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Welcome Back to the 
DV NEWS & RUMOR PAGE
Archives 3

NEW 2000 Concept Camcorder
What you see here is not "exactly" what you see
HERE...
Also read "Just In"  below Holiday Price list.

December 1999
End of an Era
HOLIDAY PRICE SCHEDULE
E-Mail Me for these products, their contacts & toll free phone numbers.
Please let me know if you are NTSC or PAL based. Only PAL with Analog Inputs are priced...

Product ID NTSC(USA)/PAL(Europe)	MSRP	chuckmeister price	price.PAL D/A.I&O	Remarks
LaptopVideoEditor Vaio PCG  "XG9" Wall Street Special Coming Very Soon.	$4,299.00  SpecialOrder  $3,999.00	$3,295.00  $2.999.00 $2,199.00	same   same   same	500Mhz,IEEE,28GB  500MHz, CD-RW!  500MHz, DVD, 14" DVD-RW !
DCR-PC100/E DCR-TRV1000/E EZ30U/DX100 AG-DV2000  XL-2/XL-2E EZ50U/DX-2000	$2,099.00 $2,699.00 $3,995.00 $3,995.00 $4,800.00 $2,999.00	$1,625.00 $1,999.00 $1,695.00 $1,999.00 $3,600.00   Not Yet!	3319 au  P.O.R. 2829 au 2980 au . . .	1m HAD 1 CCD 3CCD,Mega Chip 3CCD, Skin Tone! DV VCR - SP & LP Lenses/TFT/Mega  3CCD/Mega Chip
DCR-TRV10/10E  DCR-PC300/300E GL-1/XM-1	$1,699.00 $2,699.00 $2,699.00	$1,399.00 $1,999.00 $1,999.00	2619 au   P.O.R.  4000 au	Hot Shoe,A/D Input 3 CCD Mega Chip  3CCD, A/D Input
ELURA/MV-20 PV910 Ultura DCR-PC3/PC3E DVL-9700 GRD-VX7	$1,799.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00 $2,199.00 $1,995.00 $1,995.00	$1,299.00    $799.00    $799.00 $1,999.00  $1,295.00 $1,145.00	.No A/L In No A/L In  2770 au e-mail   e-mail e-mail	NTSC Analog In 18X/Sharp Image  Shoe, Optics, Stabilizer Zeiss, MemStk, A In   JVC Firewire  Flash Mem Stick
GV-D900 DVCR GVD1000 DVCR   DVMC-MS1   DVMC-DA2 JVC Dual DVS1 DR9 dual new	$2,099.00  $1,999.00     $899.00    $699.00  $3,199.00 $4,299.00	$1,499.00 $1,399.00    $499.00    $385.00  $2,899.00  $3,299.00	pass pass N/A N/A N/A N/A	Prtbl. w/5" LCD dual I/O  remote  Codec/MemStk Codec D/A I&O mini DV/S-VHS dual deck wLanc

Our Friends at Pioneer have reinvented the Wheel. Hold onto your
wallet, it's gold plated!    Hit Perry's link & read all about
  DVD-RW

Sony,  Canon and  Pana   will wait for their dealer 2000 new product
shows in First Quarter on new roll outs.          They lately have been
having little private shows off the convention floor to show the real
new products. Apple, Intel, IBM, JVC...  they all are doing this now.
Going to CES? THEN do not expct to see all there is to see...  HINT.

Heads-Up... we got the IBM 25GB HDD in.   If you have the 14"
chuckmeister Video Editing Laptop model you can fit two in along
with another 10GB.
If you bought the over sized 15" unit it will take only  One 25GB.
HERE         500 Pentium Thin Light weight units are in as well...

This "Just In"...  Yes there certainly WILL be a 1 GB Memory Stick
but,        the Concept Camera above will HAVE to be modified with
more than just a FireWire/iLink in order to work video.  However,
for the many of you that have F505s  or want it,  you may want to
know this... Audio will come into play big time at the 64MB level!

PC100 First
Owners Reports
AlohaTo All... Please note:
This page will take some time for some of you to down load
especially,    if you have not taken advantage of ANY of the
recent offers for free 500 MHz Wintel or Apple Computers
tied with Internet or phone service.  Just go ahead and start
 reading while your computer catches up,  which could take
 as long as 7 minutes just to get ALL the pictures & images...

Go HERE for Full Streaming Video Editing
Solution in a Laptop.

 NOVEMBER
1999
  Instead of mini DV tape...
Mini Disc MD!
I would not hold my breath as most competitors
here in Tokyo were not impressed, especially with
only a few minutes of video able to be recorded!

  It is November 1st and I have sad news to report on the computer front.
We now have over 14 computer companies announcing they have either
Firewire built in or Firewire 2-Go card or the Ratoc PC card. None of these
Laptops it seems have given my New York City TV production crews or motion
picture industry types,  real time error free or drop frame free streaming video.
These units will be alright for daddy and kids little league or daughter's recital;
but they won't hack weddings, corporate users or the real world of money making.
The chuckmeister unit unfortunately is still the only one "That Works!"  Including...

Two More Sony entries...
 Sony will announce at COMDEX and begin to ship
two very important changes to their Laptop line up.
They are the First to Feature the new Mobile 500MHz
Pentium III fast class Coppermine processors with the
  Windows 2000 Beta3, a new larger HDD with 18GB
replacing the 8.1 currently their largest, 256MB Ram, a
 DVD player on board a 6 pound 1.6" thin form factor
and also introduce their new CD-RW burner unit as well.
New XG9 13" XGA features a programmable jog dial &
the new F-390 has the 15" XGA super screen. Prices are
around $3,400 and $3,600 respectively. Posted 10/ 24th.
Warning
  Sony & I didn't say these unit world NOT drop frames!

OCTOBER
1999
PC100 Shipping!
 It is October 24th and THREE of the dealers on the list that
  I e-mailed you all, have started shipping PC100's TODAY!

It is now Friday 29th and 7 of the 8 leads I e-mailed you
have received their PC100. Told you they were in customs
last week and they would be in your hands this week. Now
go tell all those chat rooms THEY WERE ALL WRONG!
And remember, even Sony was not here for you either...
 
 

1st PAL PC100Shipments in Customs
Nov 3rd & deliveries November 5th!
YES... with both analog & digital in!!
info here
PC Richards got in a total of 20 for the entire chain!
Talk about scarce...
First Shipments of Sony DCR-PC100 are now taking
position orders. Over 6,000 of you who have e-mailed
me for first deliveries, Supplies are very short.
     $1625 NTSC for USA!
$2085 PAL with Analog In!

e-mail me or
click picture below for 4 page brochure

with the Metal Lens hood, 4MB mem stick, mem stick reader,
RS232 cable, CD Computer Capture software, standard "M"
series battery (same found on TRV10), "Hot" shoe, "0" LUX
with Night Shot, Laser Link IrDa, SXGA picture resolution.

OK, Same Goes for the Pana 3CCD Digicam
  $3995 for Only $1695 chuckmeister special
Pana has said that this is a Limited Time Offer...
EZ30u
package comes with Wide angle lens, filter kit & remote

A Special note on the Canon GL-1 deliveries... they are
running behind at the plant in trying to fill the USA demand
and to get the prices here, you HAVE to wait till a shipment
arrives from Canon distribution and not wait till they are
all cleared off the dealer shelves...

HOLIDAY PRICE SCHEDULE
E-Mail Me for these products, their contacts & toll free phone numbers.
Please let me know if you are NTSC or PAL based. Only PAL with Analog Inputs is listed...

Product ID	MSRP	chuckmeister price NTSC	price.PAL D/A.I&O	Remarks
chuckmeisterVideoEditor    Vaio  "Z" 505 Wall Street Special	$4,299.00  SpecialOrder  $3,999.00	$3,295.00  $2.999.00 $2,199.00	same   same   same	DVD,Firewire,60GB,  CD-Rom! 128MB DVD, 14"XGA,128
DCR-PC100/E DCR-TRV1000 AG-EZ30U/DX100 AG-DV2000  XL-1 AG-EZ50U / XL-2	$2,099.00 $2,699.00 $3,995.00 $3,995.00 $4,800.00 Late.1999	$1,625.00 $1,999.00 $1,695.00 $1,999.00 $3,600.00   Not Yet!	3800 au  P.O.R. 2829 au 2980 au . .	1m HAD 1 CCD Analog In/Mem Stick Best Image & color DV VCR - SP & LP InterchangeableLens  Skin Tone Feature
DCR-TRV10/10E  DCR-PC300/300E GL-1/ML-1	$1,699.00 $2,699.00 $2,699.00	$1,399.00 $1,999.00 $1,999.00	2619 au   P.O.R.  4000 au	Hot Shoe,A/D Input Mem Stick, 3 CCD  3 CCD, A/D Input
ELURA PV910 Ultura DCR-PC3/PC3E DVL-9500 GRDVM70u	$1,799.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00 $2,199.00 $1,995.00 $1,995.00	$1,299.00    $799.00    $799.00 $1,999.00  $1,295.00 $1,145.00	. . .  2770 au	Analog In/Sharp Image  18X Optical Zoom/ Shoe, Optics, Stabilizer Zesis, MemStk, Inputs JVC Firewire  A PC1 with Mem Stick
GVD900 DVCR GVD1000 DVCR   DVMC-MS1   DVMC-DA1 JVC Dual DVS1 Sony Dual D700  WV-D9,000 dual WV-D10k dual DR9 dual new	$2,099.00  $1,999.00     $899.00    $699.00  $3,199.00 $3,399.00 $3,599.00 $3,999.00 $4,299.00	$1,499.00 $1,399.00    $499.00    $385.00  $1,899.00  $2,199.00  $1,999.00  $2,499.00 $2,499.00		Prtbl. w/5" LCD dual I/O  remote  Codec w/MemStk Codec D/A I&O mini DV/S-VHS DV w/ VHS DV w/ S-VHS DV w/ S-VHS dual deck wLanc

I am HERE & Looking forward to seeing you
all at
Videomaker Expo
Sheraton, Meadow Lands NYC
Last Day Saturday Sept. 25th

Please join Matt York (Videomaker Founder) & I today...
 I'm located between JVC and Canon
NEW THIS YEAR...
Hands on the new improved GL-1 at the Canon Booth
Improved Model NOW Shipping!
Can change color temperature & focal Sharpness...
Has new Intelligent Audio circuit for AGC issues as well...
ALL 8 color pages of brochure has been here for two months.

