Besides the 1/4.7 inch CCD vs the 1/4 CCD and the ability to add XLR inputs, any other major differences between these two cams?

Does the GS400 do 16x9 at higher resolution? I assume the frame modes and Cine Gamma features of these two cams are the same?

Any input would be appreciated...thanks!

Low light difference will definitely be noticeable between these two cams with the DVC30 taking all the glory. The GS400 has a vastly superior 16:9 mode as Kaku Ito has shown many times in this board.

Most choose the DVC30 for the XLRs, low light peformance, IR night vision, and nice 16x optical zoom.

I would get a DVC30 to compliment my DVX100A but 16:9 is important to me and the GS400 easily wins in that department. If I was strictly 4:3 then it would be DVC30 as it shares the same battery as the DVX100A.

Pretty much what I thought, but thanks for the confirmation...for me, 16x9 is important to me, but if the cam is not progressive and does not use the full ccd for 16x9, it's a problem, thus the dvc30 would be a problem...especailly since no anamorphic full zoom through adapter is available for it...maybe a GL2 is my answer.

Ed, why not the GS400?

Why would you choose the GL2 for 16:9 work?

<<<-- ... maybe a GL2 is my answer. -->>>

Maybe an XL2 ??

Because you can purchase a Zoom Through 16x9 adapter from Century for it.

The Century adapter (58mm) is not full zoom through. Native 16:9 on the GS400 should be better than using the 16:9 adapter for the GL2 IMO--and a lot cheaper.

They do have a zoom through adapter...it's fairly new, but it does exsist...part number DS-WS13-GL

Must have missed that one. Nice piece of glass - but you could have a GS400 for the same $. You could also mount the adapter on the DVC30 with a step up ring.

I suppose i could buy the 58MM Thread Zoom through version with step up ring for the DVC, but I don't know how well that would work...I prefer bayonette mounts for these type of devices...i used to have the non zoom through version for my PD150 that was threaded and I had all sorts of alignment issues.

That 1.33 anamorphic adapter was mentioned as far back as January of this year but I have yet to see it in stock anywhere. That and the price is steep! You could get a DVX100A for the price of the 1.33 anamorphic adapter and a GL2.

<<<-- Originally posted by Tommy Haupfear : Low light difference will definitely be noticeable between these two cams with the DVC30 taking all the glory. The GS400 has a vastly superior 16:9 mode as Kaku Ito has shown many times in this board.

Tommy, I just got the Sept 2004 issue of Digital Video (a Japanese magazine) and marveling at the sample film-like videos (same scenes, approx. 2.5 minutes each) taken using your DVX100A, GS400, PC350 and the XL2. While the huge difference in low-light performance between the 1/3 chippers and the GS400 is highly expected, I find it very surprising that under very good light, GS400 Procinema appears to be of higher resolution than the DVX100A. Is that supposed to be the case? In any case, you've got one awesome cam! (this is the first time I saw a video clip of a DVX100A shot by a pro)

I think it would help you make up your mind whether you can really live with the GS400 low-light if you could see these samples.

Wow, that be nice to see a pro comparison! Do these magazines ship with a DVD? Maybe you could send me a copy when I get around to mailing that payment for the hotshoe of the GS100?

<<<-- Originally posted by Allan Rejoso : sample film-like videos (same scenes, approx. 2.5 minutes each) taken using your DVX100A, GS400, PC350 and the XL2. While the huge difference in low-light performance between the 1/3 chippers and the GS400 is highly expected, I find it very surprising that under very good light, GS400 Procinema appears to be of higher resolution than the DVX100A. Is that supposed to be the case? In any case, you've got one awesome cam! (this is the first time I saw a video clip of a DVX100A shot by a pro)

I think it would help you make up your mind whether you can really live with the GS400 low-light if you could see these samples. -->>>

Why the comparison to a Sony PC350 and not with an HC1000, which should be perhaps more interesting for being closer in general resolution?

Where can we see those comparisons?


Carlos

Yes Tommy, these heavy magazines come with DVD, but you don't have to get the magazine as it is all in Japanese. I can send you a copy of the avi files (500MB each - for your own keeping - nothing illegal about that right? :-)) to make it worth the $10 mailing of your hot shoe@:-)


Hi Carlos. Have you bought your new cam? The comparison is made with the PC350 because it has cinelike mode (24P take note!) whilst the HC1000 does NOT have it. The comparisons are stored in a DVD that came with a Japanese video mag.

Allan-well , could you share what the sony was like ? I know it's not the right forum but that's the first account I've heard of footage for this camera. thanks

<<<-- Originally posted by Allan Rejoso :
Hi Carlos. Have you bought your new cam? The comparison is made with the PC350 because it has cinelike mode (24P take note!) whilst the HC1000 does NOT have it. The comparisons are stored in a DVD that came with a Japanese video mag. -->>>

No, I haven't bought my camera yet. This new releases fortunately increase my options.

Apparently the PC350 is not a real 24p camera, and what is does is quite well explained here:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-Announces-DCR-PC350-with-24-Frames-Progressive-Scan-Effect-for-under-$1300.htm

Unfortunately it's a 1-CCD camera, so it doesn't serve my purposes.

Again it might have been interesting Sony pushing their HC1000 model, but that seems not to be their interest.


Carlos

About anamorphic lens:
You should check that those anamorphic lenses limit you the original zoom range of cams and it would make it little darker, so you have to consider that is acceptable to you.

About HC1000:
After owning PDX10, DVC30, GS400 and checking out XL2, for my style of shooting video and what I shoot (extreme sports), I would not use frame mode or progressive mode (24p or 30p) because I can't capture all of the motions I want to express. So, if I didn't need to use frame mode or progressive mode, HC1000 might be interesting choice. HC1000 has switchable zoom/focus ring, 4 channel recording with single 4ch microphone (I would never say 5.1 souround capable like Sony expresses on their web site, because if it is not discrete 5.1 channel, they should never say 5.1 souround capable) and high-res 16:9.

<<<-- Originally posted by Kaku Ito : HC1000 has switchable zoom/focus ring, 4 channel recording with single 4ch microphone (I would never say 5.1 souround capable like Sony expresses on their web site, because if it is not discrete 5.1 channel, they should never say 5.1 souround capable) and high-res 16:9. -->>>

Please do not think you can make a good 4-ch recording using a budget quality mic. Do concentrate on making a high quality pick-up using a stereo mic and process the signal in editing for the 5:1 effect.

Multiple channel recordings should be made in non-mobile positions, with separate preamps for each mic and good monitoring to balance it all. If you lack any of these, your recording will go wrong.


Carlos