1. Is the pro-'sumer PV-DV953's Leica lens made from glass or plastic? I read plastic was replacing glass in cameras.
2. I have a Tiffen UV filter. Should I buy a Leica UV filter?
3. I read here that the pro-'sumer PV-DV953 is a good digital video camcorder. Will there be a better model replacing it?
4. How long will the PV-DV953 last me? Will it become outdated in the near future? When is that?
5. Did I make the correct decision purchasing the pro-'sumer PV-DV953?
6. How important is a wide angle lens?
7. Will there be better, longer running batteries available any time soon for this model?

Thank you and good night.

1. Pretty much all camcorder lenses are glass. The "plastic" thing is simply an unfounded myth.

2. No. The Tiffen will work fine as long as it is the proper diameter for mounting on the Leica lens.

3. All manufacturers *always* have new products in development. If you wait for the next model, why not wait for the one after that as well. If you're waiting, you're not creating. Therefore, *now* is always the best time to buy.

4. Depends on how well you take care of it. Federal law mandates that the manufacturer must provide service and support for seven years past the date of discontinuance. These days DV camcorders are revved frequently. A replacement may be only a few months or even weeks away. So what, though. When a new one comes out, the old ones continue to work. Concentrate on what you have in your hands, don't fret about "the next new thing" because that's an endless cycle.

5. Only you will know for sure. However it is an excellent, inexpensive 3CCD camcorder.

Someone else can take a shot at 6 & 7 -- hope this helps,

I've owned the DV953 since April and I'm very pleased with it. You'll want a descent quality (vs. junky) wide angle adapter if you want to capture large groups of people closely or for stuff like video tours of the inside of homes.

Why not just get an extra battery if you're concerned of running out of power? Batteries are cheap enough, 3rd. party.

Extra battery @ B&H
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=227282&is=REG

Extra battery @ walmart.com
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=3945&dept=3944&product_id=1679623&path=0%3A3944%3A3945%3A57908%3A61967%3A81460%3A82070

URL to Panasonic battery
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&itemId=62964&modelNo=CGR-D16A/1B&surfModel=CGR-D16A/1B&surfCategory=3CCD%20Digital%20Camcorders

Leica filters don't fit. The angles of the threads are made for Leica cameras only. The Tiffen is fine, as Chris wrote. 6. How important is a wide angle lens?If you didn't worry about a wide angle adaptor before, you probably don't need one now. Adaptors steal resolution and light. Why bother for simple shooting with a consumer cam? A tripod and extra batteries are much more useful.

I haven't had my 953 for long, but I'll take a shot at some of these.

1) Glass, as mentioned above.
2) Tiffen works great on mine, also mentioned above.
3) See above. :)
4) See above. :)
5) I definately like mine, and don't regret the purchase in the least.
6) I haven't used one, but I can see a need for it. When shooting in a cramped environment, I frequently wish I had one.
7) I've found batteries online that are 3000+ mAh. I don't have a URL handy, but they are out there. The stock 1600 mAh lasts a lot longer than I expected as well, so a few of these would probably last you the better part of a day.

Enjoy your cam! :)

Re WAs from a total amateur's point of view: if you like your cam enough, you will find yourself using it more. The more you use it, the more likely you will want to take that shot that could have been so much more fun or interesting with the WA. A WA on my cam is almost a permanent fixture at this point. The only question is which one I use when.

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but do DV953 batteries work in the GS100K? I am shopping around for a 2nd battery for my GS100k, but they are all well over 130$.. at least in the stores I've looked at here in Japan. Do 3rd party batteries work with the 100K?

<<<-- Originally posted by Dennis Sladek : I've owned the DV953 since April and I'm very pleased with it. You'll want a descent quality (vs. junky) wide angle adapter if you want to capture large groups of people closely or for stuff like video tours of the inside of homes.

Why not just get an extra battery if you're concerned of running out of power? Batteries are cheap enough, 3rd. party.

Extra battery @ B&H
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=227282&is=REG

Extra battery @ walmart.com
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=3945&dept=3944&product_id=1679623&path=0%3A3944%3A3945%3A57908%3A61967%3A81460%3A82070

URL to Panasonic battery
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&itemId=62964&modelNo=CGR-D16A/1B&surfModel=CGR-D16A/1B&surfCategory=3CCD%20Digital%20Camcorders -->>>

Wow! Many thanks to your answers and the battery links. I will forget about the adaptor for now.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jamie Patterson : Sorry if this has already been discussed, but do DV953 batteries work in the GS100K? I am shopping around for a 2nd battery for my GS100k, but they are all well over 130$.. at least in the stores I've looked at here in Japan. Do 3rd party batteries work with the 100K?
-->>>

I also don't know if GS100K battery replacements question was discussed here, but I would risk saying you can use DV953's and MX500's batteries alright.

