Panasonic PV-GS400 Mini DV Digital Camcorder

Pros: Picture quality (color accuracy, saturation and image sharpness), versatility, manual control, features, connectivity, most ergonomics.
Cons: No SD card/1394 DV cable, low but real chance of transport noise requiring exchange.

Overall I find my GS-400 to be quite an engineering marvel to my eye. And believe 3 CCD chip cameras will overtake single chip models in this price range in the near future. They just have inherent advantages and are now becoming price competitive. ...

Pros: Beautiful picture. Easy to use. Still pictures are of usable quality. 16:9 mode.
Cons: Very poor manual.

There is a significant review of this camcorder at camcorderinfo.com. My buying decision was between this camcorder and the Sony HC1000. I eventually chose this camcorder because of the glowing review on camcorderinfo, and ruled out the Sony because of ...

Pros: Leica lens. 3ccd image sensor. Size. Portability. 3.5" LCD screen. Video quality. Value.
Cons: Playback controls under LCD. No external volume control (in menu).

The Panasonic PV-GS400 is one of the best cameras for the money. The size is perfect for most hands and it has a 3.5" screen! The Leica lens is incredible and the sound is more than fine even though you have the option of adding a better external mic. ...

Pros: Optical Image Stabiliser, Satin smooth Zoom rocker, good Automatic mode, huge 3.5inch LCD.
Cons: An outside button would be welcome to remove LCD playback info.

I bought Canon's least expensive single chip camcorder (ZR100) a few months ago - a good model for basic camcorder training! Then someone lent me a Panasonic 3CCD camera (PV-GS120) to tape a combo and singer in an auditorium. The 3CCD pictures were ...

Pros: Looked good in the design stage.
Cons: Poor manufacturing standards and even worse Customer Service.

Received a camcorder from an authorized Internet dealer and was very disappointed that my model had the transport problem. Sent the camera to Panasonic (minus the included accessories to save on freight - on my dime of course) and received the camera back from Valutech in California who evidently are a 3rd party repair company. The camcorder was mailed in a plain brown box and somehow the original box had disappeared. But that is a minor problem in comparison to the fact that the camcorder is still making the transport noise!
To top it off, I received an overpriced offer in the mail from Panasonic for an "extended warranty". I guess they need some money to offset their losses with this product. I am about to become their worst nightmare unless they replace the unit.

Pros: Great for those who are looking for a quality picture camcorder
Cons: No words to say.

I bought this Camcorder last November and I'm lucky that I don't have that Tape Transport defect issue. So far, I'm enjoying using this specially when I see the picture taken by this cam. It's so LOVELY. For the $1,072.00 (shipping is $39.00) that I paid, I can say that it's worth it.

Pros: Features
Cons: Low light performance is terrible,

This camcorder is good enough for normal use, with lots of features that other camcorders in the same price range are lacking. The only problem is the poor performance in low light conditions. My other camcorder is an old VHS-C unit that cost me about $300, and it beats the pants off the GS400 in low light. Other than that, I am happy with my purchase.

Pros: good color
Cons: Low-light performance. Overloaded controls.

The camera I received was in good working order, but I found it overly difficult and complicated to use. Some of the important controls are over-loaded in the sense that the same control affects different settings depending on the state of the camera. Image stabilization was adequate, color is good, but low-light performance is poor.

Pros: great color. Sharp video. nice feel.
Cons: Get the number before you buy! also see panasonic 3ccd users group for more info.

Had a Gs-200 and went to the 400 like the feel a larger unit, but seems to fit my hand better.Usually I use as a point and shoot. Great color repo. Image stabilization so so. but all in all a great cam much much better than a single CCD.

Pros: Did not test video performance, unit returned for faulty tape transport
Cons: You are likely to get a new camcorder with a defective tape transport!

I read some reviews of the great video quality and abundant features of the PV-GS400. I ordered one knowing that Panasonic had acknowledged the issues with the faulty tape transport and I too crossed my fingers and hoped that they had fixed it. The retailer that I ordered from had a new batch just in from Panasonic on Dec.1 and I received mine overnight on the 2nd.

I immediately tested it and I am sad to say that Panasonic has not addressed the problem. There was a very audible clicking sound on recorded video due the defective tape transport.

UPDATE:
I have received the replacement and it is not defective!!!

