Panasonic PV-GS9 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [6.98mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.8 x 3.4 inches ; 14.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001DB6IQ
• Item model number: PV-GS9
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,532 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 27, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com 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.

Product Description

680,000-pixel CCD * 2-1/2" color LCD viewscreen * black-and-white viewfinder * variable-speed 20X optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 800X) * Digital EIS picture stabilization *

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for my needs, in every way, April 15, 2004

By 

L. Olson (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic PV-GS9 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've been looking for a camcorder for several months, and have been comparing prices and features both on the web and in the stores. Based on my needs I was looking for the biggest bang for my buck. I saw this Panasonic PV-GS9 Palmcorder for $349 that included an extra free, longer life battery. I couldn't go wrong.

My needs were simple. I wanted something palm-size, and this fits the bill. It doesn't take still digital photos, but I already have 2 digital cameras. It will, however, allow you to snap single photos on the tape, which you can transfer to PC, as opposed to a Secure Digital card that the more expensive models have. It has a USB connection, a firewire connection, and an analog audio/video connection. The cable is provided for the latter, but not the first two. You can use the USB connection to allow the camcorder to be used as a web cam, but you will need software for that. I hooked up the analog connection to a USB Pinnacle Studio USB box I have, and it worked great. My Pinnacle Studio v.8 transferred the clips on the tape. You can save to CD or to your PC. I then tried a firewire cable connected to my laptop. Instantly, Windows Movie Maker opened up and automatically rewound the tape, then it transferred the movie, and allowed me to edit it, and save it as a WMV file. I use WinXP, which requires nothing else to work. You will need to download some drivers if you have Windows 98.

I have not tried the connection to the TV yet, but will soon. It works great in low light situations. It has a stereo zoom microphone. I could not hear any motor noise in my playback on the PC. Sound was crisp and clear, and the full screen video was crystal clear and very sharp. Depending on how hard you touch the zoom button, you can make the picture zoom in as slow or as fast as you want.

It comes with no editing software or cables, except for the AV cable. But then I didn't need anything extra, as I already had all the hardware and software I needed. It does not come with any digital tapes, so you will have to buy those. It comes with a Li-Ion battery and charger, and a cable to allow you to use the camcorder while plugged into the charger. In fact it is suggested you do that while hooked up to the PC to prevent battery drainage. Battery charging is very quick. The manual has 82 pages, is for this model and three other models, and is packed with information; and for my age, I need reading glasses to see all the small print and illustrations. It has Image Stabilization, but no remote control. The 2.5 inch digital viewfinder is very clear and easy to see, even with these "aged" eyes. The camcorder has an easy to use menu button, which is accessible when the digital viewfinder is opened.

For my needs, it is perfect. I love it, am very happy with it, and expect to get a lot of use out of it. Even with the tiny print in the manual, I still give it all 5's.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars molto bene!, July 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic PV-GS9 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

For a while, my friends and I have been searching for a digital camcorder to make movies with. We had one already but it was...bad...to say the least. We needed something new.

I got this camcorder and absolutely love it. The picture quality and sound quality is amazing. I can now record at a crisp, clear 720*480 resolution.

Another pro: the zoom is amazing. Don't believe it when it says 800x zoom because that's just false, but if you turn the digital zoom down to 50x, the quality still remains almost the same as optical zoom.

Within minutes after I opened it, I had transfered a video onto my computer using windows movie maker, and saved it as an avi. All you need is a firewire cable (which I bought at the time I bought the camera).

I can't think of any cons for this camera because it has exceeded my expectations in every way.

You can also transfer videos from your computer back on to the camera using the firewire cable, and then record them onto VHS tapes.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In response to the hardware/software not being included..., November 17, 2004

By 

P. Pols "End User" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic PV-GS9 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Hi! Just wanted to let others know out there that after reading the reviews left on Amazon I was a bit leary about getting the accesories for this camcorder given to me as a gift. However, I called the phone number in the manual and immediately had the cable and software shipped to me. I had no problems getting through on the phone or recieving the accesories. Just an F.Y.I. for others who might read the previous reviews regarding accesories and make their decision from them, they weren't that expensive (under $20 for both) and worth it if you are trying to get good use out of a nice camcorder for a minimal price.