On Thu, 5 Dec 2002 23:55:46 -0800 (PST), bigrocketman3@webtv.net (Steve McDonald) wrote:

> If you want an "older" Digital8 model, get a TRV730. You can get
>by fine with the 2 1/2" viewscreen and it uses less power than the
>bigger ones. The image quality of this MegaPixel model (and the
>TRV830), puts it in a much higher class than any of the other past
>cameras in this line. Even the new TRV740 and TRV840 models have
>smaller CCDs and less zoom power and although they're the best ones of
>this format now currently produced, they are a notch or two lower in
>performance than those from last year.
>Steve McDonald

I would have guessed that this was true, given the reduction
in CCD size with the TRV740 (I have a TRV730), but someone
recently brought over a 740, and the image was surprising
in relatively low light. While I did not compare them
side-by-side, I'm used to seeing the color nearly disappear
with one-chippers at +18db, and I'm used to seeing the gain
rise when the stabilizer is turned on - but neither of
these problems occured with the 740, and the color remained
good in the dark parts of the room at +18db, with no loss
of color with the stabilizer turned on compared with off.
Perhaps better signal-processing accounts for this...