Yup. Another 3 chip handheld:

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/index.html

Today, Panasonic (Japan) have announced the NV-GS100K 3CCD camcorder for Japanese market.

NV-GS100K have "Hi-Quality Wide" mode and 30P mode with "Cine-like Gamma". NV-GS100K-S(Silver)/-K(Black)
Est.street price: 170,000yen
Available: July 10
CCD: 3x1/6" CCDs 0.64megapixel(Video)/0.7megapixel(Still)
Lens: 10x F1.6(f=2.85-28.5mm)
Shutter Speed: 1/2sec-1/2000sec
LCD: 0.2 megapixel 3.5"
Weight: 650g (w/o batt)

Other Functions:
MEGA OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer)
"Hi-Quality Wide" mode (28% higher vertical resolution than MX-5000)
"Pro-Cinema" mode (30P with Cine-like Gamma)
0-lux color night view (use LCD panel as a video light)
MPEG4 recording (SD Card), Web camera function Zebra pattern

Product Information (Japanese):

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/index.html

Press Release (Japanese):

http://matsushita.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn030609-2/jn030609-2.html

[list=1] It is low dispersed glass adoption Leica D scene - lens: past approximately it decreases the gap " chromatic aberration " of the focus which it is easy to occur in light after the lens inputting up to 1/3 with the adoption of the dispersed glass low. The color spread and the false color which are easy to occur at the time of especially zoom are prevented. In addition it administers multiple coat to 14 aspects of the lens and (this corporation until recently the model 8 aspect) it decreases the flare and the ghost which become cause of picture quality deterioration. Clearing image is actualized to the every nook and cranny which tightens the dark part. Especially it is effective under unfavorable conditions such as striation case of backlight tendency.

The LEICA / Leica is registered trade mark of the Leica micro system IR GmbH.

DICOMAR / D scene - it is registered trade mark of the Leica camera corporation.

The LEICA DICOMAR is produced by the measurement equipment and the quality guarantee system which the Leica camera corporation recognizes on the basis of the quality standard which the Leica camera corporation sets.

Crystal engine: it is low, you hold down the noise of luminous intensity and being the dark place, you are bright and from can photograph clearly "new 3 dimensional noise reduction", precision well to process the CCD output of 4 double density pixel arrangements the image which is the resolution impression with high contrast and will be clear is actualized the " pixel interpolation processing technical AXIS ", such as detail black to be blacker hair is small and faithfully re-to display color, those whose are reproduced to real " digital signal processing ", in R /G/B each color independence to load these circuits, high picture quality is actualized.

High picture quality wide mode & professional cinema mode: from when photographing being to read out from the CCD at the number of pixels which are adjusted to the wide television almost there is no picture quality deterioration. Vertical resolution than former wide mode approximately 28% rise. (This corporation until recently type NV-MX5000 ratio) In addition, with " professional cinema mode ", it seems like the movie film and photographing with the atmosphere which will be been moist can be tasted easily at buttons 1. 30 scenes / with progressive photographing of second the movement of the movie wind, movie unique harmony is expressed with cinema like, the material feeling which be too bright the darkness it does not pass can be enjoyed. In addition even at at the time of outside photographing where the ?o?X?G???n???T?[ operates automatically, has the wind cancelling just wind sound, it expresses the bass which is force.

High-speed shutter * slow shutter: shutter speed at time of still picture photographing 1 / from 2 seconds 1 / in 2000 seconds setting possibility. When night scene and the like uses the slow shutter, be able to photograph brightly cleanly, in addition sport and the animal et cetera in the subject which moves quickly the movement of instant is considered as exactly with the high-speed shutter.

Smooth color knight view: the number of former compared to photographing scenes substantially rise. The subject which has the movement even at the dark place can be photographed smoothly with the color. In addition it reverses the liquid crystal monitor even with the pitch-dark darkness and color photographing it is possible with 0 Lux color night views which you can use as the light/write panel.[/list=1]

based on the specs, it has less pixels than the 500/0? Or did bablefish translate it wrong?

I think it has the same amount as the NTSC MX5000 and PV-DV953, but I only glanced at the b-fish converted specs. Vincent also put some specs on his site. You can get to his site from:

http://www.dvfreak.com/links.htm

(2nd and 3rd link at the top)

I started a GS100 page here:

http://www.dvfreak.com/gs2.htm

(It still needs lots of work.)

