3CCD Camera System, New Crystal Engine

The same system that's used in professional broadcast cameras

3CCD Camera System

The camera's CCD (charge-coupled device) plays a critical role in picture quality. That's why, in the GS400, Panasonic chose a 3CCD camera system — the type used in

professional video cameras. In this advanced system the incident light is split into its three primary colour components (red, green and blue), and the resulting signal from each is collected by one of the three CCDs. The GS400's 3CCD system features a total of 1,070,000 pixels times 3. It captures moving pictures with an

effective 690,000 pixels times 3 and still pictures with an effective 990,000 pixels times 3, which provides highly detailed colour information. You can see the results in the GS400's clear, beautifully rendered images with fine gradation and natural, true-to-life colours.

3CCD	B CCD
	Optical Axis

R CCD

Dichroic Mirrors

G CCD

1CCD

Optical Axis

CCD

GS400

You can take breathtaking stills as well

4.0-Megapixel Still Picture Recording

The GS400 features Quad-Density Pixel Distribution, a technology used in Panasonic's professional equipment. The pixels are shifted a half of intervals (2.65-micron) both vertically and horizontally within

the tiny 2.65- micron intervals between them, which distributes them on the CCD with four times the density of previous systems. As a result, the GS400 records 4.0- megapixel still pictures - highest in the industry for a compact, home-use digital video camera.

•Quad-Density Pixel Distribution Technology

	1144 pixels			2288 pixels (1144 x 2)
864 pixels			1728 pixels
864 pixels			(864 x 2)
			(864 x 2)
		Shifted by
		1/2 pixel
		horizontally
	Shifted by 1/2 pixel vertically			2288 x 1728 = 4.0 Megapixels
Number of Recordable Still Pictures (approx.) 2288 x 1728 pixels
Image Quality			Capacity
Image Quality	1GB*	512MB*	256MB*	128MB*	64MB*	32MB*
	1GB*	512MB*	256MB*	128MB*	64MB*	32MB*
Fine	512	265	130	64	30	14
Normal	807	418	206	102	49	23
Economy	1132	587	290	144	70	33

•The number of recordable pictures will differ if more than one mode (Fine, Normal, Economy) is used.

•These figures vary depending on the subject being recorded.

* Usable capacity will be less.

Superior Leica-certified image quality

LEICA DICOMAR Lens

A high-performance image processing

New Crystal Engine

Leica is renowned by photographers everywhere as a maker of superb cameras and lenses. Now this legendary optical technology fuses with Panasonic's

advanced digital technology in the Leica Dicomar lens. This brilliant new lens features 14 lens elements in ten groups and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce chromatic aberration to about 1/3 the level of conventional lenses. A special multi-coating process is applied to 16 lens surfaces, minimising harmful reflection to deliver crisp, clear images free of flare and ghosting. All of the beauty captured by the Leica Dicomar lens is faithfully translated and recorded by Panasonic's high-performance 3CCD camera system. You can see the results in beautifully rendered images with the delicate nuances and subtle shading that are Leica hallmarks. The Leica Dicomar lens also boasts a 12x optical zoom.

Analogue

Signal

Processor

Analogue

Signal

Processor

Analogue

Signal

Processor

New Crystal Engine		Detail, Contrast
	Pixel	and Colour
Reduces Noise	Interpolation	Correction
Noise-Shaping Filter	Advanced Pixel
2D RGB Noise Reduction
	Interpolation
3D RGB Frame
	System (AXIS)
Noise Reduction		Moving-Picture
			Moving-
		Circuit
Noise-Shaping Filter			Pictures
	Advanced Pixel

2D RGB Noise Reduction
	Interpolation
3D RGB Frame
	System (AXIS)		Still-
Noise Reduction
		Still-Picture
			Pictures
		Circuit
Noise-Shaping Filter
	Advanced Pixel
2D RGB Noise Reduction
	Interpolation
3D RGB Frame
	System (AXIS)
Noise Reduction

*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystem IR GmbH, and Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.

•16 Multi-Coated Lens Surfaces

Aspherical Lenses

O.I.S. Lenses

•Low Dispersion Glass

Conventional Lens

New Lens

	Approx. 1/3
Chromatic	Chromatic
Aberration	Aberration

Light

New 3D RGB Frame Noise Reduction: The new noise reduction system uses a noise-shaping filter (one dimension) to remove the rough, highly visible noise. Next, it extracts and analyses

data from several adjacent pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions (two dimension), and removes any parts that it determines to be noise. Finally, the process is applied to the time axis (three dimension), where it extracts and analyses several frames, and again removes parts that it determines to be noise. The result is a better noise-reduction performance than conventional systems provide. The noise reduction is particularly effective when shooting at low illumination, so you can capture clear, sharp images even at night or when lights are low.

AXIS (Advanced Pixel Interpolation System): Quad-Density Pixel Distribution technology improves image precision by interpolating the signal for areas on the CCD where there are no pixels. AXIS helps reproduce even finely detailed portions of an image, giving the picture a higher-resolution appearance.

New Digital Signal Processing: This new configuration consists of two separate image processing circuits, one for moving pictures, one for still pictures. This makes it possible to record moving pictures and still pictures at the same time, both with outstanding quality (1.2-megapixel still picture). This advanced digital system renders clear, sharp, expressive images, with vivid colour and detail down to individual strands of hair.