Glad you asked!!! I have a SONY Handycam, and the viewfinder goes black and doesn’t record video after a year of use - almost a typical problem - see the thread

http://cnet.nytimes.com/5208-7594-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=51594&messageID=1723493

They’ll fix (after hoards of complaints threatened to burn down Sony HQ), but I wouldn’t go the SONY route again. Hope that helps - I enjoy your blog, I’m an SD ex-pat, born and raised in Chula Vista and I go to your site to walk down memory lane.

Best.

I’ve actually not had too many problems with my Sony HandyCam (TRV-25) over the last few years other than the Firewire port stopped working because I jammed in the cable too hard.

If you’re looking for a prosumer level camera, the Panasonic AG-DVX100 series cameras are very dependable and economic. This is what I used to shoot my movie, Yellow Lights (yellowlightsmovie.com).

This is so we can do some how-to video at work… my boss HAD Sony HandyCam that we were going to use, but the viewfinder went black and stopped working.

Anyone have any experience with Canon?

I have had no problems with either a TRV-9 (bought 1999 and still use) nor the venerable 3 chip version, the TRV-900 MiniDV tape camcorders.

Because of where I work, I’m interested in solid-state cameras that record discreet shots rather than long tape streams. Any suggestions there?

I’ve heard that the new mini-DVD disc recorders are lame. Their software is next to unusable,

Started to get interested in HDCAM or other 16:9 formats, but since most of my work is for the web, I’d rather keep travelling light for awhile until there’s a super compelling reason to upgrade everything — cam, decks, computers, harddrives, tripod, etc — appropriately.

execllent