Solid audio and video performance

First, I won't bother with reviewing the following:

-The features list. See Panasonic.com or other merchant sites or reviewers for that info.

-Still photo features or attributes (get a dedicated still camera for those needs, such as the Canon A80 or A95).

-The software that came with this unit. The GS200 is not an entry-level product; hence, so you should acquire a decent video-editing program (such as Ulead’s VideoStudio) to assemble the high-quality footage this camcorder is capable of capturing.

-MPEG4. It’s not a bad feature. But given the supplied Flash card’s limited memory and the fact that the DV format is noticeably superior to MPEG4, it’s a bit of a gimmick. Personally, I’d opt for better optics and electronics (for the price) than MPEG4 or still-image photography.

For the stuff I did not cover, check out other folks, reviews on ePinions, various message boards, dvspot.com and camcorderinfo.com.

With this review, I’d like to focus more on this products shortcoming. Yes, I do think it is probably the best cost/performance camcorders currently available; this opinion was not based upon the comparative testing of several models – I don’t have time for that :) But there are several reviews of this model on the sites noted above. Also, there are various message/bulletin-board forums that also offer insight from unbiased individuals/owners (not those who want to sell you this camera via an affiliate program). So if you want a glowing report, go to Panasoinc.com or a product vendor :)

This camcorder was purchased in early July 2004. My only other camcorder, for comparative purposes, is a Hi8 Sony CCD-TRV99, which is almost 6 years old. I also have an ADS Tech Pyro AV Link, which has a decent analog-to-digital converter and can take a live image from the old Sony’s S-Video feed, and pipe it into a PC. I used this to compare image qualities of the two models. I also fed the GS200’s signal live (not taped/or recorded on memory card) to the PC via 1394; I then compared this to footage that had been thru the Panasonic electronics (taped).

First off, the GS200 produces excellent image quality. When compared to the live-thru-the-lens-straight-to-PC vs. taped-to-PC, I could not tell the difference. This indicates that the electronic guts and firmware of the GS200 are doing their job.

A nit-pick of mine is the how well a camera or camcorder performs in the glare of the afternoon sun. Traditionally, I have made religious use of polarizing or glare-reduction filters for film-based still cams as well as the Sony Hi8. The GS200’s built in “lens hood” does a great job of keeping the sun out. Although I purchased glare and polarizing filters for this camcorder, I found that the GS200 images quite well w/o them. A convenience to be sure!

A shortcoming, with respect to video performance, is shaky imaging when operated without a tripod (or monopod). The GS200 features an electronic image stabilizer (EIS) that helps somewhat. The price one pays is some loss of picture quality. My old Sony Hi8 is, comparatively, much better at handhelds. Reason: it has more mass, which tends to damp shaky arms and hands (decaf helps, too!). If you want to do handhelds, get a Glide/SteadiCam (or similar device). These tend to be pricy. I like using a very small, cheap tripod to weigh the GS200 down. One can hold the tripod at the stem (near the camcorder) and spread the legs out a bit to balance it. You can also build your own Glide/Steadicam for less than $15 (http://www.hocast.com/).

Audio: it’s decent (and much better than the Sony Hi8). I usually use the 12-bit recording option because I create separate soundtracks for my projects and don’t need high-rez audio. I think 12-bit audio is good enough for most casual events. 16-bit is also available on the GS200. This may be good for concerts, nature or other events requiring more fidelity.

If you will be recording outside a lot, you will need to muffle the mike somehow (or use an external mike with a suitable muffler or wind-screen). Reason: wind noise. There is a built-in electronic wind-noise-reduction feature. But it tends to compress audio fidelity; as with the EIS noted above, I prefer a more mechanical solution (i.e. winds-screen).

Moving on to the GS200’s documentation, there is no separate “Quick-Start Guide” (it’s weirdly, oxymoronically located in the “Before Use” section of the manual). The manual, as others have noted, is not consumer-friendly; the style seems similar to Panasonic's industrial products. Having owned several Panasonic products over the years -- LaserDisc players in particular -- I've seen this tech-writing presentation before. Anyway, the GS200 has a lot of features, some of which I’m afraid users will overlook because they have to dig for them in this unintuitive manual!

One other inconvenience: You can't simultaneously recharge the battery while using the AC-adaptor/charger combo to power the camcorder. You need to physically disconnect the camcorder adaptor extension in order to charge the battery (i.e. simply shutting the GS200 off won’t enable charging).