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  • Intro

  • Performance

  • Format

  • Tour

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons / Conclusion

  • Intro
  • Performance
  • Format
  • Tour
  • Auto / Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons / Conclusion

Intro

Performance

Video Performance*(6.0)*

With a 1/6" CCD and 680K resolution, identical specs to its highly-rated big brother, the PV-GS35, this camcorder already has a lot going for it. At 3000 lux, the equivalent of a partially sunny day, our video performance tests showed it to have remarkably crisp color differentiation. Note the clean lines and sharpness from one color tile to another. The colors did tend to run a little dull in the green-yellow part of the spectrum. The blues and reds appeared much more strongly. The grayscale was particularly strong, with the white tiles practically popping off the screen. Dullness aside, this is excellent performance for a camcorder with a street price of under $300.

The similarly priced Canon ZR200 produced a brighter picture overall, but did not have the sharpness that the PV-GS19 did. The Sony DCR-HC21 was far too noisy, with none of the color accuracy or definition of its competitor.

Video Resolution*(9.6)*

With the Panasonic PV-GS19, video of a standard resolution chart was captured in the camcorder's 4:3 and 16:9 modes. Stills from the video footage were then exported to Imatest Imaging Software in order to determine the true resolution. In 4:3 mode the camcorder gave us approximately 307.2 vertical lines of resolution at its best, with 311.5 horizontal lines of resolution, yielding a true resolution of 95692.8. The camcorder's 16:9 mode is not true widescreen; it merely letterboxes the image, so testing was unnecessary.

**

**

Low Light Performance*(4.0)*

Low light performance for the PV-GS19 was better than one would expect on a camcorder of this price, which has become something of a theme in this review. At 60 lux, roughly the equivalent of a room lit by a single window, the PV-GS19 performed identically to the PV-GS35. Compared to 3000 lux, noise increased overall, with excessive noise in the blues. The grayscale stayed strong. The colors dulled but the color differentiation stayed strong in all but the greens. This is the same part of the spectrum that was weakest in 3000 lux, so the loss of information was at least consistent.

The PV-GS19 definitely fared better than the Canon ZR200, which became much noisier at 60 lux. It was also better than the JVC GR-D270, which showed blue noise across the spectrum. The Sony DCR-HC21 could not compete.

At 15 lux, most of the loss of color information occurred in the reds and violets. The blue-green area was a little better. The best performer was white, which was nearly as bright at 15 lux as it was at 60 lux. 15 lux seemed to be the great leveler amongst the competition. All the previously mentioned camcorders began to lose great deals of color, but retained some semblance of recognition – all but the Sony DCR-HC21, which was virtually black & white.

Wide Angle* (24.0)*

The wide angle measurements of the Panasonic PV-GS19 were taken in both its 4:3 and 16:9 modes. The camcorder produced identical measurements of 49 degrees for each mode. The camcorder does not, therefore, possess a true widescreen mode.

Format

Compression* (8.0)*

The PV-GS19 records video and stills to MiniDV, a much better alternative than DVD in terms of video quality. DV compression is the standard by which we judge other compression formats.

**Media ***(8.0)*

6.35mm MiniDV tapes are the recording medium for video on the PV-GS35. SP and LP modes are both available, shooting 80 minutes and 120 minutes, respectively.

Stills can also be recorded to the MiniDV tape or to an SD card. They record in JPEG format at 640 x 480. Sizes for SD cards range from 8MB to 1G, but will likely increase in size as the technology progresses. The web camera feature records Motion JPEGs in 320 x 240.

Editing* (8.0)*

Editing from MiniDV is easy, and any program – from the simple iMovie to Final Cut Pro and beyond – will readily accept the format via the USB or DV connection. This is far more flexible a medium than in DVD camcorders, which often require the manufacturer’s proprietary software in order to edit the footage.

In-camcorder editing is understandably overly simple, but the features are convenient. Fade In / Fade Out allows for automatic fades in both the video and the audio every time you hit the record button. Also, stills can be grabbed from video during playback and recorded to the SD card simply by hitting the Photo Shot button.