Hands on the NEW Sony PC-100
Doubles from 330k to 690k Effective Pixels for professional results!
First Look
Uses TRV10 Battery, Intelli Hot Shoe, Movie Mode, true 16X9
Comes with Special Mem Stick Reader, RS232 Cable & Software CD!!
ALL 4 pages of official Sony USA English NTSC model is HERE.
 

Hands on the new Pana 3CCD PV-DV950
Now get Pana EZ30u version 3CCD Camcorder for
Amazing $1695 with Pana DV VCR AG-DV2000 at $1999 HERE.

JVC new shoulder mount 3CCD Interchangeable Lens
for $4,999 LIMITED TIME (due to climbing Yen)

My Thin Video Editing Laptop for either NTSC and PAL
being Demonstrated with full Screen, Full Motion, specs
HERE.

SEPTEMBER
And Thank You for visiting with me here in the islands.
This page may take awhile to do download, just start reading...

This is what I gathered from the Vegas show August 19th.
Big changes for the new models for the New Millennium.
Sony will replace the PC1 with the PC3 except in the USA.
We will get the new professional camera chip Hyper HAD
1 million CCD starting (again) with the PC line and then we
will migrate to the TRV or Traveler Line and finally the 3CCD
models TRV1000 replacing TRV900 and the Elusive VX2000!

 TRV10 will go to the TRV200 and the TRV900 to the TRV1000
and the PC100 to the 3 CCD DCR-PC300.  This will include the
new Memory Stick form factor without a dongle dangling (a la
TRV900). Zeiss lenses remain. New audio has been promised on
the 3CCD and that can migrate down to the 1 CCD line up.

This seems to have forced Canon to already adopt Analog inputs
and this will be quickly followed by Pana, Sharp and maybe JVC.

The memory chip business is going strong in Japan with Sony, JVC
and now Pana. Sharp & Canon are now predicted to follow with
the new XL-2 and NV-DX1000/EZ50u.  The Japan CES show this
November in Tokyo Bay will have all the new 2000 year models.

Canon will show, demonstrate and let show visitors have hands
on the new IMPROVED model of the GL-1...

JVC says they have a surprise for the $1999 3CCD price point
to match the new Sony TRV-1000 and Canon GL-1. The Canon
GL-1 is getting its make over and some features are being
updated and even corrected prior to production.  First GL-1's
are to be available 20th September. E-mail me for first dealers.

Street price for the new Mega Pixel DCR-PC100 is $1499, not bad!
Street Price for the Improved GL-1 is $2099 dropping to $1999......
Street Price for the new DCR-VX2000 is... maybe $4999 depending...
Street Price for the new thinner better GVD-1000 is $1499...
Street price for the new Canon XL-2 is about the same as VX2000...

XL-2, DCR-VX2000 and PV/NV2000 should all be seEn here
by January 1st and all three will have USA prices for me by
November 1st.  My PAL units with Analog and Digital Inputs
all working with a shipping date and street prices by December.

Interchangeable lenses, increase Audio control and multiple
INTERCHANGEABLE modules to go from mini DV to standard DV
will be some of the major year 2000 features. The change over
to Zeiss, Canon and Fujinon pro lenses will follow with these
new Super HAD type 1 Million Pixel CCD chips.

I forsee the following shake down and sorting out.
The Digital8 toys will be sub $500 street...
The 1CCD  mini DV cams will be about $999 street...
The first tier 3CCD palm size around $1999 List!!!!
The second tier mainstream Semi Pro 3CCD DV $3999 - $4999

About the G-4 Macs that come out Sept 1st... They may not
ship until October. The 16X9 screen is only 5 grand! Talk
about  Apple never being too cheap... The Laptop G-4 with the
new OS-X should be a contender and we will run reviews here...
NOTICE: Reports of problems with G4 Work Stations & Final Cut!
 

Hope this news is not coming too late and sorry it took
so long for me to get around to posting this.

Now back to that Mai Tai and hammock here at
the Royal Hawaiian Hotel....
your der islandmeister here
ALOHA 

 AUGUST!
3CCD Pana Still $1195
hurry!!!

Bad Boy'S of the Month CLUB...

Specs and details, double click picture.
Aloha from the sands of Waikiki
The current USA model DCR-PC1 has been replaced worldwide
by the DCR-PC3 which may arrive here 1st quarter Year 2000.
OR
maybe not here at all!!!
I say may as it may be out dated by then! At the WEVA show we
were briefed on the DCR-PC100 million pixel professional CCD
chip that we can expect to be in all camcorder models and eventually
brands with the consumer advent of high definition TV. Look for
this new technology in the new DCR-TRV200 and 3CCD models
DCR-TRV1000 and VX2000. This will increase the bar on all
models for sharpness, color saturation and detail definition.

And as Promised Here is Your  Pamela Poster
FIRST Look GL-1  Brochure

  Click Picture for ALL 8 Pages
&.
ULTURA BROCHURE

Pages One - Four

I really do not know how you people get through all this stuff I have put up here!
Story behind the new Pentium 600MHz and Celeron 500MHz... HERE.

PAL & NTSC Sony PC3 & PC100 with
ALL Inputs (Analog & Digital)
Factory Fresh w/Sony Guarantee...
SHIPPING 20th October!

Pana introduces their take on the new Sony PC3!

This be the Year 2000 new 1CCD Pana PV-C3
Specs linked from here.  Price is cheaper than Sony PC-3.
So, We now have 3 Flash memory card systems; Sony, JVC & Pana!
Who's next... Canon XL-2? Depends on the damn VX2000 ever getting here!!
Speaking of 3 CCD. The next year PC-300 will be world's smallest 3 CCD.
VX-2000 and Pana DJ200 and DX2000 should be rumored any time Novmber!
Pana has a couple of new DV VCR's for me to sneak peak this month!
Sony has replaced all 3 of their Double Decks with Year 2000 models...
e-mail me for US location.
New Prices 2 Hr Pana & 2 hr Sony mini DV Tape & 270 min Sony DV Tape
e-mail me & Stay Tuned...

Summer Prices on Some Hot Little Numbers...
Part DEUX!
E-Mail Me for these products, their contacts & toll free phone numbers.

Product ID	MSRP	chuckmeister price NTSC	price.PAL D/A.I&O	Remarks
chuckmeisterVideoEditor Vaio  "Z" 505 Wall Street Special	$4,299.00  SpecialOrder  $3,999.00	$2,895.00  $2.999.00 $2,199.00	same   same   same	DVD,Firewire,14GB,  CD-Rom! 128MB DVD, 14"XGA,128
DCR-PC100 DCR-TRV1000 AG-EZ30U/DX100 AG-DV2000  XL-1 AG-EZ50U / XL-2	$2,699.00 $2,699.00 $3,995.00 $3,995.00 $4,800.00 Late.1999	$1,699.00 $1,999.00 $1,695.00 $1,999.00 $3,600.00   Not Yet!	3800 au .  2829 au. . . .	3CCD, Mem. Stick Analog In/Mem Stick Best Image & color DV VCR - SP & LP InterchangeableLens  Skin Tone Feature
DCR-TRV10/10E  DCR-PC300/300E GL-1/XL-1	$1,699.00 $2,699.00 $2,699.00	$1,399.00 $1,999.00 $1,999.00	2619 au   P.O.R.   4000 au	Hot Shoe,A/D Input Mem Stick, 3 CCD  3 CCD, A/D Input
ELURA PV910 Ultura DCR-PC3/PC3E PC100/PC100E DVL-9500 GRDVM70u	$1,799.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00 $2,199.00 $1,899.00 $1,995.00 $1,995.00	$1,299.00    $799.00    $799.00 $1,999.00  $1,599.00 $1,295.00 $1,145.00	. . .  2825 au  2495 au	Analog In/Sharp Image  18X Optical Zoom/ Shoe, Optics, Stabilizer Zesis, MemStk, Inputs 1 million  HAD CCD JVC Firewire  A PC1 with Mem Stick
GVD900 DVCR GVD1000 DVCR   DVMC-MS1   DVMC-DA1 JVC Dual DVS1 Sony Dual D700  WV-D9,000 dual WV-D10k dual	$2,099.00 $1,999.00     $899.00    $699.00  $3,199.00 $3,399.00 $3,599.00 $3,999.00	$1,499.00 $1,399.00    $499.00    $385.00  $1,899.00  $2,199.00  $2,599.00  $3,199.00		Prtbl. w/5" LCD dual I/O  remote  Codec w/MemStk Codec D/A I&O mini DV/S-VHS DV w/ VHS DV w/ S-VHS DV w/ S-VHS

JULY
We have lots of breaking news coming this week end!
FIRST PD-100A Models Shipping... New Specs
FIRST USER REPORT OF SONY PC-3
Despite what anyone tells you,   we have been shipping
PC-3's for weeks with another shipment leaving today!
Specs now are going up at link sony.htm...

Breaking News!
Look at these camcorders closely...
do you see 3CCD's?   YOU WILL...
DCR-PC300 &GL-1coming before year's end!
For details & specs go to Sony & Canon...
AND this Saturday (24th): First Photo's & Specs!

Yes...                we still have PC Card with dual Firewires
Yes...                we still have 4 pin to 6 pin Firewire cable!
Yes...    we still have PAL Cams w/ DV & Analog Inputs!
 Yes.. we still have "chuckmeisterLaptop Video Editors"
Interested? Show me the Money!  Just kidding.

ALOHA
FROM PC-EXPO IN N. Y. C.

Thank You for visiting with me and my toys and watching the 14" & 15" portables in action with the new Intel
400MHz .19 wafer thin Coppermine Class chip. These are now shipping with full editing packages. E-mail Me.
Sony FLASH...
NEW PD & VX2000 News Here!!
New Firewire PC Card (w/4pin & 6pin) Here.
DVD-RW Has Arrived!

Sony DVD-RW was shown here at PCExpo with October Shipping Date!
Fits in your hand w/Firewire!!
If you can not make the show, I have a great tip & surprise for you.
You may want to read and I encourage you to buy
the new August
CAMCORDER   MAGAZINE
I am literally all over it.         From the cover banner on my little Vaio,
to making Laptops edit video, to convergence, Firewire and the future
of video. To see our credit in print... try the top of page 51 for starters!

June
BEHOLD the Rain of Products for the
new Millennia...
New 3CCD Prosumer Line for the Year 2000 should be here November 1999!
Stop the Presses
Pana 18x DV PV910 hits $799!
EZ30u 3CCD $1195 One Month Only...
Canon to Match... New Ultura also $799!
Just Look at my Summer Hot Little Price Chart below...

