Finally Did it!!! GS400 is on the way!!! at DVinfo.net

Steve Witt · November 11th, 2005, 03:19 PM

After a lot of research and headaches trying to decide what camcorder would be right for me at this point......I finally decided on the Panasonic GS400. I ordered it from "I buy Digital" with an accessory kit to go with and a Mack extended warranty. Should be here Thursday of next week. I'm excited and I'm pretty sure this will be a decent "first camera" for me. I thought about higher priced cameras like the (XL2) and HDV cameras too but just couldn't justify this much money or technology for myself at this point in time. The GS400 should be a good ground level camera, with cool creative features to get me started into digital video. Next purchase is my NLE software. (????) Just may go with Adobe Elements for now.

John DeLuca · November 11th, 2005, 03:41 PM

Congraz on the new camera and why buy expensive equipment when you can rent it for a day when you need it.

John

Guy Bruner · November 11th, 2005, 03:57 PM

Congratulations, Steve! You picked a winner!!

Leigh Wanstead · November 11th, 2005, 05:56 PM

Congratulations, Steve!

Hope you will enjoy it.

Your next purchase item really should be a UV filter if you have not gotten it IMHO.

Regards
Leigh

Steve Witt · November 11th, 2005, 06:39 PM

Leigh, I did get a small filter kit that includes a UV. This 3pc filter kit was a part of the accessory package deal that I bought the camera with. Also came with titanium wide angle and tele lenses that screw on (I guess). Also a full sized tri-pod, extended 4hour life battery, Delux carry case, 5 miniDV tapes and a lense care kit. I think thats all. Sweet!!!!!

Frank Granovski · November 11th, 2005, 07:05 PM

Congrats, Steve! It's a great little video camera.

Brian Doyle · November 12th, 2005, 05:58 PM

Congratulations Steve,

I just got one last month and love it. I use it for second camera with my XL-1s and the footage really blends in well. My only complaint is that the manual focus and zoom are on the same ring so you can only do one at a time. You really need to plan your shots well cause if it and decide which one to use on auto function.

That and of course it's such a small camera that it can be hard to hold and shoot with but on a tripod it looks like a camera costing three time as much.

Guy Bruner · November 12th, 2005, 06:38 PM

Obviously, you don't know much about the GS400 if you think you only have zoom control via the ring in manual.

Brian Doyle · November 12th, 2005, 07:33 PM

Okay Guy,
how do I do a manual zoom with out the ring on the lens?

Guy Bruner · November 13th, 2005, 11:47 AM

Use the zoom toggle or the wired remote.

Brian Doyle · November 13th, 2005, 01:45 PM

Well that's not really a MANUAL zoom then is it Guy?

Steve Witt · November 13th, 2005, 04:37 PM

Thanks for the support guys. I'm sure I've made a good decision. Anyone here have experience with the Letus35 adaptor? I've read a little about it in "Alternative Imaging Methods" and there are a few GS400 owners who use it. Just curious. Also, has anyone messed around much with the add on titanium 2x tele lense and wide angle lenses like I mentioned with the package deal?

David Andrews · November 14th, 2005, 02:09 AM

Just to add to the suggestions above...I now often replace my UV filter with an ND filter when using the GS400 in bright sunlight. I get vignetting effects with both fitted at the same time.

Stephen Finton · November 14th, 2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Doyle

Well that's not really a MANUAL zoom then is it Guy?

The zoom ring is not really manual either. It uses motorized servos.

Richard Bacevac · November 15th, 2005, 07:45 AM

Congratulation.
I was thinking about VX2100 or similar too,but I'm at point of learning curve,so like"John" suggested why not rent it If you need it.
I love GS400.It's not a proff.camera but like I said I'm in learning curve.
If you need anything about GS400 visit www.pana3ccduser.com there are a lot of guys who can help you out with everything.I think Guy here is one of them.Thanks to him I know a lot of stuff better than from Panasonic poor written manual.
Those guys are crazy,they can make GS400 look like proff. camera with a few extra accessories.I love them,they are great.
As for NLE I like Premiere Pro.I bought Total trainig DVD's which are great and you can always sell them on Ebay.
I think Guy use Vegas which is supposed to be another great NLE,but I've never tried.
anyway good luck

November 11th, 2005, 03:19 PM	#1
Steve Witt Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: kentucky, USA Posts: 429	Finally Did it!!! GS400 is on the way!!! After a lot of research and headaches trying to decide what camcorder would be right for me at this point......I finally decided on the Panasonic GS400. I ordered it from "I buy Digital" with an accessory kit to go with and a Mack extended warranty. Should be here Thursday of next week. I'm excited and I'm pretty sure this will be a decent "first camera" for me. I thought about higher priced cameras like the (XL2) and HDV cameras too but just couldn't justify this much money or technology for myself at this point in time. The GS400 should be a good ground level camera, with cool creative features to get me started into digital video. Next purchase is my NLE software. (????) Just may go with Adobe Elements for now.

