As Barry Green points out; using just the first 3 letters of a Panasonic camera can cause some confusion. The HVX200 is pretty unique (at the moment) as "the HVX", but there are multiple cameras who's designations start with "HPX".'

At current count: HPX500, HPX2000, HPX2100, and the HPX3000.

So if you mean the HPX500, say "HPX500" or simply "the -500".

The numbers are what identify specific cameras, the letters just designate the type. A "HPX" camera is any Panasonic camera that records [at least] 24p in HD to [only] P2 cards.

Referring to a camera with just the letters is like saying "My car is a VW" or "my phone is a Nokia N".

- Mikko