I warned all of you HERE TWO years ago...
NOW; 16th June 1999 DIVIX is DEAD!
"TOLD   YA"...

Celeron Processors were NOT designed
for EDIT Streaming Video.    NOW they Can!
Especially the new Merced 500MHz +

New Laptop PII 400   CAN, and is
Up-gradable to Coppermine 600MHz!

New Canon DV Camcorder for Year 2000
ULTURA... will replace failing Obtusa & Disfustusa!
Will somebody please shoot the computer spitting out these names..

DVMC-MS1 now available for
$499.00 plus shpg. & hdlg.
includes new Remote & Memory Stick!!
Memory Stick 128k Shown & 256k announced by Sony!

Videonics MXProDV with Firewire... Finally!

Sony Joins Pana 1 year later and
Rolls out 2 hour mini DV Tapewith IC!

OK...Let's Talk about all this stuff coming out...
VX2000, Laptops with Pentium 600,  DVMC-MS1, etc...
Hit this Link below

At over 500 e-mails a day, it is a wonder anything gets put up here!

Elura/PV1Vs PC3Vs GRDVM-70/DVX Vs C1...HERE!
TRV10 Vs DVL7/9500 Vs Canon FV1 Vs PV910...HERE!
TRV900 Vs EZ30 Vs XL-1 VsPD100...HERE soon!
HERE also soon!
XL-2 Vs VX-2000 Vs JVC DV500 Vs EZ50/DX500...

New PCG-L620 with 500MHz, 128MB, 13GB HDD
Two i.Link (4pin & A 6pin) IEEE1394 coming this Fall...LATE!

U.S. Source for Eye Trek Finally!...Here!

Source for Stereo 6 head PAL with NTSC

Multi-System VCR with 3"LCD TV
Take a sneak peek...HERE!

SPECIAL!
BOTH WV-D10,000 and WV-D9,000
SONY DUAL DECKS FOR $1,000 OFF CURRENT SELL PRICE!...
DVMC-MS1  with Memory Stick; First Time Anywhere...
ALL HERE NOW!

OK, All My Computer Video Editors or Wana-bee's...
The latest Vaio Firewire "Z", F-200 Series, XR Note & PictureBooks
...HERE!
BUT,
We Have A chuckmeister
Summer Special!
Found a Six Pound 1.6" Thin Laptop
14" XGA / DVD / 400MHz PII / 8MB VRam
and it can be UP-GRADED soon to...
Coppermine Pentium III 500MHz!!!
Has Up To 38GB of HDD storage & 384MB Ram... Optional!
56k LinkSys modem & Dual USB & YES, FIREWIRE!
All for under $7,000 or $5,000 or $4,000 or even
uh just ask me...HERE!

all THIS and More for the month of June...

Summer Prices on Some Hot Little Numbers
E-Mail Me for these prices, contacts & toll free phone numbers.

Product ID	MSRP	chuckmeister price	Remarks
VAIO  C1X        Z505     PCG-F290	$2,299.00      Special Order       $3,299.00	$2,495.00         $3.299.00        $2,999.00	All.haveDVEditing,        Firewire, CD-Rom!   DVD, 14/15"XGA
DCR-PC300 DCR-TRV900 AG-EZ30U AG-DV2000  XL-1 AG-EZ50U	$2,699.00 $2,699.00 $3,995.00 $3,995.00 $4,800.00 NOV.1999	Pending $1,999.00 $1,750.00 $1,750.00 $3,600.00  Not Yet!	3CCD, Mem. Stick Analog In/Mem Stick Best Image & color DV VCR - SP & LP Interchangeable Lens Skin Tone Feature
DCR-TRV10	$1,699.00	$1,399.00	Hot Shoe/Analog In/ Zeiss/Mem Stick
ELURA PV910 Ultura PC3 DVL-9500 GRDVM70u	$1,799.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00 $2,199.00 $1,995.00 $1,995.00	$1,299.00    $799.00    $799.00 POR  $1,295.00 $1,145.00	Analog In/Sharp Image  18X Optical Zoom/Price Shoe,  Optics, Stabilizer Zesis, MemStk, Inputs JVC Firewire  A PC1 with Mem Stick
GVD900 DVCR   DVMC-MS1 JVC Dual DVS1 Sony Dual D700  WV-D9,000 dual WV-D10k dual	$2,099.00    $899.00 $3,199.00 $3,399.00 $3,599.00 $3,999.00	$1,499.00        $499.00      $1,899.00      $2,199.00      $2,599.00      $3,199.00	Port. w/5" LCD  Codec w/MemStk mini DV/S-VHS DV w/ VHS DV w/ S-VHS DV w/ S-VHS

Wedding & Event Videographers Convention at
Bally's Casino Elite Booth 16 thru 19th August...
Hawaii from July 26th to September 26th
Videomaker at the Meadow Lands NYC in September...
DVExpo San Jose in October
InterBee "Japan CES"  in November

Thanks for Visiting the Air Show and your interest
in all my new toys... ie these goodies for the 1999 holidays!

VX-2000 w/ lenses left,  Mem Stick Codec center, PC-3 Zeiss w/ Mem Stick/Nite Shot/AnalogIn/touch screen/etc...

Here's 15" DVD, 4X CD-RW, Vaio "Z" and new F-200

My Laptop Video Cam was capturing my crowds. Here DV Raptor & Thin Speakers with GVD-900
Click the Airshow posters BELOW for close ups and more of my neat toys!

MAY
For all those of you who missed me @ NAB

You are hereby invited to a Free Armed Forces Day AirShow
Drag your reluctant Spouse and tell the kids it is like Disneyland with Noise!
Sat 15th May "Blue Angels" & Army "Golden Knights"
for the Delaware Valley (Philly to NYC) at Dover AFB
Free Admission, Program & Free Parking all day
(DAFB is only 20 minutes from I-95 on a 4 lane divided highway)
We are in the Main Exhibits Hanger Along With the Fuji Film Booth!

Click here for Tips on How to Take an Airshow Video
What to Bring, What to Wear and Where to Shoot....

Sunday 16th May "Thunderbirds" Washington DC all day
Andrews AFB Joint Service Open House Free, Free & Free Also
(AAFB is ONE minute from I-95 on the DC beltway on Maryland side)
Bring your DV camcorder and Edit hands-on our DV Laptops
there will be experts here and iLink cables to hook up your
Pana, JVC, Canon & Sony DV cams plus Free Battery Charging!
 

I'll be at SUNDAY's Airshow Andrews AFB!
We're Next to the Stealth Helicopter in Hanger #2
Look carefully, I'm the 47th from the right waving my chuckmeister hat. Took this with my Vaio Laptop...NOT!

Also on display will be the new TRV10, Elura & PV-DV950
We HAVE an AirShow Special from Sony!!!
AND YES, I will have my
Sony DVMC CODEC & my HUD "Eye Trek" Goggles up & running
on my PictureBook looking like Apple's "Lombard"
Also
I will have the Thin as Air Computer speakers that are the size,
shape and weight as a piece of Card board. . .
Do you need a source for 6pin to 4pin FireWire cables??... source is at the show...
I ALSO have the state-ot-the-art Quad speed CD-RW with 6 hour
battery, Firewire & is the size of two jewell cases stacked!!!!
That 's 4X by 4Xby 20X   . . .all simply amazing!

Thin As Air speaker left and Thin Is In Quad CD-RW writer right;
a 74 min CD can be written in 15min in a plane doing 400mph @ 35,000ft!!
Some of this has just got to be seen to be believed!
I will be posting scenes from the AirShow
as captured by my Laptop built-in Video Cam...

ViVa Las Vegas... It's NAB and so it's
APRIL!
Breaking News
SONY TRV10for $1399
Now!!!
OK, we NOW also have PAL TRV10 and PAL Digital8 with
ALL INPUTS Operating !! I am there will be NO PAL Codec!
I married Eye Trek to my DV Laptop
& created  a 'HUD' @ NAB!
That's military for Computer Heads Up Display!!

I was holding court all day from morning till...
well morning! This place never sleeps.    You'll see
Cyclops & DV Laptops Elura & TRV10, XLR adapters,
 Eye Trek, EZ50U & GVD-900 DigiCam head.

AND NOW About the NAB convention in Las Vegas
and all of you that came to meet me...

                       View from my Vaio PictureBook Laptop at NAB!

Spring Prices on Hot Numbers
E-Mail Me for these prices, contacts & toll free phone numbers.

Product ID	MSRP	chuckmeister price	Remarks
VAIO  C1X        Z505     PCG-F190	$2,299.00      Special Order       $3,299.00	P.O.R.          P.O.R.          P.O.R.	DV Editing Firewire               Laptops      DVD, 14.1"XGA
DCR-TRV900 AG-EZ30U AG-DV2000  XL-1 AG-EZ40U	$2,699.00 $3,995.00 $3,995.00 $4,800.00 August 1999	$2,077.00 $1,750.00 $1,750.00 $3,800.00  Not Yet!	Analog In/Mem Stick Best Image & color DV VCR Interchangeable Lens Skin Tone Feature
DCR-TRV10	$1,699.00	$1,399.00	Hot Shoe/Analog In/ Zeiss/Mem Stick
ELURA PV910 Vistusa PC1 DVL-9500 GRDVM70u	$1,799.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00 $2,199.00 $1,995.00 $1,995.00	$1,399.00 $999.00 $1,399.00 $1,499.00  $1,495.00 $1,145.00	Analog In/Sharp Image  18X Optical Zoom/Price Shoe,  Optics, Stabilizer Zesis, Shoe, Stabilizer JVC Firewire  A PC1 with Mem Stick!
GV-D900 DV VCR  DVMC Codec JVC Dual Deck Sony 2 Dual Decks	$2,099.00 $499.00 n/a n/a	$1,499.00 P.O.R. P.O.R. P.O.R.

NAB Highlights
Monday 19th April Sands Convention Center....

