Does Canon XM2 have a progressive recording mode (at 25fps) for video shooting? I know, it has normal and frame mode (25 fps), no idea about progressive.Thx!

Andris,
"Frame" mode is Canon's version of progressive mode.

Ken, thx! Finally, today I have returned my Panasonic MX500 (I was very disspointed with its low-light recording) back (had to pay 200$ fee for that:( and now have to decide which camcorder to buy: Canon XM2 (3CCD) or Sony TRV60 (1CCD). Which one would You recommend? What about low-light recordings (without slow shutter) for both camcorders (real perfomance, not specs)?

There was normal/frame mode + progressive mode in the MX500, but I couldn't find any difference between normal & progressive in the movie mode; in the user's manual it was said, that progressive is for stills. There was a little misunderstanding about this question.

I own a GL2 (NTSC version of your XM2), but I have no familiarity with the Sony TRV60 so I'm unable to provide a knowledgeable opinion. Personally, I do not find the GL2 lacking in light sensitivity for what I do. It's image is very controllable within reasonable ranges.

Good luck.

Well...I just got my XM2 2 weeks ago, and I was amazed by the low light performance, better than I expected. I do not have much experience with other dv cams except fom what I saw from friends with 1 ccd cameras. And the XM2 sure beats them on low light. No (or almost none noise) on the really dark scenes.

About your remark on the difference between normal and frame mode, try shooting some (fast) moving things, then it clearly shows the difference. I was at a car race and I played a little with the settings, frame mode looks much more blurred then normal mode (could also be because of the very high shutter speeds which I shot at, haven't tried slower shutter speeds with frame mode on real fast objects yet).

I just helped a friend with a Sony 3 CCD camera film an independent movie. Even though I was Camera B or C depending on if the guy with the XL1S showed up, he is going to use my footage mostly, because of the GL2s abilty to get a great pic in low light. Well... also because of the way I framed the shots. But anyway during the shoot several peeps were very impressed with this cameras capabilities.... I think I even saw a bit of envy in the XL1S guys eye.