Panasonic PV-GS15 Camcorder Review

Video Performance (7.0)
The PV-GS15 has a 1/6 inch, 680K CCD situated behind a 27mm, 24x optical zoom Panasonic Video Lens. This is a pretty standard imaging set up at this price range, and under optimal light levels of 3000 lux the PV-GS15 performed pretty well. The problem with some camcorders is that at this daylight equivalent light settings the colors tend to wash out and their true vibrancy is not maintained. This is somewhat the case with the PV-GS15 at 3000 lux.

The image is crisp, and there is a consistency in color representation, but that representation is without question washed out. There is no noise or grain present in the image, which is good, and the whites, blacks and grayscales are represented very well with proper differentiation between shades. The white is brilliant, not taking on any improper hues. My overall critique of video performance at this light setting is that the colors are equally desaturated, rendering images somewhat less vibrant than one might hope.

The Front (7.0)
The front of the PV-GS15 has several components, the most important of which is the 27 mm 24x optical zoom Panasonic Video Lens. Directly beneath the lens is the 4 bulb LED. Beneath the LED is the IR sensor. On the right side of the front, embedded within the gray plastic, is the stereo zoom microphone. Positioned at the very bottom of the front is a well hidden port cover that can be opened by pulling on the lip/tab on the bottom of the camcorder body. AV Out and headphones are on the right (the camcorder's right) and MIC is on the left. Kind of awkward placement for a headphone and MIC port, but it's great that it was included in the design.

The Right Side (8.0)
The right side of the PV-GS15 is pretty bare bones, and most of the space is used as the casing for the Mini DV tape mechanism. Dark gray and textured for improved gripping, the right side is very simple. Running along the bottom is the pleather Velcro strap, which measure a good inch and a half. This is an improvement in strap size from previous Panasonic models. Hidden under the strap, a closer look reveals on the PV-GS15's body, a second port cover. The cover is opened by prying under the front right divot and once opened only DV and USB ports are revealed. It's a huge port cover, so I was expecting to find at least three ports. The cover is made of a durable yet pliable plastic.

The Back (7.0)
The back of the PV-GS15 is home to the battery, most prominently. Embedded within the battery space is the S-Video port and one inch above it the DC/CC port. Above the battery port is the color viewfinder. The viewfinder pulls out about an inch and a half, but does not rotate. To the right of the viewfinder is the all important mode dial which resembles a digital still camera mode selector. The selector has two video function icons, a red reel to reel film camera for recording mode, and a green ''play'' arrow for VCR mode. The dial also has three SD card function icons: a red SLR camera icon for capturing stills, a green SLR camera icon with the ''play'' arrow at the center, and a computer disc icon for PC connectivity and Web camera usage. Directly beneath the mode selector is the Quick Start button and the power on/off switch.

The Left Side (7.0)
The left side of the PV-GS15 houses the 2.5 inch diagonal LCD screen and the hidden menu/navigation buttons. When the LCD is open, the menu/navigation buttons are exposed on the PV-GS15. The bright purple SD card port is also hidden away under the LCD, and is accessible only when the LCD is open. The PV-GS15 has 6 feature buttons, a menu button, a central VCR/navigation keypad, and a manual/automatic/focus switch-slider. The feature buttons are Light, Backlight, index search, Magic Pix, Soft Skin, and Multi/P-in-P. There are two other buttons: Menu and Multi/P-in-P. The menu button gives the user access to the main menu system that appears on the LCD.

