The camcorder I bought suffers from noise in the tape transport mechanism (a purring noise that makes the camera sound like an 8mm projector and gets recorded on tape). Serching on the web you find more references to the PV-GS400 but it can be present on the other GS models. Search for "Panasonic tape transport noise".

Whether or not it comes with a firewire cable is of no importance. I don't believe any of these DV cams come with one. Just spend $20 to buy a kit that comes with a firewire card, a firewire cable and entry-level editing software. Enough said.

Now, in terms of quality, from my first observations I've gotten good video. Outdoors these digital cams are all good. This one will have better color rendition and won't blow out highlights as much, due to its 3 CCDs. Not as high resolution as some, but I doubt one can tell in the final image. Indoors it's better than most other consumer DV cams, which actually isn't saying much. It has less grain and more color than the others, but still isn't great. You have to spend $2,000 to get a digital camcorder that does well in low light. The GS120 automatically turns off the electronic image stabilization in low light, which helps with low light but makes for shakey video if you zoom in.

...be warned. If you're looking for a camcorder that you can easily download your movies onto your computer so you can create DVD's or movies for sharing across the Internet like I was, THEN KEEP LOOKING. 1st, the camcorder does not come with the cable (1394 Firewire) needed for downloading the video off the camera tape. 2nd, it also does not come with the software needed to support removing the video off the camera. I noticed in another review someone mentioning about the manual being devoted to still pictures - this is absolutely true - to include all the software and cables that does come with it. The funny thing is that it only comes with a 16MB flash card that can only hold like 20 pictures! It even suggests in the manual that you find a third party software on the Internet to help with the video functions! Don't get me wrong, it's a good camera for the value BUT be ready to do your own research on the "How To's" and to be forced into buying additional equipment to really use the features. My final complaint about this product is the lack of technical support. I intended to use the web cam feature also and when I had problems with it and MSN messenger and Yahoo messenger, I found out that there is no on-line documentation or software supporting this camera (yet??,idunno...).

I was like anybody else, which camera to buy? The first thing I did , bought a Pinnacle AV/DV Firewire card and Studio v.9 software package. I have a Nikon D70, so I was looking for a camcorder not a digital camera.
I made my decision the "dirty way": I bought 3 different cameras from 3 different stores (made sure they will not charge re-stocking fee if I return it within 2 weeks) I will not mention the stores, but the cameras were my final 3 after extensive online research. Sony DCR HC40, Panasonic PV-GS120 and Canon Optura 65.
I took all three home, made a 20 minutes movie with each camera: low light, medium light indoors and outdoors, macro, etc... I've uploaded the movies from the camera I took it with, unto Pinnacle Studio v9, and then I burned a DVD of this 1 hour movie.
To make the long story short, I did return the Sony and the Canon, and here is why:
- 3CCD really works, you can't match the color separation, even if the "one" CCD is larger and has more pixels.
- Panasonic's picture quality was almost broadcast quality, vivid colors and sharp edges, Canon and Sony looked like a very good Hi8.
-Canon was horrible in low light, and my palm never got used to it.
-Sony's touch screen is Stupid, why would you wanna use your oily fingers on the screen which you are using to see what are you capturing.
-Sony's night vision shot might work with 1% of the population, I don't really want to look at grainy green pictures.
-Carl Zeiss makes very good lenses, but this Leica is superior to Sony's (notice that Panasonic is using Leica only on their "top" models)If this camera would have a Leica badge on it instead of Panasonic, this camera would be 3 times more $.Please see Panasonic and Leica dicams.
-Set the sound to 16 bit and you will better sound pick up than Sony or Canon.
-Yes, Sony Steady Shot is better than EIS, but I don't have shaky hands, and never use digital zoom more than the 20x.
Few things I would change on the Panasonic:1, The manual focus is weird. 2, use of an internal lense cap. 3, Could use a 20x optical zoom. Other than that, I am very happy with this camera, I've paid $500 at Costco.

This is my first camcorder and I have only had it a couple days. A couple observations. First off, the manual is preposterously bad. Pages and pages devoted to getting STILL photos from the camcorder. And virtually NOTHING on how to shoot and process video. I don't know about you, but I did not buy a camcorder to shoot still photos. I already have a camera. I bought this to shoot video. You would think that the manual would BEGIN with information on how to shoot video and go into detail. Well, that is not the case. In my opinion it is not illustrated well either. A couple full scale photos of the camera from different angles with features labelled would be a useful addition. Instead the manual is populated with tiny little line drawings.

If you are considering this camera, understand right from the start that if you intend to transfer video to your PC you will have to go out and buy a Firewire card and cable. The camera comes with a USB cable and software, unfortunately these are only useful for processing STILL photos. That is why the manual only discusses STILL photos and how to use their software to process STILL photos.

After purchasing a Firewire card and cable I found myself unable to connect the cable to the camera. This was due to a misunderstanding on my part of where the arrow on one of the little line drawings was pointing. So, I was trying to connect the DV cable (Firewire) to the USB port. The USB port is under a rubber flap on the right side of the camera. It wasn't until the next day that I realised there was another rubber flap on the rear of the camera below the battery and the first rubber flap. Again, if the instruction manual was better conceived, I could have avoided several hours of frustration. Once I found the correct port and connected the camcorder to my PC I was able to get the video into the PC by ignoring the instructions in the manual that tell you to select the "PC" on the mode dial and instead switched it to Tape Playback mode.

