Mario Lauria
May 12th, 2003, 10:55 AM
Hello everybody,
I'm new in this forum, but I've been going around the various threads since last month.
Now as first time, I’m going to tell you a little tale.
I hope this short story can help somebody.
Last month, after a long search and a long wait (the toy was unobtainable before two months in local shops) I finally got in my hands a brand new MX500 thanks to an Internet Italian vendor who was able to deliver the said in a few days at good price.
I’wont conceal the fact that before buying the MX500 I read a lot about various 3CCD camcorders looking for one which could meet my needs (and my budget).
Finally I decided for the MX500. It seemed to me the best choice for features, dimensions and price.
“If I had to design a camcorder for me I’d made it like an MX500! “I thought.
Yes it has 1/6” CCDs, but they certainly know what they are doing at the factory!
Until then I had never seen or touched that camcorder, only read about on the Internet, but this was not a problem, as I own a cheaper camcorder of the same brand that works just fine. (I trusted that brand)
When the camcorder arrived, I opened the box helped by my son who was beside himself with curiosity.
We both realized that the thing was nicest than we had imagined.
That evening we made some quick tests to check if the camcorder worked and everything was ok.
The next morning I grabbed the camcorder with a fully charged battery, and went around to make some test shots. For the first time shootings, I decided to use the camcorder in automatic mode in order to check the “standard features“.
When I came back home, connected the camcorder to my TV and started the tape from the beginning.
At first glance the images looked nice especially in the colours. Going on with the tape I began noting something strange.
All the images flowed under a grainy mask visible even in day light.
The problem was visible, for example, when the image showed the ground in the lower half and the sky in the upper one (Gain=0dB ; F16 ; S 1/50), therefore with a very strong light.
I stopped the camcorder and made some tests directly connected to the TV.
Everything I tried to reduce the image grain was of no use.
Working in manual mode, I tried every possible combination of the controls, but the result was always the same.
After that, I waited for my son to come from school to show him my video.
I did not mention what I had noted, to avoid influencing his mind.
Pa’, he said, what’s all that noise in the video!
Huu!
And now? What to do? The problem was certainly due to low light sensitivity of the 1/6” CCDs and nothing we could do to change this.
I could not believe it, nearly 2000 Euro for that camcorder.
Ok, it’s beautiful it has almost everything you need, but …..
The same day I called the dealer and told the story.
He asked me if wanted my money back or another camcorder.
“Please send me a Canon XM2”.
I received the XM2 after a few days (paid the difference) and now I’m doing some tests.
It seems that everything is OK, beautiful video images and surprising beautiful photos.
I’ve made some really nice photos.
Tests are going on, but I can say that the camcorders are not comparable (even in price)
It may seem obvious that if something costs more than another it must be better.
Nearly 2000 Euro are not bad for a camcorder .It may have less facilities or different construction ruggedness but the minimum you expect from a so priced unit is that it makes good shootings.
(No noise)
Thank you for your attention.
Your comments are welcome.
Good bye from Mario.
I'm new in this forum, but I've been going around the various threads since last month.
Now as first time, I’m going to tell you a little tale.
I hope this short story can help somebody.
Last month, after a long search and a long wait (the toy was unobtainable before two months in local shops) I finally got in my hands a brand new MX500 thanks to an Internet Italian vendor who was able to deliver the said in a few days at good price.
I’wont conceal the fact that before buying the MX500 I read a lot about various 3CCD camcorders looking for one which could meet my needs (and my budget).
Finally I decided for the MX500. It seemed to me the best choice for features, dimensions and price.
“If I had to design a camcorder for me I’d made it like an MX500! “I thought.
Yes it has 1/6” CCDs, but they certainly know what they are doing at the factory!
Until then I had never seen or touched that camcorder, only read about on the Internet, but this was not a problem, as I own a cheaper camcorder of the same brand that works just fine. (I trusted that brand)
When the camcorder arrived, I opened the box helped by my son who was beside himself with curiosity.
We both realized that the thing was nicest than we had imagined.
That evening we made some quick tests to check if the camcorder worked and everything was ok.
The next morning I grabbed the camcorder with a fully charged battery, and went around to make some test shots. For the first time shootings, I decided to use the camcorder in automatic mode in order to check the “standard features“.
When I came back home, connected the camcorder to my TV and started the tape from the beginning.
At first glance the images looked nice especially in the colours. Going on with the tape I began noting something strange.
All the images flowed under a grainy mask visible even in day light.
The problem was visible, for example, when the image showed the ground in the lower half and the sky in the upper one (Gain=0dB ; F16 ; S 1/50), therefore with a very strong light.
I stopped the camcorder and made some tests directly connected to the TV.
Everything I tried to reduce the image grain was of no use.
Working in manual mode, I tried every possible combination of the controls, but the result was always the same.
After that, I waited for my son to come from school to show him my video.
I did not mention what I had noted, to avoid influencing his mind.
Pa’, he said, what’s all that noise in the video!
Huu!
And now? What to do? The problem was certainly due to low light sensitivity of the 1/6” CCDs and nothing we could do to change this.
I could not believe it, nearly 2000 Euro for that camcorder.
Ok, it’s beautiful it has almost everything you need, but …..
The same day I called the dealer and told the story.
He asked me if wanted my money back or another camcorder.
“Please send me a Canon XM2”.
I received the XM2 after a few days (paid the difference) and now I’m doing some tests.
It seems that everything is OK, beautiful video images and surprising beautiful photos.
I’ve made some really nice photos.
Tests are going on, but I can say that the camcorders are not comparable (even in price)
It may seem obvious that if something costs more than another it must be better.
Nearly 2000 Euro are not bad for a camcorder .It may have less facilities or different construction ruggedness but the minimum you expect from a so priced unit is that it makes good shootings.
(No noise)
Thank you for your attention.
Your comments are welcome.
Good bye from Mario.