The Top (8.0)
The top of the PV-GS15 is home to the color viewfinder, the tape open/eject slider, the wide angle/telephoto zoom toggle, and the photo button. To the right of the viewfinder are the zoom toggle and the photo button. To the very front of the PV-GS15, still on the top, is the open/eject slider. The top loading/ejecting tape mechanism is engaged by pressing and sliding the eject switch forward, and then pulling out away from the body of the PV-GS15. Top loading tape mechanisms are a great feature as they save time when switching tapes, if you use a tripod.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (5.0)
Automatic control on the PV-GS15 was responsive and I found the automatic settings, such as focus, white balance, exposure, etc., to be quite accurate. Focal adjustments were very quick, for the most part unnoticeable. Focus adjustments while zooming in on a subject, certainly put the camcorder to the test and at 24x, as expected, it takes a couple of seconds to render clear, in focus images. With auto white balance (AWB), as an exception, the other unseen automatic adjustments were pretty seamless. Gain, Focus, and Shutter Speed were quick and versatile. Automatic adjustments to white balance are noticeable to a keen eye, but are subtle and accurate so as not to be too distracting. AE settings of Sports Mode, Portrait Mode, Low Light Mode, Spot Light Mode, Surf and Snow Mode, are available to users who want to make some decision, but don't want the burden of constantly adjusting manual exposure settings. These settings are accurate and are a good bench mark for exposure settings in extremely varying conditions.

Overall Manual Control (5.0)
Panasonic does a nice job of including manual control on their camcorders, and the PV-GS15 is no different. Manual controls are accessed by switching the PV-GS15 into manual mode. The mode selector on the left side of the camcorder, under the LCD, is the place to start. Slide it down to the manual notch, and you're ready to fine tune. The rest of the manual controls are accessed by pressing the central circular button on the navigation keypad. This button doubles as the ''enter'' function while in recording mode, and also as the ''play'' button when the camcorder is in VCR mode. Pushing this ''enter'' button will bring up the first manual feature AWB. Once this is displayed on the screen, users can use the right and left arrows on the keypad to select between indoor, outdoor, and manual. To set manual white balance, find a true white source, zoom in, and press and hold the central keypad button. Doing this will make the necessary color temperature adjustments inside the PV-GS15 to ensure that what's true white under that light you're recording, is true white in the camcorder. If the Play/Enter button is pressed again, again, shutter speed is the next manual feature accessible. Shutter speeds from 1/60 to 1/8000 are available for selection. Pressing the center disc/button is again reveals the iris/gain setting. Users can select F stops 16 to 2.0 and boosted gain levels from 0dB to 18. Control over gain on consumer camcorders is a rarity and Panasonic should be applauded for including it.

Zoom (7.5)
The PV-GS15 has 1x-24x optical zoom capabilities, and of course the much over-rated 800x digital zoom. The optical zoom on the PV-GS15 is great up until 18x, and even with the slider in full throttle the zoom speed slows tremendously. If users want to ''get in there quick'' they had best plan accordingly. It's natural for a zoom to slow down, allowing for the processor to make automatic adjustments to focus, etc., but to begin the process at 18x seems a little over cautious. Three variable zoom speeds are easily obtainable with the PV-GS15, and probably more if users want to tinker.

As mentioned above, the 800x digital zoom is hyped, over rated, and obviously a great marketing tool. The higher the number doesn't mean better picture quality. Best advice I could give, if you care about image quality is to turn off the digital zoom. As a rule, it's a compromise to the image and should be used sparingly. Instead, decrease the distance between the camcorder and the subject. Granted, it is pretty cool that increasing pixel size can give you the feeling of getting closer than you would ever want to be. The wide angle/telephoto zoom toggle is located on the top right of the PV-GS15, and is very easy to use and is accessible by the index finger and thumb, depending on how one holds the camcorder.

Focus (3.0)
The PV-GS15 has automatic and manual focus. Manual focus is only available when the camcorder is set to function in manual mode. This is done by sliding the mode switch on the left side of the camcorder body, under the LCD, to manual. Focus is then adjusted on the fly by again sliding the spring loaded switch. The PV-GS15 will then make the necessary adjustments. It's a far cry from a focus ring, but at least it's there. For the most part, focus is quick and reliable at varying focal lengths. Focus slows considerably when the camcorder moves at 24x, but if filming on a tripod at these lengths, the picture should adjust well.

