Purchasing PD150....
 

I have a Canon GL2, I am selling it to buy the PD150, Because of manual zoom and XLR imputs. Am I making the right decision, I loved my GL2 but I hate not having manual zoom and XLR. Is this camera pretty decent, I am goign to use it for ENG, like I did my GL2. Just wanted anyones opinion.

The 150 is no longer available new. The 170 is it's replacement.

You might want to at least consider the new Sony HDV cameras. Not nearly as good in low light, they do have the option to deliver HD footage which, if you are acting as a stringer for the networks, might give you an edge.

I was going to purchase it used I cant afford the HD.

The PD-150 doesn't have a "manual zoom," it has a rocker switch and a zoom ring. The ring is just a control for a servo motor and spins round and round infiinitely (it is not calibrated). Doesn't the GL-2 have the same thing?

The zoom ring on the 150 is a powerful tool compared to the rocker-switch.

One can very carefully and slowly change the zoom to correct an imperfect framing or move faster and avoid the hard start & stop generated when using the rocker-switch.

Like the focus ring, its effects are repeatable over short distances as long as you use the same rate of rotation. Not as good as a manual lens but acceptable in many cases.

I agree that the ring can be very useful, I use it on my VX-2000 and wish that my PDX-10 had one. It is a little frustrating at times though, especially if you turn it too slowly and nothing seems to happen.

Was just looking at a GL-2 brochure, guess I was mistaken. It appears that GL-2 doesn't have a zoom ring, just twin rocker switches.

That's right - the GL2 (XM2) doesn't have a manual zoom ring. But Canon do sell an XLR input acessory for that camera, so buying this might be an idea for Kevin rather than going for a secondhand (and unknown) PD150.

tom.