Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Product Description

For impressive video and still images, Panasonic PV-GS320 is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but is not short on innovative features. This camcorder incorporates the same type of 3CCD imaging system used in Panasonic's celebrated professional camcorders. Individual CCDs are used to reproduce the red, green and blue colors that compose an image for vivid, true-to-life pictures with remarkable depth and presence. The PV-GS320 also features the sophisticated Leica Dicomar lens, which has become known for its ability to capture and finely render the most delicate nuances of light and shade. The PV-GS320 also offers 16:9 widescreen format recording (to fill the screens of new widescreen TV models) as well as standard 4:3. It has a 2.7" widescreen LCD on camera for easy viewing. It uses Optical Image Stabilization, that compensates for normal hand movement, to reduce blur and assure that still and video images are beautifully crisp and clear. High-resolution digital still images can be captured via the GS320's built-in digital still camera feature, which records to a stamp-sized SD or SDHC Memory Card. The PV-GS320 features high-speed USB 2.0 for high quality full-motion video transfer, in addition to standard audio and video connecting ports. High-Picture-Quality 16 - 9 Wide as well as standard 4 - 3 visual screen record and play modes 2.7 Diagonal Widescreen Power LCD Monitor and Color Viewfinder Built-in SD / SDHC Memory Card Slot for inserting optional SD cards USB 2.0 High-Speed for image data transfer to a PC or Macintosh computer / May also be used as a Webcam Audio Dubbing (SP Mode Only) High Speed Shutter 5-Mode Program Auto-Exposure Manual Focus Ring Allows PictBridge Direct Print Compatibility Video is recorded on MiniDV tapes Record sound as a 12-Bit or 16-Bit digital soundtrack in stereo or mono Still picture resolutions up to 2048 x 1512 [4 - 3] and 2048 x 1152 [16

Customer Reviews:

Worst piece of hardware i ever got.......2007-12-12

software provided in CD doesnt work with vista, not sure why its being sold when it is not supported on new version of windows. i can't download gb's of s/w from internet...i hate to return an item, feel like throwing it but will return as my hard earned money is spent on this..

My first 3CCD..........2007-11-20

I purchased this nifty little camcorder primarily for making
low-budget movies. I read the reviews and compared prices on
numerous models and decided the GS320 was the most affordable
and suitable model (GS500 was unavailable at the time). The
box arrived in the mail and I began some film testing and was
quickly impressed with the video quality, especially outdoors,
creating some clear, vivid images. It's true, the low lighting
isn't the greatest and the colors typically fade with the lack of
proper lighting. If you plan on filming a lot at night or
creating some dark creepy scenarios then this model probably
isn't what you want (The GS250 however has some great low
lighting capabilities, although, it too was unavailable at the
time).

The GS320 is very lightweight taking much stress off of the
arm and wrist, and the handstrap is also adjustable to fit practically
any size hand. You can purchase high-quality mini-tapes which
bring about an even more impressive looking picture (I've found
these to cost about $10-$12 per tape).The zoom is nice, although
you do lose some picture quality as already mentioned in several
reviews. This camcorder also has some neat special features, one
of which cuts down on that typically uncontrollable background noise
by concentrating its built-in mic on the speaker. The built-in OIS
works well in keeping the image steady for those distant, closely
zoomed in shots. Since I use Adobe Premeire Elements 3.0 for movie
editing, I only dabbled briefly with the 320's effects, most of which aren't very useful to my purpose. APE 3.0 is a great editing tool to
use with the 320; it's fast and simple and allows for much creative
freedom. I bought the APE 3.0/Photoshop Elements 4.0 bundle which
ran about $100 and is indispensable to a striving movie-maker.

For the price and quality, the GS320 seems to be unparalleled.
An unregrettable choice so far.

Camera is Ok........2007-10-10

- Initially I ordered SDR-H200 (which is also 3CCD), but it was getting heated up so I returned it and ordered GS320..
- GS320 was no match for SDR-H200 in terms of quality of picture.
- Other drawback was to transfer the recorded media onto Laptop. No faster way other than playing it back again.
- So I returned GS320 and ordered Panasonic SDR-H200 again. I took my chance but luckly the heating problem is not there. Probably it was with the previous piece.

NOTE: Not an upgrade over the GS300!.......2007-10-06

Correcting another review:

This is NOT an upgrade over the PV-GS300!
The two camcorders are exactly the same except that the 320 has NO microphone input. That is the ONLY difference.

Also, a CCD is the digital equivalent of film. It is a computer chip that changes light into digital information. It has NOTHING at all to do with the zoom. If you are zooming to 25-30x, the lens has reached its zoom limit. What is happening is the camera's computer is cropping and enlarging the picture to LOOK like it is zooming in. This dramatically decreases the quality of the picture. The PV-GS300 can zoom in 10x its widest setting without resorting to this "Digital Zoom".

Now, I'm not completely sure of the technical stuff in this paragraph, but here's what I think it is: A CCD can only use one color. So, an 1 CCD camcorder actually shoots in black and white. This image is then converted into color, hence the poor color quality on these camcorders. On 3CCD camcorders, each CCD deals in either red, green, or blue. This way the color quality is FAR higher than with only 1 CCD. All professional camcorders have 3 CCD's.

Now, about this camcorder. I have owned the PV-GS300 for around 6-8 months. I can't really remember which. The color is the best you can get with a sub-$1500 camcorder. The quality and detail is also superb. I don't know why you would choose a Sony HC96 (with ONE CCD!) over this baby. The menus are easy to navigate, the screen is bright and clear, the camcorder is easy to hold and operate... I could go on and on and on. My only two gripes are: the hand strap is fairly narrow, so it begins to hurt a little after a long time wearing it tight, and the editing software that come with it is pitifully useless. I use Adobe Premiere and Avid Liquid when I want to make things look good.

The only better standard definition camcorders are (for some reason, they're all Panasonics...):

PV-GS400 (discontinued, but in its time was sweet)

DVX-100b (~$3,000)

I don't have the words to describe the amazingness of the DVX-100b.

Overall good, image stabilization could have been better.......2007-09-19

This is my first Panasonic Camcorder. I had a sony trv 27 for the last 5 years and I broke it by mistake, otherwise its a great solid camcorder. First I bought a Sony HC48, it was good in every aspect except it died the first week. I'm satisfied with this panasonic gs320. The video quality is good and rich on outdoors, indoors are not that great but okay, can't complain. Its easy to hold, shoot and control the zoom. It took me a while to get used to the joystick. The still images are not just bad but its awful. The image stabilization is worse compared to the sony camcorders that I had before. With sony I didn't have to hold it steady but this panasonic sucks, I have to remember to hold it perfectly steady. Another issue, the battery has to be removed to access the ilink and the usb ports. So, to download the video and images it has to be connected to the power adapter

pros:
good video quality
comfortable shape and size

cons:
bad image stabilization
bad still images
no neck-strap
can't use battery power to access the data ports

Product Description

If you need high performance for faster discovery, especially of birds on the move, take a close look at the new lightweight alloy bodied Steiner Merlin. They precise, yet amazingly rugged and also fully waterproofed for even the rainiest days.The optics are made with premium optical glass and are coated with the own natural color transmission multi-coating which boosts light transmission much higher than similar binoculars in this price range and yields extraordinary clarity, resolution and color fidelity.Power, with exceptional brightness. Recommended mostly for distance glassing such as shorebirds, hawks, falcons, eagles. Also good for getting extraordinary close-up views at feeders and nesting, while maintaining good distance so not to spook birds.

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