Quick Review Camcorders : Panasonic PV-GS400

The PV-GS400 includes an impressive three CCDs, with 1.07 MP apiece gross, 700K for video, 990K for stills. These are comparable to Sony’s DCR-HC1000, the PV-GS400’s main competition. Like the DCR-HC1000, the PV-GS400 includes a combo ring that controls both focus and zoom, but unlike the DCR-HC1000, the PV-GS400’s combo ring also has options to control iris and shutter speed. This is highly convenient. As the white balance control is located near the camcorder’s combo ring, the PV-GS400 shows advantages in handling over the DCR-HC1000’s touch screen menu system.

The PV-GS400 also includes a giant 3.5 inch LCD. While the PV-GS400 and the DCR-HC1000 have comparable 16:9 modes, the PV-GS400 visualizes its image in a stretched way on the camcorder’s LCD. Sony has found a way to letterbox the image. Also, the PV-GS400 has a hot, intelligent accessory shoe, like the DCR-HC1000. The Sony camcorder has the option for a special surround-sound (4-channel) microphone.

The PV-GS400 captures stills at 2,288 x 1728 to SD card. Its low-light and video performance are comparable with that of the DCR-HC1000 and are good for a three-chip consumer camcorder.

One other advantage that should be mentioned is that the PV-GS400 includes independent iris and shutter speed manual adjustment options. While both adjustments are independent of each other, in that they affect different aspects of the imaging process, the shutter speed option has priority in the order of adjustment. If you set the exposure before the shutter speed, the speed reverts to its default.

The camcorder comes with a "magic wand" controller that allows the user to operate the camcorder without touching it. It is with this and other handling amenities that the PV-GS400 can be said to be superior to the DCR-HC1000.

Panasonic PV-GS400 Compared to the...