I can tell you right now that I am regretting dumping my DVX-100P for a Canon XH-A1 on many profound levels. That said, it appears that HDV just generally sucks for low and apparently what I used to refer to upper mid light levels.
I also used to use a GL2 which was nice but not great.
Disclaimer: This camera is new to me and may require heavy manual adjust to do decent low light.
Bottom line for your question. Only bad thing about 100P which I think was corrected later is that it was TERRIBLE in bright light. How odd is that? Made me look like a superstar shooting events in Auto w/manual exposure. Beautiful skin tones. Unsurpassed really.
I miss the DVX audio limiter that makes it very difficult to overdrive your lines even in manual level mode. If you overdrive it “auto-limits.” I don’t think Canon has this but the manual is extensive so maybe I’ll get there in a week or 2. TOO BUSY WORKING TO FIDDLE AROUND MYSELF.
Sony is also known to bee good for ease of use. Just check Discovery channel who uses it almost exclusively.
Good luck. You can’t beat the Panny and the prices should be quite low.
S.
Todd Roush
Dreamscape Digital Media
Panny DVX-100’s but changing so Sony or Cannon HDV soon.