I heard that the new DV can produce still image of 3M pixel. Any sample photos available to show the photo quality?

Thanks!

Not yet. The NV-GS1000K won't be hitting Japanese streets until July 10, 2003. I'm sure Alan will be checking this cam out then and give us his take.

The GS100K is now available in Japan and I got to play with it for more 30 minutes yesterday. My initial impressions are as follows:

As the cam was not (yet) connected to a monitor (unfortunately), it was not possible to make a good comparison of video with 5000, other that what can be viewed through the 3.5" LCD. Interestingly, video as viewed on the LCD appear brighter and exhibit higher contrast compared to that of 5000. Most probably it's just the LCD's improved quality (thanks to Yowch's rantings - LOL), albeit these 2 cams have the same 3.5" 200K resolution panel. I am hoping though that the better looking image on the LCD is also the result of Pany's Crystal Engine in combination with its new 9 group 13 piece, 14-surface multi-coated low dispersion lens, that Pany claims to reduce chromatic aberration to 1/3, flaring and ghosting compared to their previous lens. As I've previously described, Japanese stores are very well lighted, thus it is virtually impossible to verify the improvement in low-light performance (from 15 to 12 lux on paper) which I believe is the gist of Crystal engine's 3D noise reduction feature. I tried to focus on fluorescent lights hoping to detect any improvements in lens flaring or ghosting and to examine the presence of artifacts and jagged edges. Edges are smooth, video is clean but I couldn't say for sure if the shot of the light has less flaring or ghosting - but then again I was just looking at a 3.5" panel. Nonetheless, GS100's video viewed on the LCD appeared to be better indeed and that's a good sign.

The 2 widescreen modes (Wide and Procinema) are now easily accessible using a button as opposed to 5000's menu/sub-menu operations. Gone is the Wide Mode within the camera sub-menu and in its place is Webcamera function. The most exciting difference I noticed is the widening of the view when using these 2 wide modes compared to that of 5000 (whose horizontal aspect does not really change when switching from normal to wide modes - 5000 owners please feel free to correct me if I am wrong). The extra wideness is not as dramatic as that achieved by TRV70 (and the hotly argued JVC3000 in the other forum - BTW, let me make mention that Pany is positively boasting that this cam has PROGRESSIVE function at 30fps, which makes me wonder more about the JVC case - LOL - but that's beside the point now) but nonetheless noticeable. I suppose that should be the case if GS100K's widescreen mode has indeed 28% higher resolution than 5000. At Procinema mode, recording mode is automatically switched and locked at Frame mode (30fps), just as I suspected, then the image appears to dim a little bit (gamma adjustment) and Bass Enhancer (another new feature) is set at 6db (the other 2 settings available are 0 and 3db). The blurrying effect is not at all apparent through the 3.5" LCD panel. As far as I see it, other than the "extra" wideness thus (hopefully) higher resolution, these 2 wide modes are still basically the same as that which can be achieved by multiple menu + manual operations using the 5000. BTW, manual shutter and iris opening adjustments are still available under these 2 wide modes.

Tape's top loading mechanism is a lot faster and quieter. Gone is the sudden and noisy thud of 5000 at the moment of tape compartment opening. The cam is at least 1 cm shorter, a little bit lower in height and 100 grams lighter. But similar to 5000, overall weight distribution is excellent giving the cam a very balanced feel. I have no issues with the body material but I guess some will have mixed feelings about it. Although not certain at all if some body parts are made of metal or not, the finish paint and surface make it look so (especially the part at the back side of the LCD panel). However, by simply tapping at the bodies of both the GS100 and 5000 using fingers, I could discern that GS100's body is made of some thinner (lighter material) - hopefully aluminum, but more likely plastic. In any case, I personally prefer the glossy and smoother finish of the GS100 body over the coarse texture of 5000. I also like in particular that Pany addressed the ugly body joint at the top portion of the 5000. For 5000 owners, notice the body joint that runs between the built-in mic and hot shoe and hopefully, yours is well aligned! Having sold a few units of 5000, that was one of my first checklist items in terms of cam's physical appearance, because despite the high level of quality control, there were some units with misaligned joints that were quite an eyesore, especially because they were easily on view. Regarding other body feature, Pany obviously listened to complaints of 5000 owners/testers on the bad placement of some connectors (especially that under the rubber grip). The connectors are now placed nearer the back side, hidden by 2 plastic covers, and none at all anywhere within the grip area.

