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Panasonic Palmcorder PV-GS120 Mini DV CamcorderWith a built in digital still camera feature, the new camcorders can also record high-resolution digital still images utilizing the...
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With a built in digital still camera feature, the new camcorders can also record high-resolution digital still images utilizing the versatile SD Memory Card. Both the 1.2 Megapixel PV-GS120 and 2.3 Megapixel PV-GS200 feature a 10x telescopic optical zoom lens; a 700x digital zoom that allows for amazing 700:1 clear, close-ups from wide angle to full telephoto zoom; and a Macro Zoom feature, which lets users shoot extreme close-ups at distances as close as 40cm. \n\n
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12 Reviews from Shopping.com
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Pluses and minuses
| Author's Rating: |
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Pros: Great video quality
Ergonomic, fun to use
Cons: Not made for repair
Poor image stabilization
Wind noise
The Bottom Line:
I wouldn't buy it without an extended warranty because it's not a durable camera. If you can keep it stable and out of wind, it will produce good video.
The video quality of the camera is quite good, and you can really notice the depth of color that the three CCDs provide. The menus are well set up, and I didn't find the solarization of the LCD to be as much of a pain as some people think. Yes, it could definitely be better, but I think the problem is minor.
The biggest minus is Panasonic. The Firewire electronics are highly subject to damage and are not overload protected. While fixing this should be inexpensive, Panasonic charges more for the circuit board than for a new camera. In other words, blow your Firewire, don't bother to fix it. I'm in it the market for a cheap camcorder right now. I only need it to transfer videos because my PV-GS120's Firewire is dead. The tech who looked at it said she sees this all the time. If you buy this or any other camcorder, make sure you never plug in the IEEE 1394 cable while your editing software is running, not even if the camera is turned off. And never plug in the cable while the camera is on.
The camcorder's image stabilization is poor, barely functional. Hold it very steady. The camcorder also has a wind reduction mode that is a bit of a joke. Put foam or something over the mike if there is any wind at all. You will hear even a breeze.
The manual is usually good, but it could be better. It has some significant gaps in information.
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