-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 RHp8ec/7obGfHXmB1JE83g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183965-03-000003.txt : 20031030
<SEC-HEADER>0001183965-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031030
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031030130759
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183965-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031030

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PINNACLE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000774695
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3861]
		IRS NUMBER:				943003809
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 N BERNARDO AVE
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6502371600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 N BERNARDO AVE
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183965

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24784
		FILM NUMBER:		03965973

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3901 N FIRST ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089432772

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3901 N. FIRST ST.
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000774695</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PINNACLE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCLE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183965</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3901 N. FIRST ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95134</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-11-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kristen Corcoran  For: John Lewis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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