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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 ***(7.5)*

Video performance on the PV-GS65 is very much in line with last year’s 3 CCD Panasonic camcorders. Indeed, the PV-GS65 offers the same three 1/6 inch CCD imagers with 290K effective pixels for video and 280K effective for stills each, as found on last year’s PV-GS120. Each CCD has 460K gross pixels.

For the most part, the PV-GS65’s image at 3000 lux is very similar to the PV-GS120’s of last year. There are subtle differences, however, and these differences are accentuated in low light level testing. For example, while the PV-GS120 and the PV-GS65 both show brilliant gray scale tones and very crisp, vibrant colors across the spectrum, the PV-GS65 shows some washing between yellows and oranges and between violets and blues. With the PV-GS120, transitions between these colors are much more defined, crisp, and distinct. Both camcorders show horrendous washing between the greens and the teals of the spectrum. Also, saturated colors appear a tad more vibrant with the PV-GS120, especially in the reds and pinks. All in all though, both camcorders perform well, which is to be expected from 3 CCD models. What may decide the popularity of the PV-GS65 in the future is how it stacks up against the other, more expensive 3 CCD Panasonics of this year: the PV-GS150 and the PV-GS250. We’ll see; stay tuned.

Video Resolution*(8.1)*

Some camcorder features don't effect video performance, such as features that aid the user’s adjustment of the video to particular environments (i.e. manual control, audio options, etc.) and cosmetic elements of the camcorder (i.e. color, button placement, etc.). Apart from cosmetics, each of these factors can be judged fairly objectively, while factors which govern video performance (i.e. CCD size, pixel count, automatic gain functions) are a bit harder to assess so concretely. The specs are clear, but their relationship to performance isn't always so.

While it is often assumed, by manufacturers as well as consumers, that bigger CCDs, bigger pixels counts, and more effective pixels mean better video, in reality this doesn't always follow. For this reason, we’ve started to run stills for video capture through Imatest Imaging Software in order to provide as much evidence as possible for an objective analysis.

From video captured in both 4:3 and 16:9 formats on the PV-GS65, we exported stills and ran them through Imatest Imaging Software. In 4:3 mode, the PV-GS65 gave us approximately 336.6 lines of horizontal resolution at its best, with 242.8 vertical lines, giving a real resolution score of 81,726.48. We divide that number by 10,000 to get the resolution score.

Now some of you might scream bloody murder at the idea that a MiniDV camcorder is shooting at less than the 500-some lines of resolution which manufacturers report. We want to stress that this is perceived resolution, and it should be compared to other resolution tests we run. 330 is actually a decent score.

Low Light Performance*(5.5)*

In low light levels, the PV-GS65 performed well for its price, and certainly put all three of its CCDs to use, working hard to eliminate noise and retain color information. Fortunately, any 3 CCD camcorder is going to have more color information than a 1 chip camcorder. Compared to last year’s PV-GS120 which features the same imager as the PV-GS65, the PV-GS65 shows similar results at 60 lux, a light level slightly below average indoor lighting levels, though with a marked increase of noise. Not only does the noise increase in the PV-GS65’s 60 lux image, but color washing trends continue from 3000 lux, though only slightly. The PV-GS65 still maintains lots of color information and the crispness between colors is still present, but the noise increase does muddle the results a bit.

At 15 lux, noise again increased, making color crispness now difficult to discern. Color information tends to slip, revealing some muddy areas in the lighter colors, such as greens, yellows, and teals. Overall, the PV-GS65’s image at 15 lux is very similar to the PV-GS120’s image at the same light level. The PV-GS65 mostly distinguishes itself from last year’s model in its navigational system and improved handling abilities. As to be expected, the PV-GS65 produces immensely better low light images, with minimal noise and maximum color information, than many similarly priced 1 chip MiniDV camcorders, such as Canon’s ZR series of last year.

**Wide Angle ***(8.8)*

Using our new wide angle test we zoom the camcorder out to its widest setting. If it includes a wide angle adaptor, we put the wide angle adaptor on the camcorder. We then use a laser level to measure the angular distance of the camcorder’s widest angle. Using this method we found that the PV-GS65 had a widest zoom angular measure of 44.0 degrees. We then multiply this number by 0.2 to get the wide angle score of 8.8.

