On Sun, 9 Feb 2003 12:09:54 -0500, "John Schuman" <john.schuman@cogeco.ca> wrote:

>My TRv9 has failed for the 5th time in 5 years. Sony now says it cannot be

>reasonably repaired.

>

>I am interested in another small light weight camera (to shoot birds, etc.

>while hiking.) I need good image stabilization (a lot is telephoto and I

>would rather not carry a tripod while hiking).

>

>Can anyone comment on the video quality (sharpness, colour accuracy,

>contrast) and image stabilization of the Sony TRV 25-27 etc. vs Canon Z

>series and Canon Optura (optical stabilization by Canon).

>

>Neuman - Reuther's website was really helpful concerning the older Sony's

>but I would like comparison with the Sony's (and possibly other makes.)

The Sony "HAD" chips tend to increase-sensitivity/

reduce-noise and improve color quality (CCD size and

pixel-count being equal, which they rarely are...),

and I tend to prefer the Sony picture (and sound - the

small Canon models often pick up excessive camera noise

in the audio [though the old TRV9 was particularly bad

for this...;-]). The Sony imaging comparison at

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

does not include the 1/4.7" megapixel entries, though

most of the others are current, and it is reasonable

to "extrapolate" the TRV25/27/33-PC101 as being somewhere

between the TRV11/17/18-PC9 image and that of the

TRV30/50-PC115/120, which is to say, it is likely quite

a good compromise between sharpness and freedom from

irritating artifacting (the similar TRV740 image is

very good, as one-chippers go). BTW, all the newer

Sony camcorders have VERY noticeably better image

quality than the TRV9. I keep mine for deck use, and

for shooting daylight infrared - but otherwise, it

would have been long gone (and mine has had but one

repair...;-) Also BTW, if yours shoots daylight IR,

and the camera section is OK, I may be interested in

it if you want to part with it - and, I have a few

Sony one-chippers (TRV30, TRV11, PC9) available at

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/fs.htm ...;-)