Panasonic GS400 successor - any hearsay?
 

Before GS400 announced there was some buzz about HDV supporting in this cam "at least for playback". In fact we are not fated to use this.
So I suspect Matsushita is preparing some new prosumer camcorder now that will be compete with Sony HC1 HDV/DV camcorder.

Suspicious silent from Panasonic, isn’t it?

Panasonic is not a member of the HDV consortium so an HDV version seems, to me at least, to be unlikely. More likely is a cam that captures to solid state ie an SD card when their capacity is big enough. That is what is happening with their smaller SD only consumer level cams (eg SDR-S100) and their forthcoming pro cam the HVX200 with both P2 card and tape capture (the P2 card is 4 x SD cards in a Raid array). P2 is an expensive pro format, so an SD card seems much more likely in a consumer cam. Then the questions are: HD as well as DV? if HD which flavour of HD? which compression format (mpeg2 or mpeg4 or DVProHD) will be used? how it will be edited? But this is just speculation.

I hope the GS400's replacement is something of a hybrid of the GS400 and DVC30. I don't need HD or HDV right now. I do need hi-res 16:9. Drop the still photo capability. Prosumers and high-end consumers don't need it. We have still cams.

I really don't know why this is so difficult for the manufacturers. I guess they have tons of survey data that says (regular) people want video and still cams combined into one device.

So my ideal cam looks like the DVC30 (more pro look), has three 1/4" CCDs, hi-res 16:9, and a 16:9 LCD.

If the DVC30 had high-res 16:9 it would be the perfect cam for me. It looks professional but is still small enough to take to Disney with the family. Although making it a bit smaller wouldn't hurt.

That would be my ideal camera as well Brian. I really would like the 16:9 with the larger chips for better low light shooting.
doug

Good ideas !

My ideal device would be the smaller body of the GS250 with three 1/4" chips
or a single larger chip. The pixels would be just small enough for video resolution, and whatever still capability would come with that. Manufacturers are pushing still capability, and the smaller pixel size is compromising low light performance. At least, that is what I notice when comparing the various GS models with 1/6" CCDs : more pixels on the same sensor area yields worse performance. Check out the low light tests at
camcorderinfo.com .

I'd like a clone of Sony's new camera focus method in which you can set a focus zone in the touch screen. I am growing ill with all of the back wall-focused video. At the very least, we could use the GS joystick to set a focus area, with a red box outlining the area. Just like on a Nikon DSLR.
None of this would require additions to the camera, and could even be
a firmware upgrade.

I would like an AF focus button that you press while in manual focus mode.
Yes, this requires and additional button, but it would eliminate all of that
focus hunting.

My view is direct output CCD signal without manipulation by USB2 or firewire. No extra cost, maybe just a firmware update. ;-)

Regards
Leigh

Silence is golden. With the GS400, Pana knows they won't have to replace it until broadcast goes HD. That'll be...., 10 years, realistically? ;)

PS: ouch.

I don't see them using P2 or DVCproHD. P2 will be too expensive for consumers for awhile. DVCproHD suffers from a few tiny problems like needing a high end computer to edit on and a lack of NLE's supporting it. Pros are willing to live with that but I doubt consumers will. My prediction which is worth what it cost is they will go the H.264 route. We should know in a few weeks come CES.