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Panasonic PV-GS500 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Jun 2, 2006 1:15 AM
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Widescreen/16:9 Mode (7.5)
Unlike the GS300, which uses a crop-and-zoom technique (cutting information from the top and bottom to create a 16:9 frame) to obtain a 16:9 aspect ratio, the GS500 has true widescreen. Like most camcorders, the also offers a 2.7” widescreen LCD on which to view the image. The GS400, on the other hand, had a much larger 3.5” LCD that was not widescreen (frankly, we’d take the GS400). Switching aspect ratios is not as simple as it is on some camcorders, which offer an external, dedicated button. On the GS500, you must go into the administrative menu, scroll down a few options, and select between 4:3 and 16:9.
Scan Rates/24p (1.0)
The Panasonic PV-GS500 shoots at the standard 29.97 frames per second, the expected frame rate for camcorders within this price range. A somewhat vague “Cinema Pro” setting shoots at “30 fps” with a “strobe-like effect,” according to the manual, while recording audio with, “more presence”. If pseudo-film fetishism must be met, perhaps users should swallow the price increase and buy a camcorder with a 24 fps rate.
Other Features (7.5)
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) - This a feature that assists in stabilizing the recorded image – smoothing out jittery hand movements. OIS is the preferred method for stabilizing a video image because it retains image quality, literally enabling the lens to move with some independence from the rest of the camcorder.
Backlight Compensation - This feature helps to keep backlit subjects from appearing too dark, very useful if you are shooting someone indoors who is sitting in front of a window. Shooting a subject who is backlit should be avoided if possible, and is one of the most common pitfalls for beginning videographers: rather than using this idiot-proofing feature, we advise you to light properly or move your subject so that the window illuminates them from the front.
Tele Macro - This feature is less a “feature” than a shortcut that automatically zooms the lens into 12 x, and brings the subject into focus at as little as 50 cm (20”) - something you could accomplish by manually zooming the camera all the way in to 12 x. Why does Panasonic bother to offer this redundant feature? By zooming all the way in, Tele Macro also instantly produces the shallowest depth of field the PV-GS500 can achieve. This shallow depth of field enables you to throw the background of a nearby object out of focus for dramatic effect (no doubt the reason Panasonic designates Tele macro with a flower icon). As with any small camcorder, a compact optical mechanism means you will only get this blurred-background effect when objects are close to the lens.
Wind Cut - This will reduce the low-end spectrum of the on-board microphone’s range, helping to reduce the buffeting noise that plagues sound in windy situations. While Wind Cut works well in a light breeze, its ability to compensate is limited. If you need to shoot extensively in a windy environment, and sound is important, you’re better off with an external mic equipped with a wind sock.
Red Eye Reduction - Red Eye Reduction functions only in still mode and reduces the probability of red-eye when using the flash. Like other cameras with this feature, it flashes twice: the first flash causes your subject’s pupils to shrink and the second captures the image.
Flash - The flash is used for still photos, illuminates subjects in low-light situations.
Zoom mic - This captures audio that sounds close at hand when the lens is zoomed out and distant when the mic is zoomed in. It is a cool feature that some people will find useful, but is no replacement for professional external mics that you can place close to the most important sound.
Quick Start - This is like a PC’s standby mode. When it’s enabled, the PV-GS500 enters Quick Start standby when you close the LCD. A green light replaces the normal red operating light to indicate this. The lens cover remains open, and power consumption is cut in half from pause-record mode. Opening the LCD wakes the camcorder from standby and it resumes pause-record mode in 1.7 seconds.
Auto Ground-Direction Standby - This is a new Panasonic feature that, when turned on in the menu, stops recording when the camera is in a “down” position, i.e. upside down. AGS is intended to keep you from wasting tape when you forget to hit the Pause button. If you know you are not going to be recording from an unusual angle, and find that you frequently waste tape, AGS will be useful.
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