As for other minor changes, compensation and fade buttons were relocated under the LCD panel together with most other buttons. OIS button is also gone and moved inside the menus. On the other hand, Skin Detail button is now available and gone from the Pro menus. In any case, users familiar with Pany's jogwheel and menu button operations should have no problem whatsoever operating this cam even without looking at instruction manuals. The manual features are the same (shutter speed, f-stop, gain, white balance, picture sharpness/color setting, sound setting, color bar, zebra pattern), and accessed/adjusted the same way. Manual focus ring is also available but instead of full metal material with coarse texture, that of GS100 has slits with rubber inserts for nothing more than better comfort I guess.

I took a very close look at the glass lens of both cams. Physically they are of the same diameter but that of GS100 appears to be dimmer in shade and there is a slight difference that I find hard to describe perfectly. It might be totally trivial of course, or probably gives some clue as to how GS100's new and supposedly better low dispersion glass look like. I don't know for sure. Pany claims of using a better performing lens hood for the GS100. The only thing obviously different is that the edges of the rectangular opening of the lens hood is made of some kind of semi-transparent plastic material while that of 5000 is full flat black plastic.

Unfortunately for owners of previous Pany models including the 5000, the decrease in height means your current batteries cannot be used for the GS100. So for those selling their old cams in order to get this one, there is no need to save those extra batts. Sell them all. Fortunately, the GS100 shares the same 43mm filter thread size so you can keep your filters and converter lenses.

Under card mode, the following shutter settings are available: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/750, 1/1000, 1/1500 and 1/2000. I've used 1/30 with the 5000 quite often, and I think I can find good use for the lower shutter settings available for the GS100 although a tripod is a must for anything slower than 1/15.

I tried the nameraka (smooth) color night view and 0 lux color night view which are easily activated by pressing another button. Nameraka has twice the frame of 5000�fs (practically useless) color night view, thus motion should be relatively smoother. However, the store was too bright to appreciate the effect. As previously posted, at 0 lux color night view setting, the cam prompts you to turn the LCD facing the subject. Once flipped, LCD turns all white and serves as light source. On paper, Pany states that effective distance for this mode is approx. 1 meter.

Bic camera sells the GS100 for JPY158,000 but you can find discount shops that sell for around JPY136,000. Just for comparison, the same discount shops now sell the 5000 for around JPY109,000. If anybody needs my help in getting these cams (and willing to go through the headache of learning some Japanese), I'm just an e-mail away. The fee is very minimal (5%) and you'll get my cheat sheets, whatever freebies I can get from Pany Japan (english start-up guide, catalogues, etc.), and of course my free personal technical assistance and language translation (LOL).

Finally IMO, pending any side-by-side comparison, current owners of 5000 need not upgrade yet, unless they are willing to pay any extra money to have a better looking widescreen mode, a smaller, lighter (same weight as that of my Optura100) and cooler looking camera with more convenient features and supposedly better low-light performance. Under good light and normal mode, I don't expect (yet) to see any dramatic improvements over the 5000, but I hope I'm wrong. For those looking for a new cam, I cannot find a better camera for its price, but the 5000 at around $200 less is certainly becoming a steal.

BTW, the GS100 is not HD.

Cheers

I'm thinking my DV953 needs a friend..

Thanks for the great post Allan. This is the first solid information I've seen on this mystery cam.

HD - now where would you have gotten that from? :)

Now only time will tell if we (NTSC N.A.) are once again overlooked like with the MX3000.

Thanks for Allan's detailed comment. I am interested about the quality of 3M pixel photos. If anyone has some samples, please let me know.

It would be interesting to see if the 3MP stills from the GS100K are better than the DV953/MX5000.

I enjoy the still feature on my DV953 but I usually leave it set to VGA resolution (640x480). The 3MP setting degrades the picture but thats ok since I only use them for email.

VGA Macro Stills from my DV953

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/74415/Picture360.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/74415/Picture364.jpg

Full 3MP still from my DV953 (Warning 1.3MB)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/74415/BEE3MP.jpg


A little off topic but here are a few frame grabs from my DV953.

They were 16:9 Frame Mode MWB and varying shutter of either 1/250 or 1/500. No altering other than capturing and changing to JPEG format (orginally TIF).

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=339297

Update from Tokyo.

On my way home last night, I dropped by another store to have a look at the video of GS100 on a monitor and compare with the 5000.

