Tommy reviews the PV-DV953!
 

http://www.dv.com/forums/showReplies...2&tid=66800000

Note: you will have to get a user name and password from dv.com to view this I think. Excellent and growing review, pics and all!

Frank, I read Tommy's comments and wouldn't exactly call it a great review (e.g., so-so low light ability, mono sound, limited remote).

The frame grabs I saw looked like paint-by-numbers, but they were colorful. The 16:9 was interesting.

I guess for a US$ 1,350 cam it's good, but I'm looking for a reason to call it excellent. Is there something more that was not covered in the comments on that thread that leads you to believe the DV953 is a hot piece of equipment? I'm in the market for a new cam under US$2,500 so would be interested in your thoughts. I thought something great and new would come out at NAB but there was nothing/nada.

Thanks, Nick

I'm sure they'll be more to follow. He wrote that after just getting his cam, within a day or 2. I can't comment further, because I haven't seen the cam. You have to keep in mind that the MX500, MX5000 and PV-DV953 are small, and the GS70 is even smaller. That's their strength, but it's no DSR570.

Yes, I have been following the threads on the trend for the cams coming out of Japan being smaller. Guess it has been a bit of a disappointment not having some really new, innovative cams come out at NAB. Seems like over the past several years there have been a progression of better cams coming out each year with the Panny 24p (DVX100) being the last star to hit the streets.

Thanks for the info. Cheers, Nick

Yes, the last star---the lone star? Anyways, the DVX100 is almost 2X the price as the MX5000. But why stop at the DVX100? How about a DSR570? (hehe)

I also just posted up some different low light shots between the my DV953 and MX1000.

Yes, I saw that. Thanks Tommy, and welcome to dvinfo.net!

A warm welcome to you, too, haupfear (I'm YowCH on DV.com and anywhere else, but here, you see my full name).

Thanks for the posting of your screen captures on the MX8 and the MX500. Really shows that, although affordable, the MX500 is compromised. STill, it's value for money, as no Sony or Canon is near this price range!

Thanks for the warm welcome.

It looks like if you want a decent widescreen cam that you're going to be stuck with lousy low light performance. At least on my budget.

I just couldn't make myself buy an overpriced anamorphic adapter that introduces barrel distortion and reduced my zoom range otherwise I would have kept my beloved MX1000.

Tim Selander is getting me the add-on light and mic for the MX5000 which should help out the cause.

How much is the light?

I haven't heard from Tim for...it must be over 6 months!

The light and mic are $80USD each.

Light - VZ-LDDS9

http://prodb.matsushita.co.jp/produc.../0/x.808.s.jpg

Mic - VW-VMS2

http://prodb.matsushita.co.jp/produc.../0/x.805.s.jpg

Frank, can you not use HTML here?

That's cheap!

Tommy, HTML is limited here. Here's the DVI link about its HTML:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/misc.php?action=bbcode

For general info, click on the f.a.q. button - top right.

Hey Tommy, I sure would like to run your review (basically your initial post on dv.com plus the follow-ups) on our main site at dvinfo.net. Please let me know if that's do-able. It's great to have you here; thanks for joining us!

Thanks Chris, great site btw!

No problem on the review.

Tommy, can you shoot me an email, or post here, a short paragraph or two about your bio... what you do, where you are etc. I want to give you the right "props" and credit you properly. Thanks,