Pv-952
 

I hate to start a thread, but is this equivalent to the MX series. I did a google search and I think the MX-350 is the PV-951 but not really too sure....

Good news is I got one last week and very impressed with the optical stability of this camera. Transferring to the DMR-HS2 DVD recorder and I must say this is a simple and awesome combo until I fork out for a laptop with DVD burner.

I just am so amazed at the saturation levels. To me the picture is accurate and very crisp.

The MX350 has 1/4" CCDs, whereas the PV-DV951 has 1/6" CCDs. The 951 is based on the MX2000, not the MX350.

I believe the 952 is based on the MX2500.

Regards

The 1/6 CCD does show it's limits inside. I may try lighting solutions. Outside though wow!

Allan, I wish I new your contact a few days earlier. I wanted the GL2 or the MX3000. Now you have tried all three? Any thoughts in comparison of the three?

Rmellis,

You mean compare the MX2500, MX3000 and GL2? My experience on these 3 is limited to "playing" at the stores (quite frequent though). Video comparison set-ups are readily available in big electronic stores in Tokyo. The stores are very bright-lit so there is no way of checking low-light performance (in case that is important to you).

I would rate these 3 as follows (descending order):
GL2
MX3000
MX2500

I'm actually very much infatuated with the GL2 and praying (and working) hard that I would be able to save enough to get one someday. I'm also hoping that Canon would make the black-bodied version in English too.

The raw outputs of MX3000 and MX5000 both look impressive (in good light) and I find it very difficult to tell which one is better. Side by side however, the 3000's lens glass is so much wider than that of 5000 despite having the same filter size. I like its body finish too (looks like titanium). On the other hand, the 5000 has better button placement, especially the Menu button and jog-wheel, and the 3.5" LCD is BIG and beautiful. The orientation of the tape loading mechanism is not important to me personally (but it is to many!) as I very seldom use a tripod. Top-loading mechanism makes the camcorder body wider, hence the 5000 has more breadth than the 3000.

I was not so impressed with the 2500. The video looked a little bit dark and the color saturation did not compare with other 3CCDs available at that time. I felt it was closer to the hi-end single-chippers. In fact, I chose the Canon PV130 (Optura100) over it, which was being sold at the same price as the 2500 when I bought. Have you seen how wide the Optura100 lens is? Now the 2500 is even cheaper than Optura100 in Japan.

Regards
Allan Rejoso

The Optura 100MC is stilling selling in Japan? That's a good cam. The lens is very wide compared with most other 1 CCD cams (and some of the Pana 3 CCD models.) The lens is small on the MX2000, MX2500, MX5000 (PV-DV952, AG-EZ50U). With the MX350, the lens seems to be only slightly smaller than the MX300/0 lens.

Another cam I thought was good was last year's Panasonic PV-DV601. This one had a wide lens with 20X zoom. Also, It was fairly good in lower light, probably near the same as the Optura 100MC---that's only a guess on my part based on playing with them in the store.

Thanks for the reply.