Is this the same as an HVX200? Thanks.

I am pretty sure that the 205 is the Japanese market HVX200. Menus in Japanese, not sure if it has English. If it is the 205 in Japan, it is NTSC only. If you bought other variants, you would have to be sure that they weren't PAL only as the HVX was not a switchable standard camera.

All of the number variants on the HVX are the operationally the same, although when they moved to the HPX170 here, the 171 sold in Europe is dual standard, but none of the other variants sold in other territories are. Panasonic seems pretty random about which countries and territories they sell dual standard in while Sony doesn't seem to be. The EX1/EX3 are dual standard and sold all over the world. Wish Panasonic could do the same.

Dan

Also watch out for grey market imports- you will get not warranty service for example if you buy a Japanese model in the US.

Noah