Pana and Sharp roll out NEW Camcorders to replace
PV910 and PD1.  I have pictures and specs this week!
And "Can You Believe This?" dept...
JVC is bringing still Another PC7 to market... the DVX7(GRDVM-70u)
And yes it has Firewire BUT also a Sony looking Memory Stick!!
(I got pictures, specs and tons of details here very soon)

Sony to have PC1 replacement with analog inputs late 1999!
TRV200 to replace TRV10 without bottom loading in early 2000!
DCR-VX2000 to have modular construction to include 5.5" screen!
(I know, we heard that before... but this time Sony says "NAB 2000!"
They also say that the TRV1000 is the low cost replacement for the VX1000!
Canon XL-2 no in 1999, Pana 3CCD Digicam could be Aug 99!
called PV-DV950 (same as Europe DX100)
 Wide Screen TV VCR with a DV deck to make Japan appearance November.
All Sony Laptops to have Memory Stick interface...
and K7 may beat PIII to 500MHz in Laptop market 1999!

Booth next to me has Free Computer when you get Internet!
Another booth here, the Y2K, says to change your VCR's to 1972 as your VCR will think it's 1900...
Apple will sneak preview their G4 and I have been tipped it's not a Laptop first!
OK... IBM Rolls out our HDD for Laptop editing Video...25GB for $489 Nov. 1999!
We are talking 7200rpm w/2MB cache, 9.0ms seek & 17.9MB/sec data transfer...
I will try and have with me at NAB a NEW micro DVD/CD player  with Firewire!!

WoW!  I'm Back from Hawaii so it must be ...
MARCH!!

SAY HELLO TO THE NEW Japan KING OF THE HILL...
Z505 & TRV10
Z505 does some Video Beautifully... will release in USA HERE.
I will have this and other Laptops with me at NAB for you to get some hands on experience!
They both not only share a new Firewire S200 which is faster, but they each have a slot
for 4MB to 64MB Memory Stick.  PII 366MHz, 12.1" XGA screen, 440DX chip set,
192MB SDRAM but the 6.2GB HDD is a Toshiba option only at the time of purchase,
Vaio's now is only .7" thick, 256k on die Cache and a 100Base-TX/10Base-T Modem!
Laptop is 3.3lbs; 10.7"X8.9"X.7" while the TRV10 is 1.7lbs; 2.7"X3.5"X6"
Let me know if my 4th grade cousin conversions are correct!  :-)

Here are some of my Meister Girls which are a  part of my Hard Working Island Video Crew...
Thanks Susan, Janeen, Sarah, TT, Karen, Peggy, Nancy, Linda, Coleen,  Marie & Everyone

Taken with my Trusty New C1 Vaio Laptop!
For the many of you that have e-mailed... If you
have not received a reply... its lost! Please Try again... Sorry

WHAT's NEW...
      1. Went to the 1999 Sony New products show... saw TRV10 & 8... Ten is great!
               No new DVCR's!  TRV900, PC1 and GVD-900 stay for 1999. No double deck!
            Sony Announced today in Tokyo NEW mini 120 DV tape wih 16k CM chip...
              2. Went to Pana new products show for 1999... PV910 is it and 80min mini DV tape.
                   No new camcorders, This means NO C1 or C3 for USA... but PAL Europe Does!
                     Pana Pro 3CCD EZ30U may get replaced at NAB and the AG-2000 DVCR stays.
            3. Elura from Canon beats out PC1... Elura has analog in and just as good picture!
                      4. JVC will not bring double deck to USA but new DVL7 is now DVL9500 with Firewire.
  5. Sharp PD Slimcams is still a novelty and competes with the above badly.
      6. Contact me for PV910 under $999 with 18X optical lens, also for source for
               Sony DV double deck WV10,000, also for source Sony double deck WV9,000.
                  7. Sony Codec is still going strong and will work with computer boards. No Eye Trek!
                 8. Vaio C1 PictureBook, 505Z or F-190 will NOT edit Full motion Video E-Mail Me.

Please Remember Special $1750 for Pana 3CCD and DV VCR ends April 31! ...maybe.

Gosh... and this is only Half of  the news this month!

Anyone seen January or February laying around here anywhere?

         DECEMBER
Merry Christmas from Tokyo!!
                         NEW SONY PCG-C1R ENHANCED EDITING LAPTOP
JAN 1999 USA RELEASE!
This Letter is going to take all weekend to put up... we have LOTS of News...
JVC has intro'd a new Hi-Res Camcorder pictures and specs...
JVC intros New Dual Deck DV/SVHS for 1999 HERE!
Sony's National Roll Out of the DVMC will be AFTER First of the Year
MY USA dealers DO have supplies Of  DVMC's
Please E-Mail me if you want one of these CODEC's.

New SONY Double Deck maybe NOT coming to USA; 
DV/VHS and I have a source at $1999  by March 
Notice I did NOT say S-VHS! 
PICTURES, Specifications, details HERE! 
How about 60 minute mini DV Tape for under FIVE bucks in 1999! 
Brand... Fuji 
The Pana DVD-Ram portable, Pana 120 mini DV tape, 
Eye Trek digital goggles, 
New FireWire Laptop from IBM! Apple G4!! and Toshiba 3 pounder 
ALL for -1999!!             
Camcorder Prices in November's Chart are STILL Good! 
XL-2, Digicam DX200/EZ40U & Sony DCR-VX2000 
will have to wait for NAB in April! 
Panasonic Editing DV Deck AG-2000 shipping @ $1895... 
Portable Pana DV deck like GVD-900 expected under glass Jan 8 at C.E.S. 
Hard to find accessories for PC1, TRV900 and underwater housings here... 
Brand New Laptop with Full Motion Streaming Video Editing! 
And it's only 
3lb,  inch thick, FireWire, 16 X 9 XGA Wide Screen 
and HAS A Video Camera in the lid 
EDIT Now ...Sony C1 Laptop   
specs HERE    order HERE  
 
Hit "Convergence"   to see
Actually Streaming Video 
On A Vaio Laptop! 

MORE GOOD STUFF AND NEWS HERE DEC 26 - 28TH...

             NOVEMBER...
I am now back after InterBee, DVExpo and now Comdex,
I am afraid there is not much to show...
no VX2000 (again!), nor XL-2,not even an expected EZ40U/DX200...
but AROUND HERE, hope  springs eternal!
Sony DVMC-DA1 Arrives!
For the many of you that were not even allowed to see the
                  brochure & specs... Front side     Back side
See, I told you I would take care of you guys!
P.S. Ignore the weight LISTED!
We now have inventories and Holiday posted prices on the
PC1, TRV9, XL-1, TRV900, GVD900 as well as accessories
and the Sony 2lb Firewire Laptop with 16 X 9 XGA wide screen,
USB and built-in Video camera...   e-mail me!

Product ID	MSRP	New Direct to You Delivered Price A/O November 1st
VAIO  C1	$3,500.00	$1,789.00	Firewire Laptop
DCR-TRV900	$2,699.00	$2,077.00	DSR-100 version $3,500.00!
DCR-TRV9	$1,599.00	$1,239.00
DCR-PC1	$1,899.00	$1,459.00
GV-D900 DV VCR	$2,099.00	$1,599.00	DSR-V10 version   $3,000.00!

October!
Sorry Gang, its been very hectic.
So much to report on when I get back to the states.
I have a picture and details on a new Pana mini DV Walkman
that will go head to head with the new Sony GVD900.
Still no 120 minute DV tapes on the horizon for USA MARKET
as they are STILL like hens teeth here in Tokyo.
Inventories will remain very low due to the dollar plunge
& Japan not wanting to raise prices hundreds of dollars on most DV equipment.
The Sony Codec is expected to hit the streets
here next week as are a bunch of new ultra thin light weight Laptops.
Some of you are experiencing an above normal rate of equipment defects.
To eliminate hum in a DV camcorder,
switch the ALC in the menu off and use an off boardor wireless mic.
TRV9 is suppose to be somewhat a noisy picture and audio,
but not to the point disrupting the on going recording
and with the XL-1 and TRV900 and to a lesser degree the Digicam
YOU should have none of this if operating in a normal set of circumstances.
More next week...
New Pana Three Chipper!

                   Above New DX200/PV950 Digicam   Above Current Digicam DX100/EZ30U
New F1.4 lens, 17X Optical, 5 hour Battery, RS232 port & New stabilizer!
Unit marries into new DV VCR AG-2000 Edit Deck with enhanced features...
Pana 1999 Series is HERE
first! Vaio C1 Laptop:16x9 screen, Firewire &Video Cam!
My pick for BEST duo: TRV900 & GVD900
But you might want to see the new DSR-PD100
Sony WILL announce in Nov.
a $500 Analog/DV signal converter box

DVMC-DA1 CODEC
here are your specs...
Firewire I/O port, Two Y/C S-video ports (In & Out)2 RCA Video analog ports
also   (In & Out) 4 Stereo Audio jacks left & right  (In & Out)
12 bit or 16 bit Audio compatibleA/C is 6 volts
Weight is TEN (10) ounces  5" X 2" X 3.5" deep
Videonics will NOT  have their Firewire equipped MXPro in 1998!
But with the 3 CODEC's, you'll have a DV Firewire MIXER!
New XL-1 Free Membership club @ 800 OK-CANON
Firewire PC Card (Sony CW-200) finally arrives!
PC-1 supplies (Batteries!) finally arrive stateside...
I now have a source forFirewire Laptops
Direct from Japan months before they are RELEASED here
& with US Warranty & FedEx delivery.
Just got my new Pana DVD-RAM for my Vaio 505... WOW!
And then comes along Olympus with Eye-Trek to take to DVExpo...
a  60" monitor in a pair of futuristic chrome eye glasses!
Camcorders and VCRs| including new Pana AG-DV2000, EZ50U and DCR-VX2000 :-)
I'm just a lil devil...MORE SOON...

September 1998
TRV900 / PC1  / Pana & Canon Too: are a shippin:
OK, TRV900 plays back PAL recorded tapes!
PC-1... Forget the Analog Inputs, it is not going to happen.
Sorry Pana: DV910 is DOA but C-1 (Sony PC1  look alike) is OK!
ditto Canon FV-1 Futusa and Elura.
Also:Take a peek at the new Trio Firewire's from Sony Vaio
JVC just about got the PC7 nailed down,
only about 13 more incarnations to go ought to do it!!
(They just decided to remove the Firewire again!)
3 New Sony DVCR's for 1999... WV-D 7 & 9 thousand dual decks !
Word on the streets,  here in Tokyo is Pana or Canon
will be in a race to break ranks and adopt a Sony feature:
Analog Inputs & PAL playback. My bet is on Canon!
I am also looking forward to a multi cam to appear
with full PAL &NTSC record & playback capability
with jog shuttle on the remote!
Mini DV tapes are back on the shelves in Japan,
so I expect to see moreprice reductions on tape.
Let me know if any of you see lower than $8.99!
Here Are Your FALLOfficial Prices
Product ID       Retail Price    New Direct to You Delivered Price A/O 1 Sept
MSP DCR-TRV900          $2699              $2077
DSR-100 version $3500!
MSP DCR-TRV9              $1599             $1239
MSP DCR-PC1                 $1899             $1459
MSP GV-D900 DV VCR   $2099              $1599
DSR-V10 version $2500! DHR-1000 & PC10 both stay at old price points...     sorry!!
3CCD Shoot Out
XL-1  vs  Digicam  vs  DCR-TRV900
More on the 1st of September... this was just an early edition!

