2 comments about Panasonic PVDV952 MiniDV Multicam Digital Camcorder with 3.5" Color LCD, Color Viewfinder, & 8MB SD Memory Card.

1. PD-DV952 is a great camcorder. I tried it once, and the image quality was exellent. I suggest you buy this since it's really cheap considering the the fact that it's a 3CCD camcorder. Buy this and you won't regret it.



2. I recently did A LOT of research for a high-end camcorder.

   This was the winner. After trying many 2 ccd products from Sony and Canon--both good, this camcorder just had more of the goods. Being a 3 ccd camcorder, the colors and sharpness are EXCEPTIONAL. You can film a professional documentary with this one.

   The only problem with all the camcorders under $3k, you'll have problems filming in low light. The low-light features in the Panasonics, Sonys, and Canons is substandard, so don't believe the MARKETING that they can film at night in color--that war footage green low-light tints, etc aren't really pragmatic. Consider these cams for use only in good light conditions.

   I took the Panasonic to Hawaii and worked flawlessly. Get the bigger Panasonic branded lithium-ion battery and you'll have more than enough juice for 3 days of regular filming thru the big lcd screen (which is better than competitors).

   Controls are intuitive and easy to use as well. It may be a little bit more bulky than the 2 ccd Sony palmcorders (though of similar weight), but MARKEDLY smaller than the other 3 ccd competitors. If you're an enthusiast, then this cam offers the best in terms of price, features (3ccd!), and size.

   Since all cams are not really pocketable (avoid the buggy Sony micro Dvs), don't only think in size.....you'll need a camera bag on vacations REGARDLESS of size (you'll need the spare battery, 2 filters, wide angle lens).....skimping on these goods will cut your filming experience when you get to your computer to edit--I learned this lesson the hard way--so don't skimp on these items........get a Lowe camera backpack which worked as a day pack and camera pack.

   This is one exceptional camera that will give me many years of service!

4 comments about Panasonic PVGS50S MiniDV Ultra Compact Digital Palmcorder (Silver).

1. This is a great camcorder and a great buy. It's tiny, full-featured, and well designed with the usual Panasonic attention to ergonomics and practicality. The battery life is extraordinary for a battery this size. On the downside, the digital photo mode has fairly low resolution, but remember that any camcorder you're using as a digital camera will NOT have a flash, and that's very limiting anyway. So don't buy this (or any camcorder) to be an all-in-1 device or you'll be disappointed. On the plus side, the ability to record MPEG-4 video to either the DV tape or the SD card is great, although it will be an *.asf file and not .mpg (and no, you can't easily convert), so your file sharing may be limited. You'll likely prefer to record in regular mode instead and then capture it on your PC (via firewire) and save it to mpg. Overall a very impressive camcorder and a good operating manual, although you won't even need it to do the basics. And that's rare these days! Well done, Panasonic.



2. I love the camera for the purpose of recording those unforgettable moments, but when using to take digital photos....it's not so good. The pictures have a very low resolution and when the photos are printed (from both photo center and my home printer) they look like a computer screen picture. Even with the light feature on, they aren't very nice printed.



3. This Panasonic DV camcorder is a solid performer and a great value. I've been using it for several months, and it hasn't let me down at all. Battery life is good, picture quality is great, and audio quality is acceptable.

   The basic features of this camera are intuitive and easy to use. You can have it out of the box and recording in no time (after you charge the battery). Video quality is high, and playback on the LCD screen is easy and watchable. It comes with nearly every imaginable cable, so you can hook it to whatever you want. However, I highly recommend a firewire (IEEE 1394) card for capturing video to a PC. I've used Pinnacle Studio software flawlessly with this camera, and produced very high quality results.

   This camera is chock full of features. To be honest, I haven't used many of them, not yet having learned how. The instruction manual is 102 pages long, and you'll every last page if you're going to exploit all the features of this camera. However, it's not necessary to do so to get your money's worth. One note: still picture quality won't match that of a good regular digital camera, so I wouldn't recommend using it for that purpose, although it comes equipped with an SD card slot that enables the capture of stills.