Bic Camera Store near Ginza is as well-lit as most big electronic shops. Unfortunately, their monitors are all 14 inches only. The reason why I specifically opted to go to that store is to try the "box" that will allow a simple but valid test of low-light performance.

Under the store's bright lights, I would be lying if I say that I could notice any difference in video quality, no matter how hard I tried to detect. Anyways, I think there's really not much monitor size and quality to show any marked difference between the two, although it is already quite apparent how the 1-CCDs pale in comparison, even with the 14 inchers..

The ingenious "box" I'm referring is long and rectangular in shape with a small round opening at one end, big enough to allow insertion of the cam lens (it's a well-made box and I think Victor Japan provided it to showcase their F1.2 lenses). The interior of the box is totally blackened and a colored picture is pasted inside (at the opposite end facing the opening). A small window/cover is manually adjustable at the top to allow some light to illuminate the picture, thus you can go gradually from pitch black to bright enough. My observations...

At low-light levels where the 5000 was already exhibiting a lot of noise/grains, the GS100 footage was STILL CRYSTAL CLEAR. Amazing! With the help of the seller, we repeated the test many times, each time adjusting the light window (to my liking) to effect varying levels of low-light (sorry no lux meter), switching from one monitor to another too just to verify that the monitors are OK, but nonetheless getting the same result all the time. Therefore, in my most honest assessment, I am convinced that the GS100 is indeed an improvement over the 5000 in terms of low-light performance.

Now if only I can find a store with widescreen monitors to try.

BTW, at present Tokyo discount prices and foreign exchange rates, I estimate this cam can be delivered to the US and Canada for around $1,250 (and it has only been a few days since they hit the stores)s I think that is just slightly higher than the current prices of DV953 in N.A. Should be an interesting point to ponder.

Regards

Looks like it is time to upgrade my MX350! I hung onto the MX350 over the MX500 simply for the noise at low lights!

As for the size, well, small is more handy, great for tours but not great to show off as a large poker cam!

My thoughts exactly.

Time to plop the ol' DV953 on eBay. :)

Tommy, you've only just bought this cam a few months back. Really? :)

Thanks all information about GS1000K. I hope that once the DV hit the market for one or two months, more sample video and photos can be released to compare it with other popular DV from Sony, JVC and Canon.

With a good chance that we won't see the GS100K for a while (if at all) and I can still get top dollar for the in-demand DV953 I don't see why not.

Of course I'd be back to Japanese menus again but the widescreen mode and increased low-light performance definitely has me intrigued.

I wonder what the price of the limited edition black one is?

Yes, I wonder if Panasonic will once again skip North America with this model, but if it does come, it probably won't come 'til late (very late) spring of 2004. And then they'll most likely only trickle in, as with the PV-DV953.

I'm a total neophyte who just bought the nv-gs100k from http://www.pricejapan.com after lurking for about a week in this and a few other fora. Ordered Monday afternoon; the camera arrived Wednesday afternoon. It cost $1275, including shipping via DHL to Hawaii (arrived via LA, according to DHL tracking). I am still working on figuring out controls, etc., using the 953 manual as a cheat sheet, although this will only work up to a point. Sorry I am too ignorant to be able to answer any questions about performance of the unit compared to standards many of you have mentioned. I decided on this model after learning that the camera I thought most likely to suit me (dc352) had been discontinued but is nonetheless still priced in the $1300 range in the States when available. Further research (consisting of forum lurking and many visits to the Panasonic Japan web site) made me decide that for the money, I might as well go with the 100k and do it now - precisely because of the stocking issue and the fact that I don't want to wait till 2004 to see if it arrives. The only two performance related comments I can make so far: it seems to me to do well in low light (my definition thereof: a room at midnight illuminated by a floor lamp and a room in the morning with only sunlight coming through sliding glass doors with drawn curtains - nope, can't answer questions about flare, graininess, etc., just don't know enough), which is important to me since I plan to use it for filming family gatherings; there is a definite motor whine when recording and playing back. Don't have any idea how this would affect replaying on one's tv, for instance. Also no clue as to how well this will work with my Mac.

The main reason I registered for this board is to be able to thank all of you, especially those based in Japan, for your posts. The discussion helped me make a decision which I suspect I will generally be happy with. I've learned from past experience to buy the item which is really beyond my level and try to grow into it; ends up being cheaper in the end than discarding units in between because they've been "outgrown" or don't do the one thing that really matters to me.

