PMW-300 owners - opinions needed

Andrew Smith · October 14th, 2014, 09:35 AM

I've only done some opportunistic shots at the end of a jetty in South Australia. Amazing clarity from this camera.

Here's some of the footage. I think the focus was on auto. Mainly me goofing around to see what shots I could get. Below video is in HD for your viewing pleasure.

Thinking of taking the camera on a whale watching expedition one day.

Andrew

Paul Cronin · October 14th, 2014, 09:41 AM

Agree the camera takes very nice crisp, clear pictures.

Jack Zhang · October 16th, 2014, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Murphy

I bought two of these batteries a few months ago. They work fine and are less expensive than the Sony equal. I have however found that the camera's battery meter is not accurate when using them and that my camera seems to churn through a battery very quickly compared to other full camcorders I have used. I wish someone including Sony would bring out a V-Lock adapter. I have a V-lock plate on my rig for my Zylight and other accessories, just wish I could power the camera.
I bought my batteries from Dolgin Engineering a reputable supplier.
Brian

That must be the SWIT batteries from China that don't require the pigtail.

V-lock going to the DC IN is required to be regulated to 12V to work with the PMW-300. If it's taken direct from the battery leads, it will complain about overvoltage.

Paul Cronin · October 16th, 2014, 11:36 AM

I have my DM plate voltage set at 11.5 volts but the camera still shuts it down at 12 volts.

Jack Zhang · October 17th, 2014, 01:23 AM

Yeah, it has to be constantly regulated at 12V. This means you have to trust your plate's or your V-mount battery's meter. Your plate has to be able to regulate the voltage to 12V constant.

Paul Cronin · October 17th, 2014, 06:18 AM

Shame Sony won't let us go down to 11.5 like most eng cameras I have used over the years.

Jack Zhang · October 17th, 2014, 07:18 PM

They used to for the models previous to the 300, supporting custom cut-off voltages. Sony just expects the DC IN to be from a wall outlet and a constant 12V now. Raw leads won't work anymore.

What's worse is that it's a software lock. The camera is electrically still able to take 10.5-17V, but the software locks out voltages higher than 12V from the DC IN. If it's from a genuine (or coded SWIT) BP-U battery, it still allows voltages higher than the DC IN.

October 14th, 2014, 09:35 AM	#16
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed I've only done some opportunistic shots at the end of a jetty in South Australia. Amazing clarity from this camera. Here's some of the footage. I think the focus was on auto. Mainly me goofing around to see what shots I could get. Below video is in HD for your viewing pleasure. Thinking of taking the camera on a whale watching expedition one day. Andrew Fishing in SA - YouTube

October 14th, 2014, 09:41 AM	#17
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed Agree the camera takes very nice crisp, clear pictures. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 16th, 2014, 11:36 AM	#19
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed I have my DM plate voltage set at 11.5 volts but the camera still shuts it down at 12 volts. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 17th, 2014, 01:23 AM	#20
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed Yeah, it has to be constantly regulated at 12V. This means you have to trust your plate's or your V-mount battery's meter. Your plate has to be able to regulate the voltage to 12V constant.

October 17th, 2014, 06:18 AM	#21
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed Shame Sony won't let us go down to 11.5 like most eng cameras I have used over the years. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 17th, 2014, 07:18 PM	#22
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: PMW-300 owners - opinions needed They used to for the models previous to the 300, supporting custom cut-off voltages. Sony just expects the DC IN to be from a wall outlet and a constant 12V now. Raw leads won't work anymore. What's worse is that it's a software lock. The camera is electrically still able to take 10.5-17V, but the software locks out voltages higher than 12V from the DC IN. If it's from a genuine (or coded SWIT) BP-U battery, it still allows voltages higher than the DC IN.