Aloha Gang It's
August 1998!!
I would like to recognize a contributor to a lot of this info to the "chickenman!

" Sony    3CCDTRV900

World's FIRST:3 CCD with ANALOG IN, Floppy Computer Disc

Sony        1CCD DCR-PC1

Zeiss lens, smaller,

less expensive and better than PC10 .

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM...
Both units are suppose to play back  NTSC and PAL.
Does the PC1 have analog in? Japan specs: No..
The  US PC-1 specs say yes but first deliveries are sadly NO!
Gets Worse, we also can't get the PC1 to play in PAL!!
ONLY TRV900 CAN PLAY BACK PAL.
Sony USA is researching these discrepancies by Sept 1998..
AND these babies are Shipping
:AUGUST 1998!

TRV900
with floppy disk add on...
PC1
should have had S-video & Analog INPUTS!
BUT IT DOES NOT! Maybe the PC3
What is a PC3? I haven't a clue. Just heard it on the Ginza!
ALL Four sides of TRV900 spec brochure are at link!
DON'T Sell your TRV9 just Yet.
If it is an early model you may get rich!
TWO FireWire Laptops Have Arrived!! .
GVD-900 finally shipping!!
Comparison DSR-V10  with GVD-900 $1599!

ALSO; Anyone need 60 min DV tape under $10.00?
Pana 120 min(LP) mini DV Tape NOT coming to USA 1998
according to Pana USA! They say it will ruin your camcorder...
I will try & find a US importer, but it could run $$$ plus shipping...
This isn't easy!
Canon shows Vistura 16X Super Zoom w 2.8"LCD!

Pana showing a squooshed PC10 like unit.
NV-C1

Yo, Europe!
Non Euro Source for PAL with DV Inputs!
Factory Fresh & Factory Warranty & air shipped from Austrailia
by bonded authorized dealer!!
Skip down below at what one of you said after TRV9EN PAL arrived...
"A user's debriefing"

July 1998!

Happy Birthday to me...
Please download and PrintYOUR free 1999
"Pam Reminder"  Poster

Here's A site made possible through the Spirit of Aloha..."MONTANA"

Digital Matrix Test on Left, GVD-900 & 120 min Tape
OK my DV-jedi's, the pictures will blow up for your inspection and now the  fun begins.
We have on the left the Sony Dual Deck DV/S-VHS VCR & on  the right ye ole DHR-1000
DV VCR with an Analog TVCR in white in thecenter. On topof the D10k is the TRV9
with all 5 A & D cables pluged in.The 2 tapes are DV standard 180 min and XZ-210
(10 hr) S-VHS long play  tape.   On top of the DHR is the 3CCD Digicam with all 5
Analog & Digital cables pluged in.  Tapes in theback are all Japanese models of 180 S-VHS.
On top of the white TVCR monitor is another Digicam. In front center is the GVD-900
DVCR with Lanc, earphone & all 5 A & D cables shown.
The mini DV tape used is Pana 120 min in LP  which is called AY-DVM80E
and is extremely hard to find anywhere in Tokyo! It has the IC electric contacts
(because Pana's DV VCR AG-2000 will access cassette memory like Sony)and is a
ME tape giving excellent results in LP for Camera Original shooting! For you TRV9
owners and shoppers the TRV9 will take a DV signal in & out put an analog on Both the
S-video and the RCA.   IT will also take in an analog & output a digital. Remember
S-video will take precedence over RCA when both are an input signal (output:
everything works at once however). I took a digital signal out (live or playback
no difference) and changed it to analog & then changed it to digital & then back
to analog once more.
Unless I can be convinced otherwise the Sony DHR-1000 Can NOT recordin LP,
only play LP!BUT the GVD-900 CAN play and record in LP!!

"Where, How Much & for how Less 3CCD Digicam?" HERE!

Digicam with XLR & base plate on left & 35' Underwater&
All Weather Housing with built in microphone on the right!
Grim look in Center is free... sorry if my-a face break-a your monitor!

My
June 1998
Letter to all my readers...
I get well over 200, sometimes 250 e-mails a day.
A lot of you I have tried to help guide you through the mine field
of DV Hype and Heresy. I have received a lot of mail about the July
issue of Camcorder and in particular the articles of Mark Shapiro.
First, I actually think it is great!  No, I don'tagree with him a hundred
percent, but I do appreciate him writing the way hesees or experiences a
product, but I really appreciate it more his editor letting it get printed. But,
I want my readers who are new to this field to understandthis is only one
man's opinion which is why I did this web site. I get no pleasure of ripping or
nit picking a company nor its products. If it has a glaring omission that'll have
a bearing on the quality of the outcome of your video then I rather be wrong in
saying that, than to keep silent and smirk to my self "told you so."
I do not think the TRV9 or the Pana 3CCD is the world's greatest camcorder.
Yet! But, I do think the PC10 has one of the best optics for its price & category
but at the same time I have some issues (and Mark repeats them!) with its nose
mic and unique battery and an unbending viewfinder to name but a few. The new
PC-1 will answer a lot of these issues with a new Sony battery, a smaller form
factor, CM, better Zeiss lens, on board Lanc/mic and analog inputs. The XL-1 by
Canon when coupled with the EOS line is one of the best 3CCD units on the market
for the Prosumer if you can call six grand and more; prosumer.  The TRV9 like the
VX1000 has merits that go beyond its shortcomings. The 4 year old VX-1000 had
Firewire when not a single other camera on the market did!
But, the DCR-TRV900 Beats the VX-1000 in every category includio AUDIO!
Now... the TRV9 is the 1st Camcorder to have Analog & Digital inputs while the
TRV900 is the first 3CCD to have complete input control which means youare
able to both use
archive old format tapes and edit with them without  having to go out and buy a
DV VCR either $4200 DHR-1000 or $1500 GVD.

MAY 1998
EDITING mini DV
With the GVD-900 with its companion DSRM-E1
99 edit points/jog shuttle editor, it too will be ground breaking.  Although I do not
think $1700 for a VCR is just peachy, it is a lot better than the $4199 Sony DHR!
At least with  a TRV9 you can finally digitize all your analog tapes.  Rather than
just tear down a product like JVC's lack of imagination for 3 years, because the
Firewire was a Sony feature and they just would not "ever have it."
Then they bring out the DVL & only have the Firewire Output with NO Input despite
the protocol is simultaneously bi-directional,  is got to be just ludicrous. I personally
like it when everyone is making great units & it becomes a hard decision to choose
the right camcorder for your needs, especially at the prices we are talking about.
Some of the points Mark makes about the EZ30U are self serving & anadotal.  You
can't go around & say "why don't they make some good 3CCD camcorders for the
prosumer that we can afford"  (& I suppose he conviently forgot the MSRP of his
VX1000 was $4699 on intro and the XL-1 is not exactly bargain basement) We're
talking three chip camcorders here Mark and I believe you & I remember not too
long ago they ran the prosumer's 8 to 12 thousand smackeroos (and sometimes that
did NOT include the lens!) and now Pana brings out the FIRST small light weight 3
chipper to hit the market & you slam it for being unstable, audio presets are only
available by way of the menu, focus rings are missing some detentes, although it has
UV & ND8 filters, it does not have a contrast-reductionfilter" (Then BUY ONE!),
or you can only fade to white.   I'd rather have audio presets in the menu than not
at all which is the case and MY fades aredone in post so as to not ruin permanently
the original tape! My e-mailers have been telling me for months that when you change
the Digicam menu item #8 Record Mode from Normal to Frame Mode the $3000 Digi
will out perform the $5000 Digital Nikon in the picture quality to the computer and onto
bthe net! Now there is a comparison worth putting to the test and reporting on Mark!
To say the buyer would be better off with a discontinued PV710 which was replaced by the
PV810 is just not common sense when comparing 3CCD units to 1CCD. IF you are price
driven then buy a $399 Circuit City special close out and you will be economically happy
in the short run Mark.    Actually I think the Pana system of stabilizers are a better idea!
They work so awful you are forced to turn them Off!I have often said that the stabilizer is
either a feature or a gimmick depending onwhether you are the product representative
or a professional buyer. These built instabilizers are novelties that are not found on
professional gear. Use a tripod and be a professional. When it comes to hand held shots
use the SteadyCam and your videos will thank you for it & so will your audience...
believe me, I'll tell you, even if your friends won't!  The TRV10 and VX-2000   Sony with
the Zeiss lenses will some how eventually make it to market.  But, they are not here and
that is what we call vaporware. They were not here in 1996 for the first changeover &
every year since have miss intro dates.   It was almost seven years from L-2 to XL-1 &
there was a lot of loss of Canon market share.  Sony knows what it is going totake to be
against a chain saw cam like the EOS XL-1 system, the one pound wonder of the
Pana Digicam and the soon to be released docking JVC.
DCR-VX2000
However, Sony Corp offices in Osaka said it won't be until this coming Millennium 2000.
I believe them.  I also believe it will be a great unit but since so many of you need more than
one cam to do a shoot and you need it now and you can't wait another year,  choices have
to be made.    There're now over 150 of you with the XL-1 that are also using the DJ100
version of the EZ30U on top of a SteadyCam and doing just great.    All Total over 1500
DX100 & DJ100's are in customer hands July 1998! WHEW! Pontificating is very tiring,
I think I need a Pay Raise!

 APRIL 1998
Sony To Introduce NEW mini DV Tape
DVM120ME2Will Be Introduced Late 1999 if we are lucky...
80min. SP & 120min.
LP mini DV Pana AY-DVM80E
in very, very, very, very, very, very ... very short supply! E-mail me for sample.

Heard here in Tokyo that Canon is working on a
New Camcorder, only it looks an awful like the VX1000!!!

