3CCD Camera System 

The same system that is used in professional broadcast cameras can produce high quality pictures for you. Because the CCD (Charged Couple Device) is a key device for image quality, all professional video cameras use a 3CCD system. In this system, a prism splits the incident light into its three primary colours (red, green and blue) and each resultant colour signal is collected by a seperate CCD. The 3CCD system reproduces colours with exceptional fidelity and captures even subtle gradations.

NEW Crystal Engine : Image Processing LSI 

Image Processing LSI - The NEW Crystal Engine is a special new image processing circuit for 3CCD camera systems. Processing the signal from each of the three CCD's independently, it gives both moving and still pictures exceptional quality.

O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser)

The O.I.S. helps assuring clear, beautiful pictures by compensating for any hand-shake that occurs as you shoot. Gyrosensors detect the amount and direction of hand-shake and a linear motor adjusts the lenses as needed to compensate.

MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)

The MEGA O.I.S. system takes O.I.S. technology a step further by adding a sensitivity selector. This allows MEGA O.I.S. to provide about twice*1 as much hand-shake correction when shooting still pictures as Std. O.I.S. provides with moving pictures.

Pro-Cinema Mode

Theatre movies are generally filmed at 24 frames per second (fps). The GS400's Pro-Cinema mode shoots at a close 25 fps to give you movie-like motion.

Professional Functions

A host of professional-level functions let you capture shots precisely as you see them in your mind's eye. Also offering a number of manual functions, the GS400 is an ideal tool for capturing artistic, expressive images.

High-Picture-Quality Wide Mode (16:9)

With this new mode you can shoot pictures that look beautiful even on a large, wide-screen TV. It uses the same aspect ratio as wide-screen TVs right from the recording stage, and it minimizes the vertical zoom ratio to boost vertical resolution.

12x Optical Zoom with Variable Speed

The 12x optical zoom combined with the easy to use variable speed zoom control gives the video maker great artisitic control to frame the shot they are looking for.

Tele Macro Mode

Using the zoom at full magnification, you can shoot macro close-ups while maintaining a distance of 50 cm from your subject. This lets you capture extreme close-ups equivalent to wide macro shots at 4 cm, while keeping the background in soft focus.

Soft Skin Detail

This function detects skin tones and softens the focus in those areas, making complexions look more attractive. Wrinkles and lines seem to disappear.

Compact 4-ECM Zoom Microphone

This system links four electret condenser microphones (ECM) with the lens operation, so their directionality and sensitivity are adjusted as you zoom. Directionality adjusts from Wide to Zoom, so voices and sounds correspond with the images.

Smart Wind Cut

A digital circuit automatically detects the wind velocity and adjusts the directivity of the microphones accordingly. This dramatically reduces both wind noise and sound degradation in the low-frequency range.

Multi Manual Ring - a variety of manual functions

Turn this ring to adjust settings for the focus, aperture, shutter speed, and zoom. Because you use buttons and the ring rather than menu operations to adjust settings, you can respond quickly and easily when a shooting opportunity arises.

Leica Dicomar Lens

Delivering Leica's superior image rendering. The advanced optical technology that makes Leica Camera AG a legend in the camera world is fully reflected in the 12-element, multi-coated Leica Dicomar lens. This superb lens system eliminates unwanted reflections and reduces the flaring and ghosts that can distort images. It gives sharp definition even to the darker parts of an image, so the entire picture is clear.

4 Megapixel Still Picture Recording 

You can take breathtaking stills, too. Quad-Density Pixel Distribution, a technology used in broadcasting, makes it possible to capture still pictures with superb megapixel quality. The tiny 2.5-micron intervals between pixels are shifted by one-half pitch both vertically and horizontally, which distributes them on the CCD with four times the density of previous systems. This lets you capture still pictures with 4-megapixel quality.

New Intelligent LCD Monitor

We have added saturation gain control to our original AI technology. This new control increases luminance and contrast to make whites look whiter and blacks look blacker. Saturation gain can be boosted from 100% all the way to 200%.

Wide-Opening LCD

The LCD opens a full 120 degrees (previous models opened 90 degrees), making it much easier for everyone to see the LCD or for you to access the buttons.

3.5' Power LCD

Simply press the Power LCD button and the LCD becomes brighter, making it easier to see outdoors or in other bright locations. Also, a new scanning technology allows the LCD to show diagonal lines more sharply.

Simultaneous Motion Video-Still Picture Recording

World's first camera to record moving pictures and 1.2-megapixel still pictures at the same time* Now you can have it both ways. When you're shooting a moving picture and you see a great scene, you can snap off a still shot. *As of June 15, 2004

High and Low Shutter Speeds

Adjust the shutter speed from 1/2 to 1/8,000 sec.Use a slower shutter speed to capture bright nighttime shots or to suggest the motion of flowing water. Use a faster shutter speed to 'freeze' a fast-moving subject in clear, sharp focus.

Direct Mode Dial

Simply look at the icons to find the mode you want, then rotate the dial to select it. A fingertip is all it takes.

Rec. View Button

Just press a button to check recorded images right on the spot, right after you shoot them. This makes it easy to ensure that the pictures came out just the way you intended.

Super Colour Night View with Light Panel

Super Colour Night View gives you beautiful colors, even in the dark. While the conventional Colour Night View function shoots three frames per second, our new Super Colour Night View shoots a full eight frames per second.

Auto Pop-Up Flash (GN 6.0)

Get great still shot- even in dim lighting.

Free-Style Remote Controller with Mic

Easy shooting from any angle, and voice recording

One Touch Free-Style Grip Belt

Hang it from your wrist. Shoot from creative angles.

Air Soft Grip

Improved grip stability and minimal fatigue

USB 2.0 (HS Mode) and Video Class* Compatibility

USB 2.0 compatibility gives you high-speed uploading of DV data to a PC over a single USB

^{*Video Class is a standard format that allows the real-time transfer of moving picture data over a USB cable}