Panasonic PV-GS300 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Ranking: 9.2 out of 10
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Model Number: PVGS300
Product Code: 037988980178
Price: $549.99 -- get the latest pricing from Amazon
Features:
- Features professional-quality 3CCD imaging system
- 2.7-inch wide LCD display
- 3.1-megapixel still image capture
- 10x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom brings you close to the action
- Records to miniDV or directly to PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces
Buy it now at Amazon!
Description:
The Panasonic PV-GS300 Digital Camcorder with 3 CCD Technology offers superior images and features, in a more affordable package. This small digital camcorder uses the same type of 3CCD imaging system used in professional broadcast equipment, giving you 540 lines of breathtaking resolution. 3.1 Megapixel still image recording lets you record vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable colors. A 10x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom helps you capture every detail. Record to a miniDV tape or directly to a PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces, for high quality full-motion video transfer. The color viewfinder 2.7 inch LCD display make it simple to preview photos, and the joystick control gives you easy, one-finger navigation of every advanced feature. Accepts MiniDV Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface Cold shoe 2-hour battery life Includes remote control Comes with Motion DV Studio and Quick Movie Magic software Dimensions(WxHxD) - 2.874 x 2.993 x 5.316 Weight -. 99 lbs.Get more product details from Amazon
User Reviews -- Add a new review for this Product
Solid camera, not quite home, not quite pro
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 10! out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
I've only had this camera for a few days, but I am quite pleased with it.
br /
br /Before buying this camera, however, take a look at what else is out there. This camera sits in a very strange place between consumer cameras and pro level (or at least prosumer) cameras.
br /
br /While it has some excellent features like 3 CCDs (so it captures richer color), optical image stabilization, and fully manual controls; it also lacks certain desirable qualities such as a real focus ring (it has manual focus, but it's joystick driven and imprecise), a headphone jack (although it does have line-level audio out), and the ability to pass analog video through to digital video.
br /
br /To get all those features, you'd need to spend about $200 - $300 more on something like the PV-GS500. For $200 - $300 less, you can get a very comparable camera that simply omits the 3CCDs and has digital image stabilization.
br /
br /What those extra features give you, however, is a richer picture with less noise and more detail, and a much more stable handheld image. You will especially notice the richer image detail if you edit your video in the built in software or iMovie or Final Cut or whatever you use. You can make much broader color and image adjustments on the picture from this camera than you could with a 1-CCD camcorder.
br /
br /Personally, I am very pleased with this camera. I very much like the controls (although I definitely recommend trying out the Panasonic-style joystick control before buying -- some people can't stand it, although I think it's definitely the way to go). The ability to go full manual permits me to take excellent shots in low light, backlit, or otherwise strange situations. The auto mode, however, takes care of 99% of what I need, and does a surprisingly good job managing white balance and shutter speed.
br /
br /The only things that makes me give this camera less than five stars are the manual focus, which requires that you be in full manual mode and also requires two button presses (one on the side of the camera, and then you adjust using the joystick), rather than being entirely joystick-driven as all the other manual controls are; and the AC adapter/battery charger which can EITHER charge the battery or power the camera, but cannot do both at the same time. Expect to buy a separate charger for long shoots.
br /
br /Before buying this camera, however, take a look at what else is out there. This camera sits in a very strange place between consumer cameras and pro level (or at least prosumer) cameras.
br /
br /While it has some excellent features like 3 CCDs (so it captures richer color), optical image stabilization, and fully manual controls; it also lacks certain desirable qualities such as a real focus ring (it has manual focus, but it's joystick driven and imprecise), a headphone jack (although it does have line-level audio out), and the ability to pass analog video through to digital video.
br /
br /To get all those features, you'd need to spend about $200 - $300 more on something like the PV-GS500. For $200 - $300 less, you can get a very comparable camera that simply omits the 3CCDs and has digital image stabilization.
br /
br /What those extra features give you, however, is a richer picture with less noise and more detail, and a much more stable handheld image. You will especially notice the richer image detail if you edit your video in the built in software or iMovie or Final Cut or whatever you use. You can make much broader color and image adjustments on the picture from this camera than you could with a 1-CCD camcorder.
br /
br /Personally, I am very pleased with this camera. I very much like the controls (although I definitely recommend trying out the Panasonic-style joystick control before buying -- some people can't stand it, although I think it's definitely the way to go). The ability to go full manual permits me to take excellent shots in low light, backlit, or otherwise strange situations. The auto mode, however, takes care of 99% of what I need, and does a surprisingly good job managing white balance and shutter speed.
br /
br /The only things that makes me give this camera less than five stars are the manual focus, which requires that you be in full manual mode and also requires two button presses (one on the side of the camera, and then you adjust using the joystick), rather than being entirely joystick-driven as all the other manual controls are; and the AC adapter/battery charger which can EITHER charge the battery or power the camera, but cannot do both at the same time. Expect to buy a separate charger for long shoots.