Format

**Compression ***(8.0)*

The PV-GS65 uses standard DV compression to MiniDV tape. MiniDV compression is certainly the standard of video quality against which all other compression formats are judged. We obviously love the look of MiniDV video, and frankly, this new section is more for those camcorders which use compression types such as MPEG2 or MPEG4 where a lot of information is lost. Of course, there are better formats out there, like DVCAM, DVCPRO, BetaCamSP, etc. and that is why we give all MiniDV camcorders a compression score of 8, instead of 10.

Media*(8.0)*

The Panasonic PV-GS65 records video to 6.35mm MiniDV tape in both SP and LP modes. The camcorder records 80 minutes in SP mode and 120 minutes in LP mode. Still JPEGs can be recorded to SD card, ranging from 32 MB to 1 GB, at a resolution of 1280 x 960. Stills can be taken to the SD card while video is being captured to tape at a resolution of 640 x 480.

**Editing ***(8.0)*

Video footage recorded to MiniDV tape can be edited very easily using a FireWire connection and any of many compatible editing software suites. The PV-GS65 ships with no such software, though free versions of Avid are available for download. Editing is done using the PV-GS65’s input/output located underneath the screen. MiniDV camcorders score fine in this section and it is really designed for camcorders which use compression methods such as MPEG2 or MPEG4 which do not have the editing capabilities of MiniDV camcorders.

Tour

**

The Front ***(7.5)*

The front of the PV-GS65 is almost a square. In the upper right corner, the camcorder’s lens protrudes ever so slightly, its screw-on lens hood ringed with focal length and optical zoom statistics. To the left of the lens is the PV-GS65’s record light, below which rests the camcorder’s stereo microphone. To the right of the stereo microphone, directly below the camcorder’s lens, is a black, glossy sensor area. This is a fine layout for the PV-GS65. Usually on small camcorders, the stereo microphone can be muddled by the user’s pinky finger during handling. This is not the case here. The PV-GS65 is wide and long enough for a decently sized hand to fit comfortably without obstructing the microphone.

**The Right Side ***(8.0)*

The right side of the PV-GS65 contains the camcorder’s tape mechanism, grooved in gray plastic. Running along the bottom of the tape mechanism is the camcorder’s hand strap, which is long and slender, yet comfortable. Towards the left of the middle of the grooved tape mechanism is the camcorder’s speaker for on-camcorder audio playback. To the far left of the right side of the PV-GS65 is a vertical port cover which reveals the camcorder’s A/V output/headphone, microphone jack, and USB port.

**

**

**The Left Side ***(8.0)*

When the camcorder’s LCD screen panel is closed, the left side of the PV-GS65 is unadorned by any sort of buttons or controls. Opened, the LCD panel reveals a cavity containing the camcorder’s Power LCD button. This button turns on an LCD brightening effect, the auto/manual mode switch/manual focus slider, the FireWire (DV input) port, and the SD card slot, which is concealed by a gray plastic cover. While there are some controls lurking beneath the LCD screen, most of the controls seen here last year have migrated into the camcorder’s menu system, and, while one could say that this isn’t a good thing since it requires the user to enter a cumbersome menu system to adjust anything, Panasonic has redesigned both their menu system and the method it is navigated. This helps make the PV-GS65 both beautiful and functional.

**The Back ***(6.5)*

The back of the PV-GS65 contains all of the camcorder’s navigational controls, including the new navigational joystick, as seen on all of Panasonic’s new MiniDV camcorders. Starting from the top of the back of the body, the camcorder’s electronic viewfinder can be stretched backwards about half an inch. This may be problematic if the user opts for a larger battery. The battery port itself rests immediately below the viewfinder, and thus, if the user purchases a bigger battery, he or she might not be able to look comfortably into the viewfinder without getting a mouth (or nose) full of battery. To the right of the camcorder’s battery compartment are buttons for quick start–-a feature which starts the camcorder in about 2 seconds, but with limited capacity–-and the camcorder’s menu button. Below these are the record buttons and the mode dial, which surrounds the new navigational joystick. Modes on this dial include: camcorder mode, camcorder playback mode, camera mode, camera playback mode, and PC connect mode. The navigational joystick and record button are excellently placed within extremely convenient reach of the user’s thumb. Below these controls, underneath a relatively bulky port cover, is the camcorder’s S-Video port.

