I’m in a pinch fellas. I’ve been a freelance news stringer for a number of years, and make a decent living doing it. When I started, I was able to get by with using a Sony DSR-250 with only a 1/3" CCD DVCAM. I sold that, and purchased a Panasonic HMC-80 HD AVCHD camera. Now before we go any further, many of you might be scratching your head as to why I went with the AVCHD. Well, I simply cant afford a camera over $3,000. Yes, I make a decent living, but due to personal reasons, and a disabled person in the household, I just cant afford it.

With all of that said, the HMC-80 just isnt cutting it when it comes to stringing at night, in low light situations. More often then not, I am having to open the shutter to 15 and crank the db up to 18db or higher! Thus creating a noisy picture, non fluid pans, and slow mo figures walking, etc. Shooting with it during the day is top notch however. My only other concern with the Pani is the construction and lack of true shoulder weight feel.

The bottom line is this. 1/3" CCD DV cams shoot better then the AVCHD does in low light. The DV cams may be archaic, but they are coming down in price and shoot a hell of a lot better in the dark. Do you think it is worth turning back the clock in this instance and ditching the cheap HD for a once pro line DV?

For the record, I would only consider a camera that shoots in 16:9, shoulder mount, and has a 1/2" censor of larger. The JVC GY-DV700WU comes to mind, and I can pick one up any day of the week for under $2,000. I will keep the HD Pani for day shoots. And boy will I miss non linear tapeless editing if I go back to DV!

Thanks for your advice.