GS100 vs. DVC30 16:9 modes
 

Anyone conversant enough in Japanese to compare the 16:9 modes of these two cameras?

The DVC30 page is at http://panasonic.biz/sav/camera/ag-dvc30/ag-dvc30.html

Here is the text translated:

16: As for 9 wide recording corresponding photographing angles of view 4: 3/16: Aspect change of 9 being possible, it corresponds to wide image recording. 16: Record of 9 chooses two recording modes of letter box mode and squeeze mode, the general purpose in compilation playing back after the recording is raised.

It seems that the DVC30 has two 16:9 modes and will probably be similar to the DV953 16:9 mode. The cinema mode is letterboxed 4:3 and the 16:9 mode is anamorphically squeezed. The pixel count per CCD is pretty low on the DVC30 so there will most likely be some noticeable vertical zooming to achieve 16:9. Still, its better than just cinema mode like on other Panasonic cams.

No technical details are explained but from the simulated pictures shown, definitely not as enhanced as 16:9 implementation of the GS100.

It only mentions that there are 2 possible 16:9 modes

16:9 Letterboxed (black bars on top and bottom)
16:9 squeezed (note the reduction in vertical angle of view and no discernible increase in horizontal angle of view)

Thanks for the info guys - I appreciate it.