On Wed, 23 Jan 2002 12:14:48 -0700, "Blake C. Thornton" wrote:

>> The TRV330 only has 290,000 active pixels.
>> The rest are used up for the electronic image stabilizer. The larger

>I didn't realize that image stabilizer "ate up" somepixels. What if you
>turned off the stabilizer? It seems someone suggested to me that turning
>this off would make low-light shots better.

This doesn't change the CCD characteristics, but does (on
Sony one-chip camcorders) drop the shutter speed from
1/100th to 1/60, a help at certain light levels...

>> size of the overall sensing area on the CCD in the TRV730 is very
>> important in lowering the amount of video noise in limited light. Also,

>I've do doubt this is true, but I could't figure out why. I'm still not
>sure I understand why.

For a given pixel count, the pixels are larger in
a larger CCD...

>> the 730 has a Super-HAD CCD, which is more sensitive and makes better

>Interesting. So, not only is the CCD bigger and has more pixels, but its
>actually a better sensor.

In most, but not all ways. The "HAD" chips appear more
sensitive, and color purity is often better, but bright
light "spill" (not flare) is worse...

>> use of the available light than the type used on the lower-numbered
>> Digital8 models. About 63% of the pixels on the TRV330 are active in
>> forming the video picture, but with the TRV730, it uses 71% of them for
>> video and the total is 2.3 times as many-----290K to 690K.

>So, I guess this leaves me wondering about turning off the stabilizer
>feature.

Only when the difference in gain will show in the picture,
which is generally only near the low light limit of these
cameras...