Any advantages for the Optura 300 over the GS200 ? Which is a better value and why ? Thanks !

The biggest difference between them is that the Optura 300 has a vertical form factor (you hold it like a can of soda) and the Panasonic GS200 has a horizontal form factor (you hold it like a football). Ergonomics should always be your first consideration. Which one feels best in your hands? That's the right one for you.

The Optura is a single-CCD camera, but since it uses an RGB (primary) color filter, its color accuracy will be as good as any sub-$1000 three-CCD camera.

I've never used a GS200, but there is an excellent review about it on this site (http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/panasonic/pv_gs200-review/index.shtml). By the way the Canon Optura 40 is much closer to the GS200 in size and shape than the Optura 300. Performance will be the same. Hope this helps,

If you prefer widescreen then definitely consider the Optura 300. The GS200 only offers reduced resolution letterbox while the Optura 300 has high resolution anamorphic 16:9.