PAL USER DCR-TRV9EN
With Analog & Digital Inputs
Hi my chuckmeister,
here ;s your debriefing and my impressions from using the TRV9 PAL with Analog & Digital Inputs:
Today I picked up the TRV9E from the customs office. Had to do it myself,
because the stupid tax guys cannot read English.  Next time I will pretend to use
 DHL or UPS. They do  better & faster (although more expensive!)
Cost of the camera is:  AU$2539 = 2790.00 DM
 = US$ 1534 + shipping
AU$40     = 44.00 DM      = US$ 24     (cheap !) +import tax

= US$ 220 +VAT
552.01 DM         = US$ 303
TOTAL            3786 DM         = US$ 2081
This ain't;  cheap,  because we have veeeeery high taxes for cams with input capabilities
(14 % + 16% VAT). The tax guys knew pretty well that this cam has inputs!
Cams without inputs are only 4.6% (+16% VAT) .
The regular list price is 4000 DM ($2200) here in Germany,
the stores offer it for 3600 DM ($1980) andat a mail order store
you can get it for around 3300 DM ($1813). Camera came well protected from Camera Action in a big parcel,
shipping took about 8 days from Australia to Germany, from which it sat 2 days at the customs office.
Still it's fast ! Package included the TRV9E with standard equipment: remote,
small batt, bigger viewfinder. Instructionsin English and Russian.
Warranty I ordered was Australia & New Zealand, might be valid here in Germanytoo,
 but I hope I need not to find out ;-)I played around with the TRV9 for a day now and
I am a little disappointed. I am a very picky video person! THE video drum makes a terrible noise!
Even scenes with medium sound have that noise in the background.
I will have to bow to your judgement and use an external.The included battery is only good for max 30min.
I bought a bigger 4 hour battery (F750) for $100. It's only a medium with average running time,
but its big and heavy and WORKS! TRV9 does output analog (for TV) w
hen recording from Firewire,
 but not convert on-the-fly A/D to Firewire. I have to record to DV tape first and then capture it to disk.
This IS Different from your NTSC description.-picture quality under low light is poor.
Very grainy. Other cams like Panasonic Digicam perform much better.-built-in speaker is a joke.
Would be better w/o it. Or they should install a better one (there´s enough room,
I looked inside.) I use earphone. Only 1 connector for in-out. Separate in-out ports would have been useful.
Analog Supplied cables are of low quality (typical)! -LaserLink not included, its another $100 (more typical)!!
Keys on the cam are spread all over the place and some are too small.  I haven't;  found a proper white balance adjustment.
We had a cloudy day and white level was totally wrong. But hey, it's the first day and I had notenough time for testing.
Did I mention the head noise ?!? It really sucks......bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz all the time.
Chuckmeister, do you think this is because our PAL systems spins so much faster than NTSC?
  The Radius MotoDV card and software for the Mac works fine.  Plug-and-play, no instructions needed.
After all this, I can recommend ordering from your conection. Service is fast & they answered all my questions.
But I can only recommend the Sony TRV9 PAL  to people who REALLY need the analog-in feature.
Some of us others might want to choose the Panasonic Digicam instead (looks much cooler too).

l change cams very soon, especially when the other companies start offering analog-inputs.
Greetings, Big Thanks and blue sky mein chuckmeister!     Tobias

my Chuckmeister...
DV EDITING SUITE
I have a DV system, and after a few months I seem to have it workingnicely.  I thought that maybe your readers
might be interested.  There are good and bad features to the hardware I bought.I have a Pentium II-266 with 64mb ram.
For the hard drive system, I have a Promise FasTrak RAID 0/1 IDE/PCI card.  I have attached 26.4 gig Western Digital
UltraDMA hard drives, (This is my capture / rendering drive D:) and I have a standard 2.5 gig IDE as my program / booting C:
drive.  The FasTrak has 3 nice features for allowing UltraDMA drives as video drives.  first, the logical drive size is equal to the size
of both drives.  My D: partition is 12.4 gig.  Secondly, both drivesb write simultaneously.  And, lastly, Promise (who makes the drive)
states there is something called an Elevator Write method which seems to make writing to the drive quicker and more logical.  Set
the RAID controller up for Video applications, RAID level 0, and use the FasTrak driver v1.11 Beta 3 for Video.  Along with this, be
sure to go into the Ultratune program and set the bandwidth for the lowest possible setting.  I had problem to the highest possible setting
and it took too much bandwidth on the PCI bus from the 1394 card, and that resulted in spots in the video  when played out to the DV
devices.  I also have Miro 300 1394 DV card. It has plug ins for Premiere  4.2.  Plug-ins allow for premiere to output to the DV recorder.
I like the plug-in but was deceived by the marketing in that Ibelieved that I could have device control and frame accurate placement from
the plug in, and that is not the case.  only the capture / recording software that is included has device control and frame accuracy.  from
Premiere, I have to record to tape and use my DHR-1000 to insert to the proper frame from my trv-7.  Premiere 5.0 is not yet supported.
I found this out after I bought it.  (they promised backwards compat., but it did not work for this plug-in).  Generally, I am happy but like
I said, there have been problems. With the add-in, i tried in premiere to have a clip with a black &  white filter added and 2 color titles
with fade in and fade outs. This caused an error in the render and had to do a roundabout rener toan avi (clip and B&W filter) then add that
AVI to the construction  window and then add the titles.  That works, but is not perfect.So, I have had 2 months of trying to figure out why I
could not get good resolution or why something does not work, so after I figured it out, I decided to drop a note to hopefully help any others
who want computer DV.         your  e-mailer in the trenches "Dave"

Anyone Interested in S-Video to Composite Cable?       Contact Marketek
Anyone interested in DV/Pana/Sony Protocol converter?     call 800 826-3348
Anyone Interested in a Pana 5 pin to Sony LANC?                                Videonics
Anyone Interested in 120 minute mini DV Tape?                                Contact Me
Anyone Interested in 3,000 mAh battery for Pana camcorders?    PV-DBP215
e-maile Me
New Panasonic DV VCR Coming with BOTH Lanc & 5 pin!
$1,000 less than Sony!AG-2000 (US designation)     PV-DX10,000 Japan designation!!
Panasonic announced in APRIL in Osaka new
120 minute mini DV TAPE (120min in LP!!!)

 TRV9's ARE Now Shipping w/best USA $  ($1447)!!!
It's March 1998
and if you have already contacted me you are in and I have  Official Specs  here.
Now the BAD news.
My sources in Japan say their low light and image resolution are suffering
due to recent economic market conditions resulting in poor Q.C.!!

XLR Audio
for your DV cameras including EZ30U, DX100,
TRV9 & all Sonys HERE!

New SONY WALKMAN DVVCR  & Specs!

We have a D10k Club for new Sony & Pana DVCR & 3CCD Cam owners
D10,000 & EZ30U

1998 February's
Wedding Tip for New Digital Videographers
To get your sleeping wedding business in high gear and you up to speed in this new DV format,
here is a reader's TIP. Re-accomplish old tapes of a year or more of some of your favorite
bride's videos. Do about the first ten minutes as a sample of what you can now do,
Thanks to her business as a customer, Offer this new digital  editing process
for a special fee of (say 50 bucks or $500) depending on whether you are in the
hills or by the Hamptons!
Does 5 extra grand a month sound enough?

JANUARY 1998
OK Gang,  Spring has Sprung and I am here in Akihabara with Cherry Blossoms and NEW DV Stuff Everywhere.  I keep getting asked by "yuse guys" why am I still so hard on these manufacturer's. Because they do STUPID things. OK, you tell me why Pana decided to dump a perfectly good DV unit,  the 710 and build a new one even smaller, but now have the tape shove in and out from the bottom like the now defunct TRV7. At least Sony figured out this blunder by making the TRV9 load conventionally from the top side and hung on every bell and  whistle known to DV-dom!   It does not end there my DV-jedi's. You thought touchy fingerprint screen Sharp was going to be left out. OK, we'll skip them for "father they know not what they do!"     YES, read theMatrix, JVC DVL will only OUTPUT the DV signal!  What, you think they did that on purpose? Give me a break.  Ever since they could not figure out how to make a prosumer SVHS edit deck, they been lost forever in the wilderness.   Enough of this mine field you're suppose to buy into.    Let's see what's GOOD!  YES! the Pana 3CCD Digicam beat all comers. My web site is full of DV'ers who nowwant to unload their XL-1's and VX-1000's and get this miracle wonder handycam. It'snot perfect, but it sure kicks butt and beats what ever is in second place. Same goes for the 1CCD wonder the TRV9.   Bottom line, they produce EXQUISITE video.  Sharp, clear, beautiful color and great saturation. The Pana 3CCD is working out VERY well especially for

    Divers and underwater buffs.  I will try to go to bat for you all at NAB & get Pana to bring in their sardine can size 4 hour waist power battery and terrific new ABS underwater housing.    Panasonic says they have a new date for their VX5000 wireless DV VCR that has both 5pin and Lanc protocols.  Announcing in fall with holiday delivery. The Sony Gold Dream Machine aka WV-D10k will NOT be exported ANYWHERE, as I have often said. Yes, they are being marketed here byenterprising DV-philes (e-mail me).  The Sony pocket DV VCR is slated for world-wide premier in the USA this month.   Sony does not even tell their home market of this  unit's existene!  What you see at my site is what there is

Yes,  Sony, Pana & others have been known to send people to my site for further info and pics! The professionals will have a ball at NAB. There you can pay more for some of the toys we already have. Only it is explained with real fancy brochures & multi syllable words. Hmmm! The GVD-900 mini DV deck in DVCam will feature a lipstick camera. One cam head will actually zoom. Of course this unit is over double the GVD-900 price.  But, hey you pros are rich!  Besides all the commissioned salesmen told me DVCam is better, otherwise they would be out of a job!!   I believe the term here is "cool-aid" andaccording to the complaints and letters in Videography, someone is taking a bath  and it ain't the manufacturers guys and gals!  I'm only kidding Pana & Sony.I mean 28 grand for a laptop field editor is a steal and so is $4200 for a plastic lens VX1000 and DSR-200.     OOPs! Is anyone out there reading this stuff? See you all at NAB which stands for "Not Another Bash?" ..
LIVE FROM NAB it's: "Boys and Their Toys"  Time
Sony has another 30 day delay (MAY)
for the release for the DCR-TRV9

"Chuckmeister- The official word regarding the release of
MXPro it's SHIPPING!No DV Firewire
But will only have two buses for DV ports and that at years end!
The SRP is still planned to be $1799. "
OK, I'm Finished here and it's on back over to Tokyo -
See You All Back Here by May!

