Greetings all...

Been lurking and reading threads trying to find the mini-dv camera that makes sense for me.

I want light and small, top quality results in low light, and a camera that will mesh with my documentary still work (a camera that will handle like a 35mm Leica). I've come to the conclusion that the GL2 is too big and maybe I should look at the JVC HD-10 or even look at a high end one-chip camera. I am working on a documentary and would love it if the final product should be close-to or at broadcast quality...without carrying a ton of stuff. Where are the compromises? What should I be looking at?

What are the thoughts here about this?

With thanks to all!

Michael Hintlian

to see work: http://www.hintlian.com

Any Sony main dv camera will give you a sharp pic and decent low light. There is a Panasonic 3ccd model available that is very small. But in low light it struggles. Your gonna need a 3ccd medel realy if you want good pics in low light. Sony vx2000 is v good here, but bigger and more xpensive. For size you cannot wack the Canon xm2. It is small enough to fit in a laptop case, has excellent features, excellent pic quality, is lighter and smaller than the vx2000 with a bigger zoom. If your gonna do it, do it properly!

You want a combination of features that is difficult to come by in a good camcorder. Three CCDs is a must. Good audio is a must. Smaller than a GL2? There is the Sony trv950, or the PDX10, though they aren't exactly great in low light. The PDX is a fine little camera, with XLR audio. The Panasonic DVC30 should definitely be looked into.

Also, the Panasonic DVC80, which has been discontinued, has pro features that you will have add as extras on most cams. It has 1/3 inch CCDs and manual mechanically linked zoom/focus, among a host of other things. It may not be as sveldt as a Leica, but it has the lens ;-).

Or my all-time small camera favorite, the Sony 900. About $1200 or so used and in good shape. Better than almost anything other than the Sony 2000/2100 & 150/170 cameras in low light and smaller than many 1-chip amateur cameras.

For what it's worth, I went through a similar search process last year. I agree with Mike -- if you can find a low-hours TRV-900, grab it. The TRV950/PDX10 have miserable low-light performance by comparison. I finally settled on a VX2000 which, while a little bigger and heavier than I liked, produces pristine video with stunning low-light performance.