Find that jewel from the junk yet? Here you go. A number of PV-DV953/MX5000/MX500 reviews, just for you treasure seekers!

http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Digital,Camcorders/Panasonic,PV-DV953/PRD_143517_3100crx.aspx#reviews
http://macuser.pcpro.co.uk/MacReviewZone/reviews/reviews_story.php?id=36370
http://www.computervideo.net/april03-2.html
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/newsitems/panasonic_mx500news.html
http://www.t3.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=14901&subsectionid=757&subsubsectionid=664
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6023236%5E15354%5E%5Enbv%5E15308%2D15323,00.html
http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/review/2/2/2428.html
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/panasonic_pvdv953_fi_camcorder_review.htm

Sorry, this cam does not come in pro black. :-)

If you'll do a search way back in October 2002 in this forum, you'll find a lengthly discussion that I have placed here, about the MX500 and MX300/350 compared. There are many good stuff on the MX500, but I bought the older MX350 after looking at what the MX500 can deliver. I wouldn't say straight off that a newer model is better.