On Mon, 14 Apr 2003 09:02:23 -0700, James Gifford <jgifford@surewest.net> wrote:

>Ralfe Cookson wrote:

>> Check out Canon ZR users forum at http://www.camcorderinfo.com for

>> opinions from owners. Many are not pleased with the ZR series for poor

>> low-light capability and excessive motor noise.

>As nearly as I can tell from my recent search for a mid-grade consumer

>DVcam, there isn't a group of users for any brand or model that ISN'T

>concerned about poor low-light capability and motor noise.

I have and have had many of the Sony models, and except

for the very earliest generation, none has a problem with

picking up motor noise. I recently saw/heard footage from

a ZR45, and thought the motor noise pick-up, while audible,

not bad - and it definitely performed better in low light

than the megapixel Sony TRV27 it was being compared with

(though in good light, the Sony picture was better, and the

Sony picked up no motor noise...).

>Do any of the consumer DVcams have good low-light capability, or is the

>1-2 lux performance of older VHS-C and Hi-8 cams only possible because

>their recording resolution masked the low-light flaws that DV easily

>picks up?

The older cameras had big (1/2") low-pixel-count CCDs

which were more sensitive, and, "yes"...;-)

Try the low-end non-megapixel Sonys - the lux rating is

around 5, but they do fairly well in fairly low light

compared with megapixel models, and have very pleasant

pictures (good color, good color neutrality, good sharpness,

and minimal motion-artifacting) and decent sound

(no motor-noise pickup). For greater low-light extension,

try turning off the stabilizer, then using first "slow

shutter 1" (1/30th) or "slow shutter 2" (1/15th second

shutter speed - OK if used with little motion). These also

permit shooting in infrared mode (use B&W mode) which makes

them more sensitive in low light - and with an IR source,

you can "shoot in the dark". For REALLY good low-light

color performance with Mini-DV, though, you will need a

good 3-chipper... (See the comparison of performance of

different CCD types at:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm.)