It will be interesting if the GS400 is 1/4.7" HAD with Crystal Engine. Isn't it supposed to be 800k/CCD?

nope, it's 1Mega 1/4.7" CCD for sure.
and looks very much like Sony's CCD...

But according to Chris, Pana makes their own CCDs. The CCDs are most likey 1/6 inchers, or .166" :-))

Yes.. but this one is 1/4.7".
and as you said it's most likely not to be a Panasonic CCD, but Sony (since it's not 1/6").

and Pana is owned by Matsushita, =) and it has a history of using Sony-CCDs in their other subsiduaries.

Tom, the size is about the same from what I can tell...
here's a pic so you can compare them:
NV500vsGS400.jpg (http://www.alienminds.ca/nvvsgs.jpg)

I think they are about to same scale here, you can refer to the filter thread (it's the same size of both cams).

back to the topic of Displaying 1080p

i'm back from drinks ;) and sober again hehehe.

sorry guys i know it's off topic but if you want to capture HD it's not worth it unless you can display it.

the first one is a Toshiba Rear Projection TV, it's model number is the
57HLX82
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/product.asp?model=57hlx82

it has 3 1080p LCoS chips projecting the image.

the next is a JVC projector due out later this month

DLA-HD2K
http://www.jvc.co.jp/english/press/2004/dla-hd2k.html

this also has 3 1080p D-ILA chips(same as LCoS)

both of these upscale lower resolution images up to 1080p

the toshiba using an un named method, the JVC using a 'Faroudja Digital Video Processor' for a '1080/60p Upconversion for All Images.' apparently the processor the JVC uses is the best one to do it with. and it has a whole separate box for doing the inputs and picture processing.

the third projector is a sony Qualia 004 projector, i don't read japanese so i can't tell you the exact specs only that it cost around US$90k, but for the price it looks like one hell of a box

the projector is shaped similar to one of those Malaysian kites. and is packed with technology and innovation from what i gathered from the pictures and the little english i gleaned from it.

this is how to get to the Qualia site well worth the look

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/QUALIA/jp/index_flash.html

this is the PDF for the 004

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/QUALIA/jp/product/004/guidebook/004_catalogue.pdf


there's a camera that might interest some of you cashed up ppl out there, it is about the size of a dunhill lighter or there abouts and is modular, and comes in it's own custom made lacquer attache. the camera's model number is 016

there is also a CRT TV there with a HDMI input, but other than that i have no idea what is so special about it other than it costs about USD$9k

this Qualia range of products has been created for the super rich

an example of this is their headphones 007 and their portable music device 010

well that's about all i have to add about view HD at the moment, all else that i can tell you is that i'm getting a black GS400 when i go to japan in july and getting all the wizz bang attachments and big batteries so i can film my train journey from tokyo to london.

sorry guys i know it's off topic but if you want to capture HD it's not worth it unless you can display it.

1080p and LCoS is yesterday's meatloaf for display devices and by the time they arrive the 1080p TVs will probably be 1/5th the price they are now.

I think 720p/1080i is great for right now but I would like a better storage medium which would help overcome the obstacles that spawned HDV (HighResolution Disgusting Video).

Today I called TechDepot (part of Office Depot) and asked when the listed PV-GS400 would be available for delivery? http://www.techdepot.com/product.asp?productid=1903964

The answer was they expect some next week! The have it listed for $1203.95.

Thanks Bill. I signed up for their in-stock email alert system.

no way!

I would take that info with a grain.. with a spoon of salt.
you should wait until they say they have them in stock and read the specs for you as proof. =)

has anyone delt with this company before?

we got em' ! =)

finally looks like Pana-Canada gave up!
(or someone will actually inport those units, if imported there may be a problem with warranty, but.. WHO CARES!? =) )

---------------------------------------------

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry. The PV GS400 will be available around mid JUNE, the price will be available around end of May.

Thank you for your interest in ****.CA
---------------------------------------------

****.CA is a very reputable company... and so are their prices =/ but they sell usually mostly to pros.
you can buy or lease equipment. there's a store in Toronto so.... =) i feel lucky today!

http://prodb.matsushita.co.jp/product/brandnews.do?pg=14&np=2

The above link lists all new products of Pany Japan consumer electronics. The latest one to be out on 21 June 2004. July 2004 releases should be added soon.

<<<-- Originally posted by Tommy Haupfear :
I think 720p/1080i is great for right now. -->>>

have to remember tommy that all the LCoS devices upscale the image to 1080p, so whether it be 480i/p 576i/p 720i/p or 1080i, it will upscale it to a much nicer 1080p, which i think will be worth it, even if it does cost me an arm and a leg, but then i'd be getting these displays for a hometheater system, not as an editing monitor, sony had a nice widescreen 24" CRT monitor out at one stage, but i can't seem to find it any more, it used an FW tube which was never available in australia. we only got the crappy ones, now all there seems to be is the low end CRT's and lousy LCD monitors =/

i just want to confirm something, will all the GS400's that come out be PAL versions?? even the ones sold in Japan and the US??

cos Pana australia is being pretty tight lipped about it, they didn't have a announcement date, or a estimated price, just a few of the specs that have been posted on all the other pana sites.

have to remember tommy that all the LCoS devices upscale the image to 1080p

I use a 50" LCD rear projection (for home theater) that upconverts everything to 788p but trust me when I say its not all its cracked up to be. You cannot take SD and make it look like HD and all of these up-conversions can take a toll on how your video looks. I don't see a 1080p TV useful right now unless its for corporate videos running from a PC (or you're Bill Gates).

