Digital 8 Camcorders Digital8Camcorders.com is your one-stop source for information about digital 8 camcorders.

1. 

   Deyu Wang
   April 27th, 2010 - 23:51

   Try to call Panasonic customer service @1-800-973-4264 and tell them you have question about your camcorder first. Panasonic service is the worst one in this world.
   Rating: 1 / 5
2. 

   K. Parks
   April 28th, 2010 - 02:03

   I recently bought this camera through this website. After extensive research, I was won over by the other review here that tells of the ease of use with Macs iMovies because we were planning to purchase a new iMac. Well, the new computer is here and after several days of frustration I have learned that this camera will only import video to macs with OS X 10.1-10.3. Lo and Behold all new iMacs are loaded with OS X 10.4 and this Camera is totally unable to communicate. The folks at panasonic are alternatingly clueless and unhelpful after waiting on the phone around 20 min. and they don’t plan on releasing and drivers to make this brand new model of camera compatible with the brand new model of operating system!!! I am at my wits end and out 800 bucks!!!!!
   Rating: 1 / 5
3. 

   ludido
   April 28th, 2010 - 03:27

   WHILE THIS CAMERA LIVES UP TO QUALITY EXPECTATIONS A BUYER SHOULD KNOW THAT CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS TRULY LAUGHABLE.AFTER FILLING OUT AN EXTENSIVE EMAIL FORM THE “SEND” BUTTON DOESNT WORK.MORE WASTE OF TIME:ON HOLD FOR 50 MINUTES BUT THE SERVICE GUY JUST READS FROM THE SAME POOR MANUAL THAT COMES WITH THE CAMERA AND WHO FLATLY STATES THAT ONLY STILL PICTURES CAN BE UPLOADED TO A MAC.WELL AFTER MUCH HAIR PULLING I WAS AFTER ALL ABLE TO TRANSFER TAPE TO HARDDRIVE.IN MAC:1.OPEN IMOVIE-2.attach firewire to camcorder -3.turn on camcorder,rewind tape-4.MOVE JOYSTICK TO PLAYMODE.5.IMOVIE SCREEN WILL SHOW THAT CAMERA IS PLAYING,PRESS IMPORT.6.CLIPS WILL APPEAR .7MAKE SURE TO SAVE CLIPS BEFORE CLOSING IMOVIE.THE ONE THING STILL NOT CLEAR IF ONE HAS TO REWIND TO BEGINNING OF TAPE TO PLAYBACK,BUT OF COURSE THERE IS NO ONE TO ASK.WHILE I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS MOVING TOWARDS LESS AND LESS SERVICE IT SEEMS STILL NOT A FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE.WHILE IAM HAPPY TO HAVE THE GS250,MY PLEASURE IS TAINTED BY PANASONICS DISREGARD OF DECENT SUPPORT.(FOR THE REAL MASSOCHISTS CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AND SEE WHERE IT GETS YOU)
   Rating: 3 / 5
4. 

   W. Fish
   April 28th, 2010 - 06:05

   I purchased this camera in December 2005 to replace my 7 year old Sony Digital 8 camcorder. Unfortunately, everything except size is inferior in the Panasonic compared to the “ancient” Sony. The color is not nearly as sharp, the low light capabilities are laughable and the battery lasts half as long. The sound quality was adequate if not watching playback on the camera itself. The camera’s highest volume setting is too low to use if you want to listen while loading video into your computer’s editing program.

   The Panasonic does have a relatively convenient manual exposure feature many other miniDV camcorders lack. This allows better light control when shooting in auditoriums with spotlights. It uses a toggle to control the exposure and, while it is not as easy as the external thumb wheel on the Sony, it is adequate. Unfortunately, it functions so poorly in low light it wouldn’t provide adequate color in an auditorium.

   I thought the image stabilization would be a great feature but my video is much shakier with the Panasonic than my old Sony. Maybe it’s because the camera is so small it’s hard to keep as stable as the larger Sony.

   Video editing on a PC is equally easy on the Sony and Panasonic but the Panasonic’s poor user manual would make it very difficult for a novice to figure out and your picture quality will be much better with Sony’s Digital 8.

   If you don’t HAVE to record in miniDV format or have a built in 3 megapixel still camera, I’d recommend buying an inexpensive Sony Digital8 for about a third of the price of the GS250.

   If you do have to have a miniDV camera and you won’t be shooting in bright sunlight, try another brand.

   This upper end 3CCD camcorder will now have a home on a closet shelf where it will stay unless I need a very small camera to chase action in a cross country race or similar event on a sunny day. Otherwise, I’ll use the old Sony so I can share the video I shoot without being embarrassed about the picture quality.
   Rating: 2 / 5
5. 

   Nikolai M. Stelmakh
   April 28th, 2010 - 07:23

   Excellent camcorder with a lot of feartures. Bravo to Panasonic hardware engineers. However, I spent entire weekend in trying to connect camcorder to Motion DV. Instructions in English are made from direct computer translation from Japanese, so it is very hard. French version a little better. No a clear expalnation between USB and IEEE connection options. As the result, you will do a false step in installation, then you will be not able to desinstall Motion DV, you will need to manipulate your registry files and so on. Finally I gave up and installed Premiere LE from my last camcorder which was working immediately with all features.
   
   Rating: 4 / 5

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