Summary: Excellent camera, proven track record!

Comment: I'm not going to rant on & on about all the features & how they compare to ALL the other models, you will go NUTS trying to keep each models pros & cons straight in your head & get dizzy after a while!! LOL I know I did!
After TOO much research, I broke down & finally bought this camera & let me tell you, we have been nothing but pleased in that decision! One of the key deciding factors, besides the most 'BANG" for the buck, was ALL the online user help groups with very active forums & myriads of artcles & info to ANY question that a new user could EVER need! We have had it for a year & we have yet to call Panasonic with ANY questions, as they are readily answered by a quick post or search on the dvx user forums! I am currently looking for a good fluid head for our camera as my son wants to film hunts this year & bought a tree arm, but the 503 Mafrotto, is proving to be elusive,as it has been discontinued , but happens to be the one my son "NEEDS" wouldn't you know!! LOL

Anyways, I highly recommend this for the new (or experienced!)
"PRO" filmaker, It's been a 100% POSITIVE experience for us! Hope this helps...

BTW, I know HD is the new wave of the future & the ultimate way we will eventually switch over to, but not until the prices come WAAAAYYY down!

Summary: My first 3 CCD pro camera

Comment: I bought this camera on Amazon with $[...] Panasonic rebate. the item quality build is top notch. Look very professional.
-Pro : Image quality is excelent with Leica lense, sound quality with XLR connector built in -48V , no external -48V needed, 24P is main buy of this camera, I used to have GS400 this is big upgrade for me, thanks for the DVXUSER.COM that offers a lot of information you can learn from that.
-Con : personally I think not good for travel due to the weight of the camera if you have a strong arm then will be OK. Because during traveling you do not carry tripot and carry camera long time that make your arm get tired. I use the GS400 for travel.
Conclusion : excellent image quality , quality of sound, decent zoom, only minor problem is the weight factor for me.

Summary: Purchasing my second one as I write this review

Comment: I bought my first DVX100b around May-June 07, and my second this April of 08. Impressed enough to buy a second one.
But really this camera is a well rounded DV camera. Its about as good as you can get with out going HD.
The shots are solid as well as the quality of image. It does not take much to learn the controls, yet in no way is it consumer level technology. Between the white balance controls, the light gain levels, and the 3 filter settings this camera can adapt to a wide range of settings. The color and clarity of the image is brilliant but where the DVX100 really impressed me was in low light conditions. I am a wedding videographer and I was terrified of the reception because theres usually very little lighting and the footage looks black. The DVX100b can keep a good quality image while in very low lighted settings.
The only problem I really had was when I first used it, it was difficult to keep a steady shot. Still with practice over time it becomes easy to hold and have a steady shot.
Above all this camera is freindly for those who have never used a pro camera before, and customizable enough to fit even the best of professional videographers. I recommend this camera to any videographer out there, I especially recommend this camera for those that are beginning and need a camera that can hold you together until you get your style down.

Summary: great proffesional camera

Comment: this camera suprised me with how good it was, i knew it had been used in tv before, and in a few films, but i had no idea what i had gotten myself into. the image quality on this is beyond anything else. and the built in microphone does wonders. only flaw i have about it is the zoom. this camera comes with a 10x optical zoom. which is still nice, and i dont know how much more zoom i really need, but it would be nice to have 20x. but for the price you pay. you cant go wrong

Summary: Proud Owner Of the Panasonic Dvx 100a (This guys little brother)

Comment: This is the camera you need to shoot videos, movies, commercials, shorts, weddings, sporting events, family gatherings, and just about everything else in between. I own several formats of movie cameras both video and film and have worked with just about every brand and type of Prosumer and normal grade camcorders around and this is by far the best thing since film. It can look any way you want it to, if you know what your doing, and have a few extra bucks for attachments and learning booklets and or dvd's. Nobody said making movies was easy, but its the greatest job a person could ever have or dream for. This camera records 16:9 similar to but less than HD quality but with a great film look. If you buy the panasonic anamorphic adapter it adds the ever so famous dof look that every movie has. Over all this is the best digital 24p film quality movie camera for under $5000.