Plenty of experiece with the DSR-250 (PAL).
If you only need SD 4:3 I'd recommend it for your application in a heartbeat. You get balanced audio in on the rear of the camera. You get 12V DC in on the industry standard 4 pin XLR connector. It attaches to the tripod using the VCT-14 quick release system. This is a real shoulder mount camera. It can record 4.5 hours without changing tapes.
This is basically the PD-150 rehoused with a different tape transport, need I say more to explain it's low light performance. In auto focus and exposure anyone can use it and not get into trouble.

Be aware if you need to go mobile it uses the V-Lock batteries. These are not cheap even if you buy the IDX ones but these come with the AB power tap so running an on camera light is a piece of cake.

Bob.

Thank you John and Bob. Now I have a good understanding of both these cameras. The video shooting company who is selling these cameras mentioned that they also have few other Sony HD cameras for sale.

I would like to buy HD since the technology is changing quickly. If I were to buy a HD camera, what would you recomand that in line with SD camera DSR-250?

"If I were to buy a HD camera, what would you recomand that in line with SD camera DSR-250?"

The S270 is pretty much Sony's HD version of the 250. Hope you've got deep pockets. It's a very capable camera and does add the option to change lenses. Our 270 has been out on an extended hire so I haven't had the chance to check it's low light capability.

The reality is though as you cram more pixels into the same sized sensor then low light capability declines. CMOS sensors reduce the noise in processing the signal from the detectors but the smaller photodiodes will always collect less photons, it's just a matter of physics. Digital noise reduction and all manner of fancy processing thanks to faster / cheaper silicon goes some way to address this but getting more photons in the first place always gives the best results.

The other way to approach this issue is to think about adding more light to the subject. My gut feeling is to get a HD camera with the same low light capability as the PD 150/170/250 etc you're looking at a very expensive camera with 2/3" chips and optics to match. That kind of money buys a lot of light and pays for a lot of electricity. Even replacing any incandescent light source with daylight light sources improves most cameras low light capabilities.

Bob.

Sadly, because of the laws of physics mentioned, you're not going to find an HD camera as good as an equivalent level SD camera in low light.

I love my Sony PDW-F335 XDCAM HD camcorder, but in low light, my couple generations older Sony DSR-300A easily beats it by a full stop.

I remember when I was talking to JVC at the NAB show a few years back when they had just introduced their HD gear. I asked them about the lack of low light capabilities, and they told me it was a choice between higher resolution and low light capabilities, and people wanted HD, so that's where they went, at the cost of low light capabilities.

Sadly, people have gotten used to less light use at weddings, and it is hard going back.

Hi Siby. My son and I did a full check out before we updated the video camera. My son is the Ambassador for Best Buy digital.. I checked out the high priced 3 chips Sonys ,,, Canon,,, Panasonic,,, and others.. We did full test side by side and went on ever website we could find. Looked at all the test such as noise and color noise,,,, LOW LIGHT SPECKS,,,,, everting.. I have shot Sony for years and I still love Sony,,,,,, BECAUSE..... ED glass,,, and plenty of controls. Some cameras SAY they can shoot in low light... We look at the true results.. Sony is the best. Some cameras just push up the gain for low light so much it gets a lot of noise.. Sony low light beats out the some of the high price video cameras for sure.. I could write pages on what my son and I have learned. To some it all up ,,,,,, My son bought the SONY HDR XR500B. It even shoots high speed frams to get the slow motion,,,, 250 frams in 3 seconds.. I shoots on a flash card and on to a 120 gig HD with a new self protect system .. I love the flash card. Zoom out and there is no fring,,,, super clear. AND,,,, you do not have to sell your home to buy it.. Even in a bright background the camera will detect a face and set the exposure for the face if you set it up to do that.. It also shoots digital Photographs at 10 pix while it is shoot video too.. The shots are not bad eather.. Of course if you realy want super quality high digital photographs then go with CANON. I shot Nikons for years when I shot for Jacques Cousteau. Yes I do love Nikon too.. CANON is what I shoot photographs with NOW,,,,, and SONY is what I shoot for video..

GLADDEN.

I've had a 250 for about six years, it is a very seviceable camera with great low light capabilities. it also shoots 16:9 cropped. The 270 is to the V7 as the 250 to the 170. For the money, you could get an EX-1 or EX-3 with much better low light capability and picture quality than the 270. Though you might have to spend some extra for SxS cards to get longer record capability.
Ralph

Nobody recommending Son's HVR-Z5U?

When it came out (earlier this year, I think), it was celebrated as the first HD camera having low-light capabilities close to those of the PD150/170.

I don't know that first-hand, though. We're still using a pair of PD170s, and haven't tried the HVR-Z5U mainly because we can't afford it yet. (Even though its price is a relatively modes $4100 or so.)