**

The Top ***(8.0)*

The top of the PV-GS65 can be divided into halves: the top of the lens barrel and the top of the tape mechanism. Atop the lens barrel sits the camcorder’s cold accessory shoe, opposite which, on the tape mechanism side, sit the camcorder’s zoom toggle and photo button. Behind these controls is the camcorder’s on/off switch. Further up on the tape mechanism side is the tape eject switch.

Auto / Manual Controls

Automatic & Manual Control
Automatic Control (5.0) Automatic control over exposure, gain, focus, and white balance are all available on the PV-GS65. There is no easy mode which reverts all controls to their automatic defaults, though there is an automatic mode, accessible using the switch underneath the LCD screen. Auto mode can be selected underneath the LCD screen. Auto exposure presets are available in order to set particular windows of performance on exposure. They include Sports, Portrait, Low light, Spotlight, and Surf & Snow modes, and are accessed within the menu system. Automatic adjustments to exposure were smooth, yet not the swiftest in the world, and though the camcorder had the normal trouble with maintaining good focus on objects at full optical zoom or objects very close to the camcorder, focal adjustments were generally pretty good in automatic mode.

Overall Manual Control (7.0)

Manual control on this Panasonic is about as good as you’re going to get on a MiniDV camcorder for under a grand. Though there are no manual audio level controls, the PV-GS65 offers manual control over iris, shutter, and gain–-something Sony camcorders don’t do--as well as white balance and focus.

One major improvement from last year’s Panasonic 3 CCD camcorders, as well as nearly all of their MiniDV camcorders, is the redesigned menu system and navigational joystick on the PV-GS65. The new menu system is navigated entirely with a convenient joystick located where the user’s thumb naturally falls. This is great and makes the already easily navigable menu system a breeze to operate. One small complaint is that the button to access the camcorder’s menu system is a bit hard to press with the hand that is holding the camcorder. One of the biggest strengths with these new Panasonics is their ability to be easily handled with one hand; this menu button placement puts a damper on this ability.

Additionally, a distinction should be made between the camcorder’s menu system, the menu accessed by pressing the menu button on the back of the camcorder, and the manual control menu system accessible by pressing down on the camcorder’s joystick. This latter system is extremely easy to navigate, aside from a couple of hard to decipher icons, and basically operates by replacing the compass control found underneath the LCD screen on last year’s models with a digital simulacrum appearing on the LCD monitor itself. Again, this function makes the PV-GS65 extremely easy to operate with one hand.

The only problem with the manual control here is that it can be kind of cumbersome to adjust. While the new joystick control makes these adjustments more convenient and (literally) at-your-fingertips than last year’s models, the user must scroll through all the manual controls to access each one. All in all, there are some good manual controls here. I would have liked to see some slower shutter speed options for video though.

Zoom Control (7.0)

The zoom toggle on the PV-GS65 is the same as the zoom toggles on all the lower-end MiniDV Panasonic camcorders of this year. It is unfortunately placed beneath the user’s middle finger. I would have liked to see it placed under the index finger, so as to offer more control. An optical zoom of 10x is available, and variable speed zooms are definitely possible. I could achieve about three zoom speeds easily, one very fast, one very slow, and one in the middle. While more than three speeds is possible, the zoom toggle on the PV-GS65 is slightly harder to control than the other zoom toggles on the market.

*Zoom Power/Ratio (10.0) *

The Panasonic PV-GS65 has a 10x optical zoom with capabilities of 25x and 700x for digital zoom. Considering Panasonic’s 30x optical zoom camcorder for $100 less and their other camcorders with over 20x optical zoom, the 10x optical zoom on the PV-GS65 is a big disappointment.