The camcorder can also be hooked up directly to a TV. The cable has 3 plugs, one white, one red, one yellow. The instruction manual is in black and white so good luck figuring out which one is the video feed and which the audio. (Turns out the yellow is video, the red and white are audio. But I had to dig up the TV manual to find that out).

I really can't say enough bad things about the manual, it is really that awful. The camera itself is an amazing device, surprisingly light and compact and the quality of the images is superb. The color is brilliant and the sound quality is also very good.

I am looking forward to getting past this initial getting acquainted stage. I wish Panasonic had done more to make it less frustrating.

I've had this camera for about 4-months now and have taken well over 150-hours worth of video from various sporting events and a few family events.

The first thing that hits you once you download the video capture is the color saturation...unbelievable! 3-CCD's makes a huge difference! Like night and day, compared to other camcorders in the same price range.

I looked at many camcorders before choosing the PV-GS120. My first thought was I needed a camcorder with atleast a 20x Optical Zoom. However, all the camcorders I saw didn't have the picture quality I was looking for.

When I saw the PV-GS120, I wasn't really receptive to the fact it was only 10x optical zoom. However when I started shooting with it the store, how good the picture was. Don't take my word for it, seeing is believing!

I chose the Panasonic and have been very pleased with it.

Don't get caught up in the Optical Zoom hype...who cares if the optical zoom is 16x, 18x, 20x, if the picture is horrible.

I've been video taping weddings for 25 years and the PV-GS120 was the 11th and 12th camera I've bought (Yea, I bought two)
I was impressed with both the price and quality of the 3CCD's
I also appreciated the 1.5 hour (LP mode) taping time available which I needed for taping wedding ceremonies without having to change media during the ceremony.

I needed the mic and headphone input that were missing from some other manufacturers products and I remembered the quality I had always experienced from the Panasonic cameras I'd used before I moved to 8mm.

I've done 7 weddings with the PV-GS120 and my customers and I are very satified with the quality images and audio this camera captures and recreates.

On the downside I missed the option of adding a wired remote zoom control and the steadycam feature wasn't quite what Sony had.
The low light feature isn't as good as the single chip cameras but 3CCD's always require more light.

I've been recommending this camera to anyone who is thinking about upgrading from 8mm or VHS. Forget about the DVD media cameras and go with tape, you can make (and scratch) all the DVD's you want after downloading and editing your work from your computer.

I am team manager for a small midwest skate team and we were in need for a video camera. I was also looking for something that had a clear enough video i could do some short movies with it as well.

I have had the camera for almost 1 year now and it has taken some nasty hits from skaters and drops from 4 foot to pure concrete and took the beating like a champ.

I spent almost double what it is going for now and it was worth it back then so if you can get it now for around 450 it's a must buy camcorder.

Does anyone know where I can download the driver that came on the CD with their PV-GS120 camcorder? I lost my CD and I don't have the driver for Windows XP installed, so I cannot connect my camera to my PC via Firewire. Does anyone have a solution? I have tried emailing Panasonic about it, and their response was that they were not aware of anywhere that I could download the driver. I have searched the internet far and wide, looking at all the driver download sites, all in vain. If someone would be able to upload the driver file or email it to me (ksensenig@yahoo.com), I would be forever thankful. You could upload it to this site: http://www.driverguide.com/. The site is a place for users to upload hard-to-find hardware drivers. This is very important to me because this is the the only way I can upload my video to start editing a documentary I am working on.
Thank you very much,
Kurt

I've waited two years to write my review so that I'd be removed from the excitement that comes with buying a new camera. The strongpoints of this camcorder are its size, color reproduction, remote control, and adjustable light/color settings. It's drawbacks are: poor performance in low/med-low light conditions. The colors tend to go blue in mid to low light situations, and that can be annnoying for those trying to make short films with different locations/lighting. I think that this camera would be a great buy for someone looking to do a lot of serious filming in outdoor areas. If you just want something to make home movies of your kids or something, then I'd go for a cheaper model Panasonic or a Sony. I think that I'm going to buy a Sony next time because I like their low-light features.

I have been using this camera for about 2 yrs. I did a lot of research before buying and I am sure that I am not much mistaken in my choice.
Pros
Excellent color reproduction especially in out door settings
Easy to use menu
small size
I did not have any problem with noise from tape as some one reviewed
Still pictures are also really good for a 1.2 Mp camera-color reproducion really good, can take still pictures while shooting a video without going back to menu-just click the Still picture button.

Cones
Manual that comes along with is "CRAPPY". It is as if the manufacturers mean this camera for Still images only. it does not even mention where exactly to connect the fire wire cable. i had to find it out from some reviews!!
The product did not come with a fire wire cable; Find a good one elsewhere. I called Panasonic customer support regarding this and they too had only one suggestion-buy it elsewhere!!
It takes a long while for me (about 1hr plus) to transfer one MiniDV cassette of video to computer and to form file on the Windows Movie maker I used. My computer has about 756 MB RAM. I did not try another software.
Software that came with camcorder is redundant.
Performance in low light is not good
No built-in light source; find a suitable one and attach separate
optical zoom is only 10X, and no need to mention anything about digital zoom
Battery does not last for long-may be for 30-40 mts with the digital viewer turned on; have apare battery if you are serious about shooting for a longer period.

Because of the negative points, I am looking for a better model with 3CCD technology