"GRL" <GLitwinski@CHARTERMI.COM> wrote in message

news:105j5j762t8lt76@corp.supernews.com...

> OK, I can't actually examine either one (nobody around here sells either),

> but which is the smarter buy: a new PV-D953 or a used clean, good-condition

> Sony TRV900? They cost about the same.

>

> Principle interest is in very good quality video under good light

> (outdoors). No interest in still images (have a Canon G2 and S400 for that).

>

> I have an old top-of-the line Sony Hi8 (something-or-other 81 model, as I

> recall) that I want to upgrade from to get MUCH better video quality. Can't

> stand the poor resolution of the old Sony. My goal would be the equivalent

> image quality that you get from a commercial DVD played on a 50"

> non-progressive rear-projector TV set. In other words, not perfect, but very

> good.

>

> Is this reasonable and would the video quality between the two cameras be

> similar? Or how different?

A commercial DVD, though a medium with lower

maximum available resolution than available from Mini-DV,

will almost always look better (they spend a LOT more

money on production costs and gear, and better source

material will almost always win, regardless of the presentation

medium's limitations - heck, even a good commercial

VHS tape played back on a good deck will look better

than so-so DV...! ;-). Within DV camcorders, the

variables are so great that no two models, even if they

appear to have similar specs, will produce equal-looking

images (and some conditions will make them look

VERY different - see for more on this:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/vid_pict_characts.htm).

Add to this the fact that some people just don't see

image faults that drive others "up the wall", and you can

see that making a definitive recommendation is generally

impossible. This does not prevent me from telling

people what is important for me, what I've found in

comparisons, and what I prefer, based on my opinions

and experience. In this case, I'm not familiar enough

with the 953 to tell you specifics, but in general, I've

preferred the image quality of the TRV900 (not perfect!)

to that of the small 3-CCD Panasonics (especially the

ones with tiny CCDs). These sites may be useful, for more:

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

http://www4.big.or.jp/~a_haru/exknow2002au

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

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm

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

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com