Tour

The Front*(6.5)*

Panasonic has gone retro, with the PV-GS19 sporting a decidedly '80s feel. The main feature is, of course, the lens, with a 30.5mm filter diameter. Underneath the lens is the white balance sensor. To the left of the lens is a small patch of real estate, unused on this lowest-end model of the PV-GS series. On the PV-GS35, you’ll find a video light in the space. Here, the spot is absently marked by a patch of tight horizontal lines, a look I haven’t seen since the Transformers were big. Below this is the stereo microphone. Towards the very bottom is a hard plastic cover concealing the A/V port.

The Right Side*(8.5)*

The right side is dominated by the MiniDV loading dock, which opens via a button on top. The design is simple enough, given that the user’s hand will be covering it most of the time. At the upper left of MiniDV panel a switch to choose between Auto and Manual controls. An extra push to the right on the switch calls up the manual focus control. Beside this, almost invisible at the bottom of the right side, a hard rubber cover reveals two more ports: USB and DV. The entirety of the right side is rounded out by a comfortable strap of faux leather and authentic Velcro.

**

The Back***(6.0)*****

The rear of the PV-GS19 is a somber affair with its matte gray finish. The mode dial makes a prominent bulge in the left side. The tiny joystick nested within the mode dial makes for ultra-convenient one-handed menu operation. Next to the mode dial is the bean-shaped record button. The Menu button and Quick Start button, the latter of which preps the camcorder for shooting or taking stills in less than 2 seconds, are located in the center. A record lamp would have been nice, but is included only on the PV-GS31 and PV-GS35.

The viewfinder is located at the rear of the lens barrel. It has a disappointing low-res black & white quality, but thankfully, it extends an additional 2" or so in order to clear bulky protuberance of the battery. The included CGR-DU06 battery has a decent amount of life, but an extended life battery might render the viewfinder inaccessible. It’s just as well, since you wouldn’t want to look through it anyway.

The Left Side*(8.0)*

If the PV-GS19 has a shocking feature, it’s the gunmetal blue façade on the left side. It’s certainly not a look that screams good quality, but with plenty of better camcorders in this year’s line, I suppose Panasonic can afford to be tawdry just this once.

The lens barrel runs along the entirety of the upper half. Here is yet another crude design feature on the PV-GS19: a series of tiny ridges around the lens barrel suggest a manual focus ring. This is merely an illusion. Now, the lowest-end MiniDV camcorder in their line should not be expected to have a manual focus ring. The tease of its presence, however, reminds me of the decals of speedometers and fluid indicators on my old Hot Wheels. They don’t actually work, and knowing that they should make me feel the burn all the worse.

Underneath the lens barrel, you’ll find the 2.5" LCD screen. Behind the LCD panel is the SD card port, with a spring-loaded open switch to the left. Also behind the LCD is the playback speaker.

The Top*(7.5)*

The top of the PV-GS19 is bisected into a lens barrel half and a MiniDV loading bay half. Towards the front is the Eject switch which opens the mechanism. Towards the rear is the zoom toggle, which is more of a sliding switch than a proper toggle. In addition to the inferior design of the button is the placement, positioned far enough away from the rearmost corner that your middle finger falls upon it naturally rather than your index. Index fingers tend to exhibit finer motor control, which is why better camcorders place the zoom control there.

Behind the zoom is the Photo Shot button for taking stills. Finally, at the corner where the top meets the back of the body, you’ll find the on/off switch.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (5.0)

The PV-GS19 offers automatic control over the white balance, focus, exposure, shutter speed, and gain. All of these settings can be set to automatic via a switch on the upper left side. This camcorder offers five automatic exposure settings, called Scene Modes, which automatically calibrate the camcorder for specific shooting environments. They include Sports, Portrait, Low Light, Spotlight, and Surf & Snow. Note that the Scene Modes cannot be selected when the camcorder is in automatic mode. The PV-GS19 is slightly behind other models in it's automatic features because it doesn't offer a dedicated auto switch to put the camcorder into full auto mode. If you're interested in point and shoot, and easy auto modes, the PV-GS19 isn't very strong in this area.

