On 18 Apr 1999 00:41:14 GMT, merrittca@aol.com (MerrittCA) wrote:

>I know, probably an old question, but I just found newsgroup.
>I'm planning on starting an agency to handle low- to mid-budget
>($600 - $3000) local spots for cable or local network broadcast.
>Which, if either, would be a decent purchase, the XL1 or VX1000?

Both...! ;-)
They are quite different...
Both are capable of making fine images and recording
good sound. If you favor tripod mounting, you may prefer
the XL-1; if you favor hand-holding, you may prefer the
smaller/lighter VX-1000. If you like wide-angle or fisheye
and your budget is limited, you may prefer the VX-1000
(there are good, practical, cheap add-on converters); with
a bigger budget (for the Canon WA zoom, and a Century
converter - inexpensive converters don't work well with
the big Canon lenses...), you may like the Canon. The
Canon looks more "pro", if that matters... The TRV-900
is worth a look, if it's amateur "look" doesn't
offend...;-) If you can stand the useless stabilizer of
the Panasonic EZ-30U, it also has a good picture. I
like the VX-1000 still, for its excellent hand-holding
characteristics, excellent picture (with custom settings
available...), excellent stabilizer, and excellent sound.
I also like being able to pack two of them, with lotsa
batteries, a couple of AC adapters, a couple of WA
converters, several mics, a couple of wireless mic sets,
and lotsa tape in a few bags that I can carry in one
trip (tripods extra...;-). Flip a coin, and see if you
like the result...;-)