heya,

----1. Is the black and white viewfinder a positive or a negative? I've never used a black and white viewfinder and I wonder if this would be as easy to use as a color viewfinder.----

Depends on how you use your camera, if you are in auto mode, then it is just another viewfinder, but for manual use, it is a dream, it allows you to so easily focus, and really makes it obvious when using zebra patterns. It is a positive.

2. Will the image on a PD150 be identical to the image on my VX-2000? I'd like the colors in the video from the two cameras to be identical assuming they are properly white balanced.

Well they use the same internals when it comes to the video portion of the camera, unless you do some custom presets on either, they will look the same. Well perceivably the same, not every camera is purely indentical but i really doubt you could spot the difference.

3. How does the mono microphone on the 150 compare to the stereo microphone on the VX-2000?

Well the pd150 can take up to 2 stereo mics but you need to drop your audio quality to 12bit and use special software to capture it. But you can run either 1 mono, 1 stereo, or 2 mono's and have no problems. The quality will show on the quality of the microphone you choose to use, i suggest the Sennheiser ME66 with the k6 power module, although the camera does provide phantom power for you.

4. Other than price, are there any more reasons to prefer the VX-2000 to the PD-150?

No there is not, the pd150 is a well rounded camera and for its function leaves nothing to be desired. I find the vx2000 is it's ugly brother. Really though, the pd150 just finishes off the nice package that the vx2000 is.

Zac
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

(3. How does the mono microphone on the 150 compare to the stereo microphone on the VX-2000?

"Well the pd150 can take up to 2 stereo mics but you need to drop your audio quality to 12bit and use special software to capture it. ")

The above answer is not entirely correct. You need to read the Sony manual but the short form answer is you can insert add audio to channels 3 & 4 on a tape that was recorded in 12 bit mode. But only through the mic/line connectors on the camera if you wish to use it for the task. I think 12 bit mode is a waste for almost all purposes.

The PD150 will record two mono tracks in 16 bit, 48 Khz digital format just like any other digital camera. There are only 2 input connectors available and therefore you can only record 2 tracks at a time.

The on-board mono microphone is OK and with a proper switch setting, can be sent to channels 1 & 2 simultaneously.

BTW, most movie sound is recorded mono. Only special effects and really obvious off-center sound sources are sent to other than the center channel. Even surround sound (which is usually artificially constructed) normally does not have speech content.

Mike wow, i did not know that, i assumed 2x stereo = 4 channel, which knocked the quality back.

Now i know. As i generally only use a single mono mic, as i prefer the control of just 1 channel, and then doing any pick up audio after i never re-read about it.

You learn something new everyday.

Zac

<<<-- Originally posted by Zac Stein : Mike wow, i did not know that, i assumed 2x stereo = 4 channel, which knocked the quality back.

Zac,

I may be mistaken but let me expand on my first answer by defining terms.

2X Stereo is 4 channels but you, I think, believe the 150 can record 4 channels simultaneously. Not so.

The PD150 has only two mono channels of input at any given time. You can treat them as a Stereo pair if you wish. So you cannot record more than 2 mono channels (or 1X stereo ) as you record the video.

If you recorded the original audio at 12 bits along with the video, then you can go back and INSERT an additional 2 channels (3&4) at 12 bits by going through the two XLR connectors on the camera. But you have to set the menus properly to do so.

In what I consider normal operation, you can record two channels, however you wish to configure them, at 16 bits via the two XLR connectors.

I feel bad I left you hanging with your audio dilemma, Alan, so I'll try to make it up in this one.

As has been mentioned, the b/w viewfinder is way better for focusing, but plan on a bit of time getting used to it. It has to make you a little crazy if you have only been looking at color viewfinders, but remember this: most professional cameras use only b/w viewfinders. For long lens work, the b/w is a lifesaver.

The images between the two cameras will be the same, assuming the rules of proper white balance.

The microphone on the PD150 is only usable to about three feet. Therefore, it is OK for walking right up into someone's face and getting a sound bite, but it is not directional, so it picks up a lot of off axis sound.

There is only one drawback to the PD150 versus the VX2K for someone who shoots events: the PD will not shoot in LP mode like the VX. That means one sixty minute tape equals sixty minutes maximum record time. I know some event people like the longer times available with the VX2K.

The PD150 is a great camera that will serve you well. Here is a very un-official list of differences between the two cameras.