November 11th, 2005, 06:39 PM	#5
Steve Witt Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: kentucky, USA Posts: 429	Leigh, I did get a small filter kit that includes a UV. This 3pc filter kit was a part of the accessory package deal that I bought the camera with. Also came with titanium wide angle and tele lenses that screw on (I guess). Also a full sized tri-pod, extended 4hour life battery, Delux carry case, 5 miniDV tapes and a lense care kit. I think thats all. Sweet!!!!! Last edited by Steve Witt; November 12th, 2005 at 02:45 PM.

November 12th, 2005, 05:58 PM	#7
Brian Doyle Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Booklyn NY Posts: 95	Congratulations Steve, I just got one last month and love it. I use it for second camera with my XL-1s and the footage really blends in well. My only complaint is that the manual focus and zoom are on the same ring so you can only do one at a time. You really need to plan your shots well cause if it and decide which one to use on auto function. That and of course it's such a small camera that it can be hard to hold and shoot with but on a tripod it looks like a camera costing three time as much. __________________ Brian Doyle XL1-s Bogen 503 head Sony wireless Adobe Premiere 6.0 Matrox RT2500

November 12th, 2005, 07:33 PM	#9
Brian Doyle Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Booklyn NY Posts: 95	Okay Guy, how do I do a manual zoom with out the ring on the lens? __________________ Brian Doyle XL1-s Bogen 503 head Sony wireless Adobe Premiere 6.0 Matrox RT2500

November 13th, 2005, 01:45 PM	#11
Brian Doyle Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Booklyn NY Posts: 95	Well that's not really a MANUAL zoom then is it Guy? __________________ Brian Doyle XL1-s Bogen 503 head Sony wireless Adobe Premiere 6.0 Matrox RT2500

November 11th, 2005, 03:41 PM	#2
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	Congraz on the new camera and why buy expensive equipment when you can rent it for a day when you need it. John

November 11th, 2005, 03:57 PM	#3
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Congratulations, Steve! You picked a winner!!

November 11th, 2005, 05:56 PM	#4
Leigh Wanstead Trustee Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NZ Posts: 1,276	Congratulations, Steve! Hope you will enjoy it. Your next purchase item really should be a UV filter if you have not gotten it IMHO. Regards Leigh

November 11th, 2005, 07:05 PM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Congrats, Steve! It's a great little video camera.

November 12th, 2005, 06:38 PM	#8
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Obviously, you don't know much about the GS400 if you think you only have zoom control via the ring in manual.

November 13th, 2005, 11:47 AM	#10
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Use the zoom toggle or the wired remote.

November 13th, 2005, 04:37 PM	#12
Steve Witt Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: kentucky, USA Posts: 429	Thanks for the support guys. I'm sure I've made a good decision. Anyone here have experience with the Letus35 adaptor? I've read a little about it in "Alternative Imaging Methods" and there are a few GS400 owners who use it. Just curious. Also, has anyone messed around much with the add on titanium 2x tele lense and wide angle lenses like I mentioned with the package deal? Last edited by Steve Witt; November 14th, 2005 at 11:16 AM.

November 14th, 2005, 02:09 AM	#13
David Andrews Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 131	Just to add to the suggestions above...I now often replace my UV filter with an ND filter when using the GS400 in bright sunlight. I get vignetting effects with both fitted at the same time.

November 15th, 2005, 07:45 AM	#15
Richard Bacevac Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Czech republic Posts: 47	Congrat Congratulation. I was thinking about VX2100 or similar too,but I'm at point of learning curve,so like"John" suggested why not rent it If you need it. I love GS400.It's not a proff.camera but like I said I'm in learning curve. If you need anything about GS400 visit www.pana3ccduser.com there are a lot of guys who can help you out with everything.I think Guy here is one of them.Thanks to him I know a lot of stuff better than from Panasonic poor written manual. Those guys are crazy,they can make GS400 look like proff. camera with a few extra accessories.I love them,they are great. As for NLE I like Premiere Pro.I bought Total trainig DVD's which are great and you can always sell them on Ebay. I think Guy use Vegas which is supposed to be another great NLE,but I've never tried. anyway good luck