On 2 Jan 2002 14:22:30 -0800, cyberpump@hotmail.com (Reginald) wrote:

>I know many people have posted similar questions as to which model to
>buy, and I suppose I am doing the same thing:
>I have narrowed my search down to either the JVC DVL510U or the Sony
>TRV730. These two were the finalists due to their decent CCD size and
>various other qualities I liked. I would like to go with the more
>mainstream MiniDV in the JVC, but the only thing holding me up is
>Sony's IR night vision which I find extremely cool. JVC's Night Alive
>seems ok I guess, but I really like the ability to record in total
>darkness.
>
>My question to you experts is: Do those of you that have Sony's IR
>night vision ever really use it? Is that a silly thing to base a
>camcorder purchase on?

If you switch to B&W (to get rid of the "toothpaste-greens"
effect) and add diffusion to the weak available add-on
IR lights, it is fun to be able to shoot (up to 4-6'...)
in the dark, but one does not use it much... Unfortunately,
for silly reasons, Sony makes it hard to use this feature in
daylight, where its effects are fun to use (see the IR
daylight sample images in the TRV9 review at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm), but
it is possible (try crossed polarizers at maximum darkening
plus maybe a 4X neutral-density filter [for PC100, maybe
similar for others - add a red or orange filter to
increase the effect slightly...]). BTW, even without the IR
effect, the Sony cameras are more sensitive in IR mode, and
it is useful for taking good (B&W, though...) footage in
lower light than color looks good in.