On Thu, 12 Apr 2001 03:12:06 -0500, sdl wrote:
>On Wed, 11 Apr 2001, Jeff Rush wrote:

>> I'm in the market for a mini-DV camcorder. My price range tops out at
>> around $1500. I'm more interested in the video quality and features
>> than I am in the still features.

>Unlike some others on this group, I don't think you even need to spend
>$1500 to get a quality consumer product. There are plenty of mini-DV
>camcorders out there that fall way below that mark, and will be perfectly
>adequate for normal amatuer use (such as the Panasonic PV-DV400 that I
>have). Go ahead and blow the $1500 if you don't have anything else to
>spend the money on (which I'm doubting since you have a baby on the
>way!)... otherwise do a little research, pick out a $500-1000 cam, get an
>internet pricematch at Sears, and go home happy! =) Good luck-

Ah a dash of realism...;-)
SL usefully points out that one *can* limp along
(happily...;-) with something other than "the
best". For those of us with "champagne tastes"
and weak backs, the VX-2000 (with its really
excellent [though not perfect!] picture and good
sound) is the "good enough" point; for others,
it may be the TRV-900 at a few hundred dollars
less ("best-for-price" in 3-chippers); for others,
the TRV-11 (I've seen better-looking footage shot
with it than I would have expected) or PC-100/110/
TRV-20 is "good enough"; for others who are not
very critical of image or sound quality (and/or
are on a very tight budget), lower-level DV
camcorders may serve well - and still offer
some advantages over "run-of-the-mill" analogue
camcorders; for others, nothing but the best
BetaSP/D50/HDTV will do. No matter what you spend,
there is always a "better" camera for more money
available - but one must choose the
size/weight/price/quality balance point that
is best for one's self in buying (or receive
a big inheritance, and just buy them all...;-).
BTW, I didn't "receive a big inheritance" (I've
just been lucky...;-), and I "settled" for
a tiny/light PC-1, a mid-sized TRV-900, and
a pair of VX-2000s (with an "old" TRV-9
thrown in for "deck" use and for its great
daylight infrared B&W shooting capability),
since I couldn't decide on just one (though,
if forced to, it would be the VX-2000...;-).
These and others are (critically...) reviewed at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
Also BTW, it is usefull not to assume that an
"older" camera model is less capable of shooting
good picture and sound than a newer one - some
of the earliest DV camcorders, like the AG-EZ1U
and VX-1000, are still better than most of the
newest, and a better-model used camera in nice
condition may be a better purchase than a low-end
new camera at nearly the same price (new-camera
warranties are not very long, and "new" does not
guarantee "defect-free"...).