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Note: this camcorder was first sold in Feb 2007. There may be newer versions available.
Panasonic PV-GS80
Panasonic PV-GS80
F
HQ Grade: F
A is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of camcorders.
B means they are good, with some standout features.
C means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth.
D & F mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs.
  • 4 out of 5
"not bad"
  • 3 out of 5
"Good video ery poor photos!"
See rating based on 115 user reviews
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Question Answered!
Denis CD (CoolDen) 0 pts
December 26, 2007 9:17 PM
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How to download still pictures from cam to PC?

I have the cable, and I figured out how to dowload videos from cam to PC. But this cam can also take still pictures. I can see those on the cam, but cannot figure out how to get those from cam to PC. Help? Thanks.
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Answers This question has been answered!
by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58448 pts
December 27, 2007 12:46 AM
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"By connecting the Camcorder and personal computer with the USB cable, you can transfer still images saved on a Memory Card directly to your personal computer. Insert the Memory Card into the Camcorder.

2 Set the Camcorder to PC Connection Mode. 3 Connect the Camcorder to your personal computer with the USB cable. 4 Camcorder power is turned on. 5 For Windows 2000 users, open [My Computer] and click [Removable Disk]. For Windows XP users, click [Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer] and then [OK]. 6 Double-click a file you want to view.

≥You can view images stored on the Memory Card and also save them to your hard disk. Do not change file or folder names on the
personal computer. The images on the Memory Card may not be viewable on the Camcorder. The appropriate driver to recognize the
Camcorder is automatically installed by Windows Plug and Play when connected for the first time. After the USB cable is connected to the
Camcorder, open [My Computer] or Windows Explorer] to check that the drive is displayed as a removable disk drive (only when
card is inserted into the Camcorder). It enables you to operate it in the same way as a floppy disk drive, and you can use the same drag and drop or copy methods. - page 48 of the manual
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Denis CD (CoolDen) 0 pts
December 27, 2007 7:10 AM
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Thanks, but as specified, this cam is a PV-GS80. It does not have a Memory Card, so the instructions on page 48 of the manual will not work; that's for the PV-GS85. Is there a way to do this with the PV-GS80? Just to be clear, when I connect this cam to the PC with the USB cable, the PC does detect it, but it simply tries to download any available videos; My Computer does not detect it as a removable drive. Ideas?
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58448 pts
December 27, 2007 2:40 PM
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My bad. Page 29 covers still shots (which aren't really still shotss) on the GS80:

Still pictures can be recorded from the Camcorder directly onto the tape.

Set to Tape Recording Mode. 1 Press the Photoshot button [ ] in the recording pause mode. The Camcorder records a still picture for
about 7 seconds and then switches back to the recording pause mode. If you set [ADVANCED] >> [SHTR EFFECT] >>[ON], you can add image and a sound like releasing the shutter. Photoshot recording results in slightly inferior image quality.

You don't really have stills, you have a 7 second video clip of a still image each time you took a picture. Essentially, you capture the footage and then take a screen grab from one of those 7 seconds that the still is recorded on the tape. You then have to de-interlace it to make the quality even moderately passable.

What you need to do is capture the footage. You can use your editor for this purpose. It's a simple matter of connecting the computer, going into your editor and selecting the capture option. Then press play on your camcorder, capture in your software and you're off to the races.

However, the best utility I have found for this purpose is WinDV. It's free. And not only can you capture with it without dropping a frame, but thanks to the firewire interface, you can control your camcorder directly!

That's the way I would do it. Then import it into your editor. You may even be able to capture the still as a jpeg if your editor offers that option.
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Denis CD (CoolDen) 0 pts
December 27, 2007 3:07 PM
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Thank you... I'll give that a shot.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58448 pts
December 27, 2007 3:19 PM
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Here's a good tutorial ...
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Caitlin 0 pts
October 4, 2008 4:23 PM
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What kind of cord do I need to buy to connect my Panasonic PV-GS80 to the comuter or PC? Thank You.
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Everett 0 pts
December 28, 2008 8:03 AM
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12/26/08

Greetings Caitlin ...

You need a "Fire Wire" cable and port on your PC. While many newer PC have the port, older PCs don't. In other forums many have said that Amazon sells a Fire Wire card and cable combo for about $30.00. I think I paid $20 something for the cable alone ,retail.

Hope this helps

Everett
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Everett 0 pts
December 28, 2008 8:33 AM
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12/26/08

Greetings again caitlin ...

I just went in and played with my GS 80 & laptop and have a set of steps you can try. I use Windows Movie Maker as it came on my laptop.
1) With Movie Maker running, "Capture Video From Device" to import the Still picture" 7 second video into the PC.

2) Play the video clip in the preview window on the right side of the Movie Maker screen. When you see a good still shot in the 7 sec clip, pause the video.

3) Go into "Tools" and " Take Picture From Clip", and you will be able to save a .jpg photo.

Hope this helps.

Everett

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