On Wed, 12 Dec 2001 23:09:03 -0500, Walt Atwood wrote:

>I've been looking at a camcorder purchase casually for a couple months now.
>
>There are some factors I'm considering:
>
>1: PRICE!!! (These over $1,000 camcroders are ridiculous!!! The better deal
>I can find on mail-order, the easier it will be to justify the purchase.)
>
>2: Mac/iMovie compatiblity (FireWire, etc., blah-blah-blah-blah...)
>
>3: SIZE (the smaller in overall dimensions and the lighter, the better)
>
>4: SIZE AGAIN (while a 2.5 inch LCD seems to come standard with DV
>camcorders these days, a 3.5 would be preferred)
>
>5: Video-in/out, preferably with "pass-through" (I'd like to be able to
>import my old VHS/VHS-C footage, either onto DV tape or "pass-through" a la
>Sony to convert directly to the computer in real time.)
>
>
>Combining these factors, I chopped down to a short list, in price-based
>order:
>
>Canon ZR10 (There are still some close-out deals on the 'net from reputable
>sites; starting at $548. Alas, details on the Canons are not plentiful. Thet
>seem limited to 2.5-inch LCD's and I'm not clear if you can import analog
>video let alone convert it in real-time. Still, for rock-bottom prices, this
>unit is tiny at 2-5/8 x 3-3/8 x 5-7/8 inches though not particularly light:
>1 lb, 7 oz wet.)
>
>Canon ZR20 (see above, deals within $50 of ZR10, and specs similar)
>
>Sony DCR-TRV 530 (The largest on my list, and the heaviest, at 2 lbs and
>3-3/8 x 4-1/8 x 8-1/8 inches. The only Digital8, but at least it offers
>Sony's "pass-through" technology and a 3.5-in. LCD at an inviting price.)
>
>Sony DCR-TRV 17 (Smaller than the 530 above, at 3 x 3-7/8 x 6-7/8 inches and
>weighing in at 1 lb. 6 oz., but bigger than the Canons. This also offers
>"pass-through" real-time conversion, and uses MiniDV tapes. The price is up
>in the 800's on the 'net.)
>
>Sony DCR-PC 9 (Smallest of the bunch, at 2-3/8 x 4-1/8 x 3-7/8 inches. Also
>expensive; prices start in the 900's from reputable 'net dealers. And it
>doesn't offer "pass-through".)
>
>If I bought any on the non-"pass through" units above, I'd probably wind up
>buying a DV/analog converter for another couple hundred dollars. That seems
>to eliminate the Sony DCR-PC 9. The DCR-TRV 530 seems to have it all, but it
>is so bulky. It's not much different than my six-year-old RCA VHS-C
>camcorder.
>
>What do you think of my short list? (I know, my criteria are contradictory.)
>Are any good candidates missing? What do you think of the units on my list?

I would be very surprised if the PC9 does not have
"pass-through", but I have not checked - it is a recent
model, with all the usual "bells"... It appears to me
you have not asked the relevant questions; how is the
picture (including in low light), and how is the sound?
Otherwise, just buy a Sony D->A/A->D converter box for
$300 or so...;-) BTW, the Sony Mini-DV *imaging types*
are compared (with frame-grabs, in various light
conditions) at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm