On Wed, 28 Mar 2001 20:04:40 -0700, "John Peterson" wrote:

>Heh, hee! It's testimonials like these that are tipping the scales to the
>TRV900. Thanks, M. Weiss! :-)

I'm just now going through the "throws" of checking a
TRV-900 I just bought against my VX-2000, so this may
help. Basically, what I said in the reviews still applies
(at: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm ),
but the experience is refreshed: the TRV-900 is much more
pleasant to carry and handle; the VX-2000 finder is better
and easier to see; the TRV-900 panel is excellent (when
light-levels permit its use); the TRV-900 shows more
bright-edge sharpening effects at infinity-focus (and
about equal image-sharpness with the VX-2000); the
VX-2000 image sharpness pulls ahead as the aperture
nears its widest stop; the image tonal-quality of the
VX-2000 is better in medium-light levels (blacks are
better, with contrast more normal), and as the light
levels sink toward darkness, the VX-2000 image is very
noticeably better; the VX-2000 color bias is more neutral
(and is adjustable); the VX-2000 offers several useful
controls over picture characteristics; the VX-2000 sound
is better, and there is less AGC-limited using the
built-in mics; the VX-2000 mic resists wind noise better
(and it is easily wrapped for even greater wind-noise
reduction); the VX-2000 has the menu-selector on the rear,
where it should be (the TRV-900 menu-select is behind the
panel door); the VX-2000 takes higher-quality stills
and uses the more convenient Memory Sticks (instead of
the floppy-disk); the VX-2000 AF is better.
Overall, I would characterize the differences as these:
the TRV-900 represents the top-end of the consumer-oriented
camcorder choices; the VX-2000 represents the top end of
the "low-priced" end of the "pro-sumer"-oriented camcorder
choices (kinda entry-level pro, but still with mini-plugs
for audio, not quite independent aperture, shutter speed,
and gain settings, but with first-rate auto functions
combined with excellent picture characteristics and
low-light ability). The VX-2000 is not "night-and-day"
better than the TRV-900, but it is subtly better in
several important ways (and worse in a couple, like
packability and handling ease).
So, choose...! ;-)