Note: These differences are listed for informational purposes only. They are not meant to imply that one camera is better than the other.

Major Differences

Black and white hi-res viewfinder in PD150

XLR inputs in PD150

DVCAM record only available in PD150

Settable timecode only in PD150

Gun metal gray exterior on PD150

Other differences

1. Gain works different on VX2; camera will increase gain in manual setting. PD150 allows user to set gain.

2. PD150 allows separate Left/Right channel audio control, VX2000 audio control ganged together

3. VX2000 has "intelligent" hot shoe, PD150 does not.

4. VX2K has built in stereo mic. PD150 has mono mic, which can be recorded on different channels at different settings for back-up purposes.

5. Can do time/date stamp with PD150, not with VX2000

6. PD150 auto stand-by (after five minutes of not taping) just stops drum whereas VX2000 shuts everything down.

7. Can do logo insert (i.e. client's corporate logo) with PD150, not with VX2000.

8. VX2K has certain picture effects not found in PD150.

9. PD150 has Noise Reduction (NR), VX2K does not.

10. Something about audio signal display.

11. The VX2K will record in LP mode for extended record purposes. The PD150 will not.

12. The PD150 can record user bit information.

I believe the PD-150 also allows you to set the black level (setup), doesn't it? As I understand it though, the only time you might want to do this would be for compatability with another camera if you were feeding a signal to a switcher during a live shoot.

Also, I don't understand the logo insert thing although I've seen it mentioned before. Couldn't you do the same thing with an image on the memory stick and "memory mix"? How does the logo insert differ from this?

Memory mix is the logo insert, Boyd.

Yes, you can setup the black level on the 150. Although most DV editing programs are set up to accept black at zero IRE.

You can't set black level with the VX2K? Well, thank you Boyd. I guess that's another one for the list, although Adam Wilt has a problem with this. Claims it is not true "set-up." You'll have to search his site for more info.

Actually I based my comments on an article that Adam wrote in DV mag recently. He says "setup" is something that would be provided on a studio VTR during dubbing, and should not be done in camera. If you don't use 0 IRE then your blacks will really be grays. But he suggested the one time you might want to change it would be if needed to match another camera if they were both connected to the same deck through a switcher during a live shoot.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Rehmus : Memory mix is the logo insert, Boyd. -->>>

The Vx2k does this. How is it different on the PD-150, or is that an error in Wayne's post? I only have a VX-2000...

I think there's one other thing Wayne. The PD-150 has a menu function that will display the number of hours usage on various internal components. The VX-2000 lacks this funtion (however it's rumored that Sony tech's can read this data using a special service remote unit).

2 more cents in the pile, i got my pd150 in january and every time i use it i am more and more impressed with it. i really like the flexibilty of the 2-XLR inputs for times that i'm shooting solo ( i added an ME66/K6 & evolution 100 ) and i think the manual control of the camera is amazing. in the middle of a 3-day intense shoot and am so pleased each day when i grab the camera and see the pictures i get.

oh yeah, to stay on topic more, i really like the b+w viewfinder for focusing. i also find it easier on the eyes then the color one.

Just recently sold my Vx2K to get a PD150 and yes the viewfinder is something to get used to since the VX2K had a nice color one, but having the VX9K I kinda got the hang of it. The logo instertion is mor ethan just the memory mix, it can also have some kind of protection, mainly used by broadcast companies, so that you don't go using CNN's camera to shoot for ABC. It can restrict or allow insertion of a logo.

<<<-- Originally posted by Garret Ambrosio : yes the viewfinder is something to get used to since the VX2K had a nice color one -->>>

Wow, I have a VX-2000 and there is no way I would consider its viewfinder "nice". The colors look lousy, it isn't very bright and the image looks really coarse. Very difficult to focus. The BW finder on my PDX-10 is (I think) pretty much the same as the PD-150, and it's much brighter and sharper. You can always use the LCD screen to check color.

One other correction to waynes post, when the VX2k is in manual exposure mode it won't alter the Gain, the difference here is that on the PD-150 you can set the exposure and gain independantly but on the VX you can't, it's only when the iris is fully open that going further on the dial will start to add gain. I hope I explained that right :)

John.

Hi,

I did come across some reviews that compares VX200 and PD-150. Although they are identical in terms optics, but the internal image processing is slightly different.

PD-150 being a more professional cam produces slightly less vivid colors than the VX2000-which is suppose to impress casual viewers.

