On 27 May 2002 11:12:27 -0700, dereksurfs@Hotmail.com (Derek) wrote:

>Thanks for the ideas.
>
>I have read some fairly good reviews about the TRV730.

The 730 is the top end of the Sony D8 line (short the
one with the printer), so it is about the best of what
is out there in D8, almost by definition, since there
are so few other makers...

>Yet I have
>found mixed reviews on the lower end Sony mini-DV's especially indoors
>& in low-light.

The low-light ranges of both the Sony one-chippers and
the D8s are about the same. The lower pixel count of
the TRV11/17/18 gives it a slight advantage, though...

>I was wondering what advantage these Sony mini-DV (TRV 11/17/18) might
>have other than size over the TRV730.

The TRV17 etc. image quality is more consistent, with
fewer defects, and the camera is much smaller, with more
controls, and better finders. The D8 is worthwhile for
legacy Hi-8 tape playback, but otherwise, I would choose
the smaller/lighter TRV17 (and it over the 18 for the
bigger LCD screen, too...). In the middle of the zoom
range, the TRV730 picture can be sharper - but the
overall-average of the Mini-DV is better, I think...
BTW, the stills from both are poor - megapixel Mini-DV
cameras begin to have useable stills (for screen use only).

>I might be willing to give up a smaller size for better video quality.
> Wouldn't the 730 do a better job overall for a variety of lighting
>conditions?

No.

>Is the size difference really that noticable?

Yes.

>It is
>really hard to tell this from individual pictures online.

Yes. Imagine an elephant next to a pony...;-)

>Thanks for all the advice and good review links. I am very new to
>this stuff, but still can appreciate good quality video (even if not
>the top 3CCD stuff).

One-CCD camcorders are getting better, with the
TRV17/PC9/TRV730 level often producing very pleasant,
if not exciting, images; the megapixel Mini-DV
one-chippers can get you excellent sharpness, but at
the price of bothersome artifacting with motion with
contrasty lighting and/or with some types of subjects.
Toss a coin, to choose between "good-average" and
"sometimes-exceptional-but-sometimes-annoying" images
with one-chippers...

>> The Sony TRV17 and 18 are about in your price range, and
>> the similar older TRV11 should be cheaper, used - and
>> I suspect, better than either of the above (I also own
>> the TRV730 - and I gather from what I've seen that low-end
>> Canon camcorders are not best-for-price [and the more
>> expensive ones are also not, from my experience...]).
>> Sony models appears generally to have technological
>> advantages over other similar models, though they can
>> also cost more - on a tight budget, and without a taste
>> for the advantages, buying cheaper models may make sense...