I just saw a used Sony PC-100 for sale for $500.  What I'm mostly
concerned with is video quality and audio quality, as opposed to
effects.  Will do better buying a used higher end camcorder such as the
Sony PC-100 or a new one for approximately the same money?

Thanks,
Liz

Hi Liz.

I'm not familiar with the PC-100.
I Googled it and saw what it looks like and a few user comments. Search for
any and all info you can online. If there were ever issues with a camera,
someone will mention them, someone else will counter etc.

$500 sounds steep unless it produces absolutely fantastic images (which it
may).

If you have the extra $$$, look at a used Sony TRV900 miniDV camera. It
produces professional level images - orders of magnitude beyond what's at
BestBuy.

Forget still images as a selling point from a video camera - it only
compromises video performance.

I've copied a post I made to someone else below.

A few resources for you:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/index.html
http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/cameraList.php (mostly fluff, in my opinion,
but pay attention to resolution tests)
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/index.html

Good luck,
C.


<lgewir***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
*Personally,* I recommend people buy used. You
can get low-time miniDV and Digital8mm cameras DIRT CHEAP with a bit of
looking. The picture quality of a Sony TRV120, 320, 520 or 720 from 3 or 4
years ago - at between $200 and $300 - is better than most of what's on the
shelf at Bestbuy for three times the price.

All of those models are Digital8, a format that uses "Hi-8" 8mm video tape.
The tapes (and cameras) are physically larger than most miniDV cams but
the *data* stored is identical.

Now, if you have a bit more money and want to jump up in picture quality,
look for a used Sony TRV900 (seen for as little as $750 on eBay) which is
miniDV and orders of magnitude better than anything available now for under
$2,000 new. Many would argue it's a professional/prosumer camera that was
marketed as a consumer camera.

Next jump up is a $1,300 to $1,500 used Sony VX-2000. Though labelled a
"consumer" or "pro-sumer" cam, it (with a PD150) was used to shoot the
Lion's Gate movie "Open Water." I don't think much more has to be said about
it than that. Low-light performance of a VX2000 or PD150 beats anything in
it's class. Others to consider in the VX' class include: Canon GL1, XL1,
XL1S, Panasonic DVX-100 & DVC-80.

Anything beyond that, you're in to new or very high-end used professional
cameras.

Hope this helps!

C.j.

<lgewir***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
Once again, C.J. beat me to the punch.  I don't have much to add to what he
said, except that TRV-900s are going for just a little more, used, and are
very nice 3-ccd cameras that produces very good images.  Either way, there
is nothing you can buy new in that price range that is going to produce high
quality video.

Show quoteHide quote

Thanks for all your help.  Unfortunately, I can't find a Sony TRV900
miniDV I can afford.  The 2 used cameras i'm trying to choose btn are
the Sony DCR-PC100 and Canon Elura 50.  It seems that according to all
your advice, I should choose the Sony DCR-PC100.  Any advice before I
take the plunge?

Thanks again,
Liz

Consider also the TRV6, TRV11, TRV20, TRV120, TRV320/520/620/720.
(I've heard the TRV20 produces images comparable to a TRV900)

C.j.

<lgewir***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
Show quoteHide quote

I've got a TRV20.  It's better than most of the consumer junk that's
manufactured now, but it doesn't compare to the TRV900.

Show quoteHide quote

Ah! Cool - thanks for the info.

C.


Show quoteHide quote

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