|
|||||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
February 2nd, 2006, 02:03 AM | #1 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 125
|
About to buy a PD170...
Found an old thread about exposure and auto/manual settings conflicting etc. Does this cam have a "Full Manual" switch that works as advertised or do you have to go into menu settings to ensure shutter/iris/focus etc is not part auto?
Also, I'm refreshing decades old knowledge that has seriously atrophied....to get correct exposure quickly in manual mode, is there like a zebra stripe or something you can bring up. And how do you know what the correct shutter speed to choose. Does this cam have a good manual, my 3chip panny has the worst manual I've ever seen, it took me 30 minutes just to figure out how to manual white balance. |
February 2nd, 2006, 02:31 AM | #2 |
Major Player
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: France
Posts: 578
|
Hi Mike
Check out here http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm and here http://www.alanbarker.com/ gives pretty comprehensive info on this camera... However this is an old generation camera, good but getting long in the tooth....if you're after good manual control in a more upto date camera check out the Z1 and the FX1. Personally I'd choose one of those over the PD170, the manual controls are far better and you get 16:9 native. cheers Gareth |
February 2nd, 2006, 05:28 AM | #3 |
Major Player
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Estonia
Posts: 214
|
The camera can be easily turned to manual without any surfing in the menus. It has dedicated buttons and switches for most of the functions.
PD170 is still a good broadcast camera and if doing documentaries and shoots where you don't have the possibility to set up extra lighting etc, then the Sony HDVs may not be the best. |
February 2nd, 2006, 07:38 AM | #4 | |
Wrangler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 11,794
|
Quote:
I would have to agree with Gareth's comments about the manual controls on the Z1/FX1 - much better and more image adjustment options also. But if you only want to shoot 4:3 and low light is important then the PD-170 is still a great camera. But you do have full manual control on the PD-170, and the caveats you read about shutter speed and iris were probably WRT the VX-2000/VX-2100. They also have full manual control but it's implemented slightly differently. Regarding shutter speed, usually it should be left at 1/60 for NTSC or 1/50 for PAL unless you have some specific reason to use a different one. And yes, you can (and should!) use zebra stripes. |
|
February 2nd, 2006, 12:03 PM | #5 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 125
|
Thanks folks, some great help to clear the layers of rust. I've put some serious thought into which camera to go for and while the Sony HD's look amazing, the combination of low light performance and delivery system are very important to me.....along with starting budget.
I know you can downconvert the Z1 to SD etc, but I think I can get away with 4:3 for another year until both 16:9 and HD really start to take over. I'd prefer to wait for the delivery systems to make HD more feasible and also see if upgrades/improvements happen to the camera's also. |
February 2nd, 2006, 12:50 PM | #6 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
|
Short Primer
Quote:
And if you are looking to limit depth of field in a shot, on a bright day, even with neutral density filters applied, you might have to shoot at higher shutter speed to open lens for proper exposure. Suggestion on handling that situation ?
__________________
Chris J. Barcellos |
|
February 2nd, 2006, 01:18 PM | #7 | |
Wrangler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 11,794
|
Quote:
But keeping the lens wide open for less DOF might be a reason to use a higher shutter speed. You could also probably accomplish this with an ND filter however. |
|
February 2nd, 2006, 01:31 PM | #8 | |
Major Player
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Estonia
Posts: 214
|
Quote:
|
|
February 2nd, 2006, 01:44 PM | #9 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
|
Quote:
Thanks, Boyd. That was what I was looking for.
__________________
Chris J. Barcellos |
|
February 3rd, 2006, 01:44 AM | #10 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 125
|
I have just seen that the FX1 is the same price as a new PD170 and with a beachtek adaptor you get the same audio inputs...I think. That really leaves the low light performance issues which some say is highly noticable and some say is not that big because the gain on FX1 is barely noticable.
Does anybody know of a site that shows actual footage of these two in low light?? I've seen stills, but it's so hard to tell. Man, what to do. |
February 3rd, 2006, 10:24 AM | #11 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
|
PD 170 v. FX1
I have the FX1 and the VX2000, which has the essentially the same low light capability as the PD170. There is a significant difference between the two in terms of low light capability. I don't think your emphasis should be solely on that-- unless low light capabilty is your primary reason for going to a new camera. If that is the case, PD170 hands down over any DV Camera.
With the gain control, and good shooting tecnique and perhaps use of lighting, I think you will be able to work around most shooting situations. And the gains in working with HDV make it well worth it. I ve only had this camera only a couple of months (FX1), and frankly with an illness and the holidays, I haven't had a lot of opportunity to use it. Put I have shot it in candle light situation at a family gathering, and I was surprised at how well it held up.... I've also briefly attached it to my Beachtec adapter, and noted it worked well with the same rig I have for my VX2000-- a Sennheiser ME66. I'll see if I can come up with some frame grabs or footage for you to compate this evening, California time.
__________________
Chris J. Barcellos |
February 3rd, 2006, 10:42 AM | #12 | |
Wrangler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 11,794
|
Quote:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=54414 |
|
February 3rd, 2006, 11:03 AM | #13 |
Major Player
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: France
Posts: 578
|
Personally I wouldn't make a big deal out of this whole low light business... In dull conditions the FX1 is fine, even at +12db gain, you get no or very littlle visible noise.
Low light is more often than not awful even on good low light cameras as it is rarely quality light, unless you like the surveillence look!! |
February 3rd, 2006, 11:33 AM | #14 |
Wrangler
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Vallejo, California
Posts: 4,049
|
For my needs, I disagree with your accessment of low light shooting, Gareth.
I've been in a number of situations where the only light was coming from very dim room lights and the candles on the table centerpieces was the only bright light. This lighting alone has been enough to produce decent pictures of the Bride and Groom (that they liked very much thank you) with reasonable color and not too much video noise. In other instances, it was the equivalent of surveilance video and the absolute low light capability made the difference between delivering a documentary that 'showed it like it is' and something out of Cops with bright lights that are not at all what the real world is like. So far, nothing has been able to beat my PD-150 for these types of applications.
__________________
Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel! |
February 3rd, 2006, 11:41 AM | #15 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
|
One other thing to consider
I did do some testing shooting into a dimly lit room, one with my VX2000, and one with my FX1. I shot the FX1 in HDV. I shot both of them on auto. I then downconverted HDV right out of the camera, to a DV capture. I was surprised the the HDV downconvert looked a lot better in terms of sharpness. As I recall, the VX2000 resolved the lower light areas better, but had a more grainy appearance. If can locate these two shots on my system, on which I essentially reinstalled everything, I will try to upload them today or tomorrow.
__________________
Chris J. Barcellos |
| ||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|