Panasonic Puts Video First; Introduces Two New 3 CCD Camcorders Breaking $700 Price Barrier

by News Editor
Published on Jan 8, 2004 12:00 AM



Breaking the $700 price barrier, at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today Panasonic announced two new three-chip camcorders, the PV-GS120 and the PV-GS200. In a clear statement of their strategy, a representative from Panasonic stated their dedication towards promoting three chip camcorders and the companies concentration on video quality.

Rudy Vitti - National Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging Products

"I think for the most part people are buying camcorders to shoot video, and you know, one-megapixel still resolution isn't really that attractive [in a camcorder]. We'd rather concentrate on improving on the video quality using technologies like three CCDs," said Rudy Vitti, National Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging products for Panasonic. With this bold move, Vitti is making a clear statement of Panasonic's dedication to video quality, bucking the trend towards concentration on still image resolution and other peripheral features.

Vitti discussed how most users don't understand the benefits of a 3 CCD camcorder, and how Panasonic Japan engaged in a large marketing campaign to teach consumers about the benefits of 3 CCD technology. Panasonic will embark on a similar campaign in the US. "We are looking to spend a significant amount of money on promoting 3 CCDs and it's benefit to the end consumer and we're also working very close with our retailers," continued Vitti.

Pansonic PV GS-120 Left View

Panasonic is becoming extremely aggressive with the pricing of their 3 CCD models. The PV-GS120 replaces the PV-GS70, which was the first 3 CCD camcorder to break the $1,000 price barrier, including a similar feature set at a $300 lower price. The PV-GS120 features three 1/6" 460K CCDs. The PV-GS200 enters the market at $999. The PV-GS120 and the PV-GS200 join the PV-DV953 giving Panasonic three 3CCD camcorders under $1,500.

Panasonic PV FS-200 Profile

The two camcorders are very similar in their feature set, however the PV-GS200 offers greater still resolution, a pop-up flash and a focus ring. The PV-GS200 also offers MPEG4 recording to SD and Panasonic's MagicWire wired zoom control and narration microphone. Both camcorders use Panasonic's pixel-shifting technology, titled quad-density pixel distribution. The PV-GS200 produces 2.3 Megapixel stills at 1,760 x 1,320 pixel resolution while the PV-GS120 produces 1.2 Megapixel stills at 1,280 x 960 pixel resolution.

Both camcorders have 2.5 in. LCD screens and color viewfinders as well as a 10x optical zoom. Panasonic has added a new feature called Power LCD which increases the brightness of the LCD screen. The PV-GS120 features the same CCDs, same zoom, a USB connection instead of an RS232 connection, all for $300 less. The one downgrade between the PV-GS120 is that the PV-GS70 has a focus ring while the PV-GS120 doesn't.

PV-GS200 Front

Panasonic is also introducing a new mode selector on the 3 CCD camcorders as well as the one chip camcorders which they introduced. The new dial came out of a focus group where the company realized that their current design was too confusing, at least to the average user. Vitti said "Because camcorders have traditionally been intimidating this has a clean look." The downside to the new system is that Panasonic's popular menu dial which allowed users, with the press of one button and the turn of one dial, to adjust the manual picture functions. Now, manual control options are only available in the menu which is accessible through a directional pad inside the LCD screen.

PV GS200 Left

Panasonic also is adding a skin-tone mode which softens blemishes when skin tone subjects are in the frame. Other features the camcorders include are MagicPix low light capability and USB streaming.