Panasonic GS200/GS400 vs Sony TRV22 - Should I upgrade?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Take a look at the November '03 Consumer Reports. They reviewed camcorders.
The GS400 was not out then, but it's predecessor, the PV-DV953, was. It was
rated as very good, but not better than several 1-CCD rated cameras above
it.

I think it sells for $1500. That's a LOT of money for the small improvement
you are likely to get. I suggest you consider carefully shopping for a used
1/4" 3-CCD prosumer model at a price well below that.

- GRL

"Brian Andrews" <sigamy@email.com> wrote in message
news:a6d08c4b.0409121800.731c2b@posting.google.com...
> I currently have a 2003 model Sony TRV22. I got this camera because
> it had good reviews for its low light performance. It has one 1/4"
> CCD, which is big for a consumer cam. I'm pretty happy with the video
> quality, it is good to very good but not exceptional--it doesn't blow
> you away. I had a Canon ZR10 for 3 years and this Sony blows it away
> for indoor low light shooting. I'm still not getting real good color
> in low light but at least I'm not getting the excessive grain that the
> ZR10 had. I shoot typical family stuff, a lot of indoor shooting.
>
> I've always been in the low end of the price range and now I'm having
> fun making short movies with the kids and I'm thinking about
> upgrading. I've been reading about the new Panasonic 3 CCD consumer
> cams and I'm wondering if it is worth it for me to upgrade from the
> TRV22. I'm looking for the best video quality I can get, the best
> colors and good low light performance. I also love the small size of
> my TRV22.
>
> The GS200 has a nice size, but I've read that the EIS is almost
> useless and it only has 1/6" CCDs so I'm worried about the low light
> performance.
>
> The GS400 is almost 3x the cost of my TRV22, it is phyiscally much
> bigger which worries me (I don't want to not take the camera with me
> because it's too big) but it gets rave reviews for video quality and
> color quality, especially in the 16x9 mode.
>
> At this point I'm starting to believe that to see a real dramatic jump
> in quality I'd have to move up to the prosumer 3 CCD cams like VX2100,
> XL2, etc. I really don't think the GS200 is going to blow me away in
> terms of video quality and I think it may actually fall behind my Sony
> in image stablization and low light. So that leaves the GS400, which
> I think may take some great video, but I don't know if I can live with
> the larger size.
>
> Can anyone help me? Is it worth it for me to upgrade to either the
> GS200 or GS400? Or should I stick with my little Sony and focus on
> learning how to shoot and edit better?
>
> Thanks,
> Brian

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Even worse is that the manufacturers have gotten it into their puddin' heads
that people want to take still images with their camcorders and don't care
all that much about low light video performance - hence the smaller and
smaller CCD's.


George Litwinski


"Malcolm Stewart" <malcolm_stewart@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message news:ci47o8$mjl$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Brian Andrews" <sigamy@email.com> wrote in message
> news:a6d08c4b.0409121800.731c2b@posting.google.com...
> > I currently have a 2003 model Sony TRV22. I got this camera because
> > it had good reviews for its low light performance. It has one 1/4"
> > CCD, which is big for a consumer cam. I'm pretty happy with the video
> > The GS200 has a nice size, but I've read that the EIS is almost
> > useless and it only has 1/6" CCDs so I'm worried about the low light
> > performance.
> > The GS400 is almost 3x the cost of my TRV22, it is phyiscally much
> > bigger which worries me (I don't want to not take the camera with me
> > because it's too big) but it gets rave reviews for video quality and
> > color quality, especially in the 16x9 mode.
> snipped
>
> I too have the TRV22, and am beginning to have t hesamethoughts.Justto
> add confusion, there's a new (moderately expensive) Sony HC1000 with 3
CCDs.
> I'm inclined to wait as my film-making is much worse that the technical
> quality of my TRV22; however, waiting for the market has its own risks as
> desirable, and once standard features can disappear with the lowering of
> price. The camcorder said to be the replacement for the TRV22 (HC40)
> doesn't apparently have a headphone socket. (Don't know whether one can
> stuff phones into the A/V output socket.)
>
> --
> M Stewart
> Milton Keynes, UK
> http://www.megalith.freeserve.co.ukoddimage.htm
>
>
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

actually the GS400 has slightly larger CCD's than it predecessor the
953.

but u r rite--still pix do not belong in a camcorder. if you want a
still from the video, you can get it via editing software.....

so far i like my GS400.

just taking up some bandwidth...
ron


>On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 22:00:17 -0400, "GRL" <GLitwinski@CHARTERMI.NET> wrote for all to read:

>Even worse is that the manufacturers have gotten it into their puddin' heads
>that people want to take still images with their camcorders and don't care
>all that much about low light video performance - hence the smaller and
>smaller CCD's.
>
>
>George Litwinski
>

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