On Wed, 9 Apr 2003 15:28:17 +1000, "Tony Robinson" <tonyrobinson@tpg.com.au> wrote:

>I am considering upgrading to a 3CCD machine and have shortlisted :

>

>Panasonic NV-MX500A

>Sony DCR-TRV950

>Cannon XM2

>

>Any thoughts as to which is best and best value? And does going for 3CCD's

>make that much difference?

As for the second, yes!

As for the first: in the US, the VX2000 is probably

the best buy in 3-CCD camcorders for image quality

and features, though the TRV950, GL2, and PDX100

(US for XM2 and MX500A, I think...) and JVC 300 are

also excellent cameras worth considering. Each has

its strengths and "quirks", but all of the above

are good... For once, with these, I can say, "look

at the specs and features lists carefully" (with

others, this is close to useless advice...;-), and,

if possible, try to handle them. In good light, the

picture of all of these are very good and very

similar, with differences showing in low-light, and

in some features... My favorites: the Sony VX2000

and Panasonic DVX100 (make sure that this is the

same as the MX500A, though - I'm not fond at all

of Panasonic's recent small 3-CCD models...).