Camera useless after 18 months

I loved this camcorder when I first got it. Lots of features but still easy to use. Large LCD screen. Pop up flash for stills which are impressive at 3mp on a video camera. Video is great. I loved it so much I convinced my sister to buy it.

Then the problems started. All of the images were green. Sometimes I could turn the camera off and on again to get a clear picture. Everything is recorded green. The stills as well as the video were green on both the screen and when played back. Now after 18 months I have not only green but large red lines running through the images. I can't use it anymore.

I called Panasonic and was told it would be $261.50 flat fee to fix it and the nearest repair center is 250 miles away. oh, and the work is only warranted for 90 days. Then what?

Over Christmas I decide I would just use my sisters camera and give her a copy of the tapes. Well, to our surprise...hers is now green too. We live 3 states apart, she has only used her camera 10 times, different tape brands, different SD card brands.

When I contacted Panasonic and told them that we both had the same problem and that this must be common they assured me they had no idea of a similar problem but that the fee was still only $261.50. I told them that I was not comfortable putting another $500 between the two of us into their company and was there anything else that could be done. They were not willing to work with me. If anyone has these or similar problems, please write a review here. I notice one other problem listed here already.

I would not recommend this product.