...oh, I forgot - lens protection...
I don't like too many unnessesary things infront of my lens, so I only bought a circular polarizer, which I use in several situations - i.e. shooting while riding on the back of a scooter, it keeps flies off the lens. ;) Of course the polarizer is also very useful in museums or exhibitions to shoot through glas.

Oh, and think about a small tripod - although the optical image stabilizer of the GS400 is very good!

Andreas W., how come I am not getting any vignetting with the HD5000 even on wide video mode? Did you remove the Pany stock hood? The only problem is, the black GS400 together with the gray/silver tiny HD5000 do not look aesthetically pleasing to the eyes...it should look a lot nicer with the silver GS400.

Andreas G...I like both Canon and Pany...and the Sony tripod with remote :-) Too bad Pany does not have LANC :-(.

First thing you should get is an MC Protector and attach it immediately in front of the stock hood before you even do anything else with the cam. If money is not an issue, then get a step-up ring 43-49 and one of those Hoya HMC filters.

For outdoor shooting, get an ND4 or 8 filter and stack it on top of the MC. I have a Kenko catalogue in front of me right now and it says that ND filter is a "required" filter for digital cam and videocam..their statement not mine!

Battery: Buy compatible batts from Powergears (directly or through e-bay). Don't waste JPY14,000 on a single genuine VBD210. If you like the VBD7, I think Japan is the only place to get it. It's not that big - almost like carrying a compact cam on your waist.

Mic: VMH3 is a stereo zoom mic and hot shoe compatible. VMS2 is just a stereo mic and self powered.

Video light: LDC10 is a 10W video light powered by the same type of batt as the GS400. LDDS9 uses the same batt as the MX5000 (so dont buy it). LDH3 is hot shoe compatible but is rated 3W only...3W is practically useless.

Bag: Go to cam bag section of Yodobashi cam and check any of the following: Lowepro, Tamrac, Aosta, Benetton, Kenko, whatever meets your budget. If you're lucky, depending on your source, you might even get a free Pany bag...cheap looking but well padded...a good start.

Sorry to discourage you but writing to internet shops to get a special price is not likely to work because their prices are heavily discounted already compared to say Yodobashi. Ask your Japanese friend to talk to them over the phone and confirm their sales conditions. Better yet, ask your friend to bring you to one of those tiny discount shops and bring cash. Good luck anyway!

Take it easy and have fun!

It may cost cheaper outside Japan but while you're in Yodobashi, try to check Velbon C-500 or C-600 fluid head tripod...they're the most reasonably priced fluid head tripods.

<<<-- Originally posted by Allan Rejoso : Andreas W., how come I am not getting any vignetting with the HD5000 even on wide video mode? Did you remove the Pany stock hood? The only problem is, the black GS400 together with the gray/silver tiny HD5000 do not look aesthetically pleasing to the eyes...it should look a lot nicer with the silver GS400. -->>>

Allan, yes I removed the Pany hood!
I got vignetting in photo and wide/ProCinema modes. It was not visible on the LCD, only when you watched the whole frame/photo on a computer screen. Even more vignetting - which was also visible on the GS400's LCD - appeared when I attached a polarizer.

<<<-- Originally posted by Andreas Winkler: ...I got vignetting in photo and wide/ProCinema modes. It was not visible on the LCD, only when you watched the whole frame/photo on a computer screen... -->>>

Many thanks for the clarification. Good thing I never use digital still mode and only watch video on TV :-) The HD5000 works perfectly with the GS400 (4:3 and 16:9) when I tested on a 36 and 42V wide TV.

You have to try those Hoya thins or wide-angle filters if you want to attach a filter in front of the HD5000. Another option is to step up from 62-72 or bigger diameter and use bigger filters.

Allan, yes I was also thinking about a step up ring for the filter. Anyway, at the moment I don't own a wide angle, but I was searching around a bit and found the Kenko KNW-05 PRO-II on the net. It's 52mm and would need a step up from 43mm on the GS400. Unfortunately I couldn't find any real images shot with this lens attached and any camera yet. Maybe I'll visit my local dealer today to ask for details...