Also, try recording on DVCAM format on DVCAM tapes (not DVCAM format on DV tape) and take a closer look. DVCAM helps preserve more details and saturation. I can't believe my eyes when I first saw the difference, especially when everyone thinks that DVCAM only delivers better reliability not better quality.

Yik, your comments are contrary to everything I've read. DVCAM stores data in the same format as DV, but should be less prone to tape errors. There shouldn't be any difference in the color saturation, etc. I'm sure Sony would like us to believe that those very expensive DVCAM tapes give better results! For that matter, they also like it when you record in DVCAM mode since they sell 33% more tape ;-) It's interesting how everyone raves about the quality of the XL-1s and DVX-100, but they record in standard mini-DV format. Sorry, I tend to be just a *little bit* skeptical about Sony's motives at times... for example their goofy floppy disk based Mavica still camera... remember, they are the biggest producers of magnetic media in the world and have a vested interest in selling you as much as possible. But don't get me wrong, I love Sony products, have two of the camcorders and a pile of other stuff.

Digital is digital. You are correct Boyd. There is no difference. I shoot both and I switch my PD150 back and forth depending on need.

Absolutely, that was my very first belief too. But when we did the experiment, indeed, we got unexpected results!

My very good friend owns a PD-150. We tried shooting in the same environment, object, lightings and settings. To our surprise, shooting DVCAM mode on DV tapes and DVCAM mode on DVCAM tapes yields different results. We were puzzled too.

That was done one month ago. If we can still find the clips, I'll post some shots for comparison.

But the differences aren't that significant and hardly distinguishable through casual viewing.

Boyd, I guess beauty lies in the hands of the beer holder, but I liked my VX2000's color VF it, to me, was much better than the grainy and hard to see especially in bright conditions 2.5" LCD monitor. One more thing to consider, though the VF is smaller in size, but because it is right up your face and close to the eye it seemed larger than the 2.5" LCD. At least using my own eyes.

Yik, this is puzzling as well because according to all logical conclusions and knowledge about the digital format that these images "captured" by our cameras are merely converted to ones and zeroes using data that is collected from the optics and CCD sensor with compression applied. If DV and DVCAM uses the same compression ratio and the same optics and same CCD then logically it should be the exact same, unless ofcourse of oneor both of two things: 1: during the data stream, some of the bits are gets malformed (as it does in digital audio production) and error correction has been used to create a form interpolation to account for the missing or error bits. 2. The tape itself has microscopic defects that may record some bits incorrectly and the DVCAM tape may have a better material to insure against this from happening or lessen the frequency in which this has happen. I suspect the latter. Can you give a detail account on what you have captured and how or even post some screen shots of the two in comparison. Another suggestion is to shoot DV in a DVCAM tape to see if you notice a difference in quality if so then it is definitely the tape (media) and not the format in which you are shooting.

DV and DVCam have heavy error correction. Small tape defects do not cause problems.

Look at a Hi-8 recording (8mm tape) and a DV recording (6mm tape) and you know that the combination of digital data and error correction is working even with a physically inferior tape format.

Sony has all the reasons in the world to tell us DVCam delivers a better picture and they don't. That should tell us something right there.

There is no picture quality difference between the two recording formats. Remember, the data format is the same in DV and DVCam. Anty true differences are in pre or post handling of the signal.

I agree Mike, but what if defects on the tape causes a one to be read as a zero by the head because it simply can not read the value. A minor defect may cause the head to read the wrong value when reading the tape.

Furthermore error correction is not an exact science it simple replaces the values according to an algorythm that it has been program to follow.

For instance streaming video through the internet. Even with an OC-12 or OC-3 connections you will intermintently receive errors in data transporting thorugh the net. This can also be caused by the errors in the interpreter on the other end as well, i.e. media player.

Error correction will replace these error bits with bits that will follow the algorythm or with zeroes. From a distance or if it happens infrequent enough these errors are dismissed by the brain, but if it is done frequently, the brain will start seeing a difference that many times we can not explain, we just know or see. That si one of the reasons why if you stream with a larger pipe the picture looks better, it is because you can stream more data at one time minimizing the frequency of the errors. I know there are others and others that are more of a factor, but this is definitely one of the issues in streaming data.

How would I use my stereo microphone which has a stereo mini jack to record sound on a PD150? Would seem to me that a stereo mini female to 2 xlr males would do it. I looked at many places but nobody had such a thing.

