best HD camcorder for low light?

[BuckO]

Considering a long production hand held extemporaneous style documentary--won't be able to light anything and was wondering which of the smaller cameras (Panasonic AG HVX200A perhaps?) is best in low light?
dave

[Jerry_R]

None are really very good. The HMC40 is OK. You really have only two choices:
Go with a large sensor video camera the EX1/3 and HPX500 being about the cheapest. OR go with a HDSLR like the 7D (fully pimped out one); yes that's Robert Rodriguez behind the franken cam. Expect to spend big bucks to get a functional video camera though and consider a vest type camera stabilizer unless you are going for the Blair Witch shaky cam look.

[BuckO]

thanks jerry!

[Mark G]

EX1R ...

My Sony Z5 is pretty good as well for a cam with 1/3" chips. Have not compared to a Pany. A lot depends on how "low" the light will actually be (what other stray light sources may be present) and what the nature of the project is and your tolerance for noise vs budget is.

Mark G

[ConsumerDV]

Do your research yourself, google.com is just one click away. Don't rely on just one man's opinion.

According to my own googling (I haven't used these cameras besides the V1) the ranking of "smaller" pro looks something like this:

1) 3-chippers from Panasonic (200/170/150), Sony EX.

2) A1/H1/G1, Z5/Z7

3) FX7/V1 and HMC40/41/45 suck in low light.

[sanityfilms]

the hvx200a is supposed to be pretty good with lowlight now.