P.S. Anyone considering ordering from pricejapan should read through all sections of the web site. There are disclaimers and and information about how warranty problems are handled (can end up costing quite a bit if there is a problem with the unit). It is very straightforward and business-like; no weasling around.

P.P.S. My unit arrived in a box marked nv-gs100k, but the unit itself is marked nv-gs100. Possibly the "k" is an indicator of the kind of package involved rather than an indicator of any level of features. Guess only time will tell.

Welcome Patricia Kim! You are probably the first GS100 owner in the USA---well, Charles Littman claims he got one a couple of weeks ago.

<<<-- Originally posted by Patricia Kim :
....
P.P.S. My unit arrived in a box marked nv-gs100k, but the unit itself is marked nv-gs100. Possibly the "k" is an indicator of the kind of package involved rather than an indicator of any level of features. Guess only time will tell. -->>>

My guess is that "K" stands for blacK body, like in CMYK. GS100 comes in silver or black color and yours is probably black.

I'd definitely like clarification on the body color as I've had enough silver cams.

Whats the word on the shoe? Is it warm or cold to the touch?

The GS100K in black

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/74415/NV-GS100K-K.jpg

The funky LCD Light

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/74415/GS100kLCDLight.jpg

Yeah, I also prefer black, unless it's gold plated. :)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but with the first pic, the GS100's lens looks wider than the one on the PV-DV953/MX5. Allan?

Sorry, it's silver, although the grip on the right side of the camera is dark charcoal. According to the Japanese manual, the hot shoe is exactly that, and Panasonic sells (separately, of course) a stereo zoom mike and a video flash that supposedly work off the shoe. (Yes, I can painfully slog my way through some Japanese, but not enough to figure out jargon and specialty terms.) There is also a waist pack battery, which I just ordered (wish I had thought of it sooner). Price of the gs100k dropped about $30 today on pricejapan (had to go back to them on the battery and noticed today's price on the 100k as well). Don't know if that's a function of yen fluctuations or of the "street" taking over.

Looking at the brochure, the ending letter K is supposed to stand for black, S for Silver. However, both bodies are marked with GS100 only.

Price are exactly the same (I guess). The black one won't be availalable until the 10th of July.

Frank, the lens glass diameter of the GS100 and 5000 appeared the same to me.

Yes, the shoe is hot and Pany have released a new silver colored mic (VW-VMH3 - same grade as the VMS1) that is hot shoe compatible.

Patricia, it's a function of both foreign exchange rate and street price. (most stores listed in kakaku update everyday). Happy shooting to you.

Oops. Should have said the box says NV-GS100K-S. A closer look shows the Japanese word for silver in a little oval right after the "S". So maybe the K-S is meant to convey that it comes in black (kuroi in Japanese, I think) and silver versions. Anyway, it ain't the outside, but what it produces that counts, and I have to say that so far, in purely auto mode (which in my case is far better than trying to fool around with manual), it's doing a fine job by know-nothing standards. Hope some of you who know much more about digicams and shooting video than I do get this model soon so I can check out your evaluations. Cheers.

Allan, you hinted that the GS100 body isn't as solid as the MX5/PV-DV953. Does its body seem more like the MX3000 or GS70? How are the dials and buttons: solid, or more like the ones found on the MX3000?

My initial impression was that the GS100 body seem similar to that of GS70, but it kinda reminded me of the smooth finish of the 3000 as well. However, the back side of the LCD panel (the surface where pany label is attached) of the 70 is undoubtedly cheapo while that of 100 appears to be of thin metal plate (Patricia what do you think?).

Buttons (except 2) hidden by the LCD panel are covered with a layer of (plastic) film similar to Sony design, unlike the more solid ones of 5000... Stylish looks but will probably not please the pros who prefer sturdy buttons and knobs. They are easier to see and use though because of the bigger markings and effective button area. Perhaps makers want us to use the remote control more.

The jogwheel and menu button quality and placement are exactly the same as that of 5000. If you're gripping the camera, it can be difficult to do menu operations using the right hand forefinger and thumb. Thus, I normally use my left hand for that.

