It all comes down to this: The industry is offering a much higher quality picture to both consumers and to content providers. To both, It will mean another large investment in hardware and software and a change in workflow. It's simply a matter of getting on board today or somewhere down the road. Either way, you'll take a financial hit and you'll have to learn new ways to deal with the hi-def stream. The hi-def industry has left you absolutely no choice in the matter. Staying with SD is NOT a choice because it leaves you behind and isolates you from the mainstream. Whether all this is good or bad is irrelevant, it's just the way it is. Get ready to open your wallets. Get ready to run up large electricity bills while your computer runs into the wee hours rendering this stuff. Have a nice day. :-)

I'm with you Johnny; I bought the Sony FX1 because somebody gave me 50%
Of the purchase price for my 7 years old Canon XL1, still very good mind you. But I figured 50% for a 7 year old camera is not bad so I jumped.
Glad I did, the FX1 is a marvellous camera.

I would like to ask DSE what he means with (it's NOT AT ALL the same as shooting SD). Could you please elaborate a bit on that?
Eric

I'm with you Johnny; I bought the Sony FX1 because somebody gave me 50%
Of the purchase price for my 7 years old Canon XL1, still very good mind you. But I figured 50% for a 7 year old camera is not bad so I jumped.
Glad I did, the FX1 is a marvellous camera.

I would like to ask DSE what he means with (it's NOT AT ALL the same as shooting SD). Could you please elaborate a bit on that?
Eric

A question from one who is working on a much lower level
than you guys here.
I´m mostly shooting amateurmusic events with 2 cameras
and a DAT for audio.
I have a Dig 8 and Pana 400 and would like to change the Dig 8 for
a better dv cam.
FX1 and alike is not an option for me.
I was just going to buy Canon XM2 when I read this interesting thread and got frustrated.
My question is when it comes to low end HDV cams
as Sony HDR-HC1E (one chip 6 mm)
Is it really an alternativ to Canon XM2 (3 1/3 CCD)
-almost the same price?
I´m often working in bad light conditions!
Thanks for any answer.
Aje

If you're working in low light see if the budget will stretch to a PD170 or a VX2100. The HC1 is not a stellar performer in that area.

However just how low light are you talking about?
If the performances are in front of an audience then I suspect the light levels aren't that low. This is different to say a typical wedding reception where light levels can get down to candlelight.

If that's the case and given that your other camera is 16:9 capable then the HC1 might be a good choice or why not another 400, I hear they're going very cheap at the moment.

Bob.