Overall Manual Control (7.0)

Manual control options on the PV-GS19 are fantastic, especially considering the price. They include all the options we like to see: focus, shutter speed, iris, white balance, and gain. They also feature independent control of the iris and shutter speed, an amount of control not often found in camcorders this low priced. All these bonuses sadly come at the cost of a navigational system that, while handy, is tough to decipher at first glance. However, I’d rather have great manual control that has a steeper leaning curve than no manual control at all. Frankly, you can't find this much manual control on any other camcorder under $700 other than other Panasonic models.

Much of the operation is controlled through the joystick at the rear of the body. Pushing in on the joystick brings up a series of menus (2 menus when in Auto mode, 3 menus in Manual). The first menu accesses Fade In/Out, Skin Tone correction, and LCD backlight; the second, MagicPix Mode (low light), and 2-second playback; and the third, white balance, shutter speed, F-stop, and gain.

*

Zoom (7.0)*

The zoom control on the PV-GS19 could stand some redesign. Rather than a raised toggle, it comes with a sliding switch. This sort of switch requires some downward pressure in order to move, which increases the likelihood of jarring the camcorder out of a clean and steady shot. Also, the finger which tends to fall upon the zoom control is the middle, rather than the index. A middle finger will give you far less control, though it may be better at expressing your frustrations.

Zoom Power/Ratio (24.0)

The PV-GS19 is capable of reaching an impressive 24x optical zoom, with digital zooms of 50x and 800x. For a camcorder with so many other features, this is a just a treat. If 24x doesn’t do it for you, a step up to the PV-GS31 will yield 26x optical and 1000x digital. The highest end of the series, the PV-GS35, packs a whopping 30x optical and 1000x digital. The zoom on these lower end Panasonic's is huge.

Focus (5.0)

The manual focus on the PV-GS19 is accessed via a switch on the right side of the camcorder’s body – a switch which doubles as the Auto/Manual selector. Push towards Manual, keep pushing, and now let go. Voilà. A green indicator appears on the LCD screen when manual focus is selected. The joystick is then available for left and right toggling until the desired subject is in focus.  It's nice that Panasonic gives you real button control for the focus on the camcorder.

Exposure (Aperture) (6.0)

F-stop settings to control the exposure range from Open, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.8, f/8.0, f/9.6, f/11, f/14, and f/16. Each F-stop has one intermediate increment between them. The joystick, small as it is, is not the ideal way to move through a large number of options like this. You cannot, for instance, hold the joystick left or right and scroll through. The likelihood of changing the F-stop during shooting is therefore diminished. This being said, Panasonic is the only camcorder manufacturer to include this level of aperture control on a camcorder this cheap, it's pretty much unheard of from any other manufacturer, and it's great if you want some control of your camcorder.

*Shutter Speed (7.0) *

Shutter speed settings for video on the PV-GS19 include 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, and 1/8000 of a second. In still mode, they vary from 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, and 1/500 of a second. These are some impressive options for a low-end camcorder. Even the step-up PV-GS35 only includes one extra shutter speed (1/30 second in still mode). Like the exposure control, the joystick operation is decent, but tedious. Again, no other manufacturer gives you this many shutter speed options on a camcorder this cheap.

White Balance (7.0)

While balance control on the PV-GS19 is accessed by the joystick menu. Options include automatic control (AWB), indoor (a light bulb icon), outdoor (a sun icon), and manual white balance. The indoor and outdoor settings are calibrated to the average color temperatures of fluorescent light and the sun, respectively.

Gain (7.0)

Once the aperture has been lowered to Open, gain control can be raised from 0db, 3db, 6db, 9db, 12db, 15db, and 18db, with one intermediate increment between each. While gain control is an incredible feature to offer on such a low-end camcorder (as stated effusively in this review in regard to several features), users should be advised the gain is a digital manipulation that degrades the image quality. Once more time, it's amazing that Panasonic gives you gain control on their $300 model. You can't get manual gain control on the $2,000 Sony HDR-HC1!

Other Manual Control (0.0)

The PV-GS19 has no other manual control. Users should be well satisfied with what has already been described above.

Still Features

Still Features*(6.0)*

Stills on the PV-GS19 can be captured to the MiniDV tape, but for simplicity and convenience, users should opt for the dedicated SD card port. Stills can be recorded to the card even when you are in video mode, a useful feature if you don’t want to stop the video recording. Simply hold down the Photo Shot button behind the zoom and your stills will snap away. A feature we would like to see more often from other manufacturers is the Lock Setting, which protects photos against accidental erasure. The PV-GS19 also features a Burst Mode, recording up to 10 stills in approximately 0.5 second intervals. Two qualities are available: Normal and High. At a resolution of 640 x 480, with no options for larger sizes, and no flash, this is a rather disappointing still feature set.

