Why did Panasonic do this?
 

Why did Panadonic make the GS100 black? Why didn't Panasonic make the PV-DV953 black?

to mess with you mind :D

You mean Panasonic just made one black one or is Panasonic going to make them all black? Are any other professional Panasonic camcorders black?

AG-DVC80 is as black as my GS100k which will be arriving before Christmas.

http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/subcat..._ag-dvc80.html

DVX100

Marketing. Black looks more professional. :-)

But they also have a silver colored version for those how don't want the pro black look. They are both the same cams: one's black, one's not.

Fred, black is cool, but don't let the obsession these guys have with it get to you. I showed up as a turista to one event with my little silver shadow (silver gs100k) and a waist battery (didn't even have a wide angle, hood or the mike yet - or any claim to knowing what I was doing) and was asked by several people which news organization I was with. Nobody stopped me, either, when I went right up near the podium to get some shots.

Panay HD cameras are black and they go for 50,000 and up.....

And again what's wrong with black is this a color thing?

It's Frank's running joke - ever since someone dubbed the black gs100k the "black mamba". (Frank, BTW, I was even shown one with the sticker on it.)

"Da Black Mamba"

Is it a dance?

Is it a poisonous snake?

Is it a rare tropical drink?

Will it fit on a Bogen Tripod?

It was www.supervideo.com which calls it the black mamba, and when I read that I just about fell off my chair. I seem to recall that Fred mentioned the "super video pages" a couple of times, so perhaps this is where Fred learned about black verses silver. Actually, aren't the older EZ10 and EZ30 charcoal in color (and also the puffed plastic Pana DVX10 and DVC15)? :-)

Charcoal is good, less outstanding than silver or black, and not as easily heated up in broad sunlight.

I would also prefer a matte charcoal finish rather than gloss, better if there is a 'rough' texture, such that any grip on the camera will not result in accidental slips.

In any case, silver is certainly 'look at me, HERE, HERE' problem.