Focus (5.0)

The switch to control between auto and manual focus on the PV-GS65 is accessed through a slider underneath the LCD screen. Focus can instantly be manually operated by sliding the slider down and releasing. This action also puts the camcorder in manual focus mode. When in this mode, the joystick can be used to move through the focal spectrum. An "MF" icon appears on the upper right hand of the LCD display, and manual focus can be toggled within the same menu page as exposure, shutter speed, gain, and white balance. Generally, manual focus on this year’s Panasonic MiniDV camcorders is much easier than last year’s camcorders. Instead of using awkward volume buttons to adjust and move through the focal range, the user uses the conveniently located and operated joystick. Unfortunately, the user must open the LCD to flip a switch in order to access it. On top of that, there are no numerical values to guide the user through the focal range.

Exposure (Aperture) (6.0)

Manual exposure is available within the manual control menu. Using the joystick to scroll through the manual controls within this menu, the user can toggle through the exposure adjustments which include: Open f/2.0, 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. There are smaller increments in between each F-stop that lack numerical delineation. The case is similar with gain control. Identical options are available in still camera mode. These options are easy enough to adjust with Panasonic’s new joystick control, but it can be a bit tedious to have to use the joystick over and over again. A dial of some sort would be easier, maybe something similar to that found on the ol’ PV-DV105. All in all though, I like the exposure offerings on the PV-GS65; it’s not every day that a camcorder under six hundred bones includes manual exposure options such as these.

Shutter Speed (7.0)

Shutter speed adjustments are available within the same manual control system as exposure and focus. Using the joystick control, the user can toggle between options of 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500, 1/1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000, and 1/8000. In still camera mode, options from 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/180, 1/250, 1/350, and 1/500 exist. As with exposure, adjustments are easy but would be easier with a dial. It is always nice to have manual control options like these, but I would have preferred some slower shutter values for video to be available.

White Balance (7.0)

Standard white balance options exist within the same manual control menu in which exposure, focus, shutter speed, and gain are adjusted. Options include indoor (light bulb icon), outdoor (sun icon), Auto (AWB icon), and Manual (weird-looking square with two triangles icon). Automatic white balance cannot recognize true white in all environments, and therefore manual white balance is necessary for special indoor environments or outdoor events (like a sunset). Such is also the case with the preset automatic functions (indoor and outdoor), which basically set a more specific window of performance on the automatic white balance function.

Gain (7.0)

Manual gain options become available when the user uses the joystick in the camcorder’s manual control menu. Manual gain options are only available once the aperture is set to Open. Once the aperture is Open, manual gain options include: 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, 15dB, and 18dB with smaller increments between each setting, which all lack numerical delineation. It is pretty rare for a consumer camcorder to have manual gain control, and luckily Panasonic has continued its tradition of offering these options on all of its MiniDV line camcorders.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

While the PV-GS65 offers a host of manual control features, it does not offer any extra manual control features beyond what we’ve listed above.

Still Features

**Still Features ***(6.5)*

The PV-GS65 captures stills to its SD card in both digital camera mode and during video recording in camcorder mode, though stills taken during video capture are only available at a resolution of 640 x 480. In card mode, the PV-GS65 can record stills at resolutions of 1280 x 960 and 640 x 480. Resolutions can be toggled in the menu system. These are the same resolutions enjoyed by PV-GS120 users last year. Panasonic does offer their RapidFire Consecutive Photoshot option on the PV-GS65. With it, users can take up to ten photos at a 0.5 second interval (if 1/30 shutter is selected, only 0.7 second intervals are available). The PV-GS65 supports PictBridge technology, allowing for stills to be easily and directly printed.

**Still Resolution ***(4.1)*

We tested the still resolution of the PV-GS65 in the same manner in which we tested its video resolution: using Imatest Imaging Software. The PV-GS65 captures still images to SD card at 1280 x 960 and 640 x 480. When stills of both resolutions were processed by Imatest Imaging Software, they gave us 407,745 (0.407 Megapixels) and 161,000 (0.161 Megapixels) pixels of resolution, respectively, at optimal conditions. Again, we want to note that this is "real resolution," and although it differs from the reported resolution of the camcorder (1.2 Megapixels at 1280 x 960, and 307K pixels at 640 x 480), it is not an unusual reading as all imaging products perform worse in our tests than in the manufacturer's report. We divide the real resolution measurement by 100,000 to get the still resolution score.

