Camcorder Review:
Panasonic PV-GS35 Mini DV (page 2)

The on-board stereo mic is located at the front of the camcorder near the bottom. Its placement seems dangerously too close to the handgrip. In review, though, we didn't hear any noticeable operator or camera noise.

At close range we could hear audio clearly, but it sharply dropped off in volume as the source moved further away. As far as directionally goes, the unit performed well, and was able to pick up audio from a wide angle from in front of the camcorder. For playback in the camcorder there's a small monitor with an adjustable volume control. Unfortunately, there's no headphone jack for more accurate monitoring.

The camcorder's 1/6" CCD is not one that will blow your mind in terms of resolution, but it performs as expected. Capturing fine details is not the camcorder's best ability. Although, with a 30x zoom you are likely to get close-up details that most camcorders will miss at longer distances. Also, with the Soft Skin mode, you'll be able to soften up your image to complement portraits.

The ability to accurately reproduce color is the camcorder's most notable image quality. Unlike some other camcorders, bright colors appear true without that over-saturation brightness that takes away from the scene's realism. Overall, the video quality is incredibly true to the eye, and will definitely please those family historians shooting to preserve their family's memories.

The Panasonic PV-GS35 is a reliable point and shoot camcorder with some impressive features. Its comfortable fit and joystick make it easy to operate.

The biggest shortfall is the limited input options--the only way to input video onto the camcorder is through the FireWire jack. On the other hand, most users will find the zoom capabilities a worthwhile trade-off. Overall, we found it to be a great Mini DV camcorder for a low price.

Format: Mini DV
Number of CCDs: 1
Size of CCDs: 1/6"
Pixels on CCD: (k) 680
Video Effective Pixels (k): 340
Focus: auto/manual
Shutter Speed: auto/manual
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/8000
Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/60
Lens f Stop: 1.8-3.9
Program Exposure Modes: 5
Optical Zoom: 30x
Focal Length: 1.9 - 57mm
Image Stabilization: Electronic
Manual White Balance: Yes
Viewfinder: Color
LCD Monitor: 2.5"
Progressive Scan: still photo only
HD Modes: no
Video In: FireWire
Video Out: special a/v, S-Video, FireWire, USB
Mono/Stereo Recording: Yes
Microphone In: Yes
VU Meters: no
Manual Audio Level Controls: no
Headphone Jack: no
Speaker: yes
Still Shot Media: SD card
Memory Card Included: no
Flash: no
Wireless Remote: yes
External Battery Charger Provided: yes
Battery Type: Li-ion
Tape Loading Configuration: top/side
Onboard Video Light: yes
Accessory Shoe: no

• S-Video Connector (out only)
• Mic Input
• Accurate Color

• Jerky EIS at full zoom
• Limited input options
• Difficult manual operation

This camcorder is hard to beat, especially with a 30x optical zoom and a mic input. Although, it has limited input options, most users will find it as versatile as their needs.

Mark Montgomery is Videomaker's Editorial Assistant.

$500
Panasonic
One Panasonic Way
Secaucus, NJ 07094
(800) 211-PANA
www.panasonic.com

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