Matt Buys

I used the HV20 for a documentary and it won the National Paddling Film Festival for best accomplished doc. It's just been selected at two other festivals.

Then again, I didn't volunteer what it was shot on. I have struggled with this issue, the camera is so small and plastic it looks extremely unprofessional. I hate dragging it out to interview the average schmoo because it looks you just ran to Walmart to buy your camera. The PD170, on the other hand, well, it LOOKS like a movie camera.

So maybe your instructors are concerned you'll look unprofessional and thus you'll reflect poorly on the school?

But it's better to look unprofessional than be unprofessional.

I think if you forced the average AC to choose between these cameras they'd take the HV20. Especially if they felt more comfortable with it. Look at what Charles Papert just wrote. Right out of a Hollywood SOC's keyboard. That alone should lend enough academic credibilty sway them to your point of view.