   This is a small, lightweight camera that will just barely fit in your hand. It'll go everywhere without being a burden. It's worked great for me, and I can highly recommend it. Enjoy.




4. This camera specs well and packs a lot of features. Using the features can be difficult and in some cases, too easy. On several occassions, I have hit the photo button while trying to find the zoom button. The IEEE 1394 (firewire) port failed. While mounted on my tripod, you cannot replace the battery. The battery release is on the bottom of the camera which is obstructed by the tripod. The sound quality is marginal. I am being generous with a three star rating. If you plan to use the camera frequently, invest time understanding your objectives and match the capabilities of the camera. This camera is small and awkward for me to use. I was happy to receive it as a gift but would not have purchased it for myself.

No comments about Panasonic Flash for Hot Shoe on PV-GS200, GS400, VDR-M50 & M70.

5 comments about Panasonic Pro AG-DVC7 MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom.

1. Compre la DVC7 hace ya poco mas de un año en Amazon. La compre porque mi esposa estudio la carrera y estaba interesada en tener sus propios negocios en el tema de video digital.
   
   Voy a separar el review en varios temas que me parecen fundamentales:
   
   Calidad de Imagen
   
   La camara tiene 1CCD de 1/3 sino me equivoco, lo cual la hace medianamente aceptable entre las camaras de tipo consumer, OJO, no hablo de las Semi pro o Pro. Sin embargo, tiene un calidad de imagen impresioante en ambientes de iluminacion controlada. Si vas a usarla en ambiente oscuros, encontraras algunas cosas que te sorprenderan si no estas familiarizado con las camaras profesionales. En conclusion, si la vas a usar en situaciones de iluminacion razonable, te ira de las mil maravillas (tengo unas imagenes excelentes filmadas con esta camara)
   
   Construccion
   
   El formato de la camara es grande, tipo camara profesional, lo que la hace relativamente impresionante a primera vista. Digamos que el 99% de las personas que te vean con esta camara pensaran qeu definitivamente sabes lo que haces... La camara es basicamente plastica, y no pesa mucho, apenas 3 kilos. No pretendas usarla con una Glidecam sin el soporte de cuerpo, simplemente sera imposible de cargar. El viewfinder me parece muy pequeno, y no es adaptable para usar con el ojo izquierdo. La pantalla LCD mide 2.5¨, no me parecia pequenna hast que compre otra camara, una sony con pantalla de 3.5 se ve inmensa!, pero la de la panasonic se ve muy bien tambien.
   
   Ubicacion de Controles
   
   La camara peude ser utilizada al hombro, tipo camarografo de tv, o con el asa para mano, en ambos sitios, tiene control de grabacion y zoom. El zoom del asa es mas suave y lento que el zoom en la parte del handgrip. Algo que me encanta y me resulta super util cuando fimamos eventos largos donde no puede haber edicion, es la posibilidad de hacer fade sin la necesidad de estar grabando (ideal para cuando usas la camara con salida directa sin usar cassettes). Por lo demas, los controles son faciles y rapidos de comprender yy utilizar.
   
   Ventajas contra otras camaras
   
   Si quieres utilizar funciones ed Pros sin ser uno de ellos, pero aprender en el camino, esta camara es para ti. Tiene control de foco con un ring en la parte delantera, entrada plug de microfono, salida de audifonos, control de volumen de grabacion, ganancia, etc, control de shutter, de ganancia (basico en situaciones super oscuras), control de white balance, etc.
   
   Problemas ocurridos
   
   Despues de unos meses tuve que enviarla a soporte tecnico por un problema medio extranno, se colgaba y n queria grabar, aparentemente era u problema con unas piezas, investigue en internet y aparentemente a nadie mas le sucedio, por lo que asumo qeu fue mala suerte y n un problema con estas camaras. Otro detalle fue medio anno despues, durante un evento en un hotel, aparentemente no le fue bien con el aire acondicionado, ya que me saco un mensaje de Condensacion luego de varias horas de uso, un poco de ventilacion y continuo en el trabajo sin problemas.
   
