Panasonic PVGS9 MiniDV Compact Digital Camcorder

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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Price at amazon.com: $349.99
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List price $349.99



Product Features:

• Compact digital Palmcorder MultiCam camcorder and still camera with 680,000-pixel CCD
• 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 800x)
• 2.5-inch LCD swings open 120 degrees and black-and-white viewfinder
• Low-light recording settings, records stills to tape, and Web cam capability
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack lasts for up to 1 hour and 15 minutes

Product Description:

Blending innovative technologies with new, simple-to-operate controls, Panasonic's entry-level PV-GS9 camcorder is an affordable entry into digital video with powerful features. Panasonic continues to innovate, adding more optical zoom capability while reducing the overall size. This MiniDV camcorder features a 20x optical zoom, ultra-fast 1.3-second start-up time, digital stills saved to tape, and webcam capability. For a step up in price, the Panasonic PV-GS12 offers digital electronic image stabilization and enables you to save digital stills to SD/MMC memory cards. Optics The PV-GS9 is equipped with a 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel CCD and 20x optical zoom It also features a 800x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups. Digital Stills In addition to video camcorder operation, you can also use the PV-GS9 as a digital still camera. Using Panasonic's PhotoShot function, images are stored on tape. More Features The 2.5-inch LCD screen can be opened a full 120 degrees away from the camcorder's body, making it easier to view motion images as they're being captured. The Quick Start feature enables the PV-GS9 to begin taping 1.3 seconds after turning the power on so those unexpected moments won't be missed.ÊAfter pressing the Quick Start button, the camcorder will bring up the previous settings that you were shooting with--even if they were manually entered. The PV-GS9 has several built-in digital effects during record and playback, including: Digital Mirror: Creates a mirror like symmetrical image Strobe: Digitally "freezes" a series of images Mosaic: Turns the image into a mosaic pattern Stretch: The image expands horizontally Trail: Forms multiple impressions of all images in motion, which gradually fade-out as the motion comes to a halt, creating a "trail" effect Slim: The image expands vertically The Soft Skin Detail function detects the different skin tones being recorded and softens the focus to create a realistic blend. Other features include: The image-enhancing MagicPix feature allows for rich videos under low-light conditions.Ê Web cam capability, which is ideal for video conferencing with friends or family, or use as a simple monitoring device when consumers are away from home. The unsnapping hand strap doubles as wrist loops, enabling you to carry the camcorder like a small bag or purse. Black and white viewfinder Inputs and Outputs The PV-GS9 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. It also has a USB connection (you'll need an optional USB cable to hook up to your PC). Dimensions and Weight This camcorder measures 3.3 x 2.75 x 4.38 inches (H x W x D) and weighs 14.1 ounces. MiniDV Format MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, and it is highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 2 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
From the Manufacturer 3-in-1 Palmcorder MultiCam Camcorder MultiCam camcorders feature digital camcorder and digital still camera capabilities, all in one easy-to-use camcorder. In fact, select MultiCam camcorders are even equipped with a Web Camera, so you can teleconference with friends and family. 10x Hi-Definition Zoom A zoom this powerful works like a telescope to produce close-up shots with extraordinary clarity. And with seven different zoom speeds, you can control how quick you go from a wide angle to... read more


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Description from Manufacturer:Blending innovative technologies with new, simple-to-operate controls, Panasonic's entry-level PV-GS9 camcorder is an affordable entry into digital video with powerful features. Panasonic continues to innovate, adding more optical zoom capability while reducing the overall size. This MiniDV camcorder features a 20x optical zoom, ultra-fast 1.3-second start-up time, digital stills saved to tape, and webcam capability. For a step up in price, the Panasonic PV-GS12 offers digital electronic image stabilization and enables you to save digital stills to SD/MMC memory cards.

Optics
The PV-GS9 is equipped with a 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel CCD and 20x optical zoom It also features a 800x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills
In addition to video camcorder operation, you can also use the PV-GS9 as a digital still camera. Using Panasonic's PhotoShot function, images are stored on tape.

More Features
The 2.5-inch LCD screen can be opened a full 120 degrees away from the camcorder's body, making it easier to view motion images as they're being captured.

The Quick Start feature enables the PV-GS9 to begin taping 1.3 seconds after turning the power on so those unexpected moments won't be missed.ÊAfter pressing the Quick Start button, the camcorder will bring up the previous settings that you were shooting with--even if they were manually entered.

The PV-GS9 has several built-in digital effects during record and playback, including:

• Digital Mirror: Creates a mirror like symmetrical image
• Strobe: Digitally "freezes" a series of images
• Mosaic: Turns the image into a mosaic pattern
• Stretch: The image expands horizontally
• Trail: Forms multiple impressions of all images in motion, which gradually fade-out as the motion comes to a halt, creating a "trail" effect
• Slim: The image expands vertically

The Soft Skin Detail function detects the different skin tones being recorded and softens the focus to create a realistic blend. Other features include:

• The image-enhancing MagicPix feature allows for rich videos under low-light conditions.Ê
• Web cam capability, which is ideal for video conferencing with friends or family, or use as a simple monitoring device when consumers are away from home.
• The unsnapping hand strap doubles as wrist loops, enabling you to carry the camcorder like a small bag or purse.
• Black and white viewfinder

Inputs and Outputs
The PV-GS9 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. It also has a USB connection (you'll need an optional USB cable to hook up to your PC).

Dimensions and Weight
This camcorder measures 3.3 x 2.75 x 4.38 inches (H x W x D) and weighs 14.1 ounces.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, and it is highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 2 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Just okay! Rating:
I have just finished recording my first videotape with the Panasonic PV-GS9 and would like to make the following comments.

First, the camcorder is easy to use and is a basically a point and shoot camcorder.

For the more discriminating users I would like to point out some of the shortcomings of the camera.

1) I have found that the automatic focus is quite slow sometimes and sometimes would not work at all. I was photographing some hummingbirds up close and the camera would not focus on the feeder maybe because the color was white.

2) Dark subjects came out overexposed rather than rendering the intense colors one would like to have gotten.

3) Panasonic does not provide the software or cable to download to one's computer and it has been a real bitch trying to get the folks to respond to e-mail. I currently have three e-mails out to the service folks trying to find out how I might get the software. I received an answer to one e-mail directing me to a site where I could download the software but when I got there the link was a dead link. I have written three times about this and no one has answered my e-mails. Additionally, the e-mail with the dead link stated that the cable for downloading the movies to the computer "...is currently on back order with the factory for 4-6 weeks."

I cannot imagine what one might do if something goes wrong with the camcorder.

Despite the negatives I love the fact that I can get close up shots of birds from a safe distance without disturbing the birds and the camera will focus almost right at the edge of the lens. One could do close ups of ants if he wanted to. One really needs a tripod for the extended zooming range. You cannot hold this camera still at the 50X digital zoom.

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Comment: A very good camcorder Rating:
The only -ve things I found are:
-no flash light (I knew that before buying).
-magic-pix helps to take picture in dark only if the subject is very still.
-for USB connection the software in not downloadable for free. You have to buy software from Panasonic for $11 besides USB cable which is another $8.
In spite of theses shortcomings I still like this camcorder and would highly recommend it.

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Comment: Love the camera, but a little annoyed about the USB driver Rating:
I recently bought this camera, and absolutely love it, but I am a little annoyed that it doesn't come with a usb cable or the software to use it. We still can't download our movies to our computer, because I can't even find the right driver on the panasonic website. The camera itself is great, though! If you just want to use a firewire, then I highly recommend it.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)