On 21 Jun 2002 14:41:20 -0700, shomeeks@yahoo.com (sdiver) wrote:

> After waiting too long to buy a camcorder, the new generation of
>Sony Mini DV camcorders are out. I had my eye on the TRV900 which has
>been replaced by the TRV950.
> So my question is which is the best camcorder for low light
>performance (darkened room, small night lamp shooting) out there? Is
>the TRV900 still the best or is there a 3 chip or 1 chip out there
>that is a good performer for its price? Given the TRV950 is new I
>guess the prices are going to be high for a while. If I cannot afford
>a 3 chip, which single chip would you guys recommend?
> Thanks for all of your info and feedback in advance.

The VERY best "handycam"-style Mini-DV camcorder for
low-light range and picture quality is the VX2000
(with a couple of "shoulder-mount"-style cameras
sitting in the wings as competition...;-). The
second-best was the TRV900, at least in terms of raw
low-light reach... The "megapixel" and "smaller-CCDs"
trend is hurting low-light range, though, and most
current-generation cameras other than the VX2000
are worse in low light range than models that went
before (though the bright-light images of the newer
cameras *may* have some advantages...). If you can
stand B&W images with sometimes-weird tonality, the
Sony one-chippers in "night-shot" (infrared) and
B&W modes can shoot in fairly low light reasonably
well...