With all those available info about the GS400 from the US and Europe and not a single one from Japan, it makes me wonder if it's the Japanese market's turn to be saddened and disappointed.

On the other hand, judging from the few pictures of the GS400, I am not sure if that kind of body design and size would click in the mainstream Japanese market. It looks big, heavy and pokerish.

Ahhh, finally a man's cam. Let's just hope the CCDs are man-sized as well. :-))

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : Ahhh, finally a man's cam. Let's just hope the CCDs are man-sized as well. :-)) -->>>

Rumor says the CCD size is 1/4.7". Suppose the GS400 has the same crystal engine like GS100, better lowlight video is expected with larger CCD.

Again, rumor still. Just have to pray Pana won't follow the trend of shrinking CCD size.

1/4.7" CCDs from Sony?

...better lowlight video is expected with larger CCD.

That, in my observation is no longer true in consumer cams.

Many people wondered when it was reported that the GS100 (1/6") equalled if not bettered the PC330 (1/3") and OpturaXi (1/3.4") in low-light...and it actually does.

I honestly think that were seeing some larger CCDs (1/3.6") just to counterbalance the glut of pixels and I agree that low light performance is not getting better.

Large 1/3" CCDs and low pixel count (340k) is what made the VX2000 so famous for low light work.

Ok, ok, ok. Here is my new optimistic prediction:

The GS400 will share the same chassis as the DVC30.
Here's how the 400 will differ from the DVC30:

GS400 - 1/4" CCDs with 1 Mpxl each ~900K effective for video
GS400 - 7 lux
GS400 - HQ widescreen mode (no resolution loss)
GS400 - 12X 43mm zoom lens
GS400 - dual use zoom ring (manual zoom and focus)
GS400 - no IR night shot
GS400 - no removable mic/handle
GS400 - no Pro Cinema mode (but will have 1/4 up to 1/60 variable shutter)
GS400 - no XLR connectors
GS400 - announced at NAB but not available until late July

How's that Tommy? Trade up?

I'll have to go with the rumored 1/4.7" 1.07MP CCD.

3 x 1.07= 3.21 x 1.25 (AXIS - Advanced Pixel Interpolation System of the Crystal Engine) = 4.01MP

Min Lux Rating: 12 (same as GS100) or 10 (same as the 3000) Lux. Sony Japan hasn't been able to reduce the light sensitivity of their Jap models equipped with this CCD from 15 Lux (I don't believe in Sony US rating of 7 - sorry). The Crystal Engine can probably improve it a little.

If it has the Crystal Engine, it will most likely have Procinema. Procinema is one of the DSPs included in the Crystal Engine. Reason why the 200 and 120 do not have Procinema (despite having Crystal Engine) is because they do not have frame mode. Why they don't have frame mode - I don't know - probably to save on cost.

GS series cams are all compact bodied (GS100 being the biggest so far). Thus, I don't think the GS400 will share the same chassis as the relatively bulky DVC30.

I'm just guessing.