Quick Review Camcorder : Panasonic PV-GS65

The imaging system on the PV-GS65 is comprised of three CCD chips, each measuring 1/6”, producing 290 effective pixels. These are the same specs found on last year’s model, the PV-GS120, which this replaces. Video performance in bright light was decent, but hardly what you should expect from a 3 chip camcorder. 3 CCD cams work by separating the incoming light into red, green, and blue, each serviced by its own chip. Normally, this will produce superior color representation. In short, the PV-GS65 showed up to play ball, but neglected to bring its “A-game.”

Automatic control is available by selecting the Auto mode in the LCD’s cavity. Panasonics typically do a fair job of adjusting for white balance, focus, exposure, and gain. Responses are quick and accurate, though not quite as good as comparably priced (or even lower-end) Sonys.

Manual controls are where Panasonics show their game face. There is no manual audio level adjustment, but anything else you could want is included. A feature we always like to see included is gain, a digital manipulation which boosts the overall signal of the picture. While gain can add a corresponding amount of noise, the benefits to a camcorder's low light performance usually make it worth it. With a slight boost, you’re sure to see an improvement in any shooting environment where the light is less than adequate, i.e. blowing out the candles on the birthday cake or the secret liaisons of Miss Fanny Hill and her amorous suitors.

Ease of use on the PV-GS65 is one of its better benefits. The camcorder has been designed for one-handed operation. A joystick on the rear of the body is used for navigation and drawing up the manual control menu. More administrative options, like adjusting the clock or changing video quality, are located in a different menu, accessed by the Menu button. The zoom button could have been better placed, as it falls under the middle finger rather than the index finger. This could be specific to the reviewer, but it is one of any number of handling concerns that you should check out by visiting your local retailer before purchasing.

The PV-GS65 includes a 10x optical zoom. The lower-priced PV-GS35 features 30x zoom, the highest of any consumer camcorder. Manual controls are also going to be the same on both models, giving the PV-GS65 no great advantage in that category either. The price jump does buy a higher still resolution (1280 x 960), an accessory shoe (cold, unfortunately), and better video quality. At less than a hundred dollars more, the upgrade to the PV-GS65 is probably worth it. As for the further upgrade to the PV-GS150, you’ll gain a built-in lens cap, a flash, higher still resolution, much better video, and a hot accessory shoe. That price jump is at a much steeper cost – over $250 more.

Panasonic PV-GS65 THE BOTTOM LINE Rating: 205.24

Likes

- Ease of use - Manual Controls  - Ports

Dislikes

- Zoom - Navigation - Some bad button placement

Panasonic PV-GS120 Rating: 108.35	Panasonic PV-GS150 Rating: 220.69	Sony DCR-HC42 Rating: 182.55	JVC  GR-DF550 Rating: 195.38	Canon Elura 80 Rating: 196.66
Better	Better	Better	Better	Better
-Affordability	-Digital Still Capacity -Imager Specs -Video Performance  -Ease of Use -Audio -Portability -Battery	-Ease of Use -Automatic Controls  -LCD -Portability -Optical Zoom Specs -Still Features	-Portability -Automatic Control -LCD -Slightly better ease of use -Optical Zoom Specs -Wide Angle	-Ease of use -Optical Zoom Specs -LCD -Audio
Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal	Equal
- Imaging Specs - Video Performance -Low Light Performance -Still Performance -Automatic Control -Still Capability -Audio -LCD -Ports	-Optical Zoom Specs -Automatic Control -Overall Manual Control -Low Light Performance -Wide Angle -LCD -Handling -Ports	-Wide Angle	-VCR Mode -Audio	-Video Performance -Still Capability -Automatic Controls
Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse	Worse
-Navigational function -Manual Control -Ease of Use -Menu  -Video performance -Portability	-Affordability	-Imager Specs -Manual Controls -Navigation -Handling -Low Light -Video Performance -Ports	-Video Performance -Low Light Performance -Manual Control -Still Capability -Handling -Ports	-Manual Controls -Low Light Performance -Wide Angle -Handling -Portability -Ports