I'm ready to move in to the digital world and replace my faithful CCD-VX3, but I need some advice. I'm interested in the TRV-950 primarily because of it's size, but I just came across descriptions of Sony's new DVD based cameras (DCR DVD-100,200,300). While they look like basic consumer grade cameras I'm wondering when or if Sony will develop a 3CCD DVD based camera.

I'm ready to make a purchase in the near future (2-4 weeks) but if Sony has something in the 950 category that will be coming out in the next few months I can postpone my purchase.

Any thoughts? Anyone out there with a crystal ball?

The best 3 CCD hand-helds are the GL2, PDX10 and PV-DV953, in my opinion. The only new 3 CCD hand-held release that I am aware of is the Pana Japanese Domestic GS100. Perhaps next year there will be a VX2000/PD150 and XL1S replacement.

The pro cameras start with the PDX10 with 16:9 chipset. Then there is DVX with Century Optics anamorphic adapter to get 16:9, then comes the JVC HD10 with HD, but too many defficiencies so it is basically only useable for lowest end indie film production. If you want the best low light capability, try 4:3 aspect Sony VX2000 and PD150. All these are good prosumer cameras.

I would recommend the PDX10 at this time, I really don't think that a DVD format would be helpful if I wanted to edit my shot's. I can say that my PDX10 is for the $ really the best choice for me. 16.9 decent lens and great sound all in a very small package. If I wanted a larger camera then the PD150 or GL2. But the PDX10 is a great Gun and Run Cam for me.

Beware of any DVD format camera at this time. Look at the figures. You shoot an hour of Mini DV and end up with something like 13gb of information. You burn this to DVD and comfortably fit it onto a 4gb disc. Where does the other information go? It's simply discarded, thrown away, abandoned, binned.

Do you really want to use such compression up front? No, of course you don't. DVD is just a stop-gap technology, and already we're seeing the solid state mempry card idea come to fruition. Tape is cheep and cheerful and holds staggering amounts of information in a tiny package, but the 10 gig storage cards are just around the corner. and their day will surely come.

tom.

Thanks for the comments, especially your arguments against going straight to DVD Tom. I decided to get the TRV950. I couldn't quite justify the extra $300 for the PDX10 for what I'm going to use the camera for. I just wish the 950 had a little better low-light performance.

Thanks again.