PD150 Questions

Kevin Lee · July 4th, 2004, 07:44 PM

Haha. Oops
Yes, Of Course.

Brandon White · July 29th, 2004, 02:09 PM

Hi. I have an upcoming shoot in which I will be using the PD150 for a film. I am looking for any advice from experienced users and/or DP's that can give me some tips to get the most out of this beauty. I'm looking for lighting tips, audio tips and anything else that might help me get the best image possible. I've seen some great films shot with this camera so I know it's possible.

Any help would be great. Thanks,
Brandon White
Another Green World Productions

Patrick King · July 29th, 2004, 02:22 PM

I thought Alan Barker's article was chock-full of practical info for PD150/170 documentary shoots. Some of which MAY apply to your film or just help with wrangling the camera.

http://www.alanbarker.com

Frederic Segard · July 29th, 2004, 02:47 PM

Try this site too:

http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm

Joel Ruggiero · October 7th, 2004, 10:59 AM

Hey guys I am a little new to the pd150 and haven't learned all the ropes yet but I have ran into a little problem. I have recored a lot of fottage but never played it back. So I sat down to capture at hope and I noticed that the audio only recorded from the right side. I dont no if this is a setting some where I missed or possibly something wrong with my mic or the xlr. Any suggestion would help.

Boyd Ostroff · October 7th, 2004, 01:36 PM

The mike is monophonic but you can set the channel select switch to send it to both channels:

http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/son...pd150sound.htm

Don Bloom · October 7th, 2004, 04:38 PM

when set to CH1/2 it records to bot channels (left and right)
when set to channel 2 only it will record to the right channel only.
The switch is on the left side of the camera.

Don B

Joel Ruggiero · October 7th, 2004, 08:42 PM

Thnk you guys so much!!!!

Lasse Bodoni · October 9th, 2004, 05:59 PM

It's not more than 7° C outside now. After a few minitues I'm loosing the manuall focus in this temperature. It does no metter if I turn the focus ring to the right or to the left, it doesn't work. The auto focus still works well. Is it normal?

Mike Rehmus · October 9th, 2004, 06:11 PM

No, operating temperature for the camera is from 0 degrees Centrigrade to 40 degrees Centigrade

Lasse Bodoni · October 9th, 2004, 06:24 PM

Thank you.

Alex Filacchione · October 12th, 2004, 09:51 AM

Looks like I am going to be getting a PD150. For hte work that I want to do, my partner and I will mostlikely need a 2nd camera. Neither one of us has the money to put out for a 2nd PD150.

What are my options for a 2nd camera then?

We will mainly be filming indoors, but at times we will be filming in recording studio control rooms, which can be darkly lit, and they won't want any sort of a lighting rig in there (though an on camera light would be fine as long as it is diffused).

So, we need a 2nd camera, and the budget is real tight. We are definitely looking used. The optimal 2nd camera would be a VX2000, but that might be out of the price range of my partner. What are our alternatives?

We want to be able to basically match the "look" of the footage as closely as possible. After seeing screenshots of the VX1000 vs the VX2000, I don't know if a used VX1000 will give us a close enough look. It is more grainy, the WB is slightly different, etc. Maybe the VX1000 will work OK...

We will setup the cameras to match as closely as possible in the field, and then try to fix the rest in post if possible. I know that only so much can be done...

So what are my options other than the VX1000? I am thinking either a Canon GL1 or GL2, or a Sony PD100. Something around $1000 price range. I have not seen any used PD100s so I don't know what they are going for. Used GL1s for under $1000 are easy to find on eBay, and used GL2s for under $1000 can be had if you are patient enough...

Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks!

Alex F

Tom Hardwick · October 12th, 2004, 12:22 PM

As I was reading your post my mind was saying ''go get a PD100'' and there it was in your list. What about the TRV900? (forget the TRV950 because of its appalling low-light capability). The 900 won't allow XLRs, but will intercut well with the PD.

But you know it and I know it - what you really want is a VX2000. They're tough as nails and seem to suffer far fewer of the problem the first generation VX1000 had. The first ones are 4 years old now, and will be a better bet than the PD100, and a lot better than the dissapointing GL1.

tom.

Alex Filacchione · October 12th, 2004, 01:10 PM

Absolutely right, I would get a VX2000 if we had the extra cash. As it is, getting the used PD150 is going to tap me out for a while! My partner has even more limited funds.

I'll look into the TRV900 as well. Not worried about audio. We will probably either record the audio to the PD150, or run it by itself and synch it in the PC. We will have to experiment a bit and see what gets us the best balance of sound quality, synch, & ease of use/setup (setup being on the lower end of the list).

BTW, my understanding is that if you run audio into the PD150 and record using DVCam you get true SMPTE time code. Is that correct? Will the time code transfer out to the NLE?

If I go tapeless (direct to disk) will I still get the SMPTE?