   Impacto Visual
   
   Definitivamente se ve bien, tiene el peso correcto si quieres ahcer tomas suaves, no es muy pesada como para que no la opere una mujer, y no es muy liviana para que se mueva con cualqueir pequenna reaccion de tu mano.
   
   A los clientes siempre les llama la atencion el aspecto de esta camara, lo cuale s muy bueno cuando de negocios se trata.
   
   Manejo en la PC
   
   Se conecta sin problemas, la utilizo para bajar y subir video en formato DV con premiere, studio, etc.
   
   En conclusion, si no quieres gastar en una sony de 3ccd o una canon tipo xl2 o similar, y quieres tomartelo con calma, esta es una buena opcion, no te va a defraudar.



2. This is a great starter camera if you are thinking about getting into videograghy. This camera will give you the pro look, but it seems to be just a consumer level camera in a pro package. quality seems to be very good however, I have only shot a few hrs of tape so far. if you can come up with an extra $1000 seriously consider a different camera that really is on the pro level.



3. Like the other review said, this is a good starter camera. After being out of the video business for about 5 years I decided to by this camera for a wedding I was shooting. I got it at a great price. There are a few problems though. It's a little hard to deal with in low light. I have a mounted 150-watt light and it still hard to deal with. If you gain up one it's kind of grainy. But if you are not doing anything that is broadcast quality then this is a good camera. Since I'm doing low budget wedding this is perfect for me.



4. This camera is execellent and beautiful crystal picture and sperverb stereo/surrand sound makes this camera one of the best.



5. I'll be diplomatic and say this isn't a bad camera. But I used to shoot a lot of live events and concerts, and with a DVX100 and a DVC80 to choose from, this camera would always get stuck on the lowest priority shot. It's big, but mostly hollow, so it's almost as light as a Canon ZR series. In sunlight or other bright light, you're fine, but in low light you really know it's a 1-CCD camera. The colors wash out and the picture gets noisy. For a third of the price you could get a consumer level camera (Canon ZR) that'll shoot nearly as well (if not looking as imposing) while you save your pennies for a 3-CCD model.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-L354 VHS-C Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. We bought this camcorder because we were going on Vacation to Disneyland and our other camcorder would not work. This camcorder is so much better than our other one was. When ever you moved the old camcorder to get various shots, it had to refocus, which took a few minutes. This one does not need to refocus. This camcorder is a little bit heavier than our old one, but it is easier to use. And the better quality makes up for the weight difference. This is a very good product and I will recomend it to a lot of people.



2. I, too, thought this was an excellent camcorder for several months until I did a playback of one of those events that can't be repeated and....NO SOUND!! The video looks great, but...NO SOUND!! It had worked fine on several occasions and even now, I can shoot a quick video and check to make sure there is sound on the playback before I shoot the important moment I want to capture. Then I shoot the main event and, again, NO SOUND!! Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it doesn't...very unpredictable. I thought it was operator error on my part until I saw Mark Noll's review.
   Panasonic's customer service was no help at all. It's time for a new (non-Panasonic) camera.
   So...you might get one that works fine, but with this camcorder, you are taking a chance that, at some point, you will miss something great.



3. This camcorder has ruined everything!!!!! The sound had worked on and off for a while- very unpredictable. We taped my son's birthday party in January and it taped the sound. We used it the next month to tape my newborn twins in the hospital and there was NO SOUND!!!! I was crushed. I tried another tape and magically the sound worked when I was just fooling around and not taping anything important, so I used it to tape their first tub baths- NO SOUND!!! It has missed them laughing, babbling, etc. We have no money to buy another camera. We paid $25 to get it looked at and the idiot man thought we'd pay in excess of $175 plus parts to get it ("possibly") fixed. Are you kidding me??? We can never get those "firsts" back and I am soooo very upset. Customer Service was no help (besides the fact I could never understand the representatives) and I will not buy another Panasonic product. They couldn't even give me an approved Panasonic dealer anywhere close to where we live. We traveled 45 minutes to get it looked at. DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!!!! There are several of us that bought these and have had the same problems. We've all bought them at different times too showing that Panasonic has some repeating problem!!!



