fret not
 

With these days of uncertainty, advertising hoopla (presenting the preposterous to appear plausible), is it any wonder why so many of us are stumped? There are so many questions, and one question leads to another. We had the excellent XL1, but it became apparent it wasn't so when the "S" upgrade came along. Now the DVX film maker's delight has suddenly become a disappointment because of the new "A." Where we not once here with the PD100 and the "A?" It seems like dejavu, at least it does for me. But fear not because you are here. This is the Panasonic MX forum; "MX" meaning, meister xyster. We can get down to meat and even to the bone. So, do you have any questions? Yes? And if is the one asking which cam is the best little cam in the whole wide world, here's your answer: MX5000 (Japan), PV-DV953 (North America) and MX500 (PAL). That is why I'd rather have a MX5000 today than spend a year's salary on something that'll be obsolete tomorrow. Info here:

http://www.dvfreak.com/pana_mx5.htm
(High resolution, great manual controls and even real frame mode; all at a price you can afford.)

PS: the GS100 black mamba may be even better, in some ways. :-))

i have to agree... persoanlly i dont like goin beyond the realms of suport within my country, but pricing has forced me to privately import my own models... primarily the DVX..

i bought the MX500 here in oz for 3600... which is about 2000 US, maybe a lil more... this is BIG BUX for a camera of this size, especially considering the small CCD.. but, i have made do and with it (the MX500) i have worked wonders with many professional jobs.. not to say that its a professional camera, from comparing it to the likes of the DVX, its got a lot of shortcomings, BUT, thats not the point...

i use it for many Professional jobs, which in turn (in my eye anyway) makes it a high end consumer cam used for professional purposes.

now i considered the GS100, however the line resolution here in PAL land makes a huge difference when working with multiple cameras and i felt it would be futile getting a cam of the GS' nature as i wouldnt be able to exploit it as i would like to (i like to get my moneys worth :) )

so here i sit waiting for the nxt big (or should that be small handheld??) thing not knowing where to go and wondering whther my investment has blown out the window...

Don't consider a NTSC cam. There's no good way of converting NTSC miniDV to PAL miniDV. It's fine with conversion VCRs, but not miniDV, unless perhaps you go really high end---which isn't an option for most of us.