Contemplating a PD-150 for webcast work
Argo22
looking at slowly upgrading my gear. I do this as a hobby with a few
friends. Every paid gig I do goes towards gear. Right now I have a PV-
GS180 and a Canon GL1 that I use in conjunction with a Panasonic WJ-
MX12 switcher. I have been offered a PD150 for $1000. I was thinking
about phasing out the PV-GS180 or use it only as a deck, and use the
Canon GL1 and PD150 together, for a more professional looking product.
Would the PD150 be a good choice for this use and for this price, or
should I get something HDV capable. Right now I can’t really justify a
more expensive camera since the webcast work is very sporadic.
I know there are HDV cameras such as HV20/30/40s, etc but I would like
a more professional look and feel as well. Plus I like the physical
feel of the bigger cameras, even though they maybe overkill for what I
use them for.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
David Ruether
"Argo22" <mar...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7c9b7baa-bd56-4c03...@p36g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As far as the picture quality is concerned, the Sony VX2000/PD-150
was (and still is) "top-o'-th'--heap" for *Mini-DV/D-25* (and very
noticeably better than the two Mini-DV camcorders you currently
use), and it could shoot in lower light levels than anything else of its type.
It also had excellent AF, useful for sports. There is much more on it
(and it compared with others) here --
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/camcorder-comparison.htm
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/WA-converters.htm
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/vid_pict_characts.htm
BUT, if you have enough light to work with, and you are looking for
the VERY highest source image quality, HD is "night and day" better
than Mini-DV/D-25, and small cameras are relatively cheap (and why
care what they look like if they are excellent? ;-) and some shoot the
relatively easy to edit HDV (Mini-DV tape) format. A good example
is the Canon HV40 (but this may be overkill in terms of picture quality,
and it will not "fit" your switcher), reviewed here --
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/Canon_HV20-HV30.htm (but
an external microphone is a basic needed addition for this camera).
As for your other questions, I would try before buying, or buy with a
firm return ability (ANY repair used to be $300...), buy a head cleaning
tape (use it CAREFULLY, ONLY IN VCR MODE, with one 7 second
play, then a 30 second wait, followed by only one more 7 second play,
then eject). Choose a good tape (I liked Sony) and stay with just that
one. Try recording a whole tape in LP mode and see if the whole tape
plays properly (worn or misaligned heads will cause playback problems,
and you should not easily see any in the whole tape). Since this was (and
is) a top-grade Mini-DV format camera, if the format is OK for what
you want and the camera is in good shape, the price seems reasonable.
Likely it would serve very well for your purpose, especially if you are not
editing the results for professional use, and are only streaming (and if the
transport is non-functional, the camera should be still usable for what you
want, and it should be much cheaper yet...).
--DR
Martin Heffels
wrote:
>HD is "night and day"
Don't get overexcited. It's just for a webcast ;-)
PD150 is an excellent choice for such things.
cheers
-martin-
David Ruether
"Martin Heffels" <goo...@flikken.net> wrote in message news:a34rh5980iktejbdv...@4ax.com...
Yes. In my last post, I wrote, "Likely it would serve very well for your purpose,
especially if you are not editing the results for professional use, and are only
streaming..." ;-) I had also noted earlier that if the OP can still like SD Mini-DV
after seeing how much better HD looks, then the PD-150 (+VX2000 and the
later similar Sony camcorders) produced the best picture quality available in that
format (and of course SD is easier to stream than HD, but HD can be streamed
[see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgNq25mNLs0, and click on the "HD"
button after it starts...;-]).
--DR
nestwasright
> "Martin Heffels" <goof...@flikken.net> wrote in messagenews:a34rh5980iktejbdv...@4ax.com...
> > On Sun, 6 Dec 2009 07:56:04 -0500, "David Ruether" <d_ruet...@thotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >>HD is "night and day"
> > Don't get overexcited. It's just for a webcast ;-)
>
> > PD150 is an excellent choice for such things.
>
> > cheers
>
> > -martin-
>
> Yes. In my last post, I wrote, "Likely it would serve very well for your purpose,
> especially if you are not editing the results for professional use, and are only
> streaming..." ;-) I had also noted earlier that if the OP can still like SD Mini-DV
> after seeing how much better HD looks, then the PD-150 (+VX2000 and the
> later similar Sony camcorders) produced the best picture quality available in that
> format (and of course SD is easier to stream than HD, but HD can be streamed
> button after it starts...;-]).
> --DR
I think David answered this question to the fullest. And if time was
taken to read his response completely, it could be seen that the OP
had their question answered and more importantly got more
Argo22
>
> - Show quoted text -
Very much more. Thanks again.
Mark