Exposure (Aperture) (6.0)
The PV-GS15 has both automatic and manual exposure settings. In automatic, users can choose from: Sports Mode, Portrait Mode, Low Light Mode, Spot Light Mode, Surf and Snow Mode. Shutter speed and exposure cannot be adjusted when AE modes are selected. Manual exposure, counted with F stops (closing the iris) from F16 to F2.0 as well as gain adjustment 0dB to 18dB, is available on the PV-GS15. Boosting the gain should be done sparingly, as brightness is electronically manipulated, thus introducing grain and noise to the image.

Shutter Speed (6.0)
Shutter speeds of 1/60 to 1/8000 can be selected when recording to tape and 1/60 to 1/500 when recording the SD card. The PV-GS15 must be in manual to access the shutter speed controls. The manual controls menu is accessed through the circular VCR/arrow keypad, and users can navigate to the shutter speed control option.

White Balance (6.5)
The PV-GS15 is equipped to configure white balance automatically as well as manually. In automatic, the PV-GS15 does it's best to assess the color temperature of the dominant light source and make adjustments accordingly. The color shift from indoor to outdoor is barely noticeable. Manually, white balance can be set so that users might more accurately define what in the scene is truly white. Again, switching the PV-GS15 to manual, then utilizing the circular menu/arrows keypad, the user can navigate to the AWB function. The user must first press the small Play/Enter button at the center of the keypad to engage the manual settings, and then using the arrows, navigate to the manual white balance icon. Hint, it's not the light bulb, and it's not the sun icon, but the last icon.

Gain (6.0)
It's great that Panasonic has included gain settings of 0dB to 18dB on the PV-GS15. No other manufacturers include manual gain control on their camcorders in this price range, it's really a great feature. Using the same arrow pads as the other manual settings, the user can navigate to the last manual option, gain, and set the electronically enhanced exposure. A word of caution: Use gain sparingly, or in recording situations where acquiring the highest picture quality possible is not really an issue. Boosting the gain brings with it noise and grain, but if used properly, it can be a real scene saver.

Still Performance(5.0)
The PV-GS15 captures JPEG stills at 640 x 480. Quality settings of Fine (approx. 9 pictures), and Normal (approx. 16 pictures-based on an 8mb SD card) are available on the PV-GS15. These options can be accessed by pressing the menu button, under the LCD. White Balance, shutter speed, gain, focus, etc., are available in still mode. The SD card is accessed by flipping the open switch at the bottom of the left side, which opens the SD card port. Rapid firing of still shots is supported by the PV-GS15, and an 8MB SD card is included in the package. The PV-GS15 also includes a USB jack and a cord for connecting the camcorder to your computer for transering your digital stills.

VCR Mode (5.5)
The PV-GS15 supports VCR playback, but the PV-GS15 doesn't really make a great stand alone playback machine. VCR playback buttons are hidden under the LCD, so the screen must remain open in order to have access to VCR controls. Index and scene search are a feature/button that can be of use during image/video playback.

Low Light Performance (3.6)
Low light performance is a weak area for any one chip camcorder, and with the PV-GS15 the story is no different. At 60 lux, however, the PV-GS15 performed really well, and the differences between 3000 lux images and 60 lux images are surprisingly few. The colors maintain their consistency across the board, same as at 3000 lux, but the overall image is just a shade darker (obviously). I suspected that color saturation would increase with the reduction in light, but this was not the case. There is a reduction in crispness and noise/grain is evident in the image. The big overall difference is at 15 lux, and they are the same detractors that were mentioned in the difference between the 3000 lux test and the 60 lux test, only exponentially greater. Color has maintained its same consistency across the board, just looks grainier, less crisp, and a whole lot darker.

LCD/ Viewfinder(5.5)
The LCD on the GS line of camcorders is quite poor. It's meant to be viewed square on, meaning any variation in the angle and the image solarizes. It's a standard 2.5 inch LCD, and performs well if you are willing to constantly adjust the angle, or your neck. The PV-GS15 has a color viewfinder, which can be extended about an inch and a half out towards the user. Color viewfinders are great, but the nice thing about the old black and white viewfinders, is they allowed a user to view the contrast of their images. The viewfinder does not rotate, but it is capped with a semi-soft rubber eye piece.

