Hi--

Thanks for the informative comparison, I have just purchased a PD150 and
I
don't understand the difference between the DVCam and the Mini DV
formats.
Which one produces the best results? Can the difference be worth the
much
more expensive DVCam tape cost. Which do you use?

Mini-DV (both SP and LP), DVCam, and D8 are all the same signal format,
with no important differences among them, and no differences in picture
and sound. The only relevant difference they run at different tape
speeds,
affecting dropout rate and storage longevity. I use Mini-DV SP-mode for
most things, LP-mode when I must, and I master to Mini-DV SP-mode 80-
minute
tapes, LP on 60's, and D8 SP on 90's for safety when the original is
over one
hour, otherwise I master to two copies on Mini-DV SP-mode... The DVCam
tape is
purported to be from a better part of the original large tape roll, but
is otherwise similar to EX, I suspect - good, but probably not
necessary...