I seem to have set my Black Balance by accident on my 100A. What is the Black Balance for, anyway? And how do I adjust it correctly? Thanks.

Black balance is a good setting. It is an automatic setting on cameras. Basically your white balance is determined by what the camera thinks is black. So it never hurts to do a black balance first. You don't have to do it everytime, but over time it may drift a little, so it should be done periodically. Unless I am in a hurry, I usually black balance first. Won't hurt anything.

Black balance is the setting by which the blacks on an ideal display show real neutral "black" (in fact very dark gray). Dark current is a CCD cam changes with time and temperature. There are clamp circuits in a camcorder which keep the resulting black level constant. However they can shift a bit after some time. Black balance readjusts those clamp levels. In order to get a correct grayscale (and color!) the blackbalance (lowlight adjust) and the white balance (highlight adjust) as well need to be correct.

Black balance has to happen with the lens aperature completely closed or the lens cap on.

Sony states that black balance should be set periodically or when the camera is in a markedly different temperature environment. Sony also uses multiple black balances as a way to control 'bright' pixels.

Unfortunately, Sony Prosumer cameras don't have a manual black balance as do the pro cameras.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Rehmus : Black balance has to happen with the lens aperature completely closed or the lens cap on.

Sony states that black balance should be set periodically or when the camera is in a markedly different temperature environment. Sony also uses multiple black balances as a way to control 'bright' pixels.

Unfortunately, Sony Prosumer cameras don't have a manual black balance as do the pro cameras. -->>>

Does this apply for the Panasonic DVX100A as well?