On Wed, 5 Jun 2002 12:55:18 -0700, "Mike" wrote:

>I am about to make the jump to a 3 ccd camera, and I'm leaning towards
>either the new Sony TRV950 or the PDX10 (the professional version of the
>TRV950) when they become available. The PDX10 has an external mic, which I
>expect will give better quality audio than the TRV950. My question is
>whether video recorded in DVCAM mode would be of any higher quality than if
>it was recorded in DV mode, or is it more or less the same.

For virtually all purposes, it is the same - but the
record time will be shorter on the PDX10...

>Anyone have any comparitive comments or information about current Sony
>consumer models versus their professional equivalents?
>
>PD150 vs. VX2000
>PD100 vs. TRV900

See: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm
BTW, the low light range of the older TRV900/PD100a
is noticeably greater than for the replacement
TRV950/PDX10 - and the low light range of the
VX2000/PD150 is FAR greater than it is for the new
cameras...

>Is it worth the extra money to go with the DVCAM model? If the video is the
>same quality, what are the advantages of the DVCAM model? Is it over-kill
>for a 'prosumer' to go the DVCAM route?

Yes, unless the included XLRs are worth it (they
can be added, but without the phantom power and
with less secure connections to the camera than
offered by the PD150). Unless you have a specific
need for DVCam and the XLRs (unlikely, with the
PDX10, where the added XLRs and mic tend to dwarf
this tiny camera...), I would go with the Mini-DV
models (BTW, the PD150 can also shoot in Mini-DV
SP format, so with this one, the choice is between
a camera properly set up with XLRs, and the VX2000
that isn't - though the VX2000 is considerably
cheaper, and can shoot Mini-DV LP...). Figure out
what you need, what can be adapted later if
necessary/desired, and choose accordingly...