4. What a mess!! Last summer, I tried to tape some very special events and there was no sound. The very frustrating part was that it was a spuratic problem. One day it would work and the next day I got no sound. YOu never had any idea if it would work, which meant that some super special moments were lost forever. There was always a picture, but half the time there was no sound. I finally got so frustrated that I quit taping anything. Repair would be $175, so it is not worth fixing. I was glad to see that other people were having the exact problem, so I know it is not just me. My camera is going in the trash can. Don't buy this camera. YOu can't recapture those lost treasures.



5. I bought a Panasonic Camcorder a few years back. I continually got a Dew Detected message. Got that fixed and shortly there after the sound was intermitant as noted in so many other reviews here and elsewhere - though I did not know it at the time. So I gave Panasonic another chance. I bought this model and it worked fine again for about a year or so...Then, Halloween comes around and the sound is not there, then there, then so low you can barely hear it then static then back. Needless to say as with others the moment was lost, FOREVER!

5 comments about Panasonic VDR-D200 DVD Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom.

1. i like this camcorder because of 2 options that no other camcorder has.
   
   1. can take pictures
   
   2 has that light in the front that let you shoot in the night.
   
   I will highly recommended buying this camera.



2. I purchased this camcorder with the express intention of capturing every single football game that my sons' have played. This fulfilled that, what sold me on this particular model was the 30x optical zoom and the fact that it recorded directly to dvd and could be played back on a regular dvd player.
   
   The only drawback to this system was the editing. The software is very limited, and if you use anything but a dvdram disc you cannot use this editing software, nor can you use any outside software to edit the movies to a greater degree as most software does not support the VRO format most dvd camcorders record in.
   
   So in short if you are merely looking for a camcorder to record moments directly to dvd and have no aspirations of doing alot of editing, clipping and splicing different scenes together than this is a suitable camcorder, by far one of the best deals for a dvd camcorder as far as ability picture and price. But if you are looking for a device that lets you have more options for editing afterwards I suggest looking at the true digital camcorders available that have their own hard drives as those record in formats that are compatible with the editing software that is on the market right now.
   
   Currently I am still doing my homework trying to decide which digital camera would be the best for me to use, but this was a viable camera to use for their games and came in handy on other occasions as well.



3. I make movies from this camcorder in good result, but feel snapes with noice. I think it's not too much resulation. If you can spend more mony then you buy high resulation Panasonic or Sony camcorder else it's enough choice in your budge.



4. I was so excited to buy a camcorder that recorded straight to DVD AND took pictures.......Well, the picture quality is AWFUL! I have gotten maybe 20 nice pics out of over a 1000........The problem is its SO low in pixels. We hear about 5MP cameras and up, this camera has less than 1MP!!!! I bought this before I knew anything about megapixels........You have to have 5 or more for the prints to be decent. All of my prints from this camera are bad! And they are only good for email. That's it. The camcorder capabilities are fair. My problem is that it doesn't work well on the computer, and it does NOT play immediately in all dvd players. You HAVE to buy the very expensive RAM discs for editing....Overall, I definitely would NOT buy again and I would not reccommend to a friend. I wish I had spent all that money on something else.....



5. So far I am quite satisfied with the camera's performance. I have taken many still shots with satisfactory results. Video footage of sporting events with very good results. Also I found it pretty easy to transfer videos to my PC.

5 comments about Panasonic SVAV100 D-Snap MPEG4 Digital Video Recorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. The camera would be as advertised if it was not for the MPEG2 file fomat and they use and lack of software control over your files. Sure you can copy and rename the files off the SD card, but don't save them to your computer first using the supplied software, it uses some compression method to create one huge file from all your little ones. And they will be little, 10 minutes record time in high quality for $900.00 + cost of 512 MB SD card, please.
   