Quality cannot be beat!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 10! out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
Got this for $480. There is no new camcorder on this planet and at this price which can give you better quality.
br /
br /The 3CCD capture colors and detail like nothing in this price range. I've compared this to the Sony DVD403 camcorder and the GS300 is light years away. One reason why the GS300 is so much better than the Sony DVD403 in the same price range is because the Sony uses 1 chip. 1 chip will not be able to reproduce the colors realistically.
br /
br /This past weekend I've shot footage at the NOPI XBOX at MIR in Maryland with a home made shoulder stabilizer and everyone who has seen it told me that I can make DVDs and sell them (it was that good).
br /
br /A big feature is OIS. Optical image stabilization. Unlike EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) OIS does not degrade the picture quality. EIS is found in lower end camcorders.
br /
br /Some reviewer complained about the RCA output. I recommend making DVDs or using S video. Why would you buy a camcorder that can produce such high quality video and then try to run this in via RCA? Everyone has a DVD player or Xbox or PS2 that can play them, and a blank DVD is 22 cents. I've looked at the RCA and S video quality and you can tell S video is better. Me personally I just make DVDs.
br /
br /The camcorder has a ton of manual controls for gain, IRIS, white balance, etc.
br /
br /For low lighting conditions the camcorder will not do so good as some Hi8 camcorders I've used. Here is a BIG TIP. Shoot in manual and adjust the gain down and shutter speed (you have to adjust the shutter first). The reason people get sucky low light video is because they have it on AUTO and the picture is boosted through the roof to 18Db which adds a lot of noise. Shooting in manual and adjusting the noise down then brightening up the video in post with you favorite NLE is the same way the pros do it.
br /
br /The number 1 accessory to get is a UV filter. It is cheap insurance to protect the lights and blocks out the UV ray which can make the video look purple. Then get a polarizer to make the colors look natural and give it a nice contrast.
br /
br /Another thing you may want to get unless you have it is Sony Vegas 6. Best $100 ever spent. Renders super fast, does not crash (like Ulead and Premier). Easy to learn (unlike Premier). Best NLE I've used.
br /
br /I would recommend getting an additional battery so you can record more.
br /
br /I've used the multi RCA SVideo cable and I don't find any problems with it.
br /
br /Using the firewire you can write back your edited video on the MiniDv tape. Nice feature for archival purposes. I just edit and then make DVDs.
br /
br /The fact that you can transfer using USB makes it a bonus (there is no qulaity loss if you go USB or Firewire).
br /
br /
br /The 3CCD capture colors and detail like nothing in this price range. I've compared this to the Sony DVD403 camcorder and the GS300 is light years away. One reason why the GS300 is so much better than the Sony DVD403 in the same price range is because the Sony uses 1 chip. 1 chip will not be able to reproduce the colors realistically.
br /
br /This past weekend I've shot footage at the NOPI XBOX at MIR in Maryland with a home made shoulder stabilizer and everyone who has seen it told me that I can make DVDs and sell them (it was that good).
br /
br /A big feature is OIS. Optical image stabilization. Unlike EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) OIS does not degrade the picture quality. EIS is found in lower end camcorders.
br /
br /Some reviewer complained about the RCA output. I recommend making DVDs or using S video. Why would you buy a camcorder that can produce such high quality video and then try to run this in via RCA? Everyone has a DVD player or Xbox or PS2 that can play them, and a blank DVD is 22 cents. I've looked at the RCA and S video quality and you can tell S video is better. Me personally I just make DVDs.
br /
br /The camcorder has a ton of manual controls for gain, IRIS, white balance, etc.
br /
br /For low lighting conditions the camcorder will not do so good as some Hi8 camcorders I've used. Here is a BIG TIP. Shoot in manual and adjust the gain down and shutter speed (you have to adjust the shutter first). The reason people get sucky low light video is because they have it on AUTO and the picture is boosted through the roof to 18Db which adds a lot of noise. Shooting in manual and adjusting the noise down then brightening up the video in post with you favorite NLE is the same way the pros do it.
br /
br /The number 1 accessory to get is a UV filter. It is cheap insurance to protect the lights and blocks out the UV ray which can make the video look purple. Then get a polarizer to make the colors look natural and give it a nice contrast.
br /
br /Another thing you may want to get unless you have it is Sony Vegas 6. Best $100 ever spent. Renders super fast, does not crash (like Ulead and Premier). Easy to learn (unlike Premier). Best NLE I've used.
br /
br /I would recommend getting an additional battery so you can record more.
br /
br /I've used the multi RCA SVideo cable and I don't find any problems with it.
br /
br /Using the firewire you can write back your edited video on the MiniDv tape. Nice feature for archival purposes. I just edit and then make DVDs.
br /
br /The fact that you can transfer using USB makes it a bonus (there is no qulaity loss if you go USB or Firewire).
br /
Great Camcorder
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 8.3 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
After reading many reviews I settled on this camcorder (Panasonic PV-GS300) because I wanted something that produced above average video results, and was easy to use - yet still had plenty of manual control functions so as my skills improved I could make use of them. Most importantly I wanted a camcorder that was priced under $500. This camcorder fit the bill and I am very happy with it.
br /
br /Many professional reviews noted that this camcorder does not have
br /analog-to-digital pass through (for changing your old analog tapes to digital), a focus ring (focusing is done with the joy stick, but focusing is not needed in automatic mode, and rarely needed in manual mode), and no headphone jack. None of these features were important to me.