**Still Performance ***(6.0)*

In my opinion, pretty much any still taken on a digital camcorder is pretty bad, and this camcorder provides no exceptions. However, in relation to other camcorders the PV-GS65 produces good stills. The relatively high still resolution of 1280 x 960 definitely helps; however, what really makes the difference here is the camcorder’s three CCDs. In fact, if you look at both the 1280 x 960 and the 640 x 480 shots taken on the PV-GS65, you’ll notice that they are very similar, whereas if you look at the PV-GS65’s 640 x 480 shot versus the PV-GS35 640 x 480 shot, you’ll notice a big difference. While the PV-GS65’s shot at 1280 x 960 is definitely more crisp than the 640 x 480 shot, both shots show excellent, distinct colors, compared to the PV-GS35’s muddier, nosier colors. See the results below.

Handling and Use

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

While the PV-GS65 is extremely easy to hold and maneuver, there are a couple of problems which contribute to Panasonic’s reputation of hard-to-use camcorders. First, the camcorder’s new navigational system, while perhaps easier to use than last year’s compass button method, may take some getting used to. The system makes use of a new joystick to control both navigation through the camcorder’s menu system–which is easy enough–and navigation through the manual control menu–which will require some acclimation. For instance, many of the icons for the softskin, telemacro, and fade functions are not readily associated with their corresponding functions. Thankfully, Panasonic has included an index of icons in the manual. While the PV-GS65 offers many options and features as well as a new menu system and joystick control, it is still not as easily operated as many Sony camcorders.****

**Handling ***(8.5)* 

Thanks to Panasonic’s new navigational system, the PV-GS65 handles really, really well. It fits snuggly into the hand with the tape mechanism providing enough girth for a comfortable grasp. The navigational joystick is located directly underneath the user’s thumb which makes navigation quicker and easier. The record button is also both large and conveniently located. My only qualms with this camcorder’s handling are that I’d like the zoom toggle to be controllable by the index instead of the middle finger, and that I’d prefer that the auto/manual switch not be located beneath the LCD screen. Other than that, this camcorder is great.

**Portability ***(7.0)*

For a 3 CCD camcorder, the PV-GS65 is pretty portable. While PV-GS65 is slightly fatter and taller than Panasonic’s cheapest 3 CCD camcorder of last year, the PV-GS120, it is not as long, which gives the camcorder a more compact and portable feel without sacrificing surface area. However, while it’s nice that the PV-GS65 feels very small and portable for a 3 CCD camcorder, it does suffer for its size, as its zoom toggle is most easily accessed with the middle finger. Personally, I’d rather control the zoom with the index finger. But anyway, the PV-GS65 has to be one of the best buys for performance and portability.

**LCD/Viewfinder ***(6.0)*

The PV-GS65 ships with a 2.5 inch LCD monitor. Unfortunately, this screen solarizes when viewed from a downward angle. If you’d like a better LCD screen look at some Sonys. There is a color viewfinder available as well though it isn’t exactly the most mobile thing in the world; it only retracts about half an inch.

**Battery ***(4.55)*

Recording video to tape with the LCD screen open, and without zooming, the included CGR-DU06 battery pack, fully-charged, yielded one hour, 31 minutes, 9 seconds of recording time on to MiniDV tape. To find the battery score we multiply the number of minutes by .05.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

**Audio ***(6.5)*

Audio on the PV-GS65 can be captured in either 12 or 16 bits. These options can be set within the camcorder’s menu system. Audio Dubbing is available via the remote for cool voice-overs and such. The camcorder does feature an external microphone port on its right side, and an A/V output port which doubles as a headphone output. However, the accessory shoe on the camcorder’s top is cold, and cannot feed off of the power of the camcorder’s battery.

**VCR Mode ***(6.5)*

The PV-GS65 offers playback modes in both its camcorder and digital camera modes. These modes are accessed using the mode dial. Playback is operated on the camcorder using the joystick to control options and the zoom toggle to control volume. With controls like this, on-camcorder playback is easy and operable using one hand. Slow-motion/frame-by-frame playback is available with the camcorder’s remote. Television playback is available through use of either the camcorder’s A/V output port or S-Video port. Thumbnail playback of card captured still images is available in digital camera playback mode, and the card can be formatted and edited on the camcorder. The camcorder can be connected to a computer for editing or viewing using the DV port or the USB port.