Serial of the defective unit: I4HW52349
Serial of the good unit: K4HW50242

Buyer beware: This is not the camcorder for those of you that need one quick to record a special occasion. Plan for time to RMA and pick a good retailer so you will not be stuck dealing with Panasonic. Sure, they have admitted the problem and will repair you unit, however, I don't think any of us should pay over $1000 for what is essentially a factory refurbished unit.

Good Luck!

Pros: Great doorstop.
Cons: Defective tape transport.

Count me in as one of the people who had the tape transport defect with the GS400, straight out of the box. I had already ordered the camcorder when I read about all of the problems that people were having with defective tape transports and I was keeping my fingers crossed. But when I took it out and tested it, the tape transport was making the cat purring noise that people have been reporting. It was loud and unmistakeable.

I'm pretty furious about this. Needless to say, the camcorder is going back in the box and I'm getting a refund. Looks like I'll have to eat two-way shipping on this deal, but it's better than living with this noisy sucker. I can't believe that Panasonic could put out a defective product like this.

Pros: picture quality-video and stills, ease of use, but with enough features to keep everyone happy
Cons: doesn't come with a memory card. need glasses to see some of the controls.

First digital camcorder. Decided to give this one a try after reading the reviews at camcorderinfo.com. I was not disappointed. The camera worked fine out of the box with no noise problems. According to information at the above web site, Panasonic states that the tape transport problem occurs in a very low single digit percentage of PV-GS400 camcorders manufactured, so I decided to give it a try. The camera takes great video and still pictures. On our vacation in the Bahamas, video taken during all light conditions from sunrise to and including sunsets came out sharp and true to color. Audio quality is very good. The wind noise reducing feature, comes in handy outdoors. Still pictures were surprisingly clear. With a 512 meg SD card, ($49 at office depot) and the camera still quality set at "fine" (best picture quality) we took more then 200 stills with room left over. The camcorder has more features then we will probably ever use. For a street price of about $1000, this is the camera to get.

Pros: great lens, manual features, large LCD
Cons: Tape transport issue makes audio sound like a $99 camcorder was used. YUK!

For this level of price and product I was Sickend that they allowed this model PVGS400 to still be sold with the known bad tape transport problem.

I didn't compromise and sent this crap back. The only way to change things is to hit these companies in their pockets.

I and everyone else should be tired of being Beta Testers for these companies.

The nerve of Panasonic telling me to send my brand new camcorder in for service and have to pay the shipping really blew it for me. They offer only 90 days warranty for labor, that tells me they've got a bad policy. And probably make tons more money on repairs than on selling the product.

BYE BYE Panasonic I refuse to be abused.

Pros: Video Quality, Huge LCD Screen, Tons of Features
Cons: "Letterboxed" picture on LCD screen in 16:9 mode would be nice

I bought this camera after reading tons of positive reviews from numerous websites. I was a little concerned about the whole transport problem, but then I read somewhere that Panasonic had taken care of this issue, and sure enough, no sign of the problem on my camera! I was able to get the camera for around $1,100 and at that price I couldn't ask for more. It takes amazing video, much better than any consumer grade camera I've seen. The LCD screen is both incredibly big and also very high quality. The camera has enough manual controls and features to film in almost every situation imaginable, and I am more and more impressed with it every time I use it. The only thing that would be nice is if the screen would display the picture "letterboxed" when in True Widescreen mode. The camera actually is recording in 16:9 format and therefore on the 4:3 aspect ratio LCD screen it looks strange. That's the only thing, though. I would buy this camera again, no question.

Pros: Nice features, but faulty tape transport.
Cons: I purchased two of these units and they both had faulty tape transport mechanisms. DISAPPOINTING!!!!

Potential buyers should know that Panasonic has acknowledged a tape transport problem in its top of the line consumer camera, the PV-GS400. Accounts of this problem, as well as a letter from Panasonic, are posted on the Panasonic 3CCD User Forum:
http://www.pana3ccduser.com/article.php?filename=Tape-Transport-Noise:-A-QC-Issue-

as well as other websites - see news article from www.camcorderinfo.com:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Major-Audio-Noise-Problem-found-on-Panasonic-PV-GS400.htm

This problem appears to be widespread, despite Panasonic's claims that only a small number of camcorders are affected. Although Panasonic is offering warranty servicing for defective units, I'm not happy with the idea of buying a top of the line, $1000+ prosumer camera and ending up with a camcorder that is basically "factory refurbished". I purchased two units with faulty tape transports and was very disappointed to have to send them back to the retailer.