Iris differences VX-2000/VX-2100/PD-150/PD-170 at DVinfo.net

Boyd Ostroff · August 31st, 2004, 04:09 PM

There seems to be a lot of confusion over what has been upgraded with the iris settings between these cameras. Rather than try to sort it all out, I just tried a quick test with my VX-2000. Following is a list of what the camera displayed in the viewfinder as I turned the exposure wheel. To help clear things up perhaps someone can repeat this exercise on a VX-2100, PD-170 and PD-150. That should put an end to all the conjecture...

VX-2000
=====
1. CLOSE
2. F11
3. F9.6
4. F8
5. F6.8
6. F5.6
7. F4.8
8. F4
9. F3.4
10. F2.8
11. F2.4
12. F2
13. OPEN
14. 3 dB
15. 6 dB
16. 9 dB
17. 12 dB
18. 15 dB
19. 18 dB

John Jay · September 2nd, 2004, 01:34 PM

the vx2100 has 21 clicks with settings 1-19 as above (zoom is wide)

clicks 20 & 21 dont do anything and are the same as click 19

Boyd Ostroff · September 2nd, 2004, 04:03 PM

Interesting. So if I understand you correctly, there is really no difference in how the iris works on the VX-2100, and it moves in the same noticeable jumps as the VX-2000. I wonder if the stepper motor in the PD-170 is actually different, or if this is just another case of Sony crippling the consumer version's firmware (as they did with the TRV-950 vs. PDX-10 16:9 mode)?

John Jay · September 2nd, 2004, 04:59 PM

Yes the iris works the same apart from the 2 dead clicks on the right.

I find the best strategy for shooting in unpredictable light conditions is custom preset AE all the way to the left (- 2stop?), backlight on and use auto exposure - this way is safe since you are always exposing for the subject/foreground

the rest of the time I use manual

Tom Hardwick · September 5th, 2004, 11:57 PM

I think you're right in your asssumption Boyd.

August 31st, 2004, 04:09 PM	#1
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Iris differences VX-2000/VX-2100/PD-150/PD-170 There seems to be a lot of confusion over what has been upgraded with the iris settings between these cameras. Rather than try to sort it all out, I just tried a quick test with my VX-2000. Following is a list of what the camera displayed in the viewfinder as I turned the exposure wheel. To help clear things up perhaps someone can repeat this exercise on a VX-2100, PD-170 and PD-150. That should put an end to all the conjecture... VX-2000 ===== 1. CLOSE 2. F11 3. F9.6 4. F8 5. F6.8 6. F5.6 7. F4.8 8. F4 9. F3.4 10. F2.8 11. F2.4 12. F2 13. OPEN 14. 3 dB 15. 6 dB 16. 9 dB 17. 12 dB 18. 15 dB 19. 18 dB

September 2nd, 2004, 01:34 PM	#2
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	the vx2100 has 21 clicks with settings 1-19 as above (zoom is wide) clicks 20 & 21 dont do anything and are the same as click 19 __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

September 2nd, 2004, 04:59 PM	#4
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	Yes the iris works the same apart from the 2 dead clicks on the right. I find the best strategy for shooting in unpredictable light conditions is custom preset AE all the way to the left (- 2stop?), backlight on and use auto exposure - this way is safe since you are always exposing for the subject/foreground the rest of the time I use manual __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

September 2nd, 2004, 04:03 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Interesting. So if I understand you correctly, there is really no difference in how the iris works on the VX-2100, and it moves in the same noticeable jumps as the VX-2000. I wonder if the stepper motor in the PD-170 is actually different, or if this is just another case of Sony crippling the consumer version's firmware (as they did with the TRV-950 vs. PDX-10 16:9 mode)?

September 5th, 2004, 11:57 PM	#5
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I think you're right in your asssumption Boyd.