On Fri, 27 Apr 2001 04:29:47 GMT, Ken wrote:

>The Canon GL-1 is a direct competitor to the Sony TRV900, both in
>quality and approx. price. Both are 3-CCD machines. All the reviews say
>the same thing: the Canon has slightly richer, more saturated colors;
>the Sony has slightly more accurate colors but with a slightly 'cool'
>color cast. Both are 'near-broadcast-quality,' and both are slightly
>lower-end than their more expensive, professional-grade cousins (Canon
>XL-1 and Sony VX-2000). The Canon has the best optics and the best image
>stabilization, but the Sony is extremely close -- there's no practical
>difference. The Canon has more sensible layout of controls and options,
>but the Sony isn't bad. The main difference is how they look -- the
>TRV900 is like a beefy, heavy version of a standard 'palmcorder'; The
>GL-1 is slightly wierder and very cool, with more of a 'professional'
>look, although still small. The GL-1 is actually MUCH smaller in real
>life than it looks in pictures.
>
>If you want 3-CCD quality, those are your two choices. If you want
>ultra-small convenience in a 1-CCD machine, the Sony PC-5 can't be beat.
>It's almost small enough to fit into a shirt pocket.
>
>Keep in mind the convenience aspect. I have a friend with a TRV900, who
>rarely uses it because of its (relative) bulk. He says it's just a
>little too heavy and a little too bulky to be a grab-and-go thing.
>Whereas the Sony PC-5 is small enough to have with you always. (I have a
>Canon Ultura, so I'm not praising the PC-5 just because I have one.)

Well, not all the reviews say the same thing about the
TRV-900 and GL-1...;-) See mine, at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
(check out the comparison frame-grabs).
I found the GL-1 image less sharp, less neutral in
color, and with more negative motion-artifacts than
the TRV-900. In addition to the picture, I also liked
the GL-1 sound the least of the 3-chip camcorders
covered (it was very "colored", and with little
control provided). At a lower price, the TRV-900
appears to be a better buy. BTW, John Beale's
review site also appears to support what I observed.
See: www.bealecorner.com/gl1/index.html, and
especially: www.bealecorner.com/gl1/resout/index.html.
For not much more money than a GL-1, the VX-2000
is a considerably better and more versatile camcorder.
Good comments in your last paragraph, BTW...;-)