On Thu, 01 Nov 2001 08:54:19 GMT, mdknight@pacific.net.sg (Sir Loin of Beef) wrote:

>>Then you will wait forever...;-)
>>The one-chipper models are changed about yearly
>>(but often remain the same basic camera underneath
[DR]

>Heh, you're right. I guess I'll get it within this month then.
>I just checked out the latest prices here, and it seems like they've
>slashed the price of the pc110 again after they introduced the pc120.
>
>Now the pc110 is only US$100 more than the pc9. I'll be choosing
>between these 2 now since I have no need for the bluetooth in the
>newer ones.
>
>Some questions.. .they may have been answered before but I guess I
>missed them.
>
>1. Does the 1 megapixel ccd in the pc110 give better VIDEO than the
>pc9? Or does it only affect still photos? [see below]
>
>2. How many lines of video do the pc9 and pc110 give?
>
>3. How do the low light performances of these two compare?
>
>4. Is the battery life of both of these similar, or does the pc9 touch
>screen produce more power drain? I really don't think the fm91
>battery lasts 10 hours... approx. how much usage can I get out of it
>with plain non-stop recording and no zooming?
>
>5. I've read conflicting reports on different web sites about the
>stabilization used on the pc110. Is it optical or digital?

For part of this, I supply an earlier post of mine
comparing some of the Sony one-chippers' pictures;
for the rest, I will answer below...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have the PC9 and have had the TRV11 - both have the same
image quality as the TRV17. I also have the PC100 (similar
image quality to the PC110 and TRV20). I'm trying to buy a
TRV30 (similar image quality to the PC120). In the case of
the first two, the images are noticeably different. The PC9
image is neutral-warm, normal-high in contrast, moderately
sharp, and reasonably free of excessive negative picture
artifacts (a good "compromise" image, very pleasant, but
not ideal for shooting fine detail and textures); the PC100
image is noticeably sharper (about as sharp as the 3-chip
TRV900), neutral-cool, a bit high in contrast (highlights
burn out easily), and high in negative picture artifacts
(some subjects look quite bad, some quite good shot
with this camera - it trades universality and pleasantness
for excellent sharpness for a one-chipper); the TRV30 images
I've seen look quite promising, and (I'm speculating...)
it may be that the 14-bit DSP it uses may improve the
negative artifacting situation, while retaining first-rate
sharpness (I will know only when I try one...[which may be
tomorrow...]). The TRV900 image, BTW, has excellent color
(saturation and balance, though a tad weak in green...),
very good sharpness, normal contrast (with better handling
of shadows and highlights compared with one-chippers), and
relatively minor negative artifacting. I would also consider
this one, since it is compact for a 3-chipper, still very
good, and (in the US) not much more expensive than the TRV30
(but if the TRV30 is really good......;-). On a budget,
I would consider the TRV17 (or the earlier TRV11).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, for your other questions...
-Low light ability is about the same, with trade-offs:
the 5/9/11/17 will produce an acceptable picture in
slightly lower light than the 20/100/110, but the picture
of the 20/100/110 is somewhat better just before its
low light limit. BTW, both types allow the more sensitive
"night-shot" mode to be used (in B&W-mode, please...;-)
for good B&W images in lower light. Both types also offer
slow shutter speeds, and for some things, 1/30th or 1/15th
are worth using for the improved color.
-Both run for over an hour on the supplied battery, and
longer than generally needed (at least a few hours) on
the M70 version. The M91 is generally overkill...
-The stabilization used on all current Sony Mini-DV
one-chip camcorders is digital, with no ill effects
visible under most conditions except near the low-light
limit - switching it off shifts the shutter speed from
1/100th to 1/60th, giving almost a stop greater low
light range.
BTW, I may (once the TRV30 is in hand) do a comparison
report on all the Sony Mini-DV camcorder types (there
are 5) - though this will undoubtedly spawn great
misunderstandings and wranglings about "which is best",
and why did I down-rate "X" (after all, didn't I
realize it was the best thing since buttered bread?! ;-)
(See XL-1 vs. PD150 thread, to see what I mean.....;-)