   Lastly you cannot edit the panasonic MPEG2 formats like others using Adobe or Ulead, you can burn them straight to DVD but splitting tracks, adding effects, and doing the things that make a video look slick don't work well if at all. Many players don't have the codec available to play back the files either!
   
   Check the net for more info, plenty of angry folks on the camcorder forums discussing the workarounds for panasonics mistakes and misleading product info.



2. The comment from reviewer "Xdeth" about using Ulead editing software is completely wrong. I've been using Ulead VideoStudio 8 to edit SV100 videos for over a year. Yes, as many others have stated, the ".mod" files need to be renamed to ".mpg" to use Ulead and much other software.
   
   As for the camera itself, what other memory card based MPEG-2 (DVD quality) camcorder can you toss in your pocket like a wallet? I take it everywhere. I have also dropped it a few times and have a few dents to prove it. I am very pleased with it's ability to withstand physical abuse.
   
   While it only records 12 minutes in MPEG-2 on 512MB card, it's not much of an issue. I keep an extra card in my wallet. I also have a 40 GiG portable rechargeable X-drive Pro hard drive with built in media card ports. I can off-load files with the press of a single button without a PC.
   
   Furthermore, how often does anyone ever take more than 12 minutes (MPEG-2) of continuous video? For those who do need the extra recording time, do as I did. Buy an extra SD card or an X-drive Pro.
   
   I bought this camcorder specifically for the MPEG-2 file quality. I only shoot the higher compressed MPEG-4 video when I know I'm going to email the clip.
   
   Another plus is it's 10X optical zoom.
   
   The only downside is the inability to shoot in low light and only 640 by 480 still photos. Since there is no other tapeless MPEG-2 pocket camcorder out there, the AV100 stands alone in it's catagory.
   
   My recomendation: Do buy this AV100.



3. I own this this camera since February 2004. It is very well built, light and handy, fits in any pocket.
   
   Video quality with light is very good. In low light conditions is very bad or no video at all.
   
   It is complicated to manage the files. Panasonic uses a trick to edit the video files. Files extenssion is .MOD, it is not .MPG. The change of extenssion was done to allow the edition of the recorded files with included Panasonic software and you will not find another compatibility for edition.
   
   If you backup the files in CD's or DVD's you will need to replace the extension of the files to play it in your DVD Player except for Panasonic DVD players.
   Example: File name MOV01.MOD must be changed to MOV01.MPG.
   
   You may want to use VLC software in your computer instead of Panasonic software included.
   
   From my point of view this product is not completely developed yet.



4. The fact that this records files with an .mod suffix is irrelevant. When you rename them as .mpg files they are fine. Actually, Premiere Elements 2.0 doesn't even require you to rename them, it deals with .mod files just fine.
   The video is very good, with just a bit of jagged lines when there's fast motion.
   The point is, this camera is meant to be an easy thing to put in your pocket so you are always ready to grab some video and it does this superbly.
   It's not quite as good video as a higher end DV camera, but it's not meant for that. It's a great addition to your camera collection.



5. I found no flaws with the d-spap av100, except for the fact that whenever I plug it into the TV, there is no audio. Maybe it is just me, but if anyone knows what my problem is please let me know.
   
   rskurban@comcast.net

No comments about Panasonic HHRV20/1B Camcorder Battery.

5 comments about Panasonic SVAV25 2MP D-Snap Multi Audio/Video Device.

1. This camcorder is a fun piece of equipment. While it does not offer high resolution photos or video, it is simple to use and handles a wide variety of tasks from playing asf files to mp3 files to recording audio, video, and taking pictures. The design is unique and possesses most of the needed features for such a device, including a flash, sd card, headphones, and all of the computer accessories. To fulfill basic tasks and for having fun, this product works wonderfully.



2. Being my first digital camera, I was impressed by all the features available in a gadget the size of a credit card. Although the pictures/video may look a bit blurry on the screen, they came out perfectly when uploaded to my computer.
   
