On Tue, 6 May 2003 02:15:52 -0700, "Sam Leinen" <leinens@onid.orst.edu> wrote:

>I'm looking at getting a videocamera and also an external harddrive. The

>two camera's I'm looking at are the Panasonic DV953 and the Sony TRV-38.

>The Panasonic in theory should be significantly better being 3CCD but I've

>been hearing the quality on the 38 is exceptional and is comparable with the

>low end 3CCD that the Panasonic is. So what are people's opinions on this?

>If there wasn't much difference I'd much rather go with the $600 less

>expensive Sony and buy an external harddrive... which is my next question.

[...]

The Panasonic has a VERY restricted low-light range; the

TRV38 has a somewhat restricted low-light range - compared

with lower-pixel-count, bigger-chipped 1-chippers (and

neither comes close to the best 3-chippers for low-light

range, or for basic image quality...). For good-light

shooting, it is more of a toss-up. Both have image problems

with motion, though tonally, the 3-chip is likely better.

I'm not fond of the color of the small-chipped Panasonics,

so the Sony, even though it is a 1-chipper, may be better.

Try locating comparison frames for these at:

http://www4.big.or.jp/~a_haru/index.html