Hi--

I enjoyed reading your article on Sony camcorder low-light performance
on the web. I have a question for you. I am considering the purchase of
the TRV27, which incorporates the 1 megapixel 1/4.7" CCD. I have read
that the low light performance may be marginal and when looking at the
specs. the minimum lux rating is 7.

I am trying to relate this lux rating of 7 to actual recording
conditions I may encounter. Much of my video is shot indoors in a room
about 14' x 12' lighted by 120-240 watts of overhead lighting--a typical
indoor lighting situation. Would this come near or violate the minimum
lux rating of 7, or would I get reasonable performance in this
environment? Would the TRV18 (min. lux rating of 5) or other model from
Sony or another manufacturer be a better bet? Right now I'm using a JVC
VHS-C camcorder, and I'd like to make sure that the low light
performance of the TRV27 is at least as good.

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
lmkroll@juno.com


It is hard to relate camcorders' low light limit long-distance...
Look at www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm, and compare the PC100
(probably slightly greater low-light range than the TRV27) with
the others... The TRV18 (TRV17/PC9) does go a little lower, and
has a less artifacted picture in good light, but image sharpness
is lower... BTW, all go to +18db gain, and all look bad at that
gain; +12 db is not too bad, +15 is the limit for acceptable quality;
the better the low light range, the less gain rise and the better the
picture will look. For interiors, the VX2000 is by far the best;
the TRV18/17/PC9 may be the best of the one-chippers; the DV
1-chippers will not equal the VHS-C camera in low light due to its
larger CCD and lower pixel count - but the image quality in good
enough light will be much better with the DV camera...
Workarounds for the i-chip Sony DV camera to improve low-light
reach turn off the stabilizer, use a slow shutter speed; use
"night-shot" (with "B&W" mode engaged to lose the bad color...);
add a light. Otherwise, look for a good used TRV900 3-chipper...