About a month ago, pretty much the entire tape transport problem disappeared. Check out the tape transport forum listing at Pana3ccduser.com. I got mine on April fools day and it is the best camcorder ever. Picture quality is amazing, on par with any camcorder up to around $2000. The 16:9 mode is better than most camcorders under $2500 and the Procinema mode is also a great bonus. The LCD is very bright. 4 way ring works great as well. I agree with camcorderinfo.com that's it's the best value in a camcorder ever made.

Was delighted to recieve this camcorder, after waiting
a few months to buy it. However, upon use I found that
it was inoperable. The zoom did not work and there was
a constant need to "reset" the camcorder.

I had read the glowing reviews, wonderful feature
accounts, as well as the outstanding video performance
evaluations. However, if the camera has to be sent
back, none of the video performance, features, or
reviews mean anything. The only thing that matters is
that I am out a camcorder (for some weeks) as well as
$1,500. I am not sure which is worse.

Superb cam, picture quality is excellent - so is handling.

According to several reports in internet unfortunately large quantity seems to be affected with tape transfer noise, the one I bought too. For more info see www.akuutti.net

Kind Regards,
PKa

Just got mine today and it too has the tape transport problem. Looks like Panasonic is not listening since this one just shipped in from the factory. I have an RMA in progress with the vendor and will update on the status of the replacement.

Potential buyers should be aware that there is a tape transport problem with some PV-GS400 camcorders and that Panasonic has acknowledged this problem. I had problems with TWO different PV-GS400s (I returned a defective unit and the replacement was also defective). When I played back tapes recorded with these camcorders, I noticed a grinding, periodic mechanical noise that could be heard through the speakers of my TV set. This noise was clearly audible and annoying - it wasn't subtle. When I put the camcorders up to my ear, it was clear that the grinding noise was NOT the kind of noise that a healthy tape transport should EVER make. This is extremely bad news, since mechanical problems usually get worse over time (possibly after the warranty expires).

An internet search revealed that many other PV-GS400 owners have also reported this problem. Since Amazon.com guidelines prohibit the use of URLs in product reviews, I'll recommend that you do an internet search using the search terms "panasonic" and "tape transport" in order to find a great deal of useful information about this problem. To see a letter that Panasonic issued addressing this problem, use the search terms "panasonic", "tape transport", and "QC issue".

The bottom line is that 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" camcorder and ending up with a camcorder that is essentially "factory refurbished".

No one who discovers that their PV-GS400 has this problem should just "live with it". Either return it, or if you can't do that, then get it serviced by Panasonic (and hope it doesn't break down again after it's out of warranty).

If you're looking for a cheap little camera of so-so quality, this is not it. But if you want crisp, clear, vibrant photos, stunning videos, and a solid camera you can rely on, this is the one you've been searching for!
I shopped and compared for a LONG time before finally choosing this camera, and I am SOOO glad I did!! My friends and family all have the smaller, cheaper camcorders, and yes, I looked at those too. But this one, with 3CCD and 12x OZ beats them all, hands down. The pictures are beautiful - the zoom is awesome - and the video is the best! The controls are easy to find and use, and there are many options to choose from. The LCD is large and clear, and it turns in different directions so is great for viewing from other angles (like from in front of the camera!). The remote control is indispensable, not only for recording or taking shots, but also for playing back the videos on TV.
I would highly recommend getting an accessory kit like the one I purchased from Digital Innovations. The tripod alone is a must-have, and all the lenses etc. are great add-ons. You can view it here: http://www.digitalinnovationsny.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=2764945
I'm not a pro' at digital cameras by any means. This is actually my first one! But I've compared my shots and videos to those by other, more experienced users (with cheaper cams) and mine are so much better that those people ask ME to take pix and videos FOR them to get the higher quality!!
And because I'm a "newbie" I can tell you that it does take a little time to read the book and learn how to use the camera, but all the main functions are VERY easy - even for me!
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars because the GS400 easily deserves twice that. I know it's a little expensive, but if I had a quarter for every time I've said, "I LOVE this camera!" it would have paid for itself by now! lol

Hi,

The capacitor on my charger seems to have burst from a power surge. I'm looking for a new charger for the GS400 and I read somewhere that it uses the PV-DAC13 KIT.

Does anyone here know about this and any pointers to locating its whereabouts on the net might be helpful.

So far I've tried a lot of websites and in most places it's out of stock. I'm trying to figure if I'm looking for the right thing in the first place.

Thanks in advance.

Very easy to use and perfect for my honeymoon vacation because of its compact size. We are very happy with this purchase.