It still ranks fairly well against the competition. Entry-level camcorders like the Sony DCR-HC21 are usually capable of capturing stills only to tape, while the Canon ZR100 doesn’t even provide still options. The older and more expensive siblings of the Panasonic PV-GS19, the PV-GS31 and PV-GS35, do not offer higher still resolution. The PV-GS35 does offer an extra low shutter step of 1/30 in card mode, which is beneficial to any user looking for tighter control of the image quality.

Still Resolution* (0.9)*

The Panasonic PV-GS19 captures stills on an SD card at the standard resolution of 640 x 480 in 4:3 mode. Stills were taken of a standard resolution chart and exported to Imatest Imaging Software. At its best the camcorder generated a still resolution of 92453.4075 (0.09 MP).

Still Performance*(4.0)*

The PV-GS19 produced respectable still performance results. The camcorder produced a fairly bright image with good color representation, but the overall image was a bit fuzzy. The PV-GS35, which shares the same imager and the limitation of only being able to capture stills at 640 x 480, had comparable results.

The PV-GS19 had mixed results against the competition in this category. The JVC GR-D270 was far noisier. The Sony DCR-HC21, which records stills only to MiniDV tape, and the Canon ZR200 were both brighter, but at the cost of additional noise.

Handling and Use

**Ease of Use ***(4.0)*

Panasonic has improved their ease of use by leaps and bounds since last year’s models. That said, there is still some road to plow. The joystick on the rear is perfectly placed for the right thumb, much better than the old hide-it-under-the-LCD bit from last year. The problem most users may experience, particularly those unfamiliar with Panasonic, is a steep learning curve as to their menu system.

Half of their menu is accessed by pressing down on the joystick. A circular menu appears on the lower right corner of the LCD with some puzzling iconography. (What does the smiling face of a little girl mean? Ah yes! The Soft Skin Mode, naturally.) It takes some heavy referencing of the manual in order to decipher most of the icons.

The joystick menu is where nearly all of the manual control features are accessed. A second menu, selected via the Menu button on the rear of the camcorder, handles the picture quality, aspect ratio, language, etc – all the options that don’t need to be as readily accessible as, say, exposure. It’s generally a good system that Panasonic has employed, but it will take users some time to learn all the aspects of their new camcorder.

Handling* (8.5)*

The PV-GS19 feels like what it is: the lowest-end camcorder in its class. It’s a little bulky, a little hollow-sounding, and a whole lot gaudy. If you can get over your initial urge to recoil, and maybe find some sunglasses to block your view of the blue exterior, you’ll probably like what you find.

Panasonic has stepped up its navigation and manual control this year, and nearly every operation can be conducted with one hand. The learning curve for the menu systems is steep, but once you become acquainted with the PV-GS19 and its manual (be sure to hold onto it), shooting quality is effortless. The zoom toggle should definitely be moved back so that the index finger falls upon it naturally rather than the middle finger, and a proper toggle would have been nice instead of the sliding switch.

Manual controls are nearly all accessible via the well-placed joystick at your thumb. I found only the Menu button difficult to reach one-handed. The enormous record button blocked all but the very tip of my thumb from reaching it, and I’m sure I would have accidentally started recording if I’d not been more careful.

Portability* (7.0)*

As camcorders slim down, the PV-GS19 tends to look rather bulky. Why it takes up so much space is a mystery, because the inside sounds as hollow as an election year promise. This will not fit in your purse and will not pack flat in a suitcase. Plan on bringing an additional carry-on if you’re taking the PV-GS19 to Bermuda.

LCD/Viewfinder*(6.0)*

The 2.5" LCD screen on the PV-GS19 is adequate, but with so many manufacturers plunging into widescreen, the PV-GS series is a bit behind the times, particularly because they offer "Cinema Mode," a bastardized 16:9 aspect ratio that merely letterboxes the 4:3 image. This entire series has also lost points for their tendency to solarize at extreme angles.