Thanks,

Alex F

Mike Rehmus · October 12th, 2004, 03:09 PM

The transfer of timecode is entirely up to your NLE. Same thing for the disk approach (assuming it has SMPTE timecode)

July 29th, 2004, 02:09 PM	#137
Brandon White New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 10	Sony PD150 - Looking for tips and advice on lighting, iris, etc... Hi. I have an upcoming shoot in which I will be using the PD150 for a film. I am looking for any advice from experienced users and/or DP's that can give me some tips to get the most out of this beauty. I'm looking for lighting tips, audio tips and anything else that might help me get the best image possible. I've seen some great films shot with this camera so I know it's possible. Any help would be great. Thanks, Brandon White Another Green World Productions __________________ thanks, Brandon

July 29th, 2004, 02:22 PM	#138
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	I thought Alan Barker's article was chock-full of practical info for PD150/170 documentary shoots. Some of which MAY apply to your film or just help with wrangling the camera. http://www.alanbarker.com __________________ Fear No Weevil!

October 7th, 2004, 10:59 AM	#140
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	Pd150? Help Hey guys I am a little new to the pd150 and haven't learned all the ropes yet but I have ran into a little problem. I have recored a lot of fottage but never played it back. So I sat down to capture at hope and I noticed that the audio only recorded from the right side. I dont no if this is a setting some where I missed or possibly something wrong with my mic or the xlr. Any suggestion would help.

October 9th, 2004, 05:59 PM	#144
Lasse Bodoni Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	Sony PD150 manuall focus It's not more than 7° C outside now. After a few minitues I'm loosing the manuall focus in this temperature. It does no metter if I turn the focus ring to the right or to the left, it doesn't work. The auto focus still works well. Is it normal?

October 9th, 2004, 06:11 PM	#145
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	No, operating temperature for the camera is from 0 degrees Centrigrade to 40 degrees Centigrade __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 4th, 2004, 07:44 PM	#136
Kevin Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 224	Haha. Oops Yes, Of Course.

July 29th, 2004, 02:47 PM	#139
Frederic Segard Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 209	Try this site too: http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm

October 7th, 2004, 01:36 PM	#141
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	The mike is monophonic but you can set the channel select switch to send it to both channels: http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/son...pd150sound.htm

October 7th, 2004, 04:38 PM	#142
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	when set to CH1/2 it records to bot channels (left and right) when set to channel 2 only it will record to the right channel only. The switch is on the left side of the camera. Don B

October 7th, 2004, 08:42 PM	#143
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	Thnk you guys so much!!!!

October 9th, 2004, 06:24 PM	#146
Lasse Bodoni Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	Thank you.

October 12th, 2004, 09:51 AM	#147
Alex Filacchione Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 129	2nd camera to PD150 Looks like I am going to be getting a PD150. For hte work that I want to do, my partner and I will mostlikely need a 2nd camera. Neither one of us has the money to put out for a 2nd PD150. What are my options for a 2nd camera then? We will mainly be filming indoors, but at times we will be filming in recording studio control rooms, which can be darkly lit, and they won't want any sort of a lighting rig in there (though an on camera light would be fine as long as it is diffused). So, we need a 2nd camera, and the budget is real tight. We are definitely looking used. The optimal 2nd camera would be a VX2000, but that might be out of the price range of my partner. What are our alternatives? We want to be able to basically match the "look" of the footage as closely as possible. After seeing screenshots of the VX1000 vs the VX2000, I don't know if a used VX1000 will give us a close enough look. It is more grainy, the WB is slightly different, etc. Maybe the VX1000 will work OK... We will setup the cameras to match as closely as possible in the field, and then try to fix the rest in post if possible. I know that only so much can be done... So what are my options other than the VX1000? I am thinking either a Canon GL1 or GL2, or a Sony PD100. Something around $1000 price range. I have not seen any used PD100s so I don't know what they are going for. Used GL1s for under $1000 are easy to find on eBay, and used GL2s for under $1000 can be had if you are patient enough... Thoughts? Comments? Thanks! Alex F

October 12th, 2004, 12:22 PM	#148
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	As I was reading your post my mind was saying ''go get a PD100'' and there it was in your list. What about the TRV900? (forget the TRV950 because of its appalling low-light capability). The 900 won't allow XLRs, but will intercut well with the PD. But you know it and I know it - what you really want is a VX2000. They're tough as nails and seem to suffer far fewer of the problem the first generation VX1000 had. The first ones are 4 years old now, and will be a better bet than the PD100, and a lot better than the dissapointing GL1. tom.

October 12th, 2004, 01:10 PM	#149
Alex Filacchione Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 129	Absolutely right, I would get a VX2000 if we had the extra cash. As it is, getting the used PD150 is going to tap me out for a while! My partner has even more limited funds. I'll look into the TRV900 as well. Not worried about audio. We will probably either record the audio to the PD150, or run it by itself and synch it in the PC. We will have to experiment a bit and see what gets us the best balance of sound quality, synch, & ease of use/setup (setup being on the lower end of the list). BTW, my understanding is that if you run audio into the PD150 and record using DVCam you get true SMPTE time code. Is that correct? Will the time code transfer out to the NLE? If I go tapeless (direct to disk) will I still get the SMPTE? Thanks, Alex F

October 12th, 2004, 03:09 PM	#150
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The transfer of timecode is entirely up to your NLE. Same thing for the disk approach (assuming it has SMPTE timecode) __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!