On Sun, 09 Jul 2000 17:02:43 GMT, David wrote:

>Great thread.
>
>Thanks guys!

While I would choose a good 3-chip camcorder over a good
one-chipper any day (for generally less "stairstepping",
often a little sharper picture, more saturated color,
better ability to render good skin-tone and foliage
greens, better ablity to handle color balance and
saturation in shadow areas, and better ablity to show
color in colored lights against dark backgrounds), I
have been surprised recently by what even the worst
camcorder in my Mini-DV camcorder comparison
http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
(the TRV-9) could do in some lighting conditions. I often
place unattended mini one-chippers around the room at
events to capture cutaways and other viewpoints while I
shoot with the main camera - and with some color balance,
saturation, and brightness-contrast adjustment in post,
the images from these camcorders mix well (and I get
extra sound tracks to work with). Recently I finished
editing a one-hour video of the New York State Fair for
which I used the TRV-9 (for color and for B&W infrared)
one year, and my favorite for color, the AG-EZ30U, the
next year. In sunlight (with corrections) it is hard to
tell which camcorder was used to take what footage; in
open shade, it is painfully obvious which camcorder was
used; in bright interiors and at night with the midway
lights, it is possible to see the differences if you know
what to look for.
If you can correct the image in post, one-chippers
can do quite well in some situations (and mix well
enough with good 3-chipper footage), but for a
one-camcorder-only, I would choose a 3-chipper
if finances and size/weight considerations permit.
BTW, shooting with Sony one-chippers in daylight, I
often prefer the image color if I lock the camcorder
in DWB and use an 81A filter (and I sometimes add a
polarizer).