Andrew,

I don't think there is such a thing as "a stereo mini female to 2 xlr males."

Make your audio stereo in post.

Check out this link; you'll find mini F to XLR M
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=CatalogActivator__Acatalog_html___CatID=4172___SID=F588D647BF0

PD-150 being a more professional cam produces slightly less vivid colors than the VX2000-which is suppose to impress casual viewers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Did you use the same monitors?

The custom preset can be used to match the VX2000 to the PD150 via the saturation levels.

try this...
http://www.mmjp.or.jp/ippinkan/vx2000vs.htm

or this...
http://www.dvworld.com.tw/product/sony_pd150_vs_vx2000.htm

Yes, on the same monitor, same location, same light same settings.

Tested becoz that was the very 1st time using DVCAM tapes instead of normal DV tape on PD-150. Curious about the differences, we took some very close look and examinations.

I believe, in the Digital world, zero is zero and one is one. They should be exact. The only explanation to this is could it be that due to the robustness of the media, more 'correct' information is held on every inch as compared to normal DV tapes?

In other words, I believe there are rooms on every inch of the media for error and some corrective information. With DVCAM tapes and its lesser error rate, the extra bits is used to hold more precise information?

I'll post some images for your reference soon.

Does the tape in DVCAM mode move at the same speed as the tape in DV mode? I always assumed that the DVCAM tape was the same length as a DV tape, and that it moved faster, thereby yielding a shorter playing time. The advantage of this is that the helical scan lines on the tape would be more widely separated. This improves the signal to noise ratio because there is less interference from adjacent scan lines, making it easier to reliably read the tape. (Sort of like LP vs SP mode on a VHS tape). However, given that the signal is digital, the signal to noise ratio is not nearly as important as in analog recording schemes. If the read head can distinguish the 1's and 0's reliably, it doesn't matter that there may be a lot of background noise from adjacent scan lines. Hence a DV recording will be just as good as a DVCAM recording. My suspicion is that the DVCAM format was developed first, before tape and head technlology was able to guarantee reliable read performance with closely spaced scan lines. As the technology improved, the DV format was deemed reliable enough for general purpose use. This is pure speculation, but it makes sense to me. Perhaps someone can tell me if my speculation is indeed the case.

I suppose it is possible that the PD150 processes the image differrently for DV and DVCam.

The signal is digital and in the exact same data format. Therefore, all other things being equal (the supplied image) the signal is the same. There is no better error correction, S/N or any other tape-related arcana that will/can change the signal as long as the ones and zeros get recorded and can be retrieved. Or someone is not telling the complete truth about DV and DVCam data formats being equal. Again. Sony has every reason and incentive in the business world to say that DVCam has a better image. They do not make that claim because it is not true.

Look elsewhere for the difference. Perception, image processing in the camera before the tape, or something else.

I just got my PD150 and tried to shoot using a Sony Premium miniDV tape in DVCAM mode for about 2 minutes then I switched to DV mode. Rewind the tape using my TRV25, I try to play the tape and I was surprised that it can play DVCAM format recorded in my PD150. There is a small glitch in the switching of the two formats. I just save thousand of dollars, planning to buy a DVCAM player, and save wear and tear to my PD150. Seems like the TRV series of Sony miniDV is compatible to play DVCAM format recorded in mini DV tapes. It's not even documented in the manual. My first experience on this camcorder (PD150) Wow!!!!!

Yes, almost all Sony DV camcorders will playback DVCam. The VX-1000 is one notable exception.

I am using an AT 4073a (phantom power) with AGC on, wind NR off and the XLR mic switch set to attenuate (the 4073 seems pretty hot)

I would prefer using audio on manual mode instead of auto gain, but most the time I end up messing up the audio when in manual mode.

Anyone care to share their PD150 audio setup?

thanks,

Jeff

Pipe the microphone into channel 1, select channel 1 to feed both channels. Place one channel in automatic, the other in manual.

Or set both channels to manual and set one high and one low.

Well, I recently purchased a pd150, and had some auto focus issues...

during a wedding reception, with low light conditions, and multi-color dance lights bouncing all about, I experienced the auto-focus having a hard time getting as good a focus as it would in normal conditions. For example, just a close up of someone's face in normal light conditions had excellent focus, whereas in lower light (not dark), it wouldn't necessarily always focus correctly, requiring I switch to manual and focus myself...

