On Sat, 23 Feb 2002 13:58:16 +1000, "Trevor S"
>"David McCall"
>news:qeDd8.13026$%b6.4461143@typhoon.ne.ipsvc.net...
>
>
>> My point fits in with your concept of "one to carry for
>> those times you wish you had a camera and don't".
>> For me, home movies do fall into that catagory. Last
>> time I went to Orlando, the 900 came along the first
>> day, but stayed in the hotel the rest of the days. A
>> cheaper/smaller camera would have been more useful.
>> I've even considered getting one to "keep in the car".
>To some extent I agree, what worries me though is the picture quality. I
>look at the output from my TRV 900 and am still amazed at the quality,
>compared to my brother-in-laws single chip Panan, the picture from the TRV
>900 is superb. The problem is I have to hump it around in my specially
>designed backpack with foam padding etc
>
>By the time I take unpack the camera and set myself up, the shot has passed
>:) (This has happened a few times) At times like this or if I am away on
>holidays, I have pined for something small and compact that can slide inside
>a coat pocket. eg when I go skiing in a July, I don't want to hump the TRV
>900 with me !
>
>Anyone recommend something smaller with good quality video ?
>
>I would consider myself a serious amateur only. I do produce small
>adventure doco's but have yet to be paid for them, still honing my camera
>and editing skills to the extent where I consider them marketable :)
Perhaps another bag would help? If you find one (padded,
with water-resistent exterior) that JUST fits the TRV900,
the outer package size is quite small. If equipped with a
single plastic locking clip (and/or velcro strip - with no
zippers, belt buckles, or other nonsense sometimes installed
on camera bags...;-), removal of the TRV900 from the bag is
quick and easy. As for smaller/lighter camcorders with
good quality, the EZ30U appeared to serve well enough -
though it is really no smaller, it lacks a useable
stabilizer, its image quality is often inferior, and its
low-light ability is very limited (I have not seen much
from reports on later Panasonic 3-chippers that would lead
me back to a P. solution, either...). BTW, I sold the
EZ30U in favor of the TRV900 - and various Mini-DV
camcorders are compared at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm.
Also, BTW, I have tried several good tiny one-chippers
(see: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm,
also), but find them unacceptable for most serious work,
good as they can be for specific types of subjects and
shooting. (Darn! ;-) For "compact", I'm back with the
TRV900; for "best", I'm back with the VX2000 - the
time/shooting-opportunities/tape spent with the
one-chippers was generally wasted, alas...