Hi--

Excellent analysis and reviews of the DV camcorders. I wish you would post an analysis of the TRV20. There seems to be so much disagreement about this camera, particularly low light performance.

I am thinking of buying TRV900 or TRV20, although,as you said, for stills, better to get a digital still camera. But as a camcorder, it seems the TRV20 has something to offer It is just that low light issue.

I commonly hear that because it it megapixel for stills, this affects low light performance. Yet Sony says it uses something on order of 690,000 pixels for video. If so, what would it matter how many total are in camera? The sensors are supposed to be newer (are they like ones in VX2000).

Phil

"Phil Morales"

Hmmmm......, SIGH! ;-)
The TRV20/PC-100 is one I would like to try (I almost bought one),
but I haven't found one to borrow, and I have reservations about it
for my purposes, so I haven't yet plunked down m' money for one.
For weddings, I have use for a small camera (unobtrusive, and able
to sit securely on a mic stand) for use as an unattended fisheye camera
close to the ceremony (sometimes that is the only way to get a view of
the action, short of being obnoxious... It must be good in low light,
and sharp. I sold my TRV-900 (too heavy for this, didn't like the
viewfinder for normal shooting, and couldn't find a sharp fisheye
for it) and my EZ30U (light enough, but not sharper than the smaller
PC-1), leaving the PC-1 (so-so to poor at the usual wedding light
levels, and "perking it up" in post results in excess graininess).
I don't know if the bigger pixel-size ofsets the PC-100's smaller
pixel size - but HAD chip... I suspect they are about equal, though.
One of the problems, though, in addition to low-light ability, is
"stairstepping". I had been wowed by the great screen images I've
seen shot with the PC-100 (same "guts" as the TRV20), but then I saw
some motion-video frame-grabs. YUCK!!! Totally unacceptable. The
stairstepping goes away when the camera is not moving (so it may work
for what I want [though if low-light ability is no better than the
PC-1, there is no point getting the PC100 to replace it], but not
for general shooting, maybe...), so I may buy a used TRV-900 again
before May (unless the new Panasonic appears in time, maybe...).
So, I share your quandary... If you get a TRV20, lend it to me
for a couple of days, and then we will all know... Even though it
is heavier, if you are looking for good performance and good low-light
ability, the TRV900 may still be the choice in a fairly compact camera.
BTW, the Canon Optura Pi has a good low-light reputation, but best
I can gather, it is none too sharp compared with the Sony cameras...