br /
br /Of course I considered DVD and hard drive camcorders but was turned off by reviews mentioning loud noises, etc. Plus, video editing may not be an easy or high quality option with those choices, nor is there any guarantee that the the DVD media used in DVD camcorders will play in all DVD players. Of course there are real advantages and disadvantages to DVD, hard drive, flash, and miniDV (which this camcorder is) which ends up being a personal preference issue. I chose to go with the one that is tried and true, has the most software that is compatible with it when editing or transfering it to other media, and can produce the best videos. MiniDV allows for a high quality digital backup (DVD and Hard drive camcorders typically cannot compare in digital quality). I chose Panasonic over Sony because Sony is moving toward only allowing their high priced accessories with their camcorders, and I like to be able to buy generic brands if I want to.
br /
br /What I love about this camcorder:
br /
br /1) The images are great! My husband keeps commenting on how good the videos look. (We have only recorded school plays, home video, etc.) I use a firewire connection to my computer (firewire cable not included) and burn the images to a DVD, then view them on my tv. I use Sonic to do this rather than the included software. This is a fairly easy process. (Note: your video is only as good as the quality of the media you transfer it to and the tv you view it on) Low light has not been a problem, however, there is a manual option to improve videotaping in low light situations (as well as options for sporting events, surf snow, portrait, wind noice reduction, etc.)
br /
br /2)It is very easy to use. I just looked at the operating instructions for a few things, but anyone with any familiarity with a camcorder could figure this one out in a second. (Like most instructions manuals, this one could have been better, but it is adequate).
br /
br /3)The still images are better than average. Plus, stills can be taken while videotaping. Transfering of the stills with the included usb cable is easy.
br /
br /4)It is so compact and lightweight. It is not the smallest or lightest, but one hand operation is comfortable.
br /
br /5)It has nice features. The optical image stablity (no more shaky video), 3CCD for richer colors, good sound, good battery life, wide screen LCD, etc.
br /
br /Previous Concerns:
br /I was worried about the camcorder only having a 10x zoom, but this has been more than adequate so far. I was also worried about the joystick control, but this has made operating the camcorder easy.
br /
br /Cost:
br /Camcorder ($479.99 at Amazon)
br /
br /Additional Purchases:
br /Add $50-$100 for additional accesories.
br /-Extra longer life battery ($24.99 Digital Concepts)
br /-SD Secure digital card for still images ($32.99 San Disk)
br /-Camcorder bag ($15)
br /-5 MiniDV tapes ($13.99)
br /-4pin/6pin firewire cable ($9.45)
br /
br /Future Purchases:
br /-lense filter
br /-screen protector for LCD screen
br /
br /Also available
br /-Additional light
br /-Additional mic
br /
br /Other comments: I am pleased with my purchase. For the price I do not think I could have gotten anything much better. I will update this review if I find any weaknesses. Having Windows XP SP2 eliminates the necessity of having to install any drivers for the USB cable connection. I had problems using this camcorder as a web cam with Yahoo, but it works fine with Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger.
br /
br /Many professional reviews noted that this camcorder does not have
br /analog-to-digital pass through (for changing your old analog tapes to digital), a focus ring (focusing is done with the joy stick, but focusing is not needed in automatic mode, and rarely needed in manual mode), and no headphone jack. None of these features were important to me.
br /
br /Of course I considered DVD and hard drive camcorders but was turned off by reviews mentioning loud noises, etc. Plus, video editing may not be an easy or high quality option with those choices, nor is there any guarantee that the the DVD media used in DVD camcorders will play in all DVD players. Of course there are real advantages and disadvantages to DVD, hard drive, flash, and miniDV (which this camcorder is) which ends up being a personal preference issue. I chose to go with the one that is tried and true, has the most software that is compatible with it when editing or transfering it to other media, and can produce the best videos. MiniDV allows for a high quality digital backup (DVD and Hard drive camcorders typically cannot compare in digital quality). I chose Panasonic over Sony because Sony is moving toward only allowing their high priced accessories with their camcorders, and I like to be able to buy generic brands if I want to.
br /
br /What I love about this camcorder:
br /
br /1) The images are great! My husband keeps commenting on how good the videos look. (We have only recorded school plays, home video, etc.) I use a firewire connection to my computer (firewire cable not included) and burn the images to a DVD, then view them on my tv. I use Sonic to do this rather than the included software. This is a fairly easy process. (Note: your video is only as good as the quality of the media you transfer it to and the tv you view it on) Low light has not been a problem, however, there is a manual option to improve videotaping in low light situations (as well as options for sporting events, surf snow, portrait, wind noice reduction, etc.)
br /
br /2)It is very easy to use. I just looked at the operating instructions for a few things, but anyone with any familiarity with a camcorder could figure this one out in a second. (Like most instructions manuals, this one could have been better, but it is adequate).
br /
br /3)The still images are better than average. Plus, stills can be taken while videotaping. Transfering of the stills with the included usb cable is easy.
br /
br /4)It is so compact and lightweight. It is not the smallest or lightest, but one hand operation is comfortable.
br /
br /5)It has nice features. The optical image stablity (no more shaky video), 3CCD for richer colors, good sound, good battery life, wide screen LCD, etc.