Is this normal for this camera?

In low light the auto sensors of any cam have a difficult time. So this is normal for your cam.

It is normal for just about any camera. It is less of a problem on my PD150 than my old VX1000.

I find the "push auto" button to be very useful in "run-and-gun" sort of shooting. Keep the focus in manual buit if you need to refocus quickly press the "push auto" button, letting auto focus kick in for a second then dropping it back into manual. Depending on the situation you may still need to adjust the focus a bit but it is generally faster, at least in my experience, than doing it all by adjusting the focus ring.

It's worth remembering that the auto-focus mechanism works better when the camera's in wide-angle than in telephoto. This has nothing to do with the greater depth of field at short focal lengths, but all to do with the fact that the VX/PD's lens is a stop faster and therfore lets in twice the light at wide angle. The auto-focus mechanism needs light to make it work, unlike the OIS incidentally.

tom.

I did the first shoot with a PD150, inside a funeral. Since I had to run outside and inside too often, I put it on auto/Lock (the top position). I have heard that the camera is very impressive with full auto mode, but what I saw in the footage was quite unsatisfied. The footage was too red. I know I'm going to have to fix the color in post, and that I'll lose an amount of footage quality. What might I have done wrong?

Thanks,
Lucas

Lucas, could you please share where you bought your camera from?

Thank you.

Lucas,
I don't know what you might have done wrong, if anything. I've used both my 150's in auto and have never seen the footage as being too red. Of course, the appearance of proper color can be something of a subjective thing.

Run some tests place a few seconds of color bars up front, recond some footage in auto and check it on a monitor calibrated to the color bars and see how the footage looks then. Redo the same footage in manual and either record to audio or write down exactly what your settings are check it in a monitor set to the color bars and determine what appears right to you.

I was just thinking to something I did not too long ago. I white balanced manually at a wedding reception, everything looked great. 1/60th @f/4 with a 20w on camera light for the intros. Suddenly, the room lights were changed, more turned on and threw the room yellow. BAM! The inros went on and I had no time to fix the white balance, so I threw the cam into auto and guess what. It was still yellow. I was able to correct the OOOOOPS, in post but all the footage was usable.

Run some tests and let us know.
Don B.

I have heard that Sony is coming out with a updated pd 150 or something new. I want to know if I can hold on for a little longer to buy one or is this another two years something might reach the US. Can anyone help to talk about this?

Nobody has any 'real' information on a replacement. The VX1000 lasted 7 years, I believe before Sony replaced it.

In truth, after listening to all the pontifications, you can flip a coin and be just as accurate.

Bottom line is if you need it to make money, buy it. If you just want to have fun with the absolutely latest and greatest then you will wait until someone announces a machine that fits that description and then buy that one.

Right now, the latest and greatest is the HD camera from JVC (I think) for just under $4,000. But it is not, in my estimation, a contender for the PD150's dominance in the lower-end commercial market.

the day after Canon announces the XL2... ;-)

Ok here's a doozy--I'm getting all sorts of hardware problems lately.

The little menu scroll wheel located in the rear of my PD-150 seems to be flaking out. If I'm in any menu (be it CP or any of the main menu selections) I'm having a hell of a time scrolling in between different selections...it's almost like it's having a hard time deciding which selection it wants to land on.

The camera is a couple years old and I've gotten a fair amount of use out of it. Can I expect to pay out of my ___ for a repair (pardon my lack of french).

Thanks a gazillion, hope someone has a suggestion for me!

May be time to send it to Georgia for a spiff-up. Go onto the Sony pro website and call the 800 #. They can set it up for you.

Expect about $400 or so.

Hi all,
This is my first post on what looks like a potentially very useful board.

I hope i havent missed a more obvious place to put it but i did search:).
I have placed this post on the XL1s baord also.

I will soon be in London learning filmmaking, while there i intend to buy a good quality
dvcam for experimentation, and short film making while i train.

I HAD saved towards a XL1s, based on the knowledge of its use in 28 Days Later
but a friend of mine then reccomended i go with the PD150, utterly complicating
a perfectly simple plan

Now without starting a war, i ask for arguments from both camps so i can make a decision.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Nemed Phoenix
Lateral Filming.

