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• Panasonic PV-GS500 MiniDV Camcorder

• Price Range

  $799.95 - $879.0
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• Overall Rating
  1 Star Review

  Reviewed by: Apple777

  Updated:01-23-07

  Duration of ownership:

  Strengths:

  Weaknesses:

  Overall Evaluation: I'm going to return my PV-GS500 because it is almost impossible for me to work around the handstrap. I am a small woman with small fingers and this camcorder is just not for me. To push the record button seems almost impossible as the strap is just below it. Also I don't see how I can easly manuver the zoom and the record at the same time. Feeling bad about this because I think it's a good camcorder - just not my size!

• Overall Rating
  4 Star Review

  Reviewed by: GASTURBO1

  Updated:10-02-06

  Duration of ownership:1 Weeks

  Strengths: WIDE SCREEN, GREAT PICTURE QUALITY, COMPACT AND LIGHT WEIGHT.

  Weaknesses: NO BILT IN VIDEO LIGHT, NO 5.1 SOUND.

  Overall Evaluation: This is a great camcorder for those looking for the best picture quality with a wide screen display at a reasonable price. The only drawbacks that I can think of are the lack of a built in video light. I guess panasonic chose to omit this feature to save battery. A hot shoe is provided, however, if you want to add an external video light. Also there is no 5.1 digital sound like some competitors, but the stereo sound that it delivers is superb. Overall the PV-GS500 is a very good digital camcorder.

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: milanashah

  Updated:08-27-06

  Duration of ownership:31 Days

  Strengths: very very handy. very nice

  Weaknesses: trying to find

  Overall Evaluation: its perfect for family use. very nice indoor quality. Zoom works great. I am very happy with result. Software comes with it is nice also. It also seperates as chapters when the pictures are different. but you can remove those breaks.

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: drdcs

  Updated:08-04-06

  Duration of ownership:2 Weeks

  Strengths: Excellent color and resolution. Great low-light ability. Very smooth and precise zoom control.

  Weaknesses: Low resolution/poor quality still shots. Uncomfortable grip position.

  Overall Evaluation: I did a lot of research before I bought this excellent camcorder a couple of weeks ago. I decided not to get the Sony HDR-HC3 camcorder since it costs about twice as much. Also, I don't think HDV is quite ready for prime time.I have a somewhat limited experience with the GS500 so far. I have filmed around the house, outdoors while on a river tubing trip and also in a darkly lit hospital room for my wife's ultrasound. The ultrasound footage was very surprising. With very little light in the room I was able to film the black & white monitor screen on the ultrasound machine and people in the room with no problem! I was amazed. I had to think hard about things I didn't like about this camera. The only thing I could come up with is the poor quality of the still shots it can take--but I didn't buy the camcorder for this anyways. You still need a digital camera for stills.

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: bgesli

  Updated:07-21-06

  Duration of ownership:1 Weeks

  Strengths: * 3 CCD provides excellent picture quality* Small, lightweight and easy to use* Great sound capture, even without a remote mic* Joystick control is intuitive and simple

  Weaknesses: * Low light situations do significantly impact picture quality* Hand strap is anchored to the camera in an awkward location

  Overall Evaluation: This is a tremendous camcorder. It is certainly a bit more pricey than an entry-level camcorder, but compared to other cameras with an equivalent picture quality, it is a great bargain. I was especially impressed with the sound capture and the crispness of the zoom. It is totally silent and does not impair the recording at all.I was a bit unimpressed with the way the hand strap is affixed to the camera. Instead of being anchored at the midpoint (bottom-to-top) where the weight would be evenly distributed, it is anchored more toward the bottom than the top. As a result, the camera pulls away from your hand at the top and it feels like it is trying to hop out of your hand. This makes it a bit difficult to do one-handed recording.However, this is a minor inconvenience in an otherwise fantastic camcorder. So far, I am quite pleased with the purchase.

• Overall Rating
  4 Star Review

  Reviewed by: Fujiman

  Updated:07-01-06

  Duration of ownership:2 Months

  Strengths: 3-CCD camcorder. Huge lens and big CCD's. LCD screen is visible in sunlight.

  Weaknesses: Pricy. Manual lens cover. Could use better lens hood.

  Overall Evaluation: This is a wonderful camcorder. The LCD display is visible outdoors in the sun. The 300 model has the auto-lens cover and is much smaller, but its lens and sensors are also smaller, so I much prefer the 500. The camcorder looks impressive and feels great in the hand.

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: pantherkeeper

  Updated:06-27-06

  Duration of ownership:14 Days

  Strengths: Easy to use, great quality, 4 megapixel stills

  Weaknesses: Low light only OK, no auto lens cover (only minor), would have been nice to have a built-in LED light.

  Overall Evaluation: Was very pleased with purchase. While I am not a sophisticated user, like ease of use, but demand quality & am prepared to pay more for it than something run of the mill. I found that the PV-GS500 suits my needs, provides the toys should I want to use them, but most importantly provides good quality on auto. Mostly being used for family memory video, where I want to p/u & shoot rather than miss the moment, but nice to know that it can do more. The 4MP still are are nice touch, I can get printable photos without having to switch cameras or video in one hand, still in other (since wifey refuses to take one or other, lol) Definitely will not replace my DSLR, but is not intended to. Not overly light, so it does not feel unstable, unlike many of the ultra-compacts that I've tried. Replaces my infamous JVC DVM90

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: CofCdude

  Updated:06-11-06

  Duration of ownership:

  Strengths: size and weight, video quality, built-in megapixel camera

  Weaknesses: lack of headphone jack

  Overall Evaluation: The Panasonic PV-GS500 is definitely a beautiful camera. The size, weight, and ergonomics of the device are great. All the controls are well placed and fairly intuitive to the user. The digital camera function is amazing, and pictures can be taken one after another without any downtime in between. The camera could use a headphone jack, but there does exist adapters for the RCA audio cables to improvise for such. The camera could be a slight bit smaller, but because it's such a wonderful device, I won't complain.video: A+sound: B+ -- no 5.1 recordingstill camera: A+functionality: Aease of use: B+size: B+weight: B+

• Overall Rating
  4 Star Review

  Reviewed by: avnsoldier

  Updated:06-01-06

  Duration of ownership:1

  Strengths: Easy to use with extra features that let you do special effects.

  Weaknesses: No weakness found yet except waiting for battery to charge

  Overall Evaluation: The Camcorder is super easy to use. only need to use manual to learn the special buttons that the cam has. I am going to love using it on my cruise to Alaska.

• Overall Rating
  5 Star Review

  Reviewed by: tedcobb

  Updated:05-26-06

  Duration of ownership:2 Weeks

  Strengths: Good low light capability, smooth zoom function, great video quality, Good battery life

  Weaknesses: No headphone jack

  Overall Evaluation: This is my first purchase of a camcorder, and I did lots of research and reading of reviews prior to purchasing. After working with it for a couple of weeks, the larger CCDs make the video look good in most any indoor situation -- except for a dark room with only one 40-watt bulb. Does a great job in auto mode for outdoor and sports video. The stills are good quality, though not at the level of a dedicated still camera. Excellent machine, and I'm very pleased with the results.

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Panasonic PV-GS500 MiniDV Camcorder

$799.95(2 sellers) • Avg User Rating •Specs