br /
br /Previous Concerns:
br /I was worried about the camcorder only having a 10x zoom, but this has been more than adequate so far. I was also worried about the joystick control, but this has made operating the camcorder easy.
br /
br /Cost:
br /Camcorder ($479.99 at Amazon)
br /
br /Additional Purchases:
br /Add $50-$100 for additional accesories.
br /-Extra longer life battery ($24.99 Digital Concepts)
br /-SD Secure digital card for still images ($32.99 San Disk)
br /-Camcorder bag ($15)
br /-5 MiniDV tapes ($13.99)
br /-4pin/6pin firewire cable ($9.45)
br /
br /Future Purchases:
br /-lense filter
br /-screen protector for LCD screen
br /
br /Also available
br /-Additional light
br /-Additional mic
br /
br /Other comments: I am pleased with my purchase. For the price I do not think I could have gotten anything much better. I will update this review if I find any weaknesses. Having Windows XP SP2 eliminates the necessity of having to install any drivers for the USB cable connection. I had problems using this camcorder as a web cam with Yahoo, but it works fine with Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger.
Great camera for the price
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 7.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
When shopping for a camcorder, you have to realize that at this price point there are going to be compromises. According to all the reviews, this is one of the best at this level. I've had it for about a month now, and I can't imagine that there is anything out there better than this and comparably priced. Here are my likes and dislikes:
br /
br /The Good:
br /
br /- price (obviously)
br /- picture quality outdoors is excellent. Beautiful color and clarity. The lens seems to be extremely sharp. Should be, it's a Leica, but these days Leica is throwing their name on a lot of low-end (relatively) consumer cameras and camcorders with varying results.
br /- I like the joystick control. Some people don't, but I'm a big fan. Makes selecting options very fast.
br /- Reasonable battery life. Third party extended life batteries are inexpensive, I recommend getting one.
br /- Menus are fairly easy to navigate. You do need to spend some time familiarizing yourself with all the options, but this will be time well-spent and you only need to do it once.
br /
br /The Bad:
br /
br /- Low-light performance is good but not great. I'm not sure how it compares to others, but some reviews mention that the Sony model in the same price range is superior in this regard. If you're going to do a lot of indoor shooting check into this carefully.
br /- Manual focus is done with the joystick. Focusing with the joystick is AWFUL..an exercise in frustration. Panasonic really goofed here, this camera needs a focusing ring like a baby needs a mother. To me this is the most serious drawback of this camera. If not for this I'd give it 5 stars.
br /- Auto white balance can be a little slow to kick in, but seems to work well otherwise.
br /- This camera is just too small and light to hold steadily.
br /- Manual is one of the worst I've ever seen, takes several reads to get through. A background in still photography helped me immensely in understanding some of the manual features, but I feel sorry for those who open this manual without some kind of previous experience. On the other hand, if you're just going to turn it on and shoot in automatic mode all the time it's not an issue.
br /
br /Overall, I'm convinced this camera is a great deal. The only serious flaw is the lack of a focus ring, everything else is just a function of the compromises you have to expect in this price range. In good light the picture quality is outstanding, so if you're shooting mainly outdoors this is the one for you.
br /
br /The Good:
br /
br /- price (obviously)
br /- picture quality outdoors is excellent. Beautiful color and clarity. The lens seems to be extremely sharp. Should be, it's a Leica, but these days Leica is throwing their name on a lot of low-end (relatively) consumer cameras and camcorders with varying results.
br /- I like the joystick control. Some people don't, but I'm a big fan. Makes selecting options very fast.
br /- Reasonable battery life. Third party extended life batteries are inexpensive, I recommend getting one.
br /- Menus are fairly easy to navigate. You do need to spend some time familiarizing yourself with all the options, but this will be time well-spent and you only need to do it once.
br /
br /The Bad:
br /
br /- Low-light performance is good but not great. I'm not sure how it compares to others, but some reviews mention that the Sony model in the same price range is superior in this regard. If you're going to do a lot of indoor shooting check into this carefully.
br /- Manual focus is done with the joystick. Focusing with the joystick is AWFUL..an exercise in frustration. Panasonic really goofed here, this camera needs a focusing ring like a baby needs a mother. To me this is the most serious drawback of this camera. If not for this I'd give it 5 stars.
br /- Auto white balance can be a little slow to kick in, but seems to work well otherwise.
br /- This camera is just too small and light to hold steadily.
br /- Manual is one of the worst I've ever seen, takes several reads to get through. A background in still photography helped me immensely in understanding some of the manual features, but I feel sorry for those who open this manual without some kind of previous experience. On the other hand, if you're just going to turn it on and shoot in automatic mode all the time it's not an issue.
br /
br /Overall, I'm convinced this camera is a great deal. The only serious flaw is the lack of a focus ring, everything else is just a function of the compromises you have to expect in this price range. In good light the picture quality is outstanding, so if you're shooting mainly outdoors this is the one for you.
Overall good camcorder
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 6.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
I bought this camcorder after returning a Cannon Elura 100 for motor noise. The Panasonic PV-GS300 is virtually silent and you can't hear the motor noise during playback on the computer or TV. The camcorder has good sound and video quality. The indoor quality is not as good as I expected, a little dark, but outdoor video is very good and vivid. Overall a good camcorder and I would recommend buying it.