The crushing loss of a color viewfinder is what really drags the score down in this category. While a black & white viewfinder is something you might find on very high-end, professional camcorders, this low resolution, electronic model is a pale imitator, and lets you know exactly where the Panasonic skimped in order to lower the cost.

**

Battery Life*** (10.8)
*The included CGR-DU06 battery lasted 108 minutes (1 hour and 48 minutes) , continuously recording with the LCD screen open and the zoom untouched.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio*(5.0)*

The audio features are yet another area where Panasonic scaled back in order to keep the retail price tag small. They give you the choice between 12 bit and 16 bit recording modes, but not much beyond that. There is no audio levels indicator, which is a feature that would not have taken much on Panasonic’s part to include. Once again, the PV-GS35 seems to hold all the cards, feature-wise, with its included audio dubbing option and it's microphone jack. Even that camcorder lacks many audio features. The next step up is the 3 CCD Panasonic PV-GS65, with an accessory shoe, mic input, and headphone jack.

**VCR Mode ***(6.5)*

On-camcorder playback is available for both the MiniDV and the SD card. Each medium has its own selection on the mode dial for playback. Controls are operated by the joystick. The zoom controls volume. In still playback, the PV-GS19 thumbnails the photos you have taken for easy viewing. It can be play them back in a slideshow format, as well.

The PV-GS19 can play back on your TV via the A/V port at the front of the body. To connect to a computer, there are ports for DV and USB. By comparison, the upgraded PV-GS35 comes with all these plus an S-Video port.

Ports* (6.0)*

Ports on the PV-GS19 are the bare minimum you should expect on a MiniDV. In the front is an A/V port. On the right side are DV and USB ports. There is no S-Video (included on the PV-GS35), no audio in, and no accessory shoe. The one port that really should have been included, even on such a low-cost camcorder, is a headphone jack – hence the low score.

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode*(5.0)*

The PV-GS19 offers a "Cinema Mode," which is, unfortunately, not a true widescreen. It simply adds letterbox bars to the top and bottom of the frame, suggesting a widescreen look. True 16:9 widescreen actually captures a wider image than the standard 4:3 aspect ratio.

Standard Aspect Ratio

**

Widescreen Aspect Ratio

Scan Rates/24P* (0.0)*

The PV-GS19 records in its native 60i rate, and does not include any other frame rates.

**Other Features ***(7.0)*
MagicPix-- This feature allows you to record better colors in low light than you would get in normal video mode. It works surprisingly well for still or slow-moving subjects, but anything that moves too quickly will blur past recognition.

Backlight-- The Backlight (Compensation Function) prevents the subject from appearing too dark in the presence of a strong backlight. It does this by brightening the entire image. Our informal test of this function proved it to be of limited quality.

Quick Start-- Once the power is turned on (in video or still mode), pushing the Quick Start button will have the PV-GS19 in standby mode within 1.3 seconds. This function is only operational when a MiniDV or SD card is inserted.

Fade In / Fade Out-- When this feature is on, the video will automatically fade the video and audio in when the record button is pushed, and fade it out when pushed again.

Web Camera-- When the PV-GS19 is connected to the computer via the USB, and when the proper drivers are installed, the camcorder can act as a webcam.

Wind Cut-- This feature reduces wind noise in the audio track.

Soft Skin Mode-- This feature, which never seems to work as advertised, supposedly softens skin tones, establishing a brave new world of digitized beautification.

Comparisons / Conclusion

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS35
The highest-end 1 CCD camcorder in Panasonic’s line, this big brother to the PV-GS19 has the same imager and but a number of bonuses. The additions include a microphone jack, an A/V port that doubles as headphone jack, an S-Video port, a video light, an additional shutter speed (1/30 seconds in still mode), and 30x optical zoom. The remote control, another add-on, allows for more controlled playback functions like variable speed search and slow motion. All the extras are frosting on the cake, at the cost of $150-$200 more. The PV-GS19 is a good, solid camcorder – the base on which on the PV-GS35 is built.

