Pd 170 Vf at DVinfo.net

Will Boggs · December 7th, 2003, 11:15 AM

Does anyone know if the new large VF will retro fit to the PD 150? It looks like it will. All I have seen are pics off the web so I could be dead wrong but again, it looks like the old small VF on the 150 slides off and the new large VF could slide right down in place. If it will work, does anyone know where a good place to buy it is? I really love the large VF on my DVX100 and am thinking the new large sony VF will be just as nice.

Thanks,

Will Boggs

Don Bloom · December 7th, 2003, 05:12 PM

My VF doesn't slide off and I would really hate to go playing around with very small very sensitive electrical components.

Your choice but me, I would futz with it.

Don

Lou Bruno · December 8th, 2003, 07:05 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Don Bloom : My VF doesn't slide off and I would really hate to go playing around with very small very sensitive electrical components.

Your choice but me, I would futz with it.

Don -->>>

Under the VF there should be a small electrical type tape.
If you peel this off, then the VF will slide on the rails.

The VX2000 has it and maybe the 2100 does as well.
This is how to clean the VF.

Don Bloom · December 8th, 2003, 07:53 PM

He Lou,
I learn something new everyday, still don't think I'll play with though ;-)
Don

Boyd Ostroff · December 8th, 2003, 09:02 PM

From what I read somewhere, it sounded as though the VX-2100 and PD-170 had the same viewfinder LCD's but just used a larger magnifier lens. I think the VF pixel count was the same as the previous models. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Lou Bruno · December 9th, 2003, 04:42 PM

Hi Don,

I take it off all the time. That is the best way to clean the viewfinder. The tape only covers the small release latch.
I peel it back half way and remove the viewfinder. I then slip the VF off the rails and after cleaning back on again. The tape is always sticky. I bet the VF's on the VX2100 will fit the VX2000. Same with the PD 170 and the PD 150.

Lou Bruno · December 9th, 2003, 04:44 PM

Boyd,

The PD170. like the PD 150 has a B&W VF. The VX series has a color VF. The PD's are sharper. All SONY did was use a magnifier to expand the VF screen to the human eye.

Boyd Ostroff · December 9th, 2003, 05:20 PM

Understood... sorry I didn't state that well, I meant that both new models use the same VF LCD's as their respective older cousins. I know that the PD-150 BW finder is sharper than the VX-2000, so maybe there's some advantage to magnifying it more?

But I have a VX-2000 and its color viewfinder is really horrible IMO. I can see no advantage to making it into a bigger blurry image! It seems that Sony is just playing "me too" and trying to make the viewfinder appear more like the DVX-100 from the outside.

Don Bloom · December 9th, 2003, 07:18 PM

Lou,
You know in the 2+ years with 2 150's I never looked or paid any attention to that peice of tape. Now that you explained it I just peeled it back and cleaned my VF's for the first time since I've had these cams. All I can say is, I CAN SEE, I CAN SEE; Good Golly Miss Molly, I CAN SEE!!!! :-)
I promise I'll try to control myself but it is nice to see clearly again.

Thanks Lou as always appreciate the help.
Don

December 7th, 2003, 11:15 AM	#1
Will Boggs Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ada, Oklahoma Posts: 92	Pd 170 Vf Does anyone know if the new large VF will retro fit to the PD 150? It looks like it will. All I have seen are pics off the web so I could be dead wrong but again, it looks like the old small VF on the 150 slides off and the new large VF could slide right down in place. If it will work, does anyone know where a good place to buy it is? I really love the large VF on my DVX100 and am thinking the new large sony VF will be just as nice. Thanks, Will Boggs

December 8th, 2003, 07:05 PM	#3
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	<<<-- Originally posted by Don Bloom : My VF doesn't slide off and I would really hate to go playing around with very small very sensitive electrical components. Your choice but me, I would futz with it. Don -->>> Under the VF there should be a small electrical type tape. If you peel this off, then the VF will slide on the rails. The VX2000 has it and maybe the 2100 does as well. This is how to clean the VF. __________________ Lou Bruno

December 9th, 2003, 04:42 PM	#6
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Hi Don, I take it off all the time. That is the best way to clean the viewfinder. The tape only covers the small release latch. I peel it back half way and remove the viewfinder. I then slip the VF off the rails and after cleaning back on again. The tape is always sticky. I bet the VF's on the VX2100 will fit the VX2000. Same with the PD 170 and the PD 150. __________________ Lou Bruno

December 9th, 2003, 04:44 PM	#7
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Boyd, The PD170. like the PD 150 has a B&W VF. The VX series has a color VF. The PD's are sharper. All SONY did was use a magnifier to expand the VF screen to the human eye. __________________ Lou Bruno

December 7th, 2003, 05:12 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	My VF doesn't slide off and I would really hate to go playing around with very small very sensitive electrical components. Your choice but me, I would futz with it. Don

December 8th, 2003, 07:53 PM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	He Lou, I learn something new everyday, still don't think I'll play with though ;-) Don

December 8th, 2003, 09:02 PM	#5
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	From what I read somewhere, it sounded as though the VX-2100 and PD-170 had the same viewfinder LCD's but just used a larger magnifier lens. I think the VF pixel count was the same as the previous models. Does anyone know if this is the case?

December 9th, 2003, 05:20 PM	#8
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Understood... sorry I didn't state that well, I meant that both new models use the same VF LCD's as their respective older cousins. I know that the PD-150 BW finder is sharper than the VX-2000, so maybe there's some advantage to magnifying it more? But I have a VX-2000 and its color viewfinder is really horrible IMO. I can see no advantage to making it into a bigger blurry image! It seems that Sony is just playing "me too" and trying to make the viewfinder appear more like the DVX-100 from the outside.

December 9th, 2003, 07:18 PM	#9
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Lou, You know in the 2+ years with 2 150's I never looked or paid any attention to that peice of tape. Now that you explained it I just peeled it back and cleaned my VF's for the first time since I've had these cams. All I can say is, I CAN SEE, I CAN SEE; Good Golly Miss Molly, I CAN SEE!!!! :-) I promise I'll try to control myself but it is nice to see clearly again. Thanks Lou as always appreciate the help. Don