Worth the price
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 6.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
I bought this camera after looking at several others and must admit the price-point for the features was a key selling point.
br /We don't do as much videotaping as we did when the kids were younger, but with two in sports we're doing more and more again.
br /I have started taking a lot of still pictures with it as well and wound up putting a 1gB SD Card in it, giving us a pretty high capacity for photos in addition to 1 hr of video tape.
br /
br /The ability to use it as a still camera both stand-alone as well as while videotaping is nice, the picture quality thus far has been outstanding and the "needed" features are sufficient. Sound is as good as one could expect and once one plays with the camera for a few hours, it's use is quite simple and playback/transfer is equally easy.
br /
br /The zoom range is adjustable at either 25:1 or 700:1 and while one would never be able to use an image zoomed in 700x, the 25x zoom is quite good and the variable speed of the zoom at 25:1 is more than adequate.
br /
br /Battery consumption is good - a 1hr tape and the standard battery are fairly close. I also bought a non-Panasonic extended battery which gives a far longer capacity. With still photos, it eats up that battery far more quickly!
br /
br /One thing I would like to see a little better is the image stabilization, as when zooming in, the shake is magnified and when using much of any zoom, the small size makes it difficult to hold steady. I put it on a tripod and that solves the problem, but years ago in the larger full-size VHS cameras, the stabilization was better.
br /
br /Over-all, this camera has been everything I hoped for and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a 3-CCD camera in the lower price ranges.
br /We don't do as much videotaping as we did when the kids were younger, but with two in sports we're doing more and more again.
br /I have started taking a lot of still pictures with it as well and wound up putting a 1gB SD Card in it, giving us a pretty high capacity for photos in addition to 1 hr of video tape.
br /
br /The ability to use it as a still camera both stand-alone as well as while videotaping is nice, the picture quality thus far has been outstanding and the "needed" features are sufficient. Sound is as good as one could expect and once one plays with the camera for a few hours, it's use is quite simple and playback/transfer is equally easy.
br /
br /The zoom range is adjustable at either 25:1 or 700:1 and while one would never be able to use an image zoomed in 700x, the 25x zoom is quite good and the variable speed of the zoom at 25:1 is more than adequate.
br /
br /Battery consumption is good - a 1hr tape and the standard battery are fairly close. I also bought a non-Panasonic extended battery which gives a far longer capacity. With still photos, it eats up that battery far more quickly!
br /
br /One thing I would like to see a little better is the image stabilization, as when zooming in, the shake is magnified and when using much of any zoom, the small size makes it difficult to hold steady. I put it on a tripod and that solves the problem, but years ago in the larger full-size VHS cameras, the stabilization was better.
br /
br /Over-all, this camera has been everything I hoped for and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a 3-CCD camera in the lower price ranges.
Perfect for Educational and How-To Videos
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 5.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
I purchased the PV-GS300 several months ago and have been using it to create a educational video, and it works great. Images are good and sharp, good color too. The ability to switch between 4:3 and 16:9 ratio is very handy! Still photos at 16:9 are sharp.
br /
br /Transfering video to the computer by Firewire cable is easy when using most any video software packages from companies such as Pinnacle, Magix, Sony, etc.
br /
br /Outdoor video is very sharp, colors are true to nature. Indoors when doing studio shots I find the full spectrum florescent lights to work best.
br /
br /The ability to extract sharp still frames from the video is a big plus in content rich informational videos. Too, when panning the camera rapidly, you don't get the usual jaggies in the video as in lesser camcorders.
br /
br /For the money it is a very good camcorder. If you use this unit in the field a lot, get an extra battery or two. There is a hot shoe for a shotgun mic, or a LED camcorder flood light. You will also find the microphone input on the side helpful when using wireless mics. This is also a great asset when doing theatrical work.
br /
br /Transfering video to the computer by Firewire cable is easy when using most any video software packages from companies such as Pinnacle, Magix, Sony, etc.
br /
br /Outdoor video is very sharp, colors are true to nature. Indoors when doing studio shots I find the full spectrum florescent lights to work best.
br /
br /The ability to extract sharp still frames from the video is a big plus in content rich informational videos. Too, when panning the camera rapidly, you don't get the usual jaggies in the video as in lesser camcorders.
br /
br /For the money it is a very good camcorder. If you use this unit in the field a lot, get an extra battery or two. There is a hot shoe for a shotgun mic, or a LED camcorder flood light. You will also find the microphone input on the side helpful when using wireless mics. This is also a great asset when doing theatrical work.
FANTASTIC CAMERA
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 5.3 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
Thanks for your feedback
I did alot of research on digital camcorders before purchsing this camera and I decided to go with this one because it was just sounded so great. The similar Sony models seemed to have extra blue colors in the video quality while this Panasonic model has perfect, real-to-life color contrast. The video quality is alot like actual film,which is a scarce find these days. I use this camera, with a variety of attachments and extra lenses of course, for my film productions company and my school film club. It has an amazing low light mode and is really easy to use. The joystick function is so simple and much more handy than a series of random directional buttons like most other camcorders. I love this camera and I use it for more than just family vacational type movies. I use it for actual films and high quality movies. It's great!
