Is this model ok for a beginner filmmaker such as myself? I've been doing research and I can afford a 3,000 camera but that'll mean being broke for a year. I haven't filmed much and so I thought I should get some experience before I make a BIG purchase. I'd appreciate if anyone out there with this model could provide some deeper insight as to what can be done with this particular model. Thanks. Any other advice would be really appreciated.
Sincerely,
The Novice Film Dude

if you can afford a $3000 camera, you might want to think about purchasing the Panasonic DVX100a, it's price has been dropping around the 3000/sub 3000 range (depending on where you purchase it).

I have a pvgs-200 which is pretty close to the 150. It's good camera and can get some good color with the 3ccd it has, but the reason I got that was because I couldn't really afford anything else. I say you should go with the DVX100a. If you do decide to get into filmmaking then you would probably be wanting to get the DVX100a. So I guess I'm saying if your sure you want to be making films for a while go with the DVX, if your not sure that you will be into filmmaking and what not in the future get the 150 to see if you like it. Hope this helped.

I recon you should by the Panasonic GS400, it has consistently been reviewed to be the best value for money camera on the market atm, and owning one myself, it is a good camera. Then get yourself a good shotgun mic, a Sennheiser ME66 is nice. and a nice fluid head tripod. Personally ive got a Manfrotto tripod. Very nice, very smooth tripod.

The thing that i hate most about people that go spend thousands on their camera is that they dont think about the accesories that make the camera worth while.

WHY HAVE A CAMERA WORTH THOUSANDS ON A RICKERTY TRIPOD WORTH NOTHING??????, what you gain in having a good camera you loose in the lack of good sound quality and in average tripod work.

My recomendation is you go out and buy yourself a good filming 'kit', as such, With a decent camera. You can always upgrade your camera at a later stage and still be able to keep the Mic and Tripod to use for the new camera. But it means that in the intermediate you are producing films of better overall technical quality, rather than just good image quality.