HCR-A1 vs PD170 for TV pictures at DVinfo.net

Luc Saint-Elie · February 11th, 2006, 07:11 AM

Hello,

I have a little (very little, 4 minutes) show inside a morning show on a TV channel.
I'd like to have some little short video images that I'd be able to shoot myself (In a previous life I used to do text+photo and somehow I'd like to do the same with video)

A used PD170 is more or less in the same price range than a new HVR-A1

Considering that I don't care about HD (it's for a SD morning TV show) how does the picture quality of a A1 used in DVCam compare with the one of a PD 170 ?

Say in another way, is a HVR-A1 used in DVcam a good option compard to a used PD170 ?

I'm looking for an answer only on a picture quality basis not on a global ease of use or technical performance.

Thanks in advance

Luc

Paul Jefferies · February 11th, 2006, 08:19 AM

As I understand it, (correct me if I'm wrong) The PD150/170 does not do true 16:9, whereas the A1 does not do 4:3. Personally, I wouldn't buy a second hand camera, but if you are making 4:3 programming maybe the PD would be a better bet. I own the PDX-10 which was the SD predecessor of the A1 and always found it a good camera, even though it had a few annoyances, such as a slightly unwieldy shape. You could probably pick one of these up for a lot less than a PD150, and have both 16:9 and 4:3 options

February 11th, 2006, 07:11 AM	#1
Luc Saint-Elie New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Paris-France Posts: 20	HCR-A1 vs PD170 for TV pictures Hello, I have a little (very little, 4 minutes) show inside a morning show on a TV channel. I'd like to have some little short video images that I'd be able to shoot myself (In a previous life I used to do text+photo and somehow I'd like to do the same with video) A used PD170 is more or less in the same price range than a new HVR-A1 Considering that I don't care about HD (it's for a SD morning TV show) how does the picture quality of a A1 used in DVCam compare with the one of a PD 170 ? Say in another way, is a HVR-A1 used in DVcam a good option compard to a used PD170 ? I'm looking for an answer only on a picture quality basis not on a global ease of use or technical performance. Thanks in advance Luc

February 11th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#2
Paul Jefferies Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Croydon, England Posts: 277	As I understand it, (correct me if I'm wrong) The PD150/170 does not do true 16:9, whereas the A1 does not do 4:3. Personally, I wouldn't buy a second hand camera, but if you are making 4:3 programming maybe the PD would be a better bet. I own the PDX-10 which was the SD predecessor of the A1 and always found it a good camera, even though it had a few annoyances, such as a slightly unwieldy shape. You could probably pick one of these up for a lot less than a PD150, and have both 16:9 and 4:3 options