On Thu, 23 May 2002 13:54:42 -0500, "Tom Simchak" wrote:

>Subject line tells the story. What's the difference (other than the medium)
>between a digital 8 camera and a mini-DV? One should be size, but is it
>really that big a deal?
>
>If you were to choose between a Sony TRV 240 and a TRV 25, which is your
>choice and (most importantly) why?

Read RGB's answer first, then add: I just bought a used
TRV730 (a megapixel "good" D8 model...). I'm familiar
with most Sony models of Mini-DV (see for comparisons:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm),
except for the TRV25/27/950s, and with what people
have said about the TRV730 in the NGs, so it was not
a surprise to find that the lens is slightly soft at
short end and has noticeable purple-green fringing
at the long end, but it is fairly sharp short the short
end, is well-aligned - but it reflects/inverts bright
lights; no dead pixels; color is generally good, even
without having WB controls; smooth sky tones have
slight horizontal banding; full-resolution stills have
noticeable color noise; the audio records both some
camera noise and some handling noise, and is near-mono;
the zoom control is a pain-to-use horizontal sliding
thingy; low light range is poor; etc. Just what I
expected...! ;-) It does play back my Hi-8 tapes, it
can serve as a D/A converter box, and, within its
limitations, it can produce some nice-looking D8
footage - and batteries I have for other cameras fit
it. So far, I'm "happy" with it, but the Mini-DV
cameras are FAR smaller, with better and more numerous
controls, and with better lenses (but with less zoom
range). At "even-price", I would choose the Mini-DV
unless you have "legacy" Hi-8 analogue tapes to play.

(RGBaker's answer to another poster:

"> -MiniDV has a higher line resolution than D8, 520 vs. ???.

The miniDV format is exactly the same as the D8 format -- only the
particular camcorders are different. Both have the same resolution.

> -D8 is versatile only if you have previous tapes that you want to play
back
> or digitize for PC video editing.

A significant advantage if you have old material, but no advantage
otherwise.

> -MiniDV generally has better image quality than D8.

Better to say 'there are more low-end D8 camcorders available, and no 3-chip
D8; the DV line-up extends from the low-end all the way to 'professional'
units'.")