Version: 2008
  • On TechRepublic: FREE download: Social networking policy
advertisementThinkPad X200 Tablet Save Extra 5%
advertisement
Click Here

Panasonic PV-GS200
Reviewed by
Geeta Dayal
on 11/12/2004
camera on

See all Panasonic products

Add to my list Product summary

The good: Extremely compact for a three-CCD model; top-notch color reproduction; solid manual controls; broad feature set.

The bad: Poor low-light performance; mediocre stills; suboptimal image stabilization.

The bottom line: A small, portable three-CCD camera at an attractively low price--with some trade-offs.

Read full review

Compare this digital camcorder to:

CNET editors' review

  • CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
    Detailed editors' rating
      Design : 8.0
      Features : 8.0
      Performance : 7.0
      Image quality : 8.0
      Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
  • Reviewed by:
    Geeta Dayal
  • Edited by:
    Aimee Baldridge
  • Reviewed on: 11/12/2004
  • Released on: 03/15/2004
Panasonic broke new ground when it introduced the PV-GS200 and the lower-priced PV-GS120. The very compact design that the two MiniDV cameras share makes them the smallest, lightest three-chip camcorders on the market. They're also more affordable than usual for three-chip models, putting technology normally reserved for the prosumer market into the hands of home-video makers. The flagship PV-GS200 offers numerous advantages over its lower-priced cousin, including a higher effective resolution, a manual focus ring, MPEG-4 capture, a wired remote with a built-in mic for narration, and a built-in flash for low-light stills.

In addition to being easily portable, with no dimension exceeding 5 inches, the Panasonic PV-GS200 is comfortable to hold and maneuver for long periods of time. At 16.6 ounces, it's fairly light, and its basic automatic and manual controls are well placed. The icons that identify them are understandable, not just cute, and the LCD menus are bright and easy to read. Sometimes the LCD menu system can be cryptic, especially to a novice. Pray that you won't have to count on the user manual for help--it's a labyrinthine mess of poorly organized information.

The Panasonic PV-GS200 packs an impressively rich feature set for a camera at its price point. It sports an f/1.8 10X Leica Dicomar zoom lens, and you can manually set aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. An SD card slot is tucked neatly behind the LCD screen for recording stills and MPEG-4 video. You'll need to buy your own card, though, since the puny 8MB one that's included won't hold much. While Panasonic touts this camera's 2.3-megapixel still capture, that resolution is achieved through what the company calls quad-density pixel distribution technology. The result is mediocre photos that may make fine mementos but can't compare in quality to what you'd get from a decent dedicated still camera.

Continue reading

Most helpful user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Panasonic PV-GS200

 ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Compare prices for Panasonic PV-GS200

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Email me when this product is available

advertisement
Click Here

Recent user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Panasonic PV-GS200

 ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Special sponsor stores

advertisement

Panasonic PV-GS200

Reviews & advice
Site map
Editorial policies
Meet the editors
How we test
Forums
Internet speed test
Popular topics
Apple iPhone
Apple iPod
Cell phones
Dell
GPS
LCD TV
CNET sites
CNET Site map
CNET TV
Downloads
News
Reviews
Shopper.com
More information
Newsletters
CNET Mobile
Customer Help Center
RSS
CNET Widgets
About CNET
sponsored