Nice one ( except software )
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 4.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I bought this one aorund 2 months back. Overall it is good, and the clarity is good. Little bit noise in lowlight indoors ( with backlight on..it is OK). And it is very easy to handle, only the zoon button should be somewhere on top...it is kept to handle by middle finger which I am not used to. The great drawback is the software, which has no capability of burn to a DVD. These days, how can they give a software without that facility, then I used third party softwares for that. Otherwise its a coool one.
Cut above the rest?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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This is my first camcorder so maybe the title for the review is misleading but given the 4.5 star rating I'm guessing I'm on the mark. Originally looked at a DVD based system but after reading probably every review on the web (ask my wife), I opted to go for MiniDV. The logic - its well proven technology, been around for a while, data transfer is fast with USB2 and chances are your going to get a lot of bang for your buck.
br /Did a lot of research and was torn between the GS300 and GS500. Went for the GS300 after most of the reviews put it slightly ahead of the GS500 and I'm pleased that the hours spent researching camcorders has paid off.
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br /This camera is solid.
br /Color is excellent, OIS at 25x zoom (10 optical, 15 digital) still gives really clear, amazingly stable images. For you LA kids, could identify the Queen Mary in Long Beach, filming from Palos Verdes to give you an idea of image quality/stability.
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br /Size - fits nicely in the palm, joystick is a breeze to use/navigate the menu's. Digital stills are a nice addition to the unit and give decent quality. Overall, wouldn't trade it for another. Paid $584 total for a brand new unit. Worth every penny. Would highly recommend.
br /Did a lot of research and was torn between the GS300 and GS500. Went for the GS300 after most of the reviews put it slightly ahead of the GS500 and I'm pleased that the hours spent researching camcorders has paid off.
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br /This camera is solid.
br /Color is excellent, OIS at 25x zoom (10 optical, 15 digital) still gives really clear, amazingly stable images. For you LA kids, could identify the Queen Mary in Long Beach, filming from Palos Verdes to give you an idea of image quality/stability.
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br /Size - fits nicely in the palm, joystick is a breeze to use/navigate the menu's. Digital stills are a nice addition to the unit and give decent quality. Overall, wouldn't trade it for another. Paid $584 total for a brand new unit. Worth every penny. Would highly recommend.
Great Camcorder
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 4.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Bought this camcorder for christmas to film my little baby boy. I send dvds to my relatives who live far away and they love the picture quality. All of my friends who own camcorders agree the picure is very sharp. The camcorder is easy to use and comes with everything you need to get going except minidv tapes. Buy these with your online purchase because they are too expensive in stores. The only complaint I have would be the low light recording quality. It is only average(all camcorders are bad in low light). The camera does have a low light feature, but it produces tracers and ghosting with fast moving objects. The camera does have full manual control that will help with the image, but you need to learn camera jargon and take time to adjust before the shot. You can buy a mountable light to put on the camera, but they are not cheap. If you want a camera with good low light features, buy a sony. I'm am very pleased with this camera and would recomend it to a friend who does not shoot at night.
Panasonic DV Camera
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Incredible pictures and easy to use. I don't really care for the safety on the power switch but that didn't detract from the excellence of the camera.
Great camcorder
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.8 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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This is my first camcorder, therefore I can't really compare to previous experiences. Regardless I really like this product, it's is relevantly small, very easy to control and the manus are pretty easy to manipulate. I haven't done any outdoors shots yet, but I was impressed by the low light performance. The colors where decently preserved, even though you can see some granularity (which I understand is normal) the picture was great (I was watching it on 720dpi HDTV). Way above my expectations. As I read in some reviews I would agree that the 3.2 mega pixels still shot is a nice feature, but by no means it's replacement of you digital camera. The software coming with it it's by now means friendly or feature rich and if you need to burn DVDs you would need to acquire AVI to DVD conversion software (I really liked Nero Vision, but you can get free once as Video DVD Maker).
Great camera
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.8 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I bought this for my trip to India. It i so simple to use and the joystick feature for the umns is a breeze to get a hang of. I did not like the idea of having to touch the screen to do everything with the Sony's. I wanted the Canon Elura 100 but the idea of a noisy camera turned me off.
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br /Like the other guy said, buy the tapes online because they are pricey in the store.
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br /Like the other guy said, buy the tapes online because they are pricey in the store.
Good camera
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Overall not bad. Motion is good and like most motion cameras, stills are poor, but that's why I have my other cameras. Image quality is good. Shoots well under indoor conditions. Autofocus is good. microphone does well. Joystick menu interface is different. Not bad or good, just different. Needs easier interface to key features like WB, etc. Shouldn't have to dig 3 4 levels in a menu to find it. Also some of the hot buttons are located under the LCD and not accessible with the hand holding the camera, though this is typical for most palm-sized cameras. Otherwise no major flaws. Great for what we do with the family, around the house and at kid's sundry events.
good camcorder
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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This is the first camcorder I have ever owned and I am very happy with it. I am not that savvy when it comes to photography and hence for now I have kept the camcorder on "auto" mode and in so doing I am impressed with the colors/clarity of the video taken in this mode. Also, the camcorder has many different options for tweaking picture settings. As well, the different settings are easily adjusted via joystick and on-screen menu.
