Hey, I have a chance to get one of these pdx10's pretty cheap. I love the xlr, the 16x9, and I figure I can de-interlace in post. The question is, what are you guys doing about the smear that I've seen on stills?

Does a uv or other filter on the front help?

There is no real getting rid of smear in an already shot picture. The object of the game is avoiding it in the first place: experiment to find out the conditions under which this phenomena occurs and assess future shoot environments accordingly.

I find that it only occurs in extreme conditions. It is especially aggravated by high shutter speeds. Therefore:

* Use full manual control

* Lock shutter speed at 1/60 (also needed since you plan to de-interlace in post - 1/60 is the optimum speed for this generally speaking)

* Get a couple external ND filters to allow shooting in bright sun while using 1/60 shutter speed.

* Try to keep very intense light sources out of the frame (remember that due to the 4:3 CCD's that use a patch in the center for 16:9, a bright light source that appears to be above the frame may actually be hitting the CCD)

* Use the supplied large lens hood

I think you will find the smear to be less of a problem than you fear, or at least I have. And I even shoot right into the sun sometimes, or into stage lights, without problem.

Boyd's spot on - take avoiding action up front because once it's on the footage it's there for keeps. The effect is very much shutter speed dependent as he says, so avoid using higher than 1/60th and use extra NDs or the camera will up the shutter speed without telling you. Sony consider (quite rightly) that correct exposure is better with smear rather than incorrect exposure without the smear.

Does anyone know if the HC-1000 is any better in this respect? Apart from having ''Zeiss'' engraved around the lens, the specification looks to be TRV950 carry-over.

tom

Thanks all!