In article <01bc4aca$d67d0ce0$LocalHost@default>, greg_b@ix.netcom.com says...

>DavesVideo wrote in article
><19970415114900.HAA28736@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
>> I don't remember what the original poster wanted the camera for, but If
>> you can live with consumer grade, you can certainly get Hi-8 for under
>> $1000. I'm quite pleased with my Sony TR-400 ($960 by mail order).

>Hmmm, didn't know that. I tell'ya, it's sure hard to keep up with
>everything out there. Now that you mention it, I remember that Panasonic
>has a SVHS camcorder for under 1k. I forget the exact model #, but it's
>PV-something.

The TR-400 unfortunately sacrifices resolution for its digital
stabilizer, so the resulting image is about what you would
get with a straight-8 camcorder (it is nice, otherwise...).
The sharpest images I have seen have been from the higher-level
Sony Hi-8's and from the Canon camcorders. Another issue is
wide-angle converter compatibility, if that concerns you
(camcorder zoom lenses are not wide [about the equivalent of
45mm lenses for 35mm still cameras, at best...], and I prefer to
use them with good .5X or even fisheye converters installed.
Unfortunately, the newer series Canon 20X zoom, sharp as it
is for normal use, is not very good with converters (the Canon
ES-5000 is a first-rate Hi-8, and under $1000 now). My older
Canon UCS-3 Hi-8 is excellent with converters (and may soon
be available for about $500, since I just bought two DV
camcorders...;-), and produces about the sharpest Hi-8 image
I have seen (though I have complaints, as I do about any
camcorder...;-)
Hope This Helps