Hello,
Let me start off by saying that I have used both the XL1s and PD150 quite a bit, and from my own experiences, I would have to suggest the Sony PD150. Let me explain why:

IMAGE: While the image quality of both these cameras is phenominal, and you're sure to hear arguments either way that one is better, I prefered the range on the PD150. It is definately the better low-light camera of the two, so you really don't have to worry about not having supplimentary lighting around all the time: the PD150 will never let you down in natural lighting conditions (unless of course you're expectations are completely unreasonable for any miniDV camera out there).

On another note, one of the MAJOR factors that turned me off to the XL1s is the stock 16x lens. I have owned 3 different XL1s's and 2 XL1's, and I have had focus problems with all of them (this could be a fluke, but unlikely). I have tried every trick in the book, and I can't seem to get them to work correctly. Manual mode does work better, but the rings make focusing unnatural, and even on manual settings, I swore it would automatically adjust focus at points (taking it out of focus). This for me was the deal killer with these cams. The diehard XL1s owners like to tell me its because I'm using the camera wrong (I have used almost every MiniDV under the sun and also have a lot of experience with 8mm and 16mm film cameras, which are totally manual). Or some just say everyone should have a manual lens anyways because its more professional. But I'd rather not pay another $1000+ just to remedy focus issues on a $3000 camera.


FEATURES: The XL1s big draw is the fact that it can handle so much interchangability, the lens, the viewfinder and the mic can all be switched around with different parts, but if money is an issue (I'm expecting it would be since you're a student) then you really shouldn't worry too much about that stuff. The biggest advantage I like that the PD150 has is a flip out LCD screen. Sometimes its just more practical, for overhead shots or quick on your feet filming for instance. YOu can buy a supplimentary LCD screen for the XL1s, but that is an additional cost you'll have to figure in. Also, the PD150 has built in XLR ports for pro microphones, which are not a feature of the XL1s.


CONTROLS: I do think the XL1s' controls are nicer because they are mostly accessable in knobs on the exterior of the camera, while the SOny has a lot of features in the menus. However, I feel as though all of the important features on the Sony were located on the exterior for easy adjustment while filming.


OVERALL DESIGN: While I think the XL1s definately takes the cake as far as pure looks go, for function over form, I prefer the PD150. You are far less likely to experience fatigue handling the PD150, first because its lighter, but also due to the design. The problem is that the XL1s tends to be front heavy and it is very uncomfortable for handheld shooting over long periods of time. Plus with the PD150 you have the option of easily taking the camcorder anywhere because it is smaller, and if you want to shoot in public locations it draws less attention (from police, security guards, annoying passerbyers, etc etc). I think the PD150 feels a bit sturdier as well because it is one solid unit, whereas I felt it neccessary to handle my XL1s with much more care so the viewfinder didn't break off (which is a recorded weakness of this camera's design).


I guess in conclusion, the PD150 is the best camera all around. And in all honesty, I wanted the XL1s to outpreform my Sony's so bad because it really is a sweet looking cam and people took me more seriously when I was packing the big ol XL1s. But as a bottom line, just buy which ever one you think will suit you best based on different people's feedback, because at the end of the day you have your diehard Sony users and your diehard Canon users that will always feel that their camera is best.


In a last note, the XL1 in 28 Days Later was using a 35mm lens with an adapter, and you also must remember that the lighting, editing (color correction, etc) were all done by professionals with professional equipment. At the end of the day, its not what camera you use, but how you use it.


Good luck with your studies in filmmaking, and shoot the heck out of whichever camera you decide to buy!


Robbie

The reason I passed on the XL1s is simple - no side screen. Approaching people with 1.5kg of brass 'n glass sticking out of your forehead is one sure way to change the reality you're trying to film. It's also a lot more dangerous walking about in peopled situations with your eye glued to a viewfinder. You should be looking left and right for your next shot as you concentrate on this one.

Another thing. The 3x wide-angle lens costs exactly half the VX2000, yet manages to lose you the excellent OIS. And the camera is a pain to hold after the 2k/150.

tom.

I am shooing my first paid wedding soon with a Sony PD150, I have a couple of questions:

1) Should I limit my gain to 12 db ???
2) Is a wide angle lens necessary, or a luxury ???
3) Should I use higher shutter speeds if I plan on doing slow motion in post ??
4) How do I handle mixed lighting conditions ??..its a daytime reception and I'm not too sure how to handle the indoor lighting and window lighting...

Any advice will help...thanks !!!

Lester