   However, the one thing that killed it for me was the size and, more importantly, design. I found it somewhat uncomfortable to take pictures what with the location of the buttons and all. There is one located adjacent to the screen (when you open it up) and a button on the side, which I thought was much more convenient. I also didn't like how it automatically returned to the beginning of the photoalbum whenever you would delete a picture or simply choose to return to the page last viewed.
   
   This is a WONDERFUL camera for putting in your pocket and spontaneous use (although, it could be a bit quicker in start up). My camera survived a month-long trip to Europe as well as several local trips around town. If you want convenience, this is your best bet. If you have large hands, though (no joking!) or need some room to move your fingers, you'll find the design too stuffy for your liking.



3. I bought this for my boyfriend about a year ago and he absolutely loves this thing. He brings it everywhere he goes. Everyone is always asking what it is & think it's the coolest thing around. The battery lasts long and it's been working good for over a year with no problems. It's a gadget guys' dream.



4. This product simply tries to do too much and fails at doing a good job at anything. I rarely return items unless they're really unsatisfactory, but this went back.
   
   My requirements werent huge...we just had a baby and I wanted something small, solid state, and simple to take candid photos and video of the baby without lugging around a regular camcorder. As long as the video and sound were halfway decent enough...something upstream of "what the heck is that?!?", I'd have been happy.
   
   The video even in the extra fine mode is grainy and jerky. The sound accompanying the video is muddy. The photos taken if taken up close are washed out white by the flash.
   
   You MUST use the included clunky panasonic crippleware to copy the movies from the device or the sound on them doesnt work. Inexplicably. You can in fact see the device as a separate hard disk, and play movies, but it sounds like you're underwater and someone above water is talking to you. You can convert the movie files to even crappier quality formats suitable for showing your friends and relatives how technically inept you are.
   
   By the way, if you indeed use the barely acceptable 'extra fine' mode, the included 8MB card can record all of 20 seconds of video. In the 'extra fine' mode, regular mpeg4 codecs will not recognize the file and you have to install a panasonic provided codec that I was only able to find on the company's japanese web site. Going to the regular US site and choosing the product led me to a promising looking page of downloads, manuals and so forth. Choosing any link takes you to valuable information about hair dryers and other sundry products.
   
   Once your friends and relatives manage to download the 4.7MB codec, they can then view your handiwork.
   
   In order to copy mp3 files to it, you also MUST use the included s/w which requires a serial # thats printed on the cd's paper case. Lose that, and you're SOL. I found whole forums dedicated to people bemoaning the fact that they've lost their serial number and when going to load the s/w on a new machine, couldnt do so.
   
   The unit plagued me with "Check Card!" at various times when trying to record video or take still shots. When it did this I had to eject the SD card, wait a few seconds, then reinsert it. All was then well.
   
   I didnt try the voice recording/playback area. I was afraid of something really, really bad happening.
   
   Here's where its going to be good for you. You only have a couple of hundred bucks, you need something thats pocket sized, you need some vaguely recognizable video quality in full daylight and dont need to know what people are saying during the video, and/or you're taking some photos from a long enough distance (more than 2-3') where the flash wont wash them out. And you dont mind loading a bunch of proprietary s/w onto your machine.



5. Panasonic has raised the bar as far as portable media players go. I have owned this over a year and it has performed quite well. The first thing one must realize is that this is not a full sized camera. Therefore, the quality of pictures/movies will not be that of a high end camera. If you take this into account when using this product you should be able to make it work well in many situations. For the price of an iPod, you get music, pictures, voice, video, and usb storage. Pretty impressive. I bought this to play music, which is something it does well. Transfer of data is easy and fast. As with all cameras this size, you need to have good light (sunlight) and be relatively close. It does not work well in the dark and the flash can white out your subjects. Practice will improve quality. Voice recording needs to be at close proximity. Videos can suffer without a good light source so turn on a light:) I purchased something similar by a no-name company. It was a toy. Stick with well known companies like Panasonic. They have withstood the test of time for a reason. Overall a great product with many useful features. I use this to record live shows and it works great. Good sound quality and super discreet. Peace in the Middle East.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS65 3-CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I have purchased the pv-gs65 and everytime I use the camera with autofocus it makes everything blurry and only stays in focus for about 3 seconds. I returned my camcorder and got another one (pvgs65) and I am still having this problem. everytime i have used the camera i have to use manual focus.
   