Marketing hype confuses a lot of folks when they think there video is being upconverted soley to benefit the viewer. The truth is that your TV is performing this upconversion soley because its a fixed pixel device with a native resolution. It'll vary from set to set but you'll often have video that is inundated with artifacts.

thanx tommy, i am aware of the artifacting involved when upscaling, as i've seen it, nasty nasty stuff that..... but apparently the farduja(or how ever you spell it) company in the US has the best upscaling and conversion methods at a big price, they make line doublers for CRT projectors, and have adapted their knowledge to the digital projection market, i know this is probably a whole lot of marketing spiel, but hey we're all a sucker for it at one time or another, and with all products that you choose to buy, always take a look at it with your own eyes, first, as only the viewer can tell what is medocre and what is fan-damn-tastic in his eyes.

i for one would like to see what the JVC D-ILA projector can do when it is released. i want to see some upscaled PAL dvd's and some upscaled 1080i images, currently in australia no one is broadcasting in 720p, even though it is specified in the Digital broadcast charter in australia. some guy in an electronics store said they will never broadcast in 720p i should have suggested he look at the charter.

i would like to find a CRT tv that displays 720p, but there's only the sony one at the moment that claims to be able to show it, but i've seen it and think that artifacting present in 'HD' res that they are broadcasting is horrible

Native 720p CRT? That would be nice.

As for 1080p TVs.. I wouldn't mind having one for my home theater PC (HTPC). 1920x1080 for PC gaming sounds fun.

Now we must sit back with our high resolution TVs and wait for camcorders to play catch-up.

George, those Sony CRTs are HEAVY. I parted with my 34" widescreen HD Wega last year for my current 50" Wega LCD projection. The 50" projection weighs in at 86 lbs. compared to the 200 lbs. of the KV-34XBR800.

Still, its hard to beat the black levels of a CRT based TV. LCoS, DLP, LCD, and Plasma just can't hang.

Kamal. it's for sure that the GS400 will be coming out of Pana head office, Sydney Australia.

Hi Frank,

Tried "shopping around" and of course, some dealers are honest enough to say the PV-GS400 will be available in several week's time, but nothing beats this place:

http://www.fotoconnection.com/viewitem.php?IndexID=7127&section=

they not only list the pv-gs400 as "in stock" and available on their website, but if you try calling them, they say that "they sold everything and are out of stock!

I don't believe them (that they even had one unit available) but if you don't believe me, try giving them a call. hehe! Although I do wish they had it in stock, so we can see the specs. :)

Is that link a US dealer? If it is, you can check them out here:

Foto is German isn't it?

http://www.resellerratings.com

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : Kamal. it's for sure that the GS400 will be coming out of Pana head office, Sydney Australia. -->>>

i certainly hope so, cos i e-mailed the website asking about a replacement for the MX500 the first e-mail i got was from one guy said he didn't know anything about it
after i found out about the GS400, i sent another e-mail asking about a release date etc etc, and they gave me basic specs that everyone already knows about and price: TBA release date TBA
TBA = To Be Announced for those of you that didn't know. ;) hehehe

i'm hoping it will be released here, but i will ultimately opt for getting it when i arrive in Japan on the 13th of July, so i can get the sexy black version =)

i'm hoping it will be released hereIt will be released in Australia, just in time for a Down_Under Winter.

Kamal, PAL cams are more expensive in Tokyo than Singapore or Malaysia but supposed to be cheaper compared to Europe (according to some of my previous guests from the UK and Germany - because of the high rate of sales taxes there).

Just for reference, the last few units of the MX500A still sell at JPY190,000. It was JPY198,000 when it first came out. The GS200 sells for JPY120,000.

If you're willing to use Jap NTSC, you're going to save hundreds of dollars or tens of thousands of yens, and probably get a limited edition black or white or pink or blue model :-))

The 953 was never sold in Japan, thus, perhaps the US NTSC version of the GS400 won't be sold in Japan too.

It seems the best deals for PAL cams are in Southeast Asia, but for genuine and hard to find Pany accessories, of course Japan is the place to buy.

Anyway, I'll post the price of PAL GS400 (in Japan) if and when it finally comes out, hopefully before 13 July 2004.

winter has already hit hard and heavy down here =/

in melbourne anyway, i hear it's still pleasent up in sydney

thanx Allen, i hope they make a sexy black on in the PAL oooer baby!!! hehehe

i will be buying many of the accessories, my friend that's over there at the moment said tokyo was more expensive than anywhere else in Japan, and he said he'd check out bigcamera for me, but he's kinda absent minded and not overly technically minded, i don't think he is anyway.

anyone know if the wide angle lens does a similar thing to an Anamorphic lens??

gS400

will not do "high definition" as we understand it in the US.

Not for 1200 bucks, lads. This is going to be a SD cam. The HD is panny's crystal engine reference.

This cam will be the same as the gs100, but bigger ccd's. I'm hoping for a true 16x9, because if it ain't got that it ain't got much.

That 1.04 compensation algorithym the old gs100 used isn't good enough anymore for 16x9 video.

That 1.04 compensation algorithym the old gs100 used isn't good enough anymore for 16x9 video.

You're not happy with your GS100 widescreen mode? What type of display device are you using?

BTW Michael, George knows the GS400 will be a native SD cam but he's hoping for an undocumented (and highly unlikely) 720p mode output firewire or written to SD card. It would be nice but most of us know how cam manufacturers rarely have the consumers best interests in mind when designing a cam.

The GS100 has a 1.04x vertical zoom to achieve its anamorphically squeezed size of 720x480.

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

thanx, Tommy.