Amazing price on PV-DV953 from B & H
 

For anybody interested in buying the PV-DV953,

look here :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...x=8&image.y=14

or

at the B & H home page enter "SBENY0611" in the search field.

I don't know how long this price is good for.

I think the special price offer expires today. I ordered a DV953 on Tuesday after heaing about this deal on another board. I think it is a DV Show special or something. It does seem to be a great price.

$879.95 US for the PV-DV953 is almost a give-away. I assume they want to move this cam to make room for the new models. But what's coming may not be better or as good as the PV-DV953/MX5, unless it's the GS100---which I doubt is coming. Could it be that the GS400 will be the North American version of the GS100? Maybe, eh? I wonder if she'll be striped down look-alike.

I called one Panasonic dealer today and they said DV953 has been discontinued.

The B&H price was from a DV show like Zac mentioned. Not sure how long the price will last but you do have to use the link as a search for PV-DV953 on B&H still pulls up $979.

The price is good through March 19. They also have a $50 off on the GS70 if anyone is interested.

Thanks guys. This time of year is always a good time to buy a new cam, with cams that are going to be replaced.

Great price on the DV953. I bought mine last July or August. With the new GS400 I might just be tempted to jump on board the gravy train if the reports are good. I got my DV953 at a bargain price but would possibly consider the upgrade if the video and lower light has been improved upon.

It might be that time of year as Frank mentioned!

I knew that this time of the year is when the deals come up, so I was waiting. I didn't expect this drop so soon, but when it came, I jumped at it.

I recieved my camera, and played with it a little bit. Now I just need to figure out what the best wide-angle and hood would be. (raynox 5000?)

Since I bought the camera to record action on my sportbike, I also need to figure out what the best - but not too expensive - mount would be. There are so many options.

Oh yeah, and the whole firewire card/cable/software/pins have my head spinning.

I have never dealt with DV. Heck, the last time I worked with cameras was around 1995-7. My TV station used VHS tapes. :) Things have changed.

The TV used VHS tapes? Maybe BETA?

It seems that the 2 favourites are:

Raynox 5000HD
Panasonic's wide angle

Though some members have bought the Raynox HD6600 and Tiffen's wide'.

Witold,
There are a couple of rather lengthy threads on this forum on wide angles. Do a forum search and you'll have more confusing information to digest :-). One thing to consider is that many wide angles do not have front threads to allow for adding filters/hoods. Also, you will find the DV953's standard lens is quite wide all on its own. When you add a conversion lens, like say a 37mm wide angle, you may get vignetting at full wide on the 953. Some folks do with the Raynox 5000 and some don't. I have yet to see anyone post pictures of a good hood that works effectively with a wide angle. Maybe someone who has found one can comment.

I too, have yet to see a good hood on a RAYNOX HD5000 (which I own).

If anybody can recommend one that has no vignetting, please let us know.

I was contemplating making a hood similar to the Cinetactics Matteblox. Shouldn't be that difficult using some Cordura cut from the side of a junk softside suitcase. It would be much smaller, of course, for the 953. In the suitcase I have, the short sides are reinforced with heavy plastic. Could even use that alone or use it for reinforcing the Cordura...

B+W Wide-angle Rubber Hood. They also make a metal version. Perhaps B+W has the correct size---don't know. What is the front thread size on the HD5000?

Frank,

The Raynox front filter thread size is 62 mm.

I'm just wondering if anybody has any good expeirence with a good filter (with no vignetting).

Get that ultra thin Hoya UV, the one with threads on both sides. However, almost all wide angle adaptors get vignetting when you put a filter on it. That's why many wide angle adaptors don't even come with filter threads.