Low Light Comparison To The VX2100 ?

Allen Campbell · September 14th, 2010, 07:05 PM

I guess you don't know how green a rookie I am. How can I check the run times?

Thanks.

Don Bloom · September 14th, 2010, 08:13 PM

Allan,
On the VX series you can't check times, that's strictly a function of an authorized Sony repair shop with the proper tool to do so. On the PD series though after turning the camera ON open the LCD and on the camera body there are a bunch of buttons one of them is the MENU button. Press it and use the SCROLL WHEEL to scroll to the bottom icon. Then PRESS the scroll wheel to highlight the icon, scroll to the bottom, it says HOURS, press the scroll wheel and there you are. The top number is OPERATION, the next is TAPE RUN, then DRUM RUN then THREADING OPERATIONS. All number except threading operations is multiplied by 10 so for instance if the OPERATION number read 70 then it has 700 hours of ON time. DRUM RUN reads 45 then it has 450 hours of drum run time. If say THREADING OPERATIONS read 513 then thats what it is meaning it threaded tape 513 time which really doesn't mean much to me. Operation, Drum run and Tape run to me are the most valuable and telling numbers.
HTHs

Allen Campbell · September 14th, 2010, 08:17 PM

Thanks, So I guess a 2 year MACK warranty is called for.

Jeff Harper · September 20th, 2010, 02:26 PM

No, the cams are SO inexpensive and so reliable...I can't see getting a warranty. I've seen PD150s for $750. I've bought two off of the classifieds here. I paid $850 for one two years ago that had barely been used. I turned around and sold it for after using it for two years. It was still in top notch condition, and the guy that bought it called me earlier this year to tell me how happy he is with it.

Allen Campbell · September 20th, 2010, 02:30 PM

Not if you have my luck. Heh!

Thanks

Allen Campbell · October 8th, 2010, 07:07 PM

Hi Guys,

I got my PD170 today and am very pleased. It seems to have low hours. Operation 51, Drum 28, Tape 19, Threading 41, all x 10 of course.
The kit is tailored to a PI's needs. A pelican case to protect it, one small and one largest sized "Sony" battery, a cigarette lighter charger, and the memory stick.
I now have the Date & Time no matter what the transfer method. I no longer have to S-Video out to a set top DVD-RW burner to have the code on the video. I just firewire to the PC and pull it off to Windows movie maker. OoooRah!
You can toss a blanket over the camera or close the iris and the code is still shown!

Moving through manual adjustments from iris, shutter speed, and gain has more freedom and cares less which one I picked 1st.
No color view finder but that's OK with me.

The tad bit lower LUX rating is a tad noticeable.

My old Sony CCD TRV-52 remote control works with it.

I took it out and this thing in the hands of a PI is deadly at night. My available shooting light conditions have doubled.

As a raw rookie video shooter if it were not for this group of folks here I would still be lost in the woods.

This is a class A group. there are no "Use the SEARCH" police here it seems. You guys have been great.

Oh..... the internal batteries are working to hold the settings during a battery change. For now.

Thanks.

Jeff Harper · October 8th, 2010, 11:13 PM

Congrats! This is a great forum, I completely agree with you!

September 14th, 2010, 07:05 PM	#31
Allen Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cartersville GA Posts: 132	I guess you don't know how green a rookie I am. How can I check the run times? Thanks. __________________ GAPI

September 14th, 2010, 08:13 PM	#32
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Allan, On the VX series you can't check times, that's strictly a function of an authorized Sony repair shop with the proper tool to do so. On the PD series though after turning the camera ON open the LCD and on the camera body there are a bunch of buttons one of them is the MENU button. Press it and use the SCROLL WHEEL to scroll to the bottom icon. Then PRESS the scroll wheel to highlight the icon, scroll to the bottom, it says HOURS, press the scroll wheel and there you are. The top number is OPERATION, the next is TAPE RUN, then DRUM RUN then THREADING OPERATIONS. All number except threading operations is multiplied by 10 so for instance if the OPERATION number read 70 then it has 700 hours of ON time. DRUM RUN reads 45 then it has 450 hours of drum run time. If say THREADING OPERATIONS read 513 then thats what it is meaning it threaded tape 513 time which really doesn't mean much to me. Operation, Drum run and Tape run to me are the most valuable and telling numbers. HTHs __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

September 14th, 2010, 08:17 PM	#33
Allen Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cartersville GA Posts: 132	Thanks, So I guess a 2 year MACK warranty is called for. __________________ GAPI

September 20th, 2010, 02:26 PM	#34
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	No, the cams are SO inexpensive and so reliable...I can't see getting a warranty. I've seen PD150s for $750. I've bought two off of the classifieds here. I paid $850 for one two years ago that had barely been used. I turned around and sold it for after using it for two years. It was still in top notch condition, and the guy that bought it called me earlier this year to tell me how happy he is with it. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

September 20th, 2010, 02:30 PM	#35
Allen Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cartersville GA Posts: 132	Not if you have my luck. Heh! Thanks __________________ GAPI

October 8th, 2010, 07:07 PM	#36
Allen Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cartersville GA Posts: 132	Got a PD-170. Very Pleased. Thanks Guys. Hi Guys, I got my PD170 today and am very pleased. It seems to have low hours. Operation 51, Drum 28, Tape 19, Threading 41, all x 10 of course. The kit is tailored to a PI's needs. A pelican case to protect it, one small and one largest sized "Sony" battery, a cigarette lighter charger, and the memory stick. I now have the Date & Time no matter what the transfer method. I no longer have to S-Video out to a set top DVD-RW burner to have the code on the video. I just firewire to the PC and pull it off to Windows movie maker. OoooRah! You can toss a blanket over the camera or close the iris and the code is still shown! Moving through manual adjustments from iris, shutter speed, and gain has more freedom and cares less which one I picked 1st. No color view finder but that's OK with me. The tad bit lower LUX rating is a tad noticeable. My old Sony CCD TRV-52 remote control works with it. I took it out and this thing in the hands of a PI is deadly at night. My available shooting light conditions have doubled. As a raw rookie video shooter if it were not for this group of folks here I would still be lost in the woods. This is a class A group. there are no "Use the SEARCH" police here it seems. You guys have been great. Oh..... the internal batteries are working to hold the settings during a battery change. For now. Thanks. __________________ GAPI

October 8th, 2010, 11:13 PM	#37
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Congrats! This is a great forum, I completely agree with you! __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."