VX2000 or PD-150?

[Zach Breton]

hey, i was wondering is there any big differance between the VX2000 and the PD-150? I know the PD-150 is a DVCAM and the VX2000 is a mini DV. Does that have to do with the quality of the tape?

[Frank Granovski]

The DVCAM format is more "robust," meaning it's less likely to get dropouts. Also, the PD150 has XLR sockets...meaning that you don't need a XLR adaptor.

[Don Bloom]

Actually the 150 is miniDV OR DVCAM. I've always used dv setting as I need the most time possible on a tape. I think the other big difference besides the XLR's is the ease of certain menu items. I think the manual settings are easier to get to on the 150 than the 2000 and don't forget the color. 2000=silver; 150=dark grey
WOW!

[Mike Rehmus]

If you make money with your camera, the differences in the 2 cameras, considering features and price, make the PD150 the best value.

That's just my personal opinion. But I've shot pro jobs with a VX-1000 and an XLR adapter and the problems far outweigh the price differnence between a 2000 and a 150.

DVCam is a bonus if you have to supply someone with source tapes that have 'real' timecode' on them. Otherwise DVCam mode is a waste of tape.

[Wayne Orr]

Here is a list of differences that may, or may not be complete.

Note: These differences are listed for informational purposes only. They are not meant to imply that one camera is better than the other.

Major Differences

Black and white hi-res viewfinder in PD150

XLR inputs in PD150

DVCAM record only available in PD150

Settable timecode only in PD150

Gun metal gray exterior on PD150

Other differences

1. Gain works different on VX2; camera will increase gain in manual setting. PD150 allows user to set gain.

2. PD150 allows separate Left/Right channel audio control, VX2000 audio control ganged together

3. VX2000 has "intelligent" hot shoe, PD150 does not.

4. VX2K has built in stereo mic. PD150 has mono mic, which can be recorded on different channels at different settings for back-up purposes.

5. Can do time/date stamp with PD150, not with VX2000

6. PD150 auto stand-by (after five minutes of not taping) just stops drum whereas VX2000 shuts everything down.

7. Can do logo insert (i.e. client's corporate logo) with PD150, not with VX2000.

8. VX2K has certain picture effects not found in PD150.

9. PD150 has Noise Reduction (NR), VX2K does not.

10. Something about audio signal display.

11. The VX2K will record in LP mode for extended record purposes. The PD150 will not.

12. The PD150 can record user bit information.

[Lou Bruno]

If I had to do it all over again, I would purchase the PD150 rather than my VX2000. I MISS the dual XLR audio inputs.



Just my thoughts------Lou Bruno

[Rick Spilman]

Like Mike I struggled with a VX1000 and a XLR adapter and I found it to be a real pain in the ass. As he said more diplomatically "the problems far outweigh the price difference." The XLR fittings on the PD150 are worth it.

The DVCAM capability is a minor issue but can make a difference. Most of the time I shoot DV. I once was shooting with anothe camerman and the ability to preset timecodes so we could more easily keep track of tapes really paid off.

The manual controls on the PD150 are not bad. I like the control I have especially in low light that you do not quite get with the VX2000.

Lastly and it seems silly but really isn't - I hate the silver finish on the VX2000. It just doesn't look like a serious camera. Depending on what you are using the camera for this may make no difference whatsoever or a lot.

I have no regrets spending the additional money for the PD150.

[Paul Tauger]

1. Gain works different on VX2; camera will increase gain in manual setting. PD150 allows user to set gain.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. If you're referring to audio gain, that can be controlled manually on the VX2000, though as you note below, the left and right channels are ganged together.

If you mean video gain, that is also manually controllable on the VX2000.

2. PD150 allows separate Left/Right channel audio control, VX2000 audio control ganged together

3. VX2000 has "intelligent" hot shoe, PD150 does not.

4. VX2K has built in stereo mic. PD150 has mono mic, which can be recorded on different channels at different settings for back-up purposes.

5. Can do time/date stamp with PD150, not with VX2000

If you mean recording the time and date supered over the image, you're right -- the VX2000 lacks this feature (a curious omission). However, time and date information is recorded as part of the miniDV format.

6. PD150 auto stand-by (after five minutes of not taping) just stops drum whereas VX2000 shuts everything down.

Of course, that's true only if there's a tape in the camera. If you want to use the camera as a video source and feed its signal to a mixer or other external processor, just leave the tape out and it will run continuously.

7. Can do logo insert (i.e. client's corporate logo) with PD150, not with VX2000.

8. VX2K has certain picture effects not found in PD150.

And I haven't a clue why they were included. Would anyone who spends $2,000 on a prosumer camera use its limited internal effects in lieu of the more extensive control of computer-based NLE?

9. PD150 has Noise Reduction (NR), VX2K does not.

Are you sure of that? This sounds like the old "audio hiss" controversy. From what I understand, that was a problem with both cameras, but was fixed for later production runs.

10. Something about audio signal display.

I'm not sure what you mean, but the VX2000 can display audio signal level.

11. The VX2K will record in LP mode for extended record purposes. The PD150 will not.

12. The PD150 can record user bit information.