4 stars so far
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I just received the PV GS300 and like what I have seen so far. The picture quality is beutiful outdoors and the low light quality isn't as bad as I read. One thing I do not like is the joystick. It is sooo tiny it is difficult to use. I have to use my fingernail to try navigating the menus using it and I still have difficulty. I really can't say anything more because I have not tried everything. Hopefully this review helps in your decision a little.
No 3.1Mpixel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Just the camera is 3.1 Mpixel and I have a Nokia N70 mobilephone with the same quality picture, but the 1Mpixel camecorder are very nice. Dont buy these camecorder for the camera, and the battery durantion are very good.
Excellent camcorder for the price
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I bought this camcorder after extensive research; others I considered were the Canon Elura 100 and the Sony HC46. I was looking for a camera that would do well in indoor situations. The Elura 100 had good reviews but several complaints about motor noise; the HC46 seemed to be the most popular of the three. I went to a local electronics store and recorded a few minutes on their display model Elura. Playing it back on my TV at home, I could clearly hear the noise of the motor. I actually purchased the HC 46, but was extremely dissatisfied with its low light performance, and returned it to the store (luckily there was no restocking fee).
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br /I have had the PV-GS300 for over a month now and I can say without qualification that I am extremely happy with my purchase. I have shot videos both indoors and outdoors. The colors are accurate in normal indoor lighting and the camcorder easy focuses in on objects when I move it around. I am also satisfied with the battery that came with it; with a single charge, it seems to last for a couple of hours, just as the manual claims. Some thoughts and learnings:
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br /1. As another reviewer mentioned, the camcorder comes with the digital zoom preset at 25x; I would recommend resetting it to 1x prior to using it.
br /2. The auto mode is adequate for most situations; however, you will get better indoor quality if you use the low light mode and set the white balance to indoor mode.
br /3. When playing back on TV, use the S video cable; this will result in much better picture quality on your TV.
br /4. The camcorder is somewhat heavier than the other ones I tried, so may feel a little uncomfortable to hold and use at first; however after a few uses, I was able to handle it without the weight bothering me.
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br /Do not expect too much from the included software (I think this comment really applies to software that comes included with *any* camcorder). It is adequate for transfering video to a computer, very basic editing, etc., but not much more. I think if you are serious about adding effects, nicer titles, or burning to DVD, you will need buy a dedicated application that does this.
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br /Overall, though, the camcorder does what I bought it for very well, and I would have no reservations in recommending it to anyone that does not mind spending the extra $100 or so more for a substantial increase in performance.
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br /I have had the PV-GS300 for over a month now and I can say without qualification that I am extremely happy with my purchase. I have shot videos both indoors and outdoors. The colors are accurate in normal indoor lighting and the camcorder easy focuses in on objects when I move it around. I am also satisfied with the battery that came with it; with a single charge, it seems to last for a couple of hours, just as the manual claims. Some thoughts and learnings:
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br /1. As another reviewer mentioned, the camcorder comes with the digital zoom preset at 25x; I would recommend resetting it to 1x prior to using it.
br /2. The auto mode is adequate for most situations; however, you will get better indoor quality if you use the low light mode and set the white balance to indoor mode.
br /3. When playing back on TV, use the S video cable; this will result in much better picture quality on your TV.
br /4. The camcorder is somewhat heavier than the other ones I tried, so may feel a little uncomfortable to hold and use at first; however after a few uses, I was able to handle it without the weight bothering me.
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br /Do not expect too much from the included software (I think this comment really applies to software that comes included with *any* camcorder). It is adequate for transfering video to a computer, very basic editing, etc., but not much more. I think if you are serious about adding effects, nicer titles, or burning to DVD, you will need buy a dedicated application that does this.
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br /Overall, though, the camcorder does what I bought it for very well, and I would have no reservations in recommending it to anyone that does not mind spending the extra $100 or so more for a substantial increase in performance.
Best video/camcorder I've ever owned
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I spent countless hours researching camcorders before deciding to order this one, and it has lived up to 100% of my expectations. A major requirement was that the camcorder have a microphone jack so that I could narrate garden and nature tours "in realtime" rather than having to do a voiceover later on. The combination of the top hot-shoe and external mic jack on this model is the perfect setup. The available manual adjustments allow the user to tweak settings as needed (for example when shooting outdoors in bright sun while keeping color rendition as true as possible) while still retaining the Auto options. An excellent product with enough bells and whistles to satisfy an advanced user while remaining user-friendly for the beginner. What's not to like? :-)
Best camcorder I ever had
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Contrast is great, saturation, color accuracy, due to the 3 CCD's.
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br /Now what I don't like: resolution spec for stills is misleading. It's not true pixel resolution, as the pixels are interpolated across the 2.3 megapixel spec.
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br /Still, this is the only camcorder in the miniDV family I've seen that offered the ability to shoot virtually uncompressed via Firewire connected to a computer.