Sony DCR-HC21

Similar image quality and a comparable price (about $50-$100 more) would seem to make the DCR-HC21 a close competitor with the PV-GS19. The bottom of the line Sony MiniDV cam, it also lacks a microphone and S-Video port, but includes a LANC jack. The defining difference between these two camcorders is Sony’s lack of manual control. While automatic control is generally great across the Sony line, they consistently come at the expense of automatic control. Panasonic has gone to great lengths to include an excellent degree of manual control on such an inexpensive camcorder. Also, the DCR-HC21 does not include a dedicated still medium. Stills are recorded to MiniDV only.

JVC GR-D270
For around the same price, JVC makes the GR-D270, with similar imaging specs to the PV-GS19 and the negligible boost to 25x zoom. It has a comparable manual control feature set – even gain control – but the menu system is located on the left side, requiring two-handed adjustments. Also, manual controls are buried further down in the menu.

Canon ZR200

Canon offers the ZR300, the middle child of its entry-level ZR series, as a competitor with the PV-GS19. Imaging specs are the same. In brief, the ZR200’s story could be described as such: great optics, satisfactory manual and automatic control, bad LCD screen. The ZR camcorders are tried and true Canon products, and this middle model got on our good graces. An Easy button makes shooting even simpler for beginners, and the menu system is more intuitive than the PV-GS19.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters *(6.5)*

This is a good camcorder for the point-and-shoot crowd. The menu navigation takes a little while to decipher, but with the manual at your side you should be shooting with alacrity in hours.

Budget Consumers* (9.0)*

Budget consumers won’t find a cheaper camcorder with this level of manual control anywhere. The fact that Panasonic included such an advanced feature set shows the level of respect they have for their customers as intelligent, discerning amateurs of videography.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid*(4.0)*

The PV-GS19 takes decent stills, but the feature set is lacking. You can only shoot in 640 x 480 and only in two qualities, Fine and Standard. If you like the PV-GS series but want a better looking still, try the PV-GS35.

Gadget Freaks* (4.0)*

There is nothing here for gadgeteers to get excited about.

Manual Control Freaks* (8.0)*

If your wallet is thin, but you drool for manual control, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better camcorder than the PV-GS19. Take a look at the details in the Manual Control sections of this review and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists* (5.0)*

The imager can’t compete with a 3 CCD camcorder, but this would make an excellent choice as a second camcorder for the user who can’t take their XL2 to the beach. You’ll find many of the same manual control options and a decent menu system.

Conclusion

Who would have thought that so many great features could be packed into a camcorder that goes for under $300 on the street? Panasonic made a smart move by not dumbing down this model. The PV-GS19 has a truly amazing degree of manual control, all operable with a single hand. The joystick makes moving though exposure, shutter speed, white balance, F-stop, gain, and other features a breeze, once you learn to decipher the often-cryptic iconography of the menu. The zoom magnification is an impressive 24x, though the toggle could have been designed better and moved further back on the body.

As a performer, the PV-GS19 is one of the best in its class. It can’t compete with 3 CCD camcorders, of course, but price tags clearly do not tell the whole story. Panasonic has chosen to respect its customers as what we are all slowly becoming: videographers in training. Video technology is becoming ubiquitous, and the option for greater control, built on an easy-to-understand platform, is a step that more manufacturers should be taking. The only people who might want to stay away from this camcorder are the ultra point-and-shooters, who know that never in a hundred years will they want to adjust anything. But be wary: by choosing that ease of use road, you are turning away some outstanding picture performance in the PV-GS19.

What is it about Panasonic that causes their camcorders to be so popular on this site of late? I think the PV-GS19 is certainly a window into the reason why. It's their least expensive model; 95% of the users who buy it aren't going to know how to use the manual control, won't compare the video, and probably don't even know what MiniDV is. In fact, most of the people who buy this inexpensive camcorder are probably going to buy it because the body color is blue! However, according to our website's philosophy, there is never an acceptable reason to dumb down a camcorder--any camcorder. Panasonic's inclusion of great manual control on the PV-GS35 doesn't hurt anyone, including that 95% out there who won't use it. And for the 5% of you reading this review, such as the filmmakers in training in middle school who saved up for 6 months to buy a camcorder, the PV-GS19 will be an amazing tool to help you to grow into the next generation of indie and feature filmmakers. Add to the great manual controls the PV-GS19's solid low light and video performance, and it rises to the top of our list in its price category.

Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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