**Ports ***(9.5)*

The PV-GS65 includes a USB, microphone, and A/V/headphone output port on the right side, with a DV port underneath the LCD screen and an S-Video port under the mode dial. All are conveniently located. It is nice not to have the mic jack on the front of the camcorder, and indeed, it is nice to have a microphone jack at all, as most camcorders in this price range do not include such an option.


Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode*(5.0)*

The PV-GS65 offers a letterboxed 16:9 mode which places black bars on the top and bottom of the captured image as well as the LCD screen during preview and capture. To access this option, select the cinema effect from the camcorder’s advanced menu section. A true 16:9 image is not possible on the PV-GS65 as the camcorder’s CCD has a 16:9 aspect ratio; thus any widescreen image must be digitally altered after capture, hence the letterboxing. As you can see from the above resolution chart (look for the aspect ratio arrows on the chart's corners), the PV-GS65's Cinema mode doesn't offer an exact 16:9 ratio. Additionally, the camcorder's standard recording mode's 4:3 ratio is a bit off as well (see next chart). It should be noted that the PV-GS65's cinema effect never claims to attain a 16:9 aspect ratio; the manual states that Cinema allows the user to capture video 'compatible with widescreen TVs.' Interpret that as you will.

Cinema Mode Aspect Ratio

Standard 4:3 Aspect Ratio

 

Scan Rates/24P*(0.0)*

The PV-GS65 does not offer recording in 24P (24 progressive) or any 24P-like effect to stimulate cinema-like capture. Video is captured at the rate of 60 interlaced fields per second each, with 525 reported lines of resolution.****

**Other Features ***(7.0)*

***Magic Pix (Magic Pix and 0 Lux Magic Pix)*

Indicated by the star and moon icon, this feature functions as the camcorder’s night mode and actually operates in two modes: Magic Pix, a slow shutter mode which lets more light in, and 0 Lux Magic Pix, which turns the LCD screen bright white so that it can be reversed and shed more light on the scene.

TeleMacro

Indicated by the Flower icon, this feature focuses on the foreground object (about 16 inches in front of the camcorder). If selected when the camcorder is not zoomed in to 10x optical zoom, this feature forces the camcorder to zoom to 10x and focus on the foreground object. The background becomes blurry, with crisp focus placed on the close-up object.

Fade In/Out

Indicated by the icon of an arrow within a box, this feature allows the user to fade in and out of a given shot. This feature is available in the camcorder’s manual control menu.

Wind Cut

Available in the camcorder’s menu system, this feature reduces wind noise when recording with the camcorder’s built-in stereo microphone.

Image Stabilization

The PV-GS65 offers Electronic Image Stabilization which works great when the zoom isn’t engaged. However, at full optical zoom the PV-GS65 has a bit of trouble keeping a handheld image stable. It’s not terrible, but it’s not stellar either.

RapidFire Consecutive Photoshot

As the burst mode for still picture capture while in still mode, this feature allows the user to capture up to 10 pictures at an interval of a 0.5 seconds. But, if the shutter speed is set to 1/30 of second, a interval of 0.7 seconds can be established.

QuickStart

This function allows the camcorder to enter into standby mode for thirty minutes, during which it can be turned on in a shorter time (1.7 sec) than normal and ready for recording to either tape or card, depending on the camcorder’s mode selection. During the QuickStart standby time, the camcorder uses about half the power that it uses in during recording mode, meaning that you’re draining battery power, and will have less overall recording than if you just turned the thing off completely. One warning: once the QuickStart standby is implemented, the camcorder’s zoom mechanism automatically retracts to wide angle. Thus, you cannot save a particular zoom magnification while standing by. If you were to turn the camcorder completely off, your zoom magnification would remain, which, in a way, makes the QuickStart function contradictory.