Allen, why should there be a stepup ring? Because filters will be more readily available with a 49 mm mount? what good do the ND filters? thank's a lot for all the tips regarding the accessories!
and Andreas, why would you prefer the Kenko KNW-05 PRO-II to the original Panasonic VW-LW4307M or VW-LT4314N-K, which seem top be cheaper than the Kenko? and for the wide angle lens, a stepup ring will be needed, and if so, to which size will be most usefull?
what's vignetting?

Andreas, sorry, the one Panasonoc lens I mentioned is a telephotp lens, and the wide lens is only 0.7.

<<<-- Originally posted by Kaku Ito : Allan,

My information about HC1000 having wider dynamic range was said in their own development team's interveiw (kinda bogus because interview is done internally, and Panasonic does that too on the website, kinda silly).

So, I don't know how much to believe, but it mus have better dynamic range comparing to its older model (don't know which one).

I will find out soon and provide you folks a comparison footage. -->>>

I tried the HC1000 for a short time, but this model lacks quick control of everything. Pretty much everything is controlled on the touch panel. The dynamic range was nothing for them to be proud of.

Last friday I finally ordered the GS 400. Because in the order form the color was not clearly given I was careful and specifically asked for the black model, and today, thinking that my camera will arrive very soon, I received the answer that the shop of my choice only has the silver model. Allen, could you tell me which internet shop in Tokyo ( or Osaka ) is selling the black model? I sent this request to a bunch of shops today, but I am getting unpatient, maybe you can help me to spped things up by telling me a specific shop. If better you could send this information to my private address, e_motion11@yahoo.com
thank's a lot,

The fastest way to deal with discount shops is to call them (ask your Japanese friend to do it) and confirm whether they have a stock of black before filling out any order form. In most cases, I make the order by phone. Anyone of those shops could have a unit or two of black on a lucky day (but nobody knows when for sure). The black is a special edition model and most everybody who shops at the discount shops wants it, thus, you may have to call the shops (in ascending order of course) at 10:00am for a few consecutive days. If you wait until noon before you make the inquiry by phone, most likely the black cam would be sold out already.

Hi Allan,

May I ask why the black is a special edition model?

I got my gs400 is black one, I really want to know why everyone want black one.

TIA

Regards
Leigh

Leigh, its simply a color preference as the black GS400 is not sold anywhere outside of Japan.

Dear Tommy,

THX

Leigh

And production-wise, quantity of black GS400 that comes out of Pany factory is limited. I guess Panasonic thinks the mainstream market still prefers silver or gray.

No disrespect to those who own the silver GS400, but placed side by side with the black, the black one looks to be the ONE to own indeed, IMO :-)

Allen, had my friend call various shops, but it prooved really difficult to get the black model. The only internet shop which had one offered it to a higher prize, so I decided and simply went down to Yodobashi Camera and picked it up there, counting the points, for the same prize as on the net, but still 150.000 Yen more expensive then the cheapest silver model on the net!
So imagine, I did spend that 15.000 yen more just to get the black one!
Finally I am shooting! Really a very appealing toy, but still so much to learn, specially with that japanese menus.
My question/problem now is the following: The software included only is in Japanese:
From where to download the english versions of the software?
But I remember having read somewhere in this forum strondotguy mentioning that it is better to get firewire connection, and than the 'Video Stream Driver' and the 'Motion DV Studio' will not be required. Still I will need some software. Which will it be then? I did get the 'Ulead Video Studio 8, 'Premiere Pro 7' and 'digital video 3' software ( I have not installed any here on my friends computer, she is picky about that...). Will any of them be enough?
back to playing with the camera,
andreas

Premiere Pro will do fine!

andreas, I think you had mentioned that you were thinking of getting the Kenko KNW-05 PRO II
after buying my pana GS400 I had a lot of points from that shop, so I bought a wide angle adapter, the Kenko KUW-05S. It seems that this one only is available ion Japan, but as I was curious how it compared to the Kenko KNW-05HI I asked that question at the Kenko site:
this was my question:

Andreas Griesmayr wrote:

please be so kind and inform me how do these two Kenko products compare:

KUW-05S ( as sold in Japan ), and
KNW-05HI
( the KNW-05 PRO2 must be superior, yes? )

are they identical, or which one is superior in lens quality?

and this was the surprising answer:

Unfortunately, I have no information on the KUW-05S. The KNW-05HI and the KNW-05 PRO II are, in effect, the same lens.

here was a name, but I took it out.....
Techincal Service Representative
THK Photo Products

surprising, because he says that the KNW-05HI and PRO II are the same, though they sell at a different prize....so you may consider getting the cheaper. I am very satisfied with mine, though the only thing I checked was if there was a distotion, and there is as much as none.

liebe gruesse,
andreas

Ahh?? Hm, thanks a lot for this information!! Then I'll try to get the HI version instead.
I guess a lot of manufacturers do the same thing, as Raynox for instance. I think the DCRxxxx and HDxxxx are similar, just one is advertised for still cams and the other for video.