   If anyone else has had this problem or knows how i could get this fixed please email me or post another review.
   
   brandonwg8677@comcast.net
   
   Thank You.



2. I bought this camorder around 3 months ago and so far I am very happy with it. First off let me say that I am a complete amateur when it comes to camcorders. I did a lot of research online though before buying this particular camcorder and saw nothing but positive reviews and for a 3 CCD camcorder I only paid $400 for it, which is the same as a good 1 CCD camcorder. I have a 20 month old baby and I use it primarily for home video footage. I was able to take it out of the box and use it very quickly. I keep the setting on 'auto' most of the time and that works just fine for me. The picture quality is excellent, the colors and vibrant and the camcorder is easy to use. I read a lot about camcorders not performing well in 'low light situations' and this camera does pretty well, even though I do notice that when I shoot video in my basement (which is not very bright) the picture is slightly grainy. However when the room is bright or when I am outside the picture is incredible. The zoom is not great but I am not shooting more than 10 feet away anyway, so that doesnt bother me. I am going to buy a video light and see how that improves my indoor video. Overall, I am extremely happy with this camcorder and highly recommend it.



3. Having just finished a half-hour video documentary using the Panasonic GS65 means I've seen the good and not-so-good. First, let me say that viewed via LCD projector on a giant screen, the color and image quality were satisfyingly rich. And I found the joystick controller terrifically easy.
   
   Along the way I racked up hours of interviews. The principal problem I found was a basic one rather than a Panasonic one: shooting with a bright background surrounding the face of the interviewee - backlighted - rendered uncomfortably dark faces. Still, I think better cameras (I had a top-of-the-line Sony for 6 years) are less severely affected by this common lighting situation.
   
   The good news for amateurs who need to rescue unintentionally-silhouetted footage is that today's software will allow you to boost the brightness in a scene as you edit. I use iMovie HD on my eMac and it proved an effective tool for tweaking both audio and video.
   
   I found the GS65's mic input and hotshoe to be essential for my interviews. I used an Azden clip-on mic with 9v-powered transmitter and receiving units and was very happy with my audio. And, by the way, I hope you realize that audio is one of the most difficult factors in bringing home a watchable video.
   
   One last bit: I noticed a bit of extra headroom on every shot despite composing tightly. I suspect that allowance needs to be made for a discrepancy between the view provided by the viewing screen and the camera's actual capture.
   
   I'm afraid the lure of Better Video via the 3-chip technology was only partially realized. Thank goodness the GS65 cost less than $400.
   
   Serious amateurs (skateboarders, teachers, etc) probably ought to save their money for a higher quality unit.



4. I bought this camera in January and have been very happy with the performance. Bang for buck, you really can't go wrong.
   
   HOWEVER, please look at the warranty on this camera before you buy. Panasonic has 12 months warranty - but the FINE PRINT says that after 3 months you, the consumer have to pay any service charges. Now we are into May, the camera mangles my tapes continually, and I have to pay for labour charges to get this fixed on a camera I have barely used and is still under warranty.....
   
   Panasonic does pay for parts - which are of course virtually free to Panasonic.... You will then need to send the camera away to a random 3rd party that may or may not fix the camera, and may or may not charge you a fortune for labour.
   
   Seriously sucks.....



5. I just bought this for about $190 at the local PX. I am impressed so far. I was going to buy the GS180, but for the sale price I would be crazy to pass this up.
   SO far the low light is much better than a single CCD. The video playback is quiet compared to a few other camcorders that record the motor noise onto the tape.
   I plan on buying an extended battery and a tripod today at the same sale.
   I will use this camcorder mostly for home videos of my son and vacations we take around Europe. I look froward to using this camcorder a lot!