Comparisons / Conclusion

**Comparisons
***Sony DCR-HC42*

Sony’s offering at the $600 mark this year is its DCR-HC42. This camcorder is basically an upgraded DCR-HC40 from last year. Sony has completely redesigned the external design of the DCR-HC42, giving it a 16:9 LCD screen, a new streamlined body, a 12x optical zoom, an intelligent accessory shoe, and an enhanced 16:9 mode. However, Sony has not upgraded the DCR-HC40’s imager, so we can expect similar low light performance on the DCR-HC42. What this means is substantially lesser quality low light performance on this year’s $600 Sony MiniDV camcorder, compared to Panasonic’s. This coupled with the PV-GS65’s wealth of manual control may mean that Panasonic, in offering a 3 CCD camcorder at such a low price, will continue in its dominance of the $500-$1000 camcorder market.

Panasonic PV-GS65

The PV-GS65 features the same imager, video, and low light performance as last year’s PV-GS120. Still performance and manual control between the two camcorders is identical as well. The most salient difference between the two camcorders is the redesign that the PV-GS65 features. Included in this revamping of the PV-GS120 are the PV-GS65’s rounder, more ergonomically designed body and its new menu and navigation system. Both of these features make the PV-GS65 a great point-and-shoot, one-handed camcorder, with the ability to capture great video, and all at a great price.

Panasonic PV-GS150

If the user opts to purchase the PV-GS150, Panasonic’s next most expensive 3 CCD camcorder, he or she will gain a built-in lens cover which is pretty cool, though still no focus ring. On top of this the PV-GS150 features improved imaging specifications, a built-in flash, bigger still resolutions (1760 x 1320), and a hot accessory shoe. Both camcorders have 10x optical zooms.

Canon Elura 80

For about $50 more, the Canon Elura 80 is available. This is Canon’s revamped Elura 60 from last year; however, this year, Canon includes a better optical zoom, a smaller design, and a high resolution 16:9 mode, as seen on last year’s Optura 400 and 500. When compared to the PV-GS65, the Canon Elura 80 enjoys a better optical zoom and 16:9 mode, but, in sharing the same imager as the Elura 60, we can only expect mediocre to poor low light performance--definitely inferior to a 3 chip camcorder.****

**Who It's For
***Point-and-Shooters (7.0)*

The PV-GS65 is definitely a one-handed camcorder (i.e. you can shoot comfortably with one hand), and though the manual control sections are a bit hard to access, point-and-shooters don’t care about that stuff too much anyway. There is an auto mode but no easy mode, unfortunately.

Budget Consumers (8.5)

The PV-GS65, as Panasonic’s most modestly priced 3 CCD camcorder, is a great deal, especially for those who crave video performance and manual control.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (5.0)

We can’t recommend the PV-GS65 for its still capture; it isn’t spectacular, though better than most camcorders, and the strength of the camcorder is elsewhere.

Gadget Freak (6.0)

The only gadgety thing on the PV-GS65 is its ability to capture good video at a small price.

Manual Control Freaks (8.5)

Like all Panasonic MiniDV camcorders, the PV-GS65 offers a good amount of manual control to go along with its bundle of CCDs. With manual control over everything but audio levels, the PV-GS65 is a good buy for the manual control freak.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists (7.0)

The PV-GS65 is a solid buy for the serious hobbyist; even more so for the serious hobbyist without tons of cash, looking for good video at a cheap price.

Conclusion

The Panasonic PV-GS65 holds the lower-tier 3 CCD camcorder slot for Panasonic this year, and it holds it well. While the camcorder doesn’t offer any new manual controls or better imaging specs, it is a testament to Panasonic’s effort at making its new camcorders more user-friendly. Not only is the new menu system easier to navigate but the new joystick that navigates it affords the PV-GS65, and indeed all of Panasonic’s new models, the ability to be operated comfortably with one hand, a must for any point-and- shooter. Obviously, there are some problems: the manual control menu is somewhat hard to navigate and the zoom toggle isn’t the greatest, but all in all, the accolades we gave to last year’s Panasonic 3 CCD camcorders continue this year. The verdict on the PV-GS65 is out: Panasonic has designed a great camcorder that can produce great video quality while providing point-and-shooters something to work with.

Meet the tester

Matt Culler

Matt Culler

Editor

Matt Culler is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

See all of Matt Culler's reviews

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