If you need a IR capable Mini DV unit here are 2 that have worked very well for me in the past 2 months......................
Cannon ZR-70
Samsung SCD 27
The Cannon shoots in IR with a slow shutter speed but is totally usable in the field,The Samsung is just as effective as a Sony unit.
Both of these units came from the factory with bad CCDs and are both covered by the manufacturer for shipping both ways and a free repair.
I spent 25.00 for the Cannon and had it fixed and have 2 Samsungs that I got for 40.00 each,all with cases tapes and extra large capacity batteries and sent them to the manufacturer and got them fixed.If you see either of these units on Craigslist or Ebay and the seller reports everything works except for a screwy screen on recording or playback from something recorded on it but not from a tape from another unit, It has a bad CCD and it can be fixed for free shipping included.Large capacity batts are on the low cost spectrum as far as camcorder batts go and I always run on batt power.Say you find one on CL and you have a good mini DV tape, play it in the unit you want to buy, If it is the CCD the unit will play back fine.I also have a Sharp Mini DV unit slaved to a Panasonic 3 CCD field camera head with a cable I made to convert the signal over to S-video with audio to record on mini DV and use the Sharp's viewfinder to see what I am shooting.3 CCDs and 14K worth of Japanese Glass optics make for some really spectacular event footage.The Head unit runs of off a lawnmower batt, and the Sharp has 2 lithium Ion Batts,Total cost 110.00 for all.