Audio (8.0)
The PV-GS15 supports 12bit and 16bit audio recording. Additionally, the onboard microphone has a wind noise reduction option, as well as zooming capabilities, which manufactures claim allows the audio to be just as focused along with the action: As users use the zoom, the Mic will increase its sensitivity towards a specific area, becoming more unidirectional. The PV-GS15 supports an external microphone in option as well as a headphone jack. These are great features which are often removed from camcorders in this price range.

Handling (7.0)
The PV-GS15 is on the small side, but is comfortable to hold. Important buttons/toggles are accessible with right hand index finger, but additional controls must be utilized with the other hand. There is no access to the menu system on the exterior of the camcorder body, at least not within reach of the right hand. The zoom toggle works well and can be controlled consistently in a variety of recording postures. The PV-GS15 feels well balanced, even with the LCD screen open. It's not too narrow, and can sit flat on a hard surface, or in the palm of the hand. The strap is comfortable, and can be adjusted to increase overall handling comfort. Some points are lost when it comes to the poor performance of the LCD, and the non-rotational Viewfinder. These elements are crucial to an ease of use/recording experience. Additionally, a jog dial would be nice on the exterior within reach of the index finger, or thumb, so that users could ''jog'' through the menu without looking to see if they are touching the correct buttons. The navigation system takes some getting used to, as it is difficult to discern if buttons have in fact been ''depressed.'' A few hours with the PV-GS15 however, and users will feel right at home with their new digital video toy.

Ports (9.0)
On the front right side, the user can make use of the DV and USB ports, hidden under the strap. On the front of the PV-GS15, at the bottom, users will find the AV/Mic in and the headphones jack. These ports are all discreetly hidden, and blend in with the texture and color of the exterior of the camcorder. S-Video and DC/CC ports are on the back, where the battery would be placed. The PV-GS15 has many ports that other camcorders in the price range leave off, so despite some odd placement, the port section scores well.

Other Features (6.0)
Magic Pix This feature allows users to brighten up dark settings without the use of a flash. Pressed once, the image is brightened, but if pressed twice a prompt to flip the LCD around flashes, and the light from the LCD is supposed to brighten up the image. However, this is only good for capturing stills, as any motion will be blurred by the slowed shutter speed. Soft Skin This feature activates a skin softening feature, which gently blurs hard lines and misplaced colors. But, the user is warned, as any similar colors in the scene will be softened as well. Multi/P-in-P Only activated if an SD card is loaded. The Multi feature allows up to 9 pictures to be captured and simultaneously displayed on the screen whereas P-in-P (picture in picture) places one photo inside another. Quick Start This feature allows the user to start the camcorder, ready to record, in just over a second. There is a button on the back of the PV-GS15 which needs to be pushed before the camcorder is shut off. When the camcorder is turned on again, wham! you're ready to record.

16:9 widescreen mode The PV-GS15 supports a digitally manipulated 16:9 ''cinema'' mode. For real 16:9 aspect ratio, you'll have to get a bigger lens.

Analog to Digital Pass Through The PV-GS15 is equipped for analog to digital pass through.

Soft Skin Panasonic has included a skin detail section that decets skin tones and improves them and softens them up on screen.

Web Camera The PV-GS15 can be hooked up to a computer using the USB jack and function as a web camera.

Comparisons
There are several camcorders that are in a comparable price range to the PV-GS15, namely the Sony DCR-HC20, the JVC GR-D93, and the Canon ZR 85. Sony's DCR-HC20 has a 1/6 inch CCD with 340k effective pixels. Additionally the HC20 has a 10x optical zoom and 120x digital zoom, which is much less zoom power than PV-GS15 at 24x optical and 800x digital.

Sony DCR-HC20 The HC20 is certainly geared for ease of use recording, and with an Easy mode, the HC20 takes the guess work out of setting manual functionality. The Sony HC20's touch sensitive screen and spot metering and spot focus are big options that are not on the PV-GS15. Additionally, the LCD on the HC20 is leaps and bounds ahead of the LCD on the PV-GS15. The HC20 does not have still to card options, and records still images to tape.

