Sony Professional DSR-PD170 3 CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom review

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Customer Rating for this product : 4.5
Excellent Camera, Great Features – Push Button Gadget – Milwaukee, WI USA
I bought this as a supplement to my Sony DSR-200A nearly two years. Its been a great addition to two compact, if necessary to match the color temperature. Both cameras shoot 16:9 (HD but not mandatory) that customers have. Its great for interviews, spontaneous action, B-roll and more. The low light capabilities, have produced some stunning shots of joy to many people ( "how did you do that ??").
The only drawback is that this is not a tomb-and-shoot camera. AutomaticFunctions do not react well and you end up with useless images, especially in sunlight. Its wide-angle lens seems to focus on some issues. I tend not to use as much as I wish, shot especially for situations "live", I do not take the risk because I could not concentrate. If you have time to set up the camera properly, you get great pictures.
Otherwise, it is very manageable and smaller version of the DSR-200A, the XLR inputs, attenuator, and the diversity ofControls. The records of the small DVCAM or Mini DV tapes that the use of certain projects, then I have the mini-DMS cheaper because of price. I am not able to recognize the difference.
This was my go-to-camera since I bought it.
Excellent camera – V. ROBERTSBATES – Oklahoma
I have my PD170 for about a year in possession. I bought my VX2000 (another great camera) to replace.
Strengths:
1. Excellent image quality for non HD camera.
2. XLR connectors.
3. Compact size with excellent weight to balance the scenes of the hand.
4. The ability of low-light camera is unmatched.
5. Professional look.
Weaknesses:
1. Not a camera mounted on the shoulder.
I often weddings, events and within theater productions.
You can not go wrong with this camera.
One of the greats in prosumer DV history… – Shawn Mielke – Santa Rosa, CA USA
Clean, beautiful images. Robust construction. A fine run'n'gun videographic instrument, although after a year now, I wish I had gone with the shoulder cam version, the DSR-250, but that's another story …
I like:
Wide range of Shutterspeed (1/4-1/10000).
Clean gain up to 9 or 12 db
and very light sensitive to boot.
Simultaneous B / W and color LCD viewfinder.
Fairly strong B / W Viewfinder, a must-have feature, IMO.
Dislikes:
Somemisplaced and unnecessary controls along the lower back.
Some misplaced and very necessary controls, such as the wheel of the iris, the LCD when it is stuck open and not very accessible for handheld to do so.
Weak audio preamps.
For event videography, the camera has decided, for the price.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 10, 2010 02:00:32