This camera would definitely be better in black, especially for heavy users. Fingersprints show already on the outside of the LCD panel, and I suspect if I had residue of any kind (say from sunscreen) on my hands, it might eventually change the quality of the finish itself. I have fairly small fingers, so the touch panel under the LCD is okay, but even I found myself thinking someone with larger fingers might find them frustrating to hit exactly right. The 100K is being marketed by Panasonic for people like me, I think (well, okay, maybe more adept than me, but that's not hard), who want something that can do the basics well and promises to be able to do more if you can ever get past the basics. I didn't really see anything pushing this for pro use, though. Probably, since JVC just announced a HD capable model for the US, folks will want to weigh that. I've seen the Japanese model on the web site, and it certainly looks like it's designed more for pros - or maybe to bridge the transition between highly skilled amateurs and pros (also, JVC's web site is a lot slicker than Panasonic's, so maybe that's a factor). Someone at camcorderinfo.com rightly pointed out that for most people, buying a Japan model can involve more risks than it's worth. I have just been lucky up to now (knock on wood) with most Japanese made products - except a Sony Vaio laptop, and I won't go there again.

Yes, one of my continual ranting about Panasonic's new buttons layout is the moving of the jog and menu button from the left to the right, AND at the top of the cam. I was playing with a GS70 last night in a local shop here in Singapore. Just "can't get a good grip" (pardon the pun) of the buttons while shooting. Here's where the MX8/300/350 really wins.

To change exposure during a shoot, you'll have to either twist your fore-finger real bad, or to wrap your left hand over the top of the cam to reach the jog. Terrible!

Thanks, Allan.

There are always trade-offs, it seems. I'm looking forward to reading more of your findings with this new cam. I also wonder if the 16:9 mode is any different. What about noise from the "engine?" (is it fairly silent running as with the MX5/DV953?)

I am slightly confused on the vertical zooming in widescreen mode.

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/ki_wide.html

The link above cannot be translated by AltaVista's Babel Fish as most of the text is in picture format. From my best guess it seems like they are comparing the widescreen mode of the GS100k to the standard widescreen of say the MX3000 (not MX5000). There appears to be a 1.04 vertical zoom to obtain the GS100k widescreen picture (with increased viewing angle like PDX10) but even though the MX5000/DV953 doesn't have a wider viewing angle it does have a 1:1 ratio without the need of vertical zooming.

This makes it seem that while you're gaining a wider viewing angle you're also losing vertical resolution although its only a .04 vertical zoom difference.

Anyone else have a take?

DV953/MX5000 Widescreen Mode (PAL 720x576 - NTSC 720x480)

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/74415/JVKEZERIPBEXDYIEIYZP-1-1-5.jpg

For those looking for the 3MP stills for the GS100k here is the link

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/pop_photo_index.html

I may be wrong but my understanding is that the GS100 uses a wider area of CCD (934 x 576) compared to the previous model (5000) which uses only 876 x 540 to capture the image. Then, a two-step conversion is done to achieve first, the 720 horizontal aspect and then, the 480 vertical aspect.

In the case of the GS100, the intermediate conversion results to a widescreen image of 720x460. In order to achieve 480, the vertical aspect needs to be Digitally Zoomed by a factor of ONLY 1.04.

In the case of the 5000, the same intermediate conversion results to a widescreen image of 720 x 360. In order to achieve the same 480, the vertical aspect needs to be Digitally zoomed by 1.3.

The lower digital zooming factor used by the GS100 results in lesser loss, thus better resolution widescreen image.

I hope I make some sense.

In any case, there are some losses in the vertical resolution.

BTW, Pany used the word (JUURAI no wide mode) whose literal translation is previous/former/conventional wide mode. Thus, I am assuming Pany is referring to the 5000..but they could be referring to even older models... The PAL 500 does not do vertical zooming, right?

Mmmm, I'd better review the 5000 papers.

Are they claiming 30P to be progressive scan or frame mode?

And have you seen whether the pixels per CCD are 800k like the DV953 or less like in on translation posted earlier in this thread?

Thanks again,
Tommy

The following link is quite clear that the JUURAI (previous) model being referred to is the MX5000.

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/kinou.html

Man, why can't Panasonic "speak in tongue?" They do, afterall, flog their cams worldwide.

So it appears to me that while the PAL 500 does not have any vertical resolution loss, that is not the case for the NTSC 5000.

Each GS100 CCD has the same number of pixels as that of 5000. 800K total/640K effective for video/ 700k effective for stills.

