3.5" LCD which is why we so dramatically reduced the priced.

Battery Life (13.4)
The PV-GS500 ships with the CGA-DU14 battery, which has an estimated charging time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. We tested the battery for its longevity during shooting by leaving the LCD open and the backlight on and performing no zooming or manual control operation. In total, the battery lasted 134 minutes and 15 seconds (2 hours, 14 minutes, and 15 seconds. This is an excellent battery life, and should preclude the need for toting along the battery charger on all but very long trips.