Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Panasonic

Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
List Price: $299.95
Category: Digital Camera
See more digital camera details and other models

Buy Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom at Amazon.com
(Click here)

Digital product summary information

Manufacturer: Panasonic
Model: GS85
Color: SILVER
Product features:
  • Features 32x optical zoom
  • Pure Color Engine
  • Large 2.7-inch widescreen LCD
  • One-Touch Navigation for easy, intuitive setting and shooting
  • Use an SD/SDHC Memory Card to transfer image easily
Accessories:

Digital camera reviews of Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Digital camera Review: Very Good Camcorder - Recommended
Summary: 4 Stars

The "Panasonic GS85" is a great camcorder for most general uses. We had a need for a second video camera on a shoot of an instructional video for our small business and ended up borrowing a friend's GS85 for a few weeks of heavy taping.

Overall, the camera performed very well and exceeded most of my expectations for ease of use and quality, with the following observations:

Pros -
Good image quality *
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) works very well
Accurate auto White Balancing
Conveniently placed controls
Great battery life

Cons -
"Cold" Accessory Shoe
No built in light

* While the image quality was very good, it did not match the quality of our high-end primary camera (Canon GL2). We ended up buying Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom, which is in the same family as the GS85 but has 3CCDs and has a vastly superior image.

Highly recommended for home users! I also recommend the Digital Concepts Battery for Panasonic CGA-DU21 / Hitachi DZBP-14WS, it is a great long life battery.

Summary of Panasonic PV-GS85 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Panasonic PV-GS85 is a powerful 32x optical zoom camcorder with O.I.S.Panasonic's O.I.S. minimizes the handshake that can be such a problem with handheld shots. Because Panasonic's system is optical, there is no image quality degradation. When you're shooting a still picture, the MEGA O.I.S. system automatically activates, doubling the corrective power. With O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S., the camcorder is equipped for clear, beautiful shooting of both motion and still pictures.This 32x zoom can fill the screen with even a distant subject. Not only is this lens the powerful zoom offered in a home-use digital camcorder, but it also features low distortion. And because it's optical, there is no quality loss - you get the images in all their natural beauty.The Pure Color Engine converts the CCD output signal from a complementary color signal into an RGB signal at an early stage and extracts the low-frequency luminance component from the RGB signal. This innovative engine also achieves truly superb color reproduction for high-zoomed pictures.This model offers the High-Picture-Quality Wide Mode, which produces images that make for beautiful, dramatic viewing on a wide-screen TV. The image is processed on 16:9 area of the CCD. Because the image decoded has the same proportions as your wide-screen TV, there is virtually no picture quality degradation. You get beautiful images and all the excitement and dynamism on either a wide 16:9 screen TV or a conventional 4:3 TV. This model also features a wide 2.7-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you're shooting in 16:9 mode. You can enjoy shooting wide, and viewing wide.You can snap off a still picture (VGA) while continuing to record motion pictures. You don't even have to change recording modes. The motion pictures are recorded onto tape, the still is recorded onto the SD Memory Card.

Camcorders

Cameras and Photo
Most talked about in Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Lens ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with LUMIX G 20mm f/ 1.7 Aspherical Lens
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Best price: $899.95
Panasonic DMW-BCF10 Battery for Select Lumix Cameras ImagePanasonic DMW-BCF10 Battery for Select Lumix Cameras
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Best price: $26.95
Price in other shops: $49.95
Panasonic DMC-LX3 10.1MP Digital Camera with 24mm Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) ImagePanasonic DMC-LX3 10.1MP Digital Camera with 24mm Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $499.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Silver) ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Silver)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $379.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver) ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $349.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Red) ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Red)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $349.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Blue) ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Blue)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $349.95
Panasonic DMW-BCG10 ID Secured Battery for Panasonic ZS3, ZS1, ZR1 ImagePanasonic DMW-BCG10 ID Secured Battery for Panasonic ZS3, ZS1, ZR1
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Best price: $28.49
Price in other shops: $49.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 12.1MP Digital Camera with 18x POWER Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 12.1MP Digital Camera with 18x POWER Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $399.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black) ImagePanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $349.95
Similar digital cameras
Panasonic PV-GS80 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized  Zoom ImagePanasonic PV-GS80 MiniDV Camcorder with 32x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Best price: $799.55
Belkin F3N402-03-ICE 4-Pin to 4-Pin FireWire Cable (3-Feet) ImageBelkin F3N402-03-ICE 4-Pin to 4-Pin FireWire Cable (3-Feet)
Belkin Components; CE
Best price: $5.27
Price in other shops: $44.99
Digital Concepts TR-60N Camera Tripod with Carrying Case ImageDigital Concepts TR-60N Camera Tripod with Carrying Case
Sakar; Digital Camera
Best price: $11.82
Price in other shops: $24.99
Lenmar LIP21 Lithium-ion Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Panasonic CGR-DUO7, CGA-DU0714 and CGA-DU721 Batteries ImageLenmar LIP21 Lithium-ion Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Panasonic CGR-DUO7, CGA-DU0714 and CGA-DU721 Batteries
LENMAR; Digital Camera
Best price: $17.90
Price in other shops: $54.99
Belkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet) ImageBelkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/ 6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet)
Belkin Components; CE
Best price: $0.99
Price in other shops: $14.98
Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack) ImageSony DVC-60 PR/ 5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack)
Sony; CE
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops: $24.95
Kenko 0.43X Fisheye Super Wide Angle lens for 37mm Camcorders #SGW-043 ImageKenko 0.43X Fisheye Super Wide Angle lens for 37mm Camcorders #SGW-043
Kenko; CE
Best price: $29.00
Price in other shops: $69.95
Panasonic PV-GS90 MiniDV Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ImagePanasonic PV-GS90 MiniDV Camcorder with 42x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Panasonic; Release date: 2008-02-29; Digital Camera
Best price: $599.95
Lowepro Edit 110 Camcorder Bag ImageLowepro Edit 110 Camcorder Bag
Lowepro; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: $19.95
Panasonic AY-DVM60EJ5P MiniDV Tapes (60 Minute, Pack of 5) ImagePanasonic AY-DVM60EJ5P MiniDV Tapes (60 Minute, Pack of 5)
Panasonic; Digital Camera
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops: $24.95
Film and digital cameras at ApexCamera.com