From the Japanese website and manual, Pany used the following phrase to describe pro-cinema mode

"...30 frames per second progressive recording with cinelike gamma ......during playback, each progressively recorded frame is resolved into 2 interlaced frames..."

note that they didn't use the term "scan."

sounds like an advanced form of frame mode....

cinelike gamma... hmmm... methinks time to save for this one as a second cam to the DVX....

Check out rumors at camcorderinfo.com. It appears that the major digicam makers in Japan have signed on to accepting JVC's HD standard. If so, what's been dissed up to now as a rumor about an MX7000 that is HD capable may be true. I checked out the site where the rumor popped up and agreed that it sounded as though it was a mix-up re the GS-100, especially since the photos on the site are of the 100. However, since Panasonic is said to have signed on to the HD standard, I am beginning to think the rumor may be more than that. Why buy in unless you are ready to move, especially with the JVC already on the market. In which case, the GS-100 will be old hat in a few months, if not sooner. (Not sorry I bought it, though. I think it does great indoors in simple point and shoot mode; I believe it will capture spontaneity at indoor events in exactly the way I want.)

I wonder if the High Definition banner on the link below had anything to do with the Chukmeister's zany idea of a HD cam? I pulled it directly from Panasonic's website.

High Definition Technology?

http://panasonic.jp/dvc/DIGICAM/gs100k/gashitsu.html

"High Definition Technology"

LOL. One point Japanese to avoid misunderstanding Japanese sites.

HD as the rest of the world understand is called "Hi-Vision" in Japan.

So what we have here are

Hi-Vision Terebi (TV)
Hi-Vision Projection Terebi
Hi-Vision Ekisho (LCD) Terebi
Hi-Vision Plasma Terebi
Hi-Vision Movie (Camera)
Hi-Vision Recorder

BTW, when the Japanese say Hi-Vision Terebi, they don't mean HD-Ready TV.. They call that Progressive Terebi instead.

Regards

Thanks for the info, Allan; I had no idea!

The Japanese have a characteristic way of playing with the English language in many aspects of life for better understanding of the common people. It’s quite interesting, sometimes hilarious, but actually very practical.

The term “definition” for instance, who the *ell would easily understand such word (in the technical sense) in a non-English speaking society?

Cheers

Alan, have you looked at the JV site? The terms high definition and high vision seem to be used interchangeably there. The specifications of the GR-HD1 are pretty clearly set out. I think this is the standard all of the major makers are supposed to have agreed to subscribe to, at least according to the press release referred to on the camcorderinfo.com site. I don't know if the specs are, indeed, HD specs, but if they are...I thought the Panasonic site was pretty cautious: they essentially said about the GS-100 that they were offering a product using high definition technology, but not claiming that it was, in fact, high definition. And, in fact, their specs for the camcorder's picture output don't match that of the GR-HD1. That said, may I add that I just did some filming at a 4th of July party. Other than the usual amateur faults, like letting the camcorder sway too much at points (viewer sea-sickness inducer, right?) and forgetting to pause the recording then letting the lens face the floor (great floors, by the way), I do think this camera is way beyond what I expected. "Night view" mode changes the way the world records in low light conditions. I was amazed. The camcorder definitely could use a better mike if one is serious about getting sound. But I haven't heard of any camcorder of which that isn't true. If this is Panasonic's jumping off point, the next "flagship" model should be a doozie. Hope everyone had a good 4th.

Aha! The rumor site has just retracted re the 1/4" CCDs he was claiming to be on the so-called MX7000 he is touting, though not on the HD issue. I think he is, indeed, speaking of the GS100 and, as Tom pointed out, read the little HD Technology banner as meaning the camera is HD capable. In the meantime, though, the price on pricejapan.com keeps dropping. Down to $1219 last time I looked.

P.S. I apologize for misspelling Allan's name in the last post.

Hi Patricia:

I read that you received the GS100 from Japan. I understand that your using a cheat sheet for the buttons and menus from a DV953. Is that a large factor in the cameras operation. Is there any english at all? I have no knowledge of Japanese but like the smaller form factor and the fact the they improved the low light issue. Did you discover any english language menu on the camera to change it's language? Does it even exist?

I'm very curious because like you I'm very concerened about the low light performance of the previous camera DV-953. I have not be able to find out any other information on the lesser GS-70 with regards to low light but feel it is similar because the reports are just as bad so there has to be some room for improvement.

Thanks .... Rick.

So does this camera handle highlight and shadow detail better then the MX5000 since it has Cine Gamma? Has anyone seen the difference?