Panasonic PV-GS85 Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Dec 4, 2007 10:31 AM

Intro Performance
Format
 Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity Other Features
Comparisons / Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings  


Compression (5.5)
The Panasonic PV-GS85 (Review, Specs, $199.00) outputs video in the DV format, the oldest of the popular consumer video formats. DV offers a higher video quality than MPEG2, the compression used in standard definition DVD and HDD camcorders, due to both a higher bit rate and a better compression method. Because it’s been around so long, DV also enjoys the widest compatibility with editing software.

Media (6.0)
The PV-GS85 records video to MiniDV tape, which can be found at nearly every drug store, grocery store, and convenient store. The benefits of MiniDV tape are many: they’re cheap, more durable than DV, and more easily archivable than disk drive.

The biggest drawback to MiniDV is the linear nature of tape. If you want to find a scene, you can’t just skip to it like you can on a DVD. Rather, you have to fast forward and rewind, just like you did with VHS tapes (back in the days of gas lanterns, the icebox, and cave paintings). If you can live with that, you’ll be rewarded with better image quality, dollar-for-dollar, than DVD and HDD camcorders.

Editing (8.0)
The DV format used by the Panasonic PV-GS85 is easily imported into almost any editing software, as it’s been around for so long. Simply connect to a computer via a FireWire cable and you’re good to go. The drawback with MiniDV is that footage must be imported in realtime, meaning each minute of video takes a minute to transfer. Compare this with the much faster transfer speeds of MPEG2 footage from DVD and HDD camcorders, and you can understand the appeal of those formats. However, if you choose to stick with DV, you’ll likely find the editing process much easier. DV compression is more or less the same between all manufacturers, so you use nearly any software without fear. MPEG2 compression varies more widely, and might not necessarily work with the software you want to use.

 

 

 

 



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