Made in Japan; sold in Japan

[Frank Granovski]

Sly and slick pro cams aren't easy to come by these days. Not since Pana's EZ1 have we had a smallish pro cam with 1/3" CCDs. Look it. Besides its big CCDs in a small footprint, it also has a big lens, a big viewfinder (and a big price tag). The EZ1 sleek body is pro black. A nice cam for its day, and perhaps for even today.

From the EZ1, the CCDs began to shrink, to 1/4" CCDs then 1/6" CCDs. The lenses got smaller too and the pro black color disappeared and replaced with silver. Even the viewfinders shrunk, and so much so that they have become unusable - a memento of sorts, I guess. A cam wouldn't be a cam without a viewfinder, would it? Even though it's only there for show.

But good things can happen. Look at the Black Mamba. A pro black cam sold at consumer prices, with features that would have given pros heart attacks 20 years ago. The LUX is nothing to spit at either. And along with its near useless viewfinder comes a powerfully sharp, 3 & 1/2" LCD! Who cares about the viewfinder? In fact, who cares about the 1/6" CCDs and the smaller Leica lens? I don't. But then I don't own one. :-))

[Patricia Kim]

You know, Frank, if it's any consolation (which I know it isn't), camcorders aren't the only items the rest of the world cares about that can end up being developed and sold only in Japan. Recently I have been checking out ear/headphones and there are any number of them which never make it to the North American market - several of them very highly regarded by people who know a heck of a lot more than I do about good sound. On the other hand, there's the Apple iPod mini, which is causing an uproar in overseas markets and is generally not going to be available there till American demand is met first. And there's the iTunes music store - the unavailability of which caused some very bitter commentary for awhile by a number of European posters on a couple of boards. The difference seems to be (gross generalization here) that at least some major Japanese companies don't really care whether some of their best, most likely to sell if ever available, products really hit other markets or not. Having said that, I'm coming around to the view that with the internet it's really not as difficult as one might think to buy and use a product like a camcorder that wasn't produced with English in mind. The real annoyance is that it's a matter of luck finding out that a great one exists.

[Frank Granovski]

There were some neat Sony DV decks that never made it overseas either. However, for the price of one of these decks, you can buy a Black Mamba, a burger and super sized fries at MacDonalds. Since I've been into photography for most of my life, I've often noticed B&H bringing in certain Nikon lenses (Gray Market) because Nikon USA didn't bring them in (nor Nikon Canada). For example, there was US demand for the pro black Nikkor 45P F2.8 lens. B&H realized a market and so brought it in. After a year of gray market sales, Nikon USA's upstairs little light lit and brought them in. Funny thing was, few were buying this lens anymore because the people who wanted it had already bought, while other people got wise from the boards about the much cheaper, faster and somewhat sharper Nikkor 50mm F1.8. (Nikon USA missed the boat---and so did Pana with the black mamba.) I'm sure too that one could build a big business bringing in Japanese Domestic products, the good stuff, as you suggested. Just look at Q Tech---. :-))

[Adam Folickman]

Both of you are right and that is what makes this forum and the Internet valuable to us consumers.

[Yang Wen]

But who really cares if the camera body is black or not?

[Paul Jason]

Those people who own the black beauties :-))

[Frank Granovski]

And those who drool over one.

[Adam Folickman]

and let us not forget, Fred

[Frank Granovski]

Yeah, forgot about, Fred. I wonder how he's doing with his PV-DV953? That's the cam he has, I think. I wonder if he ever painted it black. Hope not. :-))


--------------------------------------------------------
still waiting for pana USA to announce the PV-MX3000

[Frank Granovski]

Tommy sent me this: http://www.majid.info/mylos/weblog/2004/04/17-1.html

[John Haskins]

Isnt this available now in limited import availability thru chuckmeister? I hear it is a beautiful camcorder.

[Paul Jason]

Oh it is a beautiful camcorder! I don't know if you can still get the black ones or not. Allan Rejoso (here on this board) would be able to tell you. And if you do want one, I would highly recommend you get it from him.
From what I understand the Black Mamba is the GS100K.

[John Haskins]

APPARENTLY there is about to be released
a successor to the MX7000 - the MX8000 - i know no one who has seen an actual model, but it is supposed to be available around the 4th of July or thereabouts. Could be a powerhouse.

[George Beck]

John... kid... there's no such thing as "black mamba" or Mx7000 or Mx8000. this is all a marketing trick for a guy to make a buck.
=)
the so called mx8000 is the GS400 and it will be available world-wide (more or less... I think Canada got screwed by Pana)
go and read the specs in the GS400 thread.

[John Haskins]

It was a JAPAN release that was imported here in small quantities - some of the North American releases are more dumbed down versions of Japan releases so as not to interfere with the PANasonic professional line. IT'S true, Georgie. And heck i dont mind being called a kid even though I am 40 years old - i still feel young!