PD-170 - sitting on the sidelines....
 

Well, I am ready to purchase the PD-170, and than Sony announces their new HD-DV cam. I do have some projects I have coming up, but I can always borrow gear for the time being. Im willing to sit out for a max of 10 months or so for either a newly released camera or a tremendous price decrease. Let me hear some opinions




john

Personally I think it will be quite awhile before the HDV camera gets into actual circulation and we get some user feedback. I agree that the prototype looked great, but who knows what the actual product will look like, how much it will cost (surely it will be more than the PD-170), and what bugs will need to be shaken out. I certainly wouldn't expect any "tremendous price decrease" on the 170 either. Maybe you should look for a used PD-150 if you're bargain hunting?

I bet you'll get several years out of a good SD cam such as the PD170. Shoot now on proven equipment, get HD when you have to.

I would think the HD cam is more than 10 months off.
And there has been talk that the low light reach
will be way down on the PD, if that matters to
you. For my business, even if the HD were available today
at the same price as the PD, I'd need to go with which
one gave me the best low light reach.
Generally, I'd agree with Shawn's advice.
In my area, there is no interest in HD from the
consumer's point of view. Not even wide screen.
We use to offer a wide screen package but
dropped it due to no consumer interest.