World's First Pocket DV VCR Sony GVD-900
MSRP $1999! Call Me for $1777!!!!DSR-V10, DSR-70,
DSR-200A, DSR-300,  DRV-100 at NAB!
December 1997 News
Sony made a statement that in effect says No More Zeiss Lens units at this time PERIOD! Pana will debut the 3CCD Digicam
but at $3995 (VX1000 prices) at the NAB show above, without the neat all weather sports pak and deliveries can be expected
to be VERY slow.Although Pana DVCR may be shown at the show in prototype, deliveries will be delayed.Canon wants to show
this year a 3CCD Obtusa for almost same price as the 1 CCD. Sony can bring to market today if they wanted to, two more DVCR's.
OK, they ARE sure! Both DV tape and Camcorders are still in short supply this past week in Japanfor all brands. Sony
dual deck WV-D10,000 will NOT be exported. However ...we do have a source!
Look for a whole slew of new Sony DVCams & DVCR's at NAB.
All this is coming to you from Osaka & Tokyo; not the USA offices of these corp's!

  1997  October
1CCD   DV  View Camcorder Matrix
Sony DCR-TRV9/10
Canon Obtusa
DCR-PC10
Sharp VL-PD1U
JVC GR-DVL
Pana PV-DV710 are all at the
LINK

1997 September
DV VCR MATRIX
LINK
Sony WV-D10,000 DV/S-VHS Dual Editing Deck
Panasonic AJ-DV10,000 DV Master with LANC & 5 pin
Sony GVD-900 DV Walkman portable DV VCR
JVC 2piece  Cam Head and portadeck DV VCR
Sony DHR-1000 Original DV VCR Edit Deck
Third Party DV VCR with Sony as OEM under $2k !!

1997 August
3CCD DV CAMCORDERS
MATRIX
Panasonic  PV-DV2000 (AG-EZ30U)
Sony DCR-VX2000 & Sony DSR-500
Sharp VL-DH4000
Canon XL-1

JULY 1997
WOW!
First Firewire PC Card!
for your Computer or Laptop from...Yup, SONY!
MXPro: Delivery, Shipping and Price Statement
XL-1 Customers
Your Report Is In & So Is Your Future
My humble recommendation is to wait till any bugs that may appear
have all been worked out. This is ONE complicated cam !

JUNE 1997 News
 Dear Chuckmeister....Inquiring minds JUSTwant to know!
DV!"Questions"
To DV or not to DV.
Best Price/Best Place/Best...
What should I be aware of buying into DV?
I am going into DV what should I look at first?
Will I save on getting the Sony SC100 or CanonZR?
Which is better, The JVC GRV-DVL or the Sony DCR-PC10?
Which Viewcam you think is Best: Sharp, Sony, Panasonic or JVC?
Do you recommend the Panasonic PV-DV710 or the Sony DCR-TRV10?
Is there a shortage of DV tapes coming soon and which ones are affected?
Can you tell me anything about the new Zeiss Lens DV's DCR-PC10 &TRV10?
What do you think of the new Canon DV still camera/video camera/video recorder?
Which DV unit works best for underwater, or sky diving, or racing or even white water?
Should I wait for the Canon XL-1, Panasonic DJ100 or Sony VX-2000 for a 3CCD Camcorder?
What's your recommendation  for editing DVCR; Sony WV-D10000, Panasonic AG-DV2000 or JVC dual deck?
I heard I can e-mail you for a source of the still unavailable 3CCD Digicam that won '98 Japan CamcorderHELP!

MAY 1997 News
 Pana will show 3CCD AG-EZ30U
at NAB this spring!
Promise…
I know I have said that for 7 months now… it's not my fault!
First Zeiss lens Sony's arrive in the States. Price & Place at...
chuckmeister@supervideo.com

April 1997 News
We now have our line-up of 5 different companies having our long awaited
under $1,000 DV camcorder by Christmas 1998.   They All will have Firewire,
View screen, view finder, stabilizerand 1 CCD chip.JVC FINALLY brought
their Firewire DV (OUT ONLY) unit and don't ask me why, maybe they like shooting
themselvesin the foot and will abandon the hard to sell "I" shape  camera for a
more traditional camcorder shape. The JVC GR-DVL is thesmallest camera I have
seen with a 4" swivel view screen. Sharphas also abandon their unprotected and
exposed view screenthat never had a viewfinder and has joined the Sony led band
wagon with a fold out twisting side mounted 4" view screen with Firewire and
'get this: "touch screen features" such as zoom, focus or back lighting.  All you do is
rub your greasy fingers onwhich is dumber or dumbest; this or the old Canon eye control!
It is now possible to conclude that Sony and Canon feeling the home market crunch
from a bunch of virtual clones will relgate  their strip-down models (SC100 & ZR)  as
'low-ball' entry levelunits in the sub-sub thousand dollar price to around $700 street
price  point and let the new  TRV10/PC10  with the Carl Zeiss compete with the above
clones.   The only non conforming model of the bunch is the Canon MV-1 (aka Optusa)
which is now is at  the same price point as the other four. The Canon progressive scan
CCD chips have now a following despite their notorious low light problems with out any
gain up feature.    JVC DVLand the award  winning 3CCD Digicam DJ100/EZ30U uses
the same technology.The Big News is, however, is not about camcorders and it is from
the Big Guy on the block: Sony. The DV VCR WV-D10,000! The  world's 1st double deck
DV VCR & S-VHS VCR combo. Record in either direction and to/from any format source.
Put both inthe record mode and make a DV & a S-VHS (VHS ok) duplicate. It is over-all a
smaller machine but the same weight as the DV  VCR DHR-1000 and comes in a stylish
gold tone cabinet insteadof the standard black.  It's shorter in height than the DHR-1000
(about the same size as the EVS-7000 Hi8 unit) and will be on the local Japanese market
for about $3700.00 MSRP retail. And now: .The Bad News is... availability. In other
words do not hold yourbreath.

The shortage that was predictedhere last August came sooner, will last longer and will even
get worse! In fact the DV tapes are Very hard to find here in Japan, & in Tokyo and even in
Akihabara electronic district! They are already being rationed to Camcorderbuyers here and
last month have begun to reduced the allotment from 5 down to 3per DV camera customer.
The #1 camcorder pick for 1998 by the Japanese video trade association is the Panasonic
3CCD DJ100 (aka DX100, EZ30U, PV-DV2000). It beat out the Canon XL-1 & Sony Zeiss
lens DV  camcorders, including the new Sharp & JVC units mentioned above. But, due to the
worsening Asian economic mess and the financial crisis, not only are Korean Hyundai car
assembly linesshut down, but, so are laptop computers, DVD components & yes  even DV
equipment in Japan is experiencing shortages. Meaning NO quantity Zeiss  units for the US
anytime soon, & NO DV tape either on the Japanese local market or the export market
for that matter!  Do not expect things to get better overnight;  thisis a regional mess
and the U.S. & the rest of the world can't do much about it except wait it out and hope
for the best, I guess, from Tokyo's Akihabara district this is yours truly, thechuckmeister
wishing all the Best in the New Year.
I will return in time for NAB in Vegas.
I will post all these new items at the top of each
DV company Home~Pages withmy observations,
specifications and YES lots of pictures... .

MARCH 1997 News
. .SO YOU WANT COMPOSITE AND S-VIDEO AND FIREWIRE
INPUTS AND OUTPUTS TO DO EDITING...
WELL, SOMEONE HEARD YOU AT COMDEX!
Also,    you asked what do I think of CASABLANCA...Excellent & Expensive! Read.

February 1997 News
Editors note: I have been asked recently by many of the manufacturers you see here, & even by some of my readers, why do I seem to come down so hard on these products? Because, G** D*** IT, it's our money! If you want to read goody  2 shoe stories of video, especially DV video products, buy a rag mag and hear everything the companies want you to hear and read articles that are transparent commercials with little or no critical comparisons or field testing like you find in auto or computer magazines. The video magazines fear of offending the majorsis sickening and does the consumer little good in making an informed choice. I know there is no Holy Grail Camcorder and maybe there never will be one, but if there ever is to be one...we, me or someone has to hold their feet to the fire till that glorious day gets here! Now I will tell you a dirty little secret, many of the diatribes you read here are from none other than the manufacture representatives both here and in Ole JAPAN!But I also be the first to commend as well, PROMISE; Like the Pana 3CCD Digicam! OH YES, I almost forgot who I am.  I 'm a national beta tester and have been for over 30 years, it is my job not to find out what is right with a product that has yet to go on the market, but just the opposite. For those who want to know more...   http://www.supervideo.com/founder.htmPhoto of the chuckmeister & Bertel of DV Firewire Central & LINKS to everywhere here.

January 1997 News
. Top of page is the new Panasonic DV-10,000 DVCR
with Firewire, Wireless Control Panel, LANC, S-video  & Composite video and full audio Inputs&Outputs
for over 1,000 dollars less than the Sony DHR-1000..
Middle row is the consumer AG-EZ30U 3CCD DV Camcorder with Firewire, 2.5" view screen,
180,000 high-res viewfinder, access shoe and with belt worn 6hr battery (center),
F1.6 (43 mm) lens at 38-436mm..Bottom of picture is the new DCR-PC10 (left) & its Samsung look-alike VP-D1 (right),
both will sellby spring below the $2,000 price point.  JVC GR-DVXProcenter, this week began to start appearing
in military exchanges in the states for  $1899, only withoutFirewire!
I'm  predicting our first DV units under $1,000 will appear in 1998
(Sony SC-100, Pana EZ20U, JVC DVL, Canon DV-10 & Sharp DC-3). .
PC10 features Laser Link, DNR & 180k HiRes screen & FP-300 4hr batt.,
but has the first Very High Quality Lens by manufacturer Carl Zeiss of Germany at 12X (150X`digital) zoom .
Watch Out Canon!!.
Watch here for NEW VX-2000 3CCD Sony with Zeiss Lens and off board waist battery pack
and yes a New DCR-TRV10 also with Zeiss Lens optics and increased pixel viewfinder and view screen
as well! TRV10, PC10, VX-2000 will be on sony.htm page but will have links from all over this page,
Stay Tuned This page and pictures above posted Sunday 5 October 1997, so you saw it here
first ole gang of mine. Any of this Interesting folks?    :-)

