Movie with a panasonic nv-gs400

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I have come across to some very good reviews for the panasonic nv-gs400...with its manual controls etc...and the anamorphic wide screen (16:9) recording (i hope it has)... However..can I make a movie using the camera?
I can try and use a diffusion filter to soften the image..and also use the dvfilm program to convert the 60I interlaced vedio to 24p.....
The question is will it work. and does it have anamorphic wide screen recording..and can it give me a good image on the final print..


:)

You'd better describe what you mean by "a movie". If you're talking a commercial release probably not. All the post processing in the world will not make DV look enough like film to be released in theaters. Commercial movies use lots of expensive lighting and sound equipment as well as very high production values to get their look. If you spent that amount of money and used a GS400 I still don't think you'd get what you want.

If you're talking about a documentary or a wedding, maybe. You'll still have some challenges with low light and sound without some extra equipment.

If you mean what most of us call "home movies" then sure. Most of the video cams on the market today from about $600 up will do a very good job of recording graduations, vacations and the like.

Good luck.

Dennis

:) Thanks for the reply, becauce I have been reading a lot info on the internet about using the panasonic gs400 to make a documentary or a short flim...after looking at some pictures taken in the so called cine mode.....but any one knows that the footage is just good for home movies..... :)
I have been reading a lot on people making movies for transfer to film....and they have used the xl2,ag-dvx100a...etc...who have successfully managed to get the footage and have had good results when trasfered to film..(thats cause they had the money to transfer :eek: )......

What I am confused about is...is this all possible....because if it is..it makes life a lot easier for young and upcomming movie makers to make a mark in the movie business.

I don't want to sound cryptic but it is definitely possible to make a documentary or short film with a GS400. But I doubt you will find many (any?) serious videographers doing it. The cams you listed are more likely to be found on a professional set. They have many professional features built in to them that are not in GS400s and other similar consumer cams.

Good luck.

Dennis

I see no reason why a decent short film for release on dvd couldn't be made with GS400, no matter what the subject matter may be. It may not look the same as film, but that doesn't mean it won't look good. I don't remember where I found it, but there was some sample video of the GS400 taken in Scotland which looked like it could have been from a professional documentary.

It's rare for movies done with digital camcorders to make it big, but there are some examples like The Blair Witch Project and 28 Days Later http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/

I saw 28 Days Later in the theater and it was difficult to look at video blown up to that size for so long, but my friend tells me that he can't tell it was done with camcorders by watching it on tv. It was done using XL1 cameras, but even for high quality digital cameras, they all take video at 720x480, which is completely inappropriate for very large theater screens.

Movies like this tend to make most of their money through rentals and dvd purchases anyway, so I see no reason why pursuing that avenue couldn't be worthwhile, especially for a genre like horror or documentaries.

There is a Sony High Definition camera coming out for under $2000. It's not 24p, but if you want something to go to film and still look decent, you might want to read up on it. Check the main page of camcorderinfo.com.

Movie-star,

If it is any help, my friends and I have made fourteen short and long films in the last year, mostly with the GS400 and the post-production techniques you mentioned. Most of them have been screened in local theaters and on local television. So, it is definitely possible.

You can catch some of our work at Matter of Chance (http://www.matterofchance.com/) and others on the User Productions forum at Pana3CCDUser (http://www.pana3ccduser.com/). Some of our films are not yet available, as they are being submitted to film festivals right now.

Thanks,
Josh

I saw 28 Days Later in the theater and it was difficult to look at video blown up to that size for so long, but my friend tells me that he can't tell it was done with camcorders by watching it on tv. It was done using XL1 cameras, but even for high quality digital cameras, they all take video at 720x480, which is completely inappropriate for very large theater screens.



Wow... I didn't know it was shot with XL1's, and it is one of my favorite movies. That is a rather inspirational bit of info, personally.