What does it cost to dvcam video like a Pro ?

[SingSing]

The consumer electronics is so up to date, some of the equipment are sometime called prosumer. I start seeing people carrying the large Canon and Sony minidv cam to video tape local event. These dvcam are fairy large and run about $4K to 5K. I assume one also need to setup a high end computer workshop to get pro-like result.

I would like to get some input form user of these large dv cam. Sony also has 3 CCD dvcam in small hand held unit run about $2K, I wonder how good are these ?

Is good dvcam result largely depends on 3-CCD and large lens ?

[mikerios]

in Prosumer area for the Canon Models it the GL-1 and the Xl-1 and XL-1S, theGL-1's go for about 1500 now, they are a 3 CCD Camera ( as are the XL-1's ) and image quality is superb ( my roomate has one ). They have a screen that fold out ( XL-1's use only the small viewfinder screen ) and quite a lot of features. The XL-1's differ in that they use interchangeable lenses and you can set the recording levels maunally vs automatically, also too many features to list. go to Canon's website for more details. Xl-1s start at about 2200 or so.

[jtor]

Singsing,

Shots made by a 3-CCD camcorder 'DOES' spell a big difference in quality.

[Tommy]

Don't forget the optics, as they also make a difference. Can't get a good picture/video if whats coming into the camera is crap.

[SingSing]

Consumer version of canon has problem shooting in low light.
Does their prosumer version suffer the same faith ?

In quite a few dvcam manuals, they said switching off the digital image stablising can get more natural picture. Does any prosumer model has optical image stabiliising ?

[jtor]

Singsing,

prosumer models (from both canon and sony) use Optical stabilizers (instead of electronic).

You might want to check out John Beale's site, where he compared the TRV900 and the GL1 at www.bealecorner.com/trv900/.