Andreas, you said you get almost no distortion?! In full wide zoom back? That would be not bad for a 0.5x lens! Can you post some screen grabs?
And how about the focus? Is the picture clear from the center to the perimeter? And over the full zoom range?
How about vignetting? ...the black corners, u know...

.

Andreas, you said you get almost no distortion?! In full wide zoom back? That would be not bad for a 0.5x lens! Can you post some screen grabs?
And how about the focus? Is the picture clear from the center to the perimeter? And over the full zoom range?
How about vignetting? ...the black corners, u know... -->>>

Well, my information might not be of big value, I am a bloody beginner.
I certainly will try to do some sample shots, just how can I 'send' them to you? Can they be published here? If so, how to do that?
Thank's for this 'homework', but it qwill have to wait a bit, as today it is raining, and the japanese home is too small for indoor shooting with full zoom range.
I did notice an interesting, a bit disturbing fact: My first tryouts were all done in tape recording mode, and as I mentioned I found no distortions to speak of, and to my judgement the focus also seemes to be quite good until the edges. However when doing still shots to the SD card black corners DO appear when the zoom is at full wide range! They will disappear when zoomed in just a bit. Those black corners do not appear, even with the zoom on widest range, in the tape recoring mode, neither on still shots nor
while video recording.

@ Allen; thank you so much for all your very valuable help and information. I did get a step up ring to 48mm to fit that Kenko wide adapter, and I did get the original set of Pana filters, 43mm protective and ND filters. I had checked out those tripoids, they are marvelous. The smaller model is on offer now, for just about 6000 Yen. As I still got some points left, very likely my next buy. Batteries I will be able to order in Austria/Germany at competitive prizes later.

Have made some more sample fotos with and without wide angle lens, and with both the tape recording mode and SD card rec. mode;
I was surprised that all the images are stored to the SD card anyway, regardless of the recording mode chosen. ( this is how naiv I am..) More surprised I was that the image quality differs greatly between the two recording modes ( with the same pixel size and quality chosen and regardless if taken with or without the wide angle lens ).
Fotos taken in the tape recording mode are better focused resp. clearer in the detail, also the colors seem more natural, their angle of view however is less wide. This means that in the Card recording mode the max. angle of view is wider. In the card rec. mode the view of angle is about the same as the widest view of angle in the tape rec. mode when zoomed in to about 2/3rds before the 2x symbol appears.
This difference of the widest angle of view of tape rec. and SD card rec. modes also is the reason why there have been black corners at the widest angle with the wide adapter in the card rec. mode, but not in the tape rec. mode. If, in the SD card rec. mode, zoomed in to the same angle of view as is the widest in the tape rec. mode, the black corners also will have dissappeared.
About the wide angle lens: The fotos with the wide angle lens are noticable less clear/focused.
Also at the widest angle there is a noticable distortion, straight vertical lines on the far right and left sides of the foto will be bent, specially noticable towards the corners. This lines will become straight again when zoomed in untill the symbol changes to 2x.
I am curious if I have made a bad choice, or if the lens I bought still compares well with other wide angle adapters.

I cannot offer any images I have done myself yet, but these sites for comparison of wide angle converters:
here the japanese kenko site with it's own comparison shots:
http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/d/dv/4961607502273.html
here the more general page:
http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/d/dv/index.html
this man knows a lot:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/accessories.html#wide
and he has put Kenko sample fotos here:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/lenstest/index.html
to compare images of raynox lenses:
http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/video/egwidedvr.htm

I hope this is of help,
good luck,
andreas

Did I ever say a BIG THANK YOU to you all?
If not, here it is: THANK YOU, Allan and all the others.
I enjoy my GS400 to the fullest, even untill today it must be the best choice!