I agree completely. Using a tree arm it is 10X better to have a LCD screen. 95% of the time you are videoing with the camera nowhere close to your head/eye. The quality of the Canon cameras just cant compare the the Sonys in my opinion. Plus, the HD cameras are getting more and more affordable every day. Have you seen the LCD on the Sony V1U? Its huge and crystal clear! I think you can pick on up for around 4...

I hear what you guys are saying, but the used Panasonics and Sonys are over $1000 more than the used Canons with fewer accessories. HD isn't even a consideration since it is so new and not a necessity for what I'm looking to do.

The point you bring up about the self hunt/video and LCD monitor makes sense, especially when using a camera arm because you can't exactly lean out over the tree to keep your eye in the eye piece and not get busted. Would this be an option for the XL1?



That would be something you could add on for self hunts.

Not sure what that is, but i do know that you can purchase external LCD screens for the XLs. I think they are pricy though...

Trust me, go with the PD-170

Mike, I really like the Sonys, my mini-cam is a Sony and it's great, but the lowest priced used ones are all $2400 and up. I can't swing that and get accessories for it if I hope to stay married.

Check this out:

http://lcd4video.com/index.html

7" screen for under $200. It would be nice for reviewing footage in the field too.

I actually considered that before I bought my last camera.............A buddy had an XL1s for sale and I figured with an external monitor I could make it work..........the more i thought on it the worse the idea became. First off if it is raining you have no way to cover themonitor and still use it, second it's bulky how will you transport it back and forth from the tree without scratching it up or possibly breaking it, third, if you are going to add any shoe mount accesories where will you put the monitor?

The new Panasonic DVX100b models have come down in price and can be purchased for $2350 at reputable places, on ebay they should be going for far less, if they are not people are paying too much for them..........the DVX100p used to retail for $3500, but since the discontinuation of the DVc30 Panasonic slashed the price of the camera.That is another model to look for ,the DVC30, it uses 1/4" 3ccd has a 16x optical zoom and has manual controls similiar to the DVX100..........the only problem is they are no longer made, but if you can find one with low hours on it you should be able to get it for less than$1500 and it would be a great starter camera.

I see what you guys mean about the screens for tree arms, to a degree anyways. We don't use tree arms ourselves, but use shoulder mounts, so I don't have that experience.

I think lungbuster gave the good advice...starting out pick up a smaller pro-sumer and go with it. A GL-2, Sony VX2000 or 2100, or similar. Those you can pick up for say 12-1500 used with a warantee from B&H Photo and will be more than fine. All the talk about upgrading, best audio, etc is all great technical talk, but certainly not necessary. Just look at the tv shows out there and you will see that many of those shows are not paying much attention to top quality on the video and audio, LOL. Like Mr. Primos says...it ain't Hollywood.

We stay with those type cams for our bowfishing because they give us the needed mobility and light weight for filming out of the boat all day/night, and we have spit out some outstanding video (if I do say so myself...).

BTW, we will have a GL-2 for sale in a month or so.

lungbuster, thanks for the input. I'll look around for that model too. From what you've said the Panasonics are WAAAYYY overpriced on Ebay. DVX100As and Bs for well over $2000 used.

I thought about what you had said with the monitor as well, and sinceI would mainly be using it for self-hunts it shouldn't be too much of a problem if I go that route, because I likely won't use it in the rain, and some of the smaller ones I found come with a nice padded case that would fit in the bag.

I should have an idea of what I'm going to decide to do in a few days because I want to get a camera soon to practice with for turkey season, which will be practice for archery season.

Keep hitting me with the ideas, I'm like a sponge soaking in all this good information. Thanks!