JVC GR-D93 JVC's GR-D93 has a larger CCD imager than the PV-GS15, measuring 1/4 inch capturing 1.33 megapixels. Additionally, the GR-D93 has 10x optical and 700x digital zoom capabilities. The GR-D93 performed much better than the PV-GS15 in the low light arena, presenting more accurate and more vibrant colors at 15 lux and 60 lux than any other camcorder in the comparable price range.

Canon ZR85 Canon's ZR85 is on the bottom of the list for low light performance, but that aside the ZR85 has it's selling points. The Canon ZR85 is fitted with the same size 1/6 inch 680K pixel CCD as the PV-GS15 and has a comparable zoom at 20x optical 700x digital. The ZR line has VCR controls on the outside of the camcorder body, so they make excellent playback devices. The ZR85 records still images to tape and to memory card.

Who's it For
Point and Shooter's (6.0)
A decent camcorder for the point and shoot type, but there are manual controls a plenty which may scare off the causal point and shooter.
Budget Consumers(9.0)
A camcorder that certainly packs in the goods, the PV-GS15 is a great buy for the deal seeking consumer. With the on board features and technology under the hood, for under $500 this camcorder is a great deal.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid(6.0)
The PV-GS15 is a decent camcorder still photo hybrid. Stills are recorded to an SD card which is cleverly hidden away, but easily accessible.
Gadget Freaks(4.0)
The GS120 is good option for the gadget freak and as one of the first consumer level 3CCD camcorders it's a good option for the technophile that's into trend setting envelope pushing consumer technology.
Manual Control Freaks(6.5)
Like most Panasonic camcorders, there are manual controls galore. Manual control freaks will appreciate the many options they have for controlling the image.
Pro's/ Serious Hobbyists(4.0)
A decent buy for a pro or serious hobbyist, but if you are willing to spend a little more, an up- grade to the GS120, or GS200 would be an intelligent move, and there's lots of frills on the GS200 that any pro would appreciate.

Conclusion
So here we are, at the conclusion: The judgment. No question the PV-GS15 is a camcorder that is well priced with some great features on board. Features like the top loading tape mechanism, 24x optical zoom, manual control over gain, shutter speed, and white balance, as well as some helpful ease of use options to improve image quality such as soft skin and the on board 4 bulb LED ''light.'' All of these features are useful components for the PV-GS15. Additionally, the PV-GS15 has the important ports, great audio features (headphone jack, wind noise reduction, and Mic in) and all in a compact design.

Overall the PV-GS15 handles well, fits comfortably in the hand with the strap, or with the palm. Some of the limiting, or more irritating aspects to consider, are the somewhat cumbersome navigation buttons, to which users will eventually acclimate, but a jog dial is a lot more hassle free. It's impossible to access the menu and keep the camcorder remotely still. The lack of an accessory port, and the immobility of the viewfinder in addition to the poor performance of the LCD are elements that detract from the PV-GS15, but are elements that most users could probably cope with at this price point.

Essentially, with the PV-GS15, consumers are getting a camcorder that takes good video (in automatic) at optimal light scenarios, but provides a lot of room for image manipulation and potential improvement by allowing access over a slew of manual controls. The manual focus is not the greatest, but this spring loaded switch method has been around long enough that users are probably used to it. The manual control certainly beats the competition in this price range. An infinity focus button would probably be more appropriate. Hands free ease of use is not what Panasonic is shooting for, but the automatic controls are intuitive enough to appeal to even the most timid technophobes. The PV-GS15 offers superior manual control to any camcorder in this arena, and if manual control is important to you the PV-GS15 is a great choice. The low light performance is acceptable, but if it is key you should look at the JVC. The PV-GS15 is unquestionably the best camcorder in this price category, unless you crave a very easy to use camcorder. One note is that I would suggest you check one out at your local electronics store to see if the LCD and the menu set up is going to annoy you.