Simultaneous VF and LCD?
 

Does the 170 allow you to have the VF and LCD on at the same time?

Yes, that is one of the changes between the 150 and the 170. The 150 vf would only activate wen the LCD panel was open if the panel was flipped forward or stowed in the body with the panel out. The 170 should allow you to select both.

Mike: That is a real gem of information regarding the PD-150 which I've never heard before. As soon as I read this I grabbed my PDX-10 and - sure enough - it behaves the same way. When you rotate the LCD forward and/or snap it shut facing out the viewfinder also becomes active.

Cool, I never knew that! :-)

FWIW, I just tried this on my VX-2000 and it does the same thing. Now I'm not sure how I can use this, but it's cool to keep learning things :-)

I can tell you I use flipped and pushed into the body it to keep the director off my viewfinder and to avoid, whenever possible, dragging the Sony monitor into the field.

It also works very well when you need all the space possible in front of the camera. You can push it right up against the wall.

The other use I have for it is when I shoot out of a moving vehicle. I can hold the camera much steadier across my body than with the lens pointed to the front. I hold it at both ends with a hand and then can move the camera up and down, keeping it parallel to the world, with both arms.

Want to have some fun with the camera? Set the shutter speed to around 1/4 second or a bit lower and have someone drive you down the street. Point the camera out the side window,using the LCD as the finder.

If someone, like a motorcycle rider paces you, that person (and bike) will stay reasonably in focus but the background will stream like a bunch of multi-colored ribbons. Then you can generate slomo in your editor and it looks dreamy.

Try it at night with store windows and traffic.