I'M BAAACK!!
It's Wednesday
December 3, 1996
and lots of DV news to report that's late breaking and very important. I was more impressed by what I did NOT see at Comdex. InterBee in Tokyoprove to be the most interesting. Sony had a mockup of a no model number DVCR that was a Video Walkman. A 6 inch screen with analog input/outputs. It looks like the newHi8 TVCR GV-A700 only lighter and a lot thinner. The new dual deck S-VHS/DV VCRis pictured here at the sony.htm page is expected in February for Europe. JVC Firewireintro was heralded but not seen. Hope springs eternal. The Carl Zeiss Lens Line will beon the entire high end DV line both prosumer and consumer for Sony. The PC10 has now been introduced to Hong Kong, England and Europe during November and December '97.The Panasonic DV VCR is now suppose to make it's American debut at CES first week January 1998. We will only see the Sony three DV VCR's and even the Samsung maketheir appearance when the Panasonic is for sale. One of the Sony units is for OEM's likeCanon, Kyocera, Ricoh and others wishing to fill out a DV line.  The coming shortage ofDV tapes is here, and in Europe, and in Asia and even in Japan! TOLD YA! I will startadding pictures this week to my link sites and come back to this page to give you thoseLINKs as they are constructed. Some, like the VX-2000 and DSR-500 may take longer, please be patient. Anyone interested in buying directly from Asia, we have a contact & address.This is PAL, English UNIT and DV ports work in both directions.Panasonic's double barrel shot is the 3CCD mini cam that will fit in the PALM of your hand and has Firewire, color viewfinder hi resolution view screen and not to mention a  very slick light weight waist belt battery that runs for hours; The prosumer model is the EZ30U and consumer is DV2000  $3999(aka DJ100),  while the DVCR VX-5000 with a wireless control panel, 4 channel audio select & will be priced about $2700 or less!

Gooten-Tag from Dusseldorf, Germany
October 1996
& Fall brings New DV Goodies
#1. Panasonic introduces DVCR-5000 and DX-100 3CCD BOTH under $4,000
#2. JVC is loosing tremendous home market share this past year, DVX included
#3. Samsung shows    VP-D1 (exact clone of Sony PC10 DV Handycam) $1749
#4. Sharp brings out VL-PD1 w/Firewire $1900  & DX-10S VGA w/flash mem
#5. Sony shows DCR-SC100 w/Firewire, 3" screen & Laserlink $1599 (no VF)
#6. Canon WILL bring out an interchangeable unit, but at almost five grand!
#7. Check MXPro below again for additional  info & rear panel socket layout

SEPT. 10, 1996
New Equipment arrivals Expected in next Few Days
We should see new DV camcorders from Canon (3CCD),
Panasonic DV Digicam 3CCD JVC (Surprise), Sharp (Firewire),
Kyocera (2 units), plus our second DVCR VX-5000& from SAMSUNG
both DV units are now on hold and may now NOT come to USA!

August 15, 1996
LET'S MOVE ON OVER TO CANON'OPTURA' as in Obtuse-a        :-)
Canon's features mention digital IC (that's Integrated Circuit not Inter Changeable Lenses),
two inch view screen (now isn't that special!), and can take photo mode for import
into your computer...WOW! This is REALLY different isn't it?    Looks like another
'I' series go no-where, do-nothing-new typical Canon miss step.  I can not wait to see
what they will do with the pro series 3 CCD's...now I AM sick! All the  pictures and
HYPE are at Bob's page 10 in the October cover story Camcorder Mag. A 3 CCD
and Interchangeable Model with lenses looks now like Christmas...'97!
nOne Glimmer of Hope and It Was Not the 15th...
Videonics previewed its new DV A/V Mixer theMXProDV today!

(1) Power (2) S-Video In (3) C-Video In (4) L-R Audio In (5) Preview (6) S-Video Out (7) Composite Video Out
(8) L-R Audio Out (9) GPI /Firewire InterfacePHOTO,
Price, specifications, connections, details and release date at MY Videonics link above.
MXPro will weigh Four pounds and is about 16 X 10 X 3 inches & 2nd Q 1998 shippingYou Saw It Here First Folks!

  Why its
APRIL 1st 1996
Already! State of the Art Camcorder Arrives!
3 CCD, Dual FIREWIRE, S-Video IN, 4hr batt, Adjustable 4 Ch Audio,
VL Interchangeable Lenses4" External

3CCD DV Camcorder $1999.00!*
This was intended as a joke,
but THANKS to Panasonic. Sony & Canon
this maybe a Reality late next year!

* TOLD YOU IT'S APRIL "FIRST" you fool!

FEBRUARY 1996
SONY VX-9000 Will Not & Can NOT Be Released
To USA Market!
Told you the optics were inferior at that price point.
Wait to you see what the VX-2000 will look & cost...
You are going to want a recall or a recount on your old DV!

IT's January First!
1996
Watch here Friday 15th. for a sneak peek of all the new
Canon FireWire mini DV cams!!  :-)
Only one camera at a time for release...Sorry No xL -I's till X-mas!

  IT'S FRIDAY
JULY 25th 1995
& I am back on the East Coast... AAAARGH!!
Canon is coming out with a whole line of DV camcorders
for both consumer as well as professional. The teasers you
will find at Canon sites in England, Hawaii, Honk Kong, Singapore,
Tokyo as well as Jamesburg N.J. will go on for more than a month! TOLD YOU!
Canon has a real role to play & it's not asjust another DV Handycam
with view screens.   Due to the quality of DV, both tape & the camera section
need not be reinvented, what is needed is Very highquality lenses which
Canon has a world wide reputation that's well established.I'm afraid we
might not see the VL system carried forward. It's also possible that the 3 CCD
professional model may have at first a fixed lens similar to that of the Sony VX-1000.
The only way I see that changing is if Panasonic & Sony and others come out with
better optics and maybe real low prices for their next 3CCD units. Of course
Added to this equation is the knowledge that Sony itself

  June 1995
Can we all say Lens WARS!!

May 1995...
Attention!!
FOR A HISTORY OF DV GO HERE... Canon Link
TO CHANGE DV PORTS FOR PAL CAMS
so theywill take a DV input signal... .Do Go Here!.

ALOHA YOU ALL...its
April 22, 1995
I am sending this from the sands of Waikiki and I amjust having a terrible time here concentrating on my laptop keyboard instead of the Wahines with what they are passing off as bathing suits. Are they small or WHAT? Canon Maybe will launch their L series DV units or what I havebeen calling L-4 and L-5 out during 1997, but late!We will have to just wait and see. Bets are this non Hi8 Clone will be  more than just another DV 3CCD type with15X Canon Optics & RC Time Code! --------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 3, 1995
What about the ECM-HM1 Sony Mic with a reeled cord?
Neat and very practical. You may not find this written anywhere but here folks!
This answers the microphone problem for ALL DV units!
DV has digital audio (PCM, actually a form of DAT)
and all microphones onboard DV cams are inadequate
as they pick up motor noise, humdrum hum!,
any breeze & other who knows what, that you do not want.
This Sony accessory sits atop your hot-shoe and is a mic
that's set for the dynamics of digital audio, will come apart
& is a 5 foot reel-type wired mic to be used for on camera or
off board recording.  It Works just great!
While we are here...TGV-7 brings TV channels
to you on the PC-10/TRV-9.
How about a MIXER that has DV sockets along with S-Video, BNC & RCA?
Videonics would likely like to move quickly in this direction, but they may get
beaten out by a Sima or someone like them whose price will be in the hundreds
and not a thousand plus something. HOWEVER class, we have a new word,
can we all say CONVERGENCE? Our friends over on the computer side of
the house are the engine pulling our video caboose.
NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!
Soon, Laptops with 500mHz processors, 13 and 14 inches of DIGITALscreen
(up to now only CD's and computers were the only digital products you & I could
afford to go out and buy off the shelf) 100 GB of storage, Read/Writable variations
of CD's and prices under TWO thousand dollarsare fast in our future...because...
  they will have DV sockets, Memphis, Rhapsody & others, they will lure us with
power that SkywalkerSound and ILM have now. It's a Poppler's "4th Wave"
and there is a no stopping it. Even my technically 'video' web site is getting
more & morequestions from the computer surfer, even though I am running at
an all time record high of video traffic surfers. From the 'Book of Daniel',

Videographers...
The hand writing is on the Wall.  It's now...
December 1994

BEWARE! Analog is dead".
In other words TIME to unload all your analog cams,
VCR's & the rest...    while you still can.

Question for today...
Know anyone shooting 3/4 inch or VHS professionally?
Didn't think so...

That will be Hi8 & SVHS within the next 12 to 18 months,
maybe even sooner!
DVD will be consumers replacement for VHS,
DVD-R will be computers replacement for floppies
and CD's and DV will be a mixed bag for event,
high end consumer and prosumer DVCAM and DVPRO
will be professionally priced (5 to 20 thousand)
Digital TV will replace everything analog with LCD monitors
for all the above groups Solid State Memory Digital Cams 
will be broadcast exclusive
(i.e. TV stations)
Any violation of the above will send that company or CEO
to 'Video Purgatory!'
CLASS DISMISSED.
****************************************************
November 25th 1995
Happy Thanksgiving
this coming Summer ...
5 companies will have DV viewcams under AND they will be Under $2,000!
MAYBE, with DV input/outputs; 4 inch view screens, Time Code, Lithium
batteries, and hopefully some  FIREWIRE Ports !
Sony TRV-7, Pana PV-DV710,  JVC DVL, Sharp PD1  & Canon MV-1.
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Year 1991 - 1995 Many Archives
Were Lost during the Millennium 
Switch-over & could not be 
recovered! Sorry...  

ALOHA YOU ALL...its
October 21, 1991
My Opening Day News Letter
Well...All You Web Surfers and Weekend Videographer Wana-bees who have
been crying for me to get off my duff and start telling the rest of the world what is
happening with A/V. Here I am on this thing of a web or whatever, www or WWW
In future reports here I will lead with the date & add new items at the top to make
it easier to follow. YES, I will stress my concept of a Studio-In-A-Suitcase that was
on the cover of Camcorder's Holiday Issue cover. I will also have my air show teams
here as well as my funny heavy clunky (my wife calls it) notebook computer as well.
 Here goes for Winter (November) 1991... There will be
a Canon single chip L series and a Pro 3 CCD unit and it might be if were lucky
and been 'good,'    seen in our life time!     How Mucho? is quite another story.
Judging from all the holes Canon has shot itself in the foot these many years,
we may have to take out a second mortgage... sorry. More later as this develops.

All Right...
so who messed up my counter that was here?