New Gs400 or use PDX10
 

Hello forum,

Im wondering if its better to get a used pdx10 off ebay with no warranty used for wedding etc,

operation: 77 x10 drum run: 51 x10 threading: 115 x10 thanks

with no shotgun, 3 batts, fish eye

or a new gs400 with warranty

im getting for personal use the odd short etc

Thats some rather high mileage on the PDX10 and if you could live without the XLR inputs I'd definitely consider a brand new GS400.

Low light might be an issue for weddings with either of these cams. I taped a wedding a few years back with a Sony VX2000 and PDX10 and the PDX10 tape was unuseable save for some commentary with a high-power on-camera light.

I looked at the PDX10 before getting my GS400, and found the Panasonic the better cam, overall.

I would certainly favor a new GS400 over a used PDX10. That warranty is important, plus the PDX10 does not have much to recommend it over the GS if both are new. It may have marginally better low light ability, and maybe better 16:9 ability, but not that much.

Tommy and Steve, your comments are appreciated.

I have filmed several shorts/corporates with a pdx10 and also found the lowlight response lacking.

The pdx10 seemed to have 16:9 going for it when no other cam did. I just found the gs400 also has zebra so i think thats going to seal the deal.

B.Sundry

The used camera could be troublesome. But if all things were equal, I think the PDX-10 has the following advantages vs the GS-400:

1. Can record in DVCAM mode
2. High resolution B&W viewfinder
3. XLR inputs (removable when not needed)
4. Short shotgun mike included
5. Black finish looks more professional
6. A second, deep lens hood is included
7. Part of Sony's "Pro" line which means you get a much higher level of service than a consumer camera.

From what I've read, the 16:9 and low light ability is probably pretty similar between both cameras. They appear to have the same CCD's (1/4.7" with 1152x864 pixels).

I've heard that the HC1000 and the GS400 have slightly higher sensitivity in low light.

In the case of the HC-1000 that doesn't sound right to me. It has the same lens, image processing and CCD's as the PDX-10. But I have no personal experience.

But it's true. (like VX2100 has a better lux rating) :) Too bad the GS400 can't go below 1/60 sec, though.

In 'color night view' mode GS 400 goes way below 1/60. Unfortunately shutter speed is full auto. Manual focus is always engaged in this mode

That was a fair point though - it doesn't go below 1/60 (or 1/50 in PAL land).

Colour night view is a joke. My Sony TRV33e fully automatic has better slow shutter options than my GS400.

That's about the only area where the Sony is better though [;)]

Jason

Why do you think color night view is a joke on the GS400. It is just a mode where, depending on the amount of available light, the shutter goes from 1/50 (Pal) down to 1/2 second. I own, besides a GS400, also a Sony VX2000 and TRV14E (simular as trv33E) and I can tell you that in the "joke" mode the vertical resolution of the GS400 is much better than the VX2K. The TRV's don't even have sub-frame shutter modes. As you maybe know most cams (incluing the VX2K) reduce the vertical resolution by 50% in the sub-framerate modes.

It's not colour mode itself thats a joke but the lack of control of shutter speed under 1/50.

For example, the cam goes from 1/50 at it slowest, and then to 1/12 in Colour mode - with nothing in between. On my 33 I can get to 1/25 as well.

Edit, just played with the cam some more and can see that it will do 1/25 in the right light.

However, it's the lack of control for selecting that speed. Unless I am doing something wrong with the GS?

Interesting about the reduced resolution, or lack of on the GS - thanks.

Jason

Indeed TRV22 and 33 have slow shutter mode, not my trv14. The slow shutter mode on the GS is full auto (ambient light dependent). Also TRV22 and 33 can't be manually set when in slow shutter mode.

The GS400 has exposure in F-stops and seperate GAIN. The PDX10 has an Exposure bar, that incorporates exposure and gain together. Even though Boyd will have my head for it, the GS400 is superior in all but XLR and DVCAM recording abilities.

I was holding out for 2 GS400s but got 2 HC1000s due to a GS400 drought. The GS400, HC1000 and PDX10 have the same CCD sizes and I am tempted to say they are even manufactured by the same company. 1/4.7" is a rather unique size.

Plus it has been confirmed on the Panasonic 3CCD site that the GS400 has built in ND filters...same as the PDX10 and HC1000.

I think the TRV950 also has the same CCDs but uses squeeze mode when recording 16:9.

The GS400, PDX10 and HC1000 all use anamorphic 16:9, therefore using more pixels in 16:9 than in 4:3.

I don't think GS400 has seperate gain control for video.

No separate gain. The manual exposure allows the aperture to be opened up and then moves into gain when the aperture is fully open.

Very similar to the Sony's bars but with actual F stop and gain readings in the viewfinder instead of the bar.

Jason

The TRV-950 is pretty much the same as the PDX-10 in terms of hardware, like the VX-2000 is to the PD-150. The main difference is the firmware. It shoots anamorphic 16:9 like the PDX-10, but uses a smaller portion of the CCD so the resolution isn't as good. Even so, it maps more than 480 vertical lines in 16:9 mode so it should do a better job at 16:9 than cameras like the VX-2100 that have low res CCD's.

I've never used a GS-400 but I know they have a loyal following. There is another thing which is worth considering when comparing however. The PDX-10 is part of Sony's professional line, and based on other reports around here, that means you get a completely different level of support.

Personally I haven't touched my PDX-10 in quite awhile since I have a Z1 now. But it gave me years of trouble free service and I was always very happy with it.