Panasonic PV-GS59 Camcorder Review

Ease of Use (6.5)
Panasonic’s PV-GS59 is an easy camcorder to use, but it’s not as easy as Sony camcorders like the DCR-HC36 with its touch-screen based menu. The PV-GS59’s ease of use should be evaluated in the context of its considerable manual adjustability and multitude of features, which far surpass those offered on the striped-down Sony. Put another way, there are easier camcorders to use in absolute terms, but none offer such easy and effective control over an equivalent suite of manual adjustments.

External controls on the PV-GS59 are generally well positioned with a few exceptions. The Menu button is placed on the back of the camcorder’s body in the midst of other manual controls like the Photo Shot button and the Mode Dial, but it is placed just out of reach of a user’s right thumb during hand-held shooting. I managed to reach the Menu button, and all the Manual controls by keeping the hand strap slightly loose. Doing this enabled me to adopt a few slightly different grip positions without having to use my left hand at all. In other words, while it is possible to reach all of the PV-GS59’s right-thumb controls, it’s not exactly easy. But beggars can’t be choosers; only Panasonic’s interface design permits this level of one-digit control while other camcorders require two hands.

Navigating the Administrative Menu is easy because it’s a full text menu with clear descriptions of all the options. The joystick enables users to move through the menu directionally. Pressing up or down steps from option to option within the menu pages; pressing left and right moves between menu levels, and pressing in on the joystick selects a menu option.

The Manual Control menu display is not immediately intuitive as it uses symbols to signify options (a space-saving tactic). With practice, though, this menu can become an extremely efficient way to customize the camcorder’s image. Panasonic has included a new Info icon, which explains the purpose of each symbol. The Info feature should help first-time users, but making truly efficient use of the Manual Control menu requires a user to take the time to memorize Panasonic’s iconography.

As previously noted, adjustments that occur across a range like Iris can only be navigated in steps, by nudging left or right on the joystick multiple times. This is a functional way of making adjustments, but it can be time-consuming. Iris and Gain together constitute upwards of 50 incremental settings, so moving from a nearly closed iris to the high-end gain takes time. We think a better solution would have been for Panasonic to allow users to scroll through settings by holding the joystick because it would make moving through manual control settings faster. Some additional on-screen guides, such as a focal distance indicator would also be a welcome additional to an otherwise well-conceived interface.

In sharp contrast, Sony’s camcorder menus are accessed via a touch screen LCD. This makes Sony menus very easy to navigate and understand (as long as the camcorder’s user can read and point at the screen), but we think it is a flawed interface. Manual control guides often obscure much of the LCD screen, blocking the picture you're trying to adjust. It’s also very difficult to make fine adjustments to controls like manual focus when the only way to adjust it is by pointing to “buttons” on a screen. Almost any external control such as a joystick or touchpad is a better means of making technical picture adjustments. Touch screens also pick up finger grease which can obscure the image, and we have concerns about the durability of touch screens over time. Finally, a touch screen LCD precludes use of the viewfinder while making camera adjustments, which is both constraining and taxing on battery life.

Handling (8.5)
The PV-GS59’s joystick is the primary controller for image adjustments and playback, and with practice, it is a highly efficient means of navigating the camcorder’s menu hierarchy. Yet it is an interface that requires some practice. The icon-driven Manual Control Menu requires that a user know what each symbol means, or be willing to fall back on the Info function, a guide located on page 1.

We are fans of the joystick because it is easier to manipulate than a four-way touchpad controller, and far superior to the “touch membrane” still found on a few camcorders, such as the Hitachi DZ-GX3300A. We also like the fact that the joystick is rear-mounted to face the user rather than located out of site in the LCD cavity. And despite the fact that it’s not as idiot proof as Sony’s LCD touch screens, the joystick provides a much better manual control interface.

The zoom toggle is a well-implemented rocking lever that is a pleasure to use, and comparable to the excellent zoom toggles found on Sony camcorders. It is well-placed, but users with larger hands may find its placement slightly awkward – a problem that is common on consumer camcorders which by definition are one-size-fits-all. The Menu Button’s placement is also a bit awkward, located just above the left of the Mode Dial. It is just out of comfortable reach of the right thumb when hand-holding the camcorder. These complaints are generally minor in the context of the PV-GS59’s considerable capabilities, however.

Portability (7.5)
The Panasonic PV-GS59 measures 69 mm x 82 mm x 120 mm (2-11/16” x 3-1/4” x 4-3/4”) and weighs in at .41 kg (.9 lb). It’s not a compact camcorder, and won’t slip easily into a pants pocket but it’s slightly smaller than average for a comparably priced camcorder. Some users will find its barrel-like profile preferable to the more common taller-than-wide designs when it comes to dropping the PV-GS59 into a bag or purse.

LCD/Viewfinder (6.5)
The Panasonic PV-GS59 uses 2.7-inch widescreen LCD display, a feature that is absent on the step-up PV-GS180 with only a 2.5-inch 4:3 screen. Unfortunately, the most notable aspect of this LCD screen is the unorthodox hinge mechanism attaching it to the camcorder’s body is. Rather than the very solid hinge found on higher-end Panasonics, this one is comprised of two flimsy plastic arms. When testing camcorders, we always take note of how strong the LCD hinge is, and this one felt weaker than the vast majority we’ve come across this year. A weak LCD hinge is a liability, because it’s a delicate instrument that spends much of its life extended from the camcorder’s body. We hope Panasonic spends a few extra bucks to upgrade the hinge on next year’s iteration of the PV-GS59.

In other respects the LCD functions normally, and opens to 90 degrees from the camcorder body, swivels through 270 degrees, and may be flipped 180 degrees so that subjects facing the camcorder can see themselves on the screen. When the LCD is positioned towards the camcorder’s lens, the image is automatically flipped to appear upright. The LCD can also be folded screen-side-out into the LCD cavity for monitoring from the side.

The problematic hinge

The Panasonic PV-GS59 is also equipped with an Electronic Color Viewfinder that can be extended about an inch to provide extra clearance from the camcorder body. Unlike many consumer camcorders (Sony comes immediately to mind) manual controls are all available when using the viewfinder, providing users with the option of shooting without the power-hungry LCD screen. The eyepiece of this viewfinder resembles those found on most other consumer camcorders, and is made of a hard plastic that is not comfortable to rest one’s eye against. The one aspect of the eyepiece that is slightly superior to most on the market is that it can be used with little or no light leakage by resting one’s eye directly against its surface. This is a feature that could be useful in bright sunlight when the LCD screen is overpowered, enabling a users to assess the image more effectively. The EVF has a dioptric adjustment lever that is accessible when it is fully extended. This lever is larger and easier to use than many of the undersized adjusters on the market.

Battery Life (10.5)
We tested the PV-GS59’s CGR-DU06 battery for shooting duration by leaving the camcorder recording continuously without engaging any of the manual controls. The EIS was turned off, and all controls left in auto. The tape was changed once during this process, and we plugged in the DC power to do so. In total the battery lasted for an outstanding 105 minutes and 25 seconds.