Sony Professional DSR-PD170 3 CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom
Posted on | October 14, 2009 | No Comments
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Sony Professional DSR-PD170 3 CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom The DSR-PD170 is a high quality video camera well suited to a broad range of applications — from event videography to training videos to filmmaking. It’s small size and long battery life make it ideal for use in the field, and its broad array of manual override features make it a very adaptable camera for all sorts of shooting environments.
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| Two XLR audio inputs allow you to connect pro mics or external audio. |
Originally, camcorders used one CCD–the imaging device that turns light into electronic information–and let the image processing unit decider the color information from the data. Like today’s broadcast video cameras, however, the DSR-PD170 uses a prism to divide incoming light into three beams and uses specially tuned 1/3-inch CCDs to create red, blue, and green composite images, which are assembled into a final image. The result is a more film-like vibrancy and more accurate color representation. Advanced HAD technology reduces fixed pattern noise and the vertical smear sometimes associated with CCD images.
Audio
The DSR-PD170 records two channels of PCM digital sound with the 48 kHz/16-bit or 32 kHz/12-bit mode. It features a ECM-NV1 electret condenser microphone, as well as two XLR audio input connectors for use with professional-grade microphones or external audio sources.
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| A zoom lever and a rec start/stop button are built into the handle. |
The DSR-PD170 is equipped with a 12x zoom lens. Zoom comes in handy when you can’t get close enough to your subject for proper framing, such as a sporting event or nature photography. The camera also has digital zoom feature selectable for 24x or 48x. Users should note, however, that digital zoom comes at the expense of picture quality, since it is achieved by discarding part of the information from the frame.
In order to facilitate zoom control and recording operation during low-angle shooting, an additional zoom lever and a rec start/stop button have been added to the carrying handle. Furthermore, the supplied wireless Remote Commander unit can be used for external control.
To protect your investment, the DSR-PD170 comes with a lens hood with a built-in lens cap, which will keep your glass from getting dirty or scratched. The hood can be opened or closed by using a lever on the side of the hood, so it will never get lost. Also, it comes with a wide conversion lens, which is ideal for shooting indoors or in small spaces.
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| The kit includes a wide converter lens and hood. |
Sony’s optical Super SteadyShot System helps remove the slight hand jitter and vibration that is often the bane of video production. Sensors inside the camera detect horizontal and vertical movements and the camera can counteract those movements by adjusting the lens mechanism on the fly. This is superior to digital anti-shake systems that counteract image shake by trimming off edges of the frame.
Large precision black & white viewfinder and LCD monitor
View your subject through the built-in viewfinder, the swing-out LCD display, or both. The camera features a 0.44-inch type black & white LCD viewfinder and a 2.5-inch color LCD monitor. You’ll save battery time by using just one, but you may want to use one for adjusting focus and the other for monitoring audio levels.
Index marking and title function
When using a Cassette Memory-equipped DVCAM/DV tape, an index can be marked while recording with the DSR-PD170 or recording from an external video source, which makes for quick access later on. Also, you can store titles in the cassette memory for overlay during playback.
More DSR-PD170 features
| ·16:9 Widescreen Acquisition mode — Captures video at true widescreen aspect ratio without letterboxing | ·Digital pictures — save still images to Memory Stick media and combine with video images through the Media Mix function | |
| ·Low Light Shooting — record in just 11x minimum illumination | ·Large-sized Handle — enhanced design for a better grip | |
| ·Date Stamping — Superimpose the date onto an image | ·AV to DV Out — convert analog input signals to DV signals | |
| ·Selectable DVCAM/DV recording — record and playback in native DVCAM or in DV SP mode | ·Custom presets — choose common color level, sharpness, white balance shift, and agc limit | |
| ·Digital effects — still, flash motion, luminance key, trail, and old movie | ·Guide frame — provides vertical and horizontal subject lines | |
| ·Time Code Preset — fill in any timecode starting value | ·Fader — black fade, monotone fade, overlap, wipe and dot | |
| ·Zebra — displays a striped pattern in the LCD monitor and viewfinder across highlight areas, helping manual exposure settings | ·Manual Functions — zoom, focus, iris , shutter speed, gain, AE shift, white balance, ND filters (1/4 and 1/32), spotlight button, backlight button |
What’s in the box
DSR-PD170 camera, AC-L15 AC adaptor, ECM-NV1 electret condenser microphone, NP-F570 InfoLithium rechargeable battery pack, VCL-HG0758 wide conversion lens, LSF-S58 lens hood for wide conversion lens and hood cap, lens hood with built-in lens cap, RMT-811 Remote Commander and two R6 batteries, carrying belt, i.LINK cable strap, and stereo AV cable.
Customer Review: Excellent Camera, Great Features
I bought this as a companion to my Sony DSR 200A almost two years ago. Its been a great addtion for two-camera shoots when color temperatures need to match. Both cameras shoot 16:9 (but not HD), which clients have asked for. Its great for interviews, spontaneous action, b-roll and so much more. Its low-light capabilities have produced some amazing shots to many a client’s delight (“how’d you do that??”).
The one drawback is that it is not a grab-and-shoot camera. Its automatic features don’t respond well and you’ll end up with unusable images, especially in bright sunlight. Also its wide angle lens seems to have some focus issues. I tend to not use it as much as I’d like, especially for “live” situations, I don’t want to risk losing a shot because I couldn’t focus. If you have time to set up the camera properly, you’ll get great footage.
Otherwise, its a very handy and smaller version of the DSR 200A, down to the XLR inputs, attenuators and variety of controls. It records on the small DVCAM tapes or on Mini-DV which for some projects, I’ll use the less expensive Mini-DVs because of price. I haven’t been able to tell the difference.
This has been my go-to camera since I bought it.
Customer Review: Excellent camera
I have owned my PD170 for about a year now. I bought it to replace my VX2000 (another great camera).
Pros:
1. Excellent quality images for a non HD camera.
2. XLR connectors.
3. Compact size with excellent weight for steady one handed shots.
4. The low light ability of this camera is second to none.
5. Professional look.
Cons:
1. Not a shoulder mounted camera.
I shoot mostly weddings, events and indoor theatre productions.
You can’t go wrong with this video camera.
SANYO Dual Cameras Are World’s First With iFrame Video Format (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
SANYO North America Corporation today introduces its high-end Dual Cameras, the VPC-HD2000A and the VPC-FH1A, as the world’s first camcorders to offer compatibility with iFrame, a next generation video format designed specifically to allow users to easily import, edit and share high quality videos.
The Complete Guide to Video Blogging (Mashable)
Leah Betancourt is the digital community manager at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minn. She is @l3ahb3tan on Twitter. Video blogging is nothing new — after all, video has existed on the web long before YouTube. But video equipment is now cheaper, post production software more accessible, and online platforms on which to distribute video — such as YouTube — are easier to use than ever before …
Tags: Camera > ccd images > color > condenser microphone > dsr pd170 > DSR-PD > external audio sources > Image > LCD > Lens > micro fiber cloth > mini dv camcorders > minidv camcorder > ROTH Micro > video
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