Better late than never, eh? Thank you for the good review.
I think I would have mentioned the PDX's relationship with the TRV950.
The lack of total control over the gain is an important note, thanks for making that very clear.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

Robin,

nice review. but the lack of quantitative evaluation of the limitation of the images at low light, relative to the Panasonic leaves us in the position of having to take your word for it (since, as you note, I cannot tell the difference between the screen grabs). I assume that by "cleaner" image you mean less noise. You might try taking a frame grab of each and blowing up a section and posting that blown up section with a look at the noise. not that I don't believe you.... ;-).

Also, I am skeptical of your claim that the PDX10 is better at 15 lux than the GL2. So would be all the wedding photographers that I know who have used both in dim lighting in churches.

Again....we are relegated to taking your word for it which, in this case, I would offer is highly suspect.

Maybe you can design a method of demonstrating a quantitative method of providing data we can assess in light of your comments. Sort of like a real experiment.

Thanks.

__________________
Sony DCR-TRV950 [Mini-DV Vid](2003)
Canon ES-970 [8mm Video] (1998)
Canon Z135 [35mm] (1995)
Yashica Mat-124G [2/14x2/14] (1994)
Canon Elan [35mm (1994)]
Canon AE-1 [35mm] (1981)

Regarding gain adjustment....

you can adjust it independently of the iris and turn it down.

the gain only kicks in when the iris is fully open. to assess whether the gain is on or not simply press the shutter speed and go down one notch. If the image brightens you are at max gain on the previous shutter speed.

go back and reduce the exposure by 3 notches. Boom, zero gain nirvana (and often a useless dark image).

In summary, gain only kicks in when the iris component of the exposure control is wide open. Hence, all adjustments in exposure downward, in that condition, apply only to gain......

so gain can be reduced independent of the iris at that point.

it did take a day or two to figure this out in the absence of documentation though. I simply shot many scenes and played them back with the cool datacode on to see what the relationship between exposure, iris and gain was.

__________________
Sony DCR-TRV950 [Mini-DV Vid](2003)
Canon ES-970 [8mm Video] (1998)
Canon Z135 [35mm] (1995)
Yashica Mat-124G [2/14x2/14] (1994)
Canon Elan [35mm (1994)]
Canon AE-1 [35mm] (1981)

Once again, Robin did not write this review, Tony Fonseca did.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

MC, thanks........

Tony, sorry.

Tony, in the camcorderinfo.com 3CCD shootout ($2000 range) last year the GL2 was selected as the superior camera in low light and overall relative to TRV-950 which has same imaging system as PDX10?

__________________
Sony DCR-TRV950 [Mini-DV Vid](2003)
Canon ES-970 [8mm Video] (1998)
Canon Z135 [35mm] (1995)
Yashica Mat-124G [2/14x2/14] (1994)
Canon Elan [35mm (1994)]
Canon AE-1 [35mm] (1981)

Hi,
this review is good, but i miss one of the most improtent things in the whole review en that is of this camera is the replacement for the sony trv950????
I want to know that very bad! so can someone tell me that?
And if this is the replacement that i think the 950 is much better, the low light was rated as good and this camera not.

Relax, Jerry.

The PDX came out at the same that the 950 came out. They are identical in video, body, and, for the most part, control layout. Their low light performance is the same. The notable differences are the XLR inputs, and separate audio channels, and the 16:9 mode (and DVCAM, if needed).

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

Thank you very much ,
So theare is know problem, the trv950 maybe staying for a while...
But if the low light is not so good... than the low light on the 950 is also not good. and that for a camcorder from 2000 dollar (wel.. euro's for me)
The low light is rated lower than the JVC GR-D33!!!!!!
A camcorder from $349!!!!!
Oh... i am really dispointed... and i hope that this is not true..
Can the writer of this review please, please tell me of the jvc for $349 is better than the 2000 dollar cam?

Ik was hoping to by the 950 but now... it depends from the writer from THIS review (and yes i am also testing the camcorder in the store...)

Please respond,

Jerryv

Have you ever used a 3ccd cam before? Color fidelity and picture quality differences between 1ccd cams and 3ccd cams are rather distinct. A minor loss in low light performance might be worth it to you in other ways. Experience will tell. Also, low light performances are determined by factors beyond the numerical lux rating that manufacturers assign to their camcorders, a rating that is not, btw, based on a scientific standard by which all manufacturers adhere. Hope this helps.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

Yes, i know the difference between 1 ccd or 3 ccd, en i also know that the lux is different by camcorder makers, but i am concerend that the JVC is realy better in low light.... and i is very close but still if i am bying a camcorder for such a lot of money then i want much better low light performance..
Also this camcorder is giving a 4 (!) for proffesionals.... the 1000 dollars panasonic 3ccd chip has a much higer point and does it much better is low light en in normal light is is very close.....
So why would anyone buy this cam? if a 1000 dollar panasonic is better...

Or maybay the writer of this review wil respond and tell us that the points he is giving are so low because he is comparing this cam to other 2000+ camcorders, and if h wil test this cam and the panasonic that the point than will changes.

So please help me, the reviews from the trv950 were verry good, so why is this cam not?????

Jerry

Does no one own the trv950 or pdx10?
And can tell me something and answer my quistions?

Tony, is this considered low light?


http://www.hmrge.ch/restaurant.jpg

Or do you mean whit not good in low light, places that are even more darker?

My main reason for wanting to buy this camera is for decent 16:9. If 16:9 is my main requirement, then is this still the camera for me?

Cheers
Paul

Overall, yes, I would say so. There are lesser cameras, either with smaller chips or only one chip, that seem to have reasonable 16:9 modes, but the PDX is still considered to be the better 16:9 camera (together with it's excellent XLR audio options, b/w vf, large lcd, and good looks :-]).
Pretty good price of $1850 at B&H last time I checked.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

Thanks for the info!

Do you have a link for B&H and do they ship internationally? I'm in Australia.

Thanks
Paul