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br /The low light is not very good, though. Very small CCD's =GRAIN. The size of each of the three CCD sensors is only 1/6". But at least there are three of them. One of the most popular camcorders in the PV-GS series for Panasonic in 2006. This is the camera that put me on the map.
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br /Now what I don't like: resolution spec for stills is misleading. It's not true pixel resolution, as the pixels are interpolated across the 2.3 megapixel spec.
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br /Still, this is the only camcorder in the miniDV family I've seen that offered the ability to shoot virtually uncompressed via Firewire connected to a computer.
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br /The low light is not very good, though. Very small CCD's =GRAIN. The size of each of the three CCD sensors is only 1/6". But at least there are three of them. One of the most popular camcorders in the PV-GS series for Panasonic in 2006. This is the camera that put me on the map.
My First Camcorder--Panasonic PV GS300
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 2.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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This is my first camcorder purchase. I bought it to take videos of my vaction in the Orient. After doing much research on camcorders, I decided to buy this one and I'm glad I did. The video quality is very good and I like in particular the image stabilzation feature. It is also very quiet, you can hardly hear the tape spinning. The digital still pictures that I took with the camcorder were also very good quality. Overall it was a very good purchase.
Amazing Price for a Japanese 3CCD DV Camcorder
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 2.4 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Paid well under $600 after shipping and haven't discovered all of its features but it is a lot of camera for the money. Some of the controls are typically Japanese - meaning they are sometimes obscure and the controls themselves are made for rather small fingers/hands. Overall, the camera is light, takes marvelous video (given adequate light). Most 3CCD cameras seem to require a bit more light to look good than the std. single CCD cameras. Wish it could shoot video in 1080i but oh well...
great little camera
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 1.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Has just about everything I could ask for except for audio-out. The camera's small size suggests it was designed to be "on-the-go" but it's also good for the studio. I just wish I didn't have to do my sound check with only the built-in speaker.
Excellent product
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 1.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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A little noise
br /Sun light images are excellent Indoors need good ilumination
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br /Sun light images are excellent Indoors need good ilumination
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Good deal
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 1.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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This is something good at the good price. Espesially that optical image stabilizer and 3ccd. This camera beats many more expensive cameras in the picture quality
Excellent quality,very easy to use.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 1.1 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Love being able to take picture while filming, very rich crisp video and vivid beautiful realistic color.
Panasonic PV-GS300 3.1 MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder
Rating: 2 out of 5
Weight: 0.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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A disappointment. I purchased this camcorder thinking that, with its 3CCD format, it would be an improvement on the camcorder I already have. Not so; my Sony 3.1MP 1CCD MiniDV camcorder I purchased several years ago produces video and stills of much better resolution, and of more realistic color. I have returned the Panasonic.
Good deal
Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 0.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Very compact and easy to use. The quality of both picture video is good compare to this range price of another camcorders.
Lack Luster performance
Rating: 3 out of 5
Weight: 0.3 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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I purchased this model after research here and on several other web sites. I was looking for a camera that had over all good performance and the potential quality from 3 CCDs was intriguing.
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br /Unfortunately when compared to my Canon ZR25 (yes that's right) the GS300 did not seem worth the price. While there was noticeably less noise in the low light settings it did not capture significantly more picture.
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br /In normal indoor light the colors were washed. While the ZR25 tends to over saturate the GS300 seemed very dull. I was honestly aghast with the lack luster performance of this model.
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br /Backlit situations were only slightly improved. I will say that the GS300 had less noise but the picture quality in regards to color and tone show very little improvement.
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br /The placement of the record button in relationship to the battery and the joystick is terrible. I am a woman and I found it difficult to use this control placement.
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br /After capturing a test video between the two cameras I packed the GS300 back in its box. It was such a disappointing experiencing. I guess its back to the drawing board and more research is needed to find a camera to replace my aging ZR25.
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br /Unfortunately when compared to my Canon ZR25 (yes that's right) the GS300 did not seem worth the price. While there was noticeably less noise in the low light settings it did not capture significantly more picture.
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br /In normal indoor light the colors were washed. While the ZR25 tends to over saturate the GS300 seemed very dull. I was honestly aghast with the lack luster performance of this model.
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br /Backlit situations were only slightly improved. I will say that the GS300 had less noise but the picture quality in regards to color and tone show very little improvement.
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br /The placement of the record button in relationship to the battery and the joystick is terrible. I am a woman and I found it difficult to use this control placement.
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br /After capturing a test video between the two cameras I packed the GS300 back in its box. It was such a disappointing experiencing. I guess its back to the drawing board and more research is needed to find a camera to replace my aging ZR25.
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Chip malfunction
Rating: 3 out of 5
Weight: 0.0 out of 10
Created: Aug 17, 2006
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I am actually reviewing the GF200 which I bought two years ago, but I believe it is basically the same except for a 2 megapixel still rather than 3. I was pleased with the performance of the camera, but yesterday when I went to to use it, everything was yellow/green. A technician said that the red chip apparently malfunctioned and it would have to be replced. That would cost more than half of what a new camera will be. I don't know how common this is, but it certainly was a disappointment
Quick Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 0.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 24, 2008
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Item was shipped quickly and arrived on time. The camera was just as described. New, in box.