In their manuals the AC adaptor outputs 7.8v and 7.9 respectively, and the batteries should provide 7.8/7.2v and 7.9/7.2v. This is quite likely reduced to 5v inside the camera, so I would even say that 6v batteries may probably work on them, but do not use them 6v having a look at the service manual. Though nothing will blow: they just may not work.

My Sony Hi-8 camera uses 7.2v batteries, but I carry two external adaptors: one by Bescor, which does not specify voltage but seems to be 8.5v; another which is a 6v battery that I bought on a store. They both work perfectly well and last much longer than the original batteries.


Carlos

<<<-- Originally posted by Carlos E. Martinez : but do not use them 6v having a look at the service manual. Though nothing will blow: they just may not work. -->>>

Sorry, misprint. Do not use 6v batteries without having a look at the service manual. Even if nothing will blow, I can't be hold responsible if anything happens to the unit.


Carlos

The GS70 uses a smaller battery compared to the MX500, so I'll guess that the GS100 would also be smaller than the MX500. A quick check on battery serial numbers will solve this problem.

<<<-- Originally posted by Yow Cheong Hoe : The GS70 uses a smaller battery compared to the MX500, so I'll guess that the GS100 would also be smaller than the MX500. A quick check on battery serial numbers will solve this problem. -->>>

If it's smaller it's probably because of capacity, not voltage.

Nowadays, with batteries on the outside, it's very much a question on how much a battery will unbalance the camera. They should all fit, lasting more or less according to capacity.

Assuming that the battery will be smaller because a new model is so isn't really a fact. Consumption is probably the same or more, as LCD screens drain most of the power. The larger the screen probably larger the drain.

In the manuals they specify voltages, and as long as the battery fits and is the right voltage you are on.


Carlos

I would only buy batteries for the pro-'sumer Panasonic PV-DV953 and not for those other models. Thank you again for the links!

MX5000, MX500 and PV-DV953 batteries are all the same in way of fit and compatibility.

the 953 and GS100K have different batteries..and you can't interchange them unless you find a way to route the battery to the cam terminals (and probably attach the batt to the cam using duct tape or something.

Jamie, you'd better check the link given by Bogdan on batteries for the GS100K...those are equivalent batteries (allegedly using Pany cells) and can be bought in Japan at less than half the price of genuine Pany batts. don't worry you're still under warranty...just don't tell Pany you tried equivalent batts.

Hi from Mexico City.

Yup. He's that good fella. :-)

So, when you're ready to move up to the pro-looking Pana black mamba model, he's the one to not p_ss off. :-)

No I'm in Mexico selling my skills but I'd be back to Tokyo before the end of next week. Too bad I can't be of no assistance to those who want their Black Mambas before Xmas. But there seems to be a slight upward trend on GS100K prices even on discount shops, probably bec of the holiday season, and the Jap Yen has been a real pain lately. It's amazing that those who bought 2-3 months back seem to have gotten a better deal on the black mamba because of the strong Yen. It might be a good idea to wait a little bit.

Any news when the English versions are finally coming out?

Alan,

For good Mexican food in Mexico City, check out Andersons on Paseo de la Reforma.

<<<-- Originally posted by Allan Rejoso : the 953 and GS100K have different batteries..and you can't interchange them unless you find a way to route the battery to the cam terminals (and probably attach the batt to the cam using duct tape or something.

Jamie, you'd better check the link given by Bogdan on batteries for the GS100K...those are equivalent batteries (allegedly using Pany cells) and can be bought in Japan at less than half the price of genuine Pany batts. don't worry you're still under warranty...just don't tell Pany you tried equivalent batts.

Hi from Mexico City. -->>>

Thanks for the info. I've been looking at lots of different Pani batteries in stores but had no idea if they worked with my cam.. looks like they probably don't, so its a good thing I didn't buy one. What link by Bogdan are you referring to? I would love to find out more about these cheap batteries.

Excerpt from Bogdan's post.

Check out the big GS100/70 battery offered in silver (or black):
http://www.rowa.co.jp/cabinet/form.cgi?key=72

And the index page:
http://www.rowa.co.jp

Just saw this thread.

To everybody wondering I also haven't translated the page for my self - yes it's all in Japanese.

I don't know if they deliver abroad and so on. I thought that Allan can use them in future orders for the GS100.

On first sight they seem to make batteries for any brand DV or still digital cameras. They use different cells though written promptly in the specs. Waranty seems short - 90 days or 6 months.

Yeah, I was also dissapointed at first to learn that the price of the new smaller original batteries is so high.

So I searched hard and have got my extra (2x) 2040mAh batteries at half price long time ago from eBay (seller easy-something - I don't remember the number, you have to SEARCH old posts). He would ship worldwide if still selling.