Least inexpensive 3 CCD mini-dv
 

What's the least inexpensive, but good, 3 ccd mini-dv camera on the market? A friend of mine is interested in buying one. Budget is under $1000.

heath

Obviously, until you define "good" you are going to get a wide range of answers.

But an Optura XI or a panasonic gs150 should work.

The Panasonic GS65, GS120, GS150, GS250 are all 3CCD and under $1K. The 65 is $529 at BH, the 250 is $849.

I'll forward this to my friend. A good 3 ccd mini-dv video camera under $1000 is out there, thankfully.

heath

Some people recommend the Canon cameras with RGB color filter (which is like 3CCD) a little over the Panasonics.

Off topic, I like the DVX100A's look better than the XL2's, but that's just a personal preference. Just like I love Sony's look vs. JVC.

heath

Optura 60 all the way. Amazing camera.

Heath, I think Panny's all use the same battery if you have a DVX100a. (Mine comes tomorrow giggle giggle)

No john, the GS series uses different batteries..they use square ones that only go up to 2200mAh i beleive.

Oops. Thanks Cory. I guess I can't believe everything I read on a forum. LOL

I have the GS250 (got it on Sunday, and I also bought a GL2 yesterday, a very expensive week).
I was impressed with the quality of the GS250 (In a different league than the GS150).
We watched test clips from my GL2 and the GS250 and while the GL2 delivered a better picture, my wife thought they both looked good.

Of course once you getaway from the sunny outside shots the GS250 starts becoming grainer.

My wife said that she could easily live with the quality of the GS250.

Colin

I would agree with that from playing with a Optura 30/40[but it is only a single chip] at the Apple store... good manual controls...nice picture and enhanced 16:9 mode--and enough money left over to buy a wide lens and batteries.

Yeah it is only a single chip...but i would MUCH rather have a larger chip with an RGB Filter than 3 tiny CCD's ( 1/6")