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Home: Inactive Forums: Underwater Video:
Pd 150 Vs Vx2000?

 
 


X-Ben_
Imported Account

Jun 27, 2004, 8:13 PM

Post #1 of 13 (5158 views)
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Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? Can't Post
Have a used Amphibico VH2000 and I am thinking of putting a PD-150 in it. Unfortunatly the housing doesn t have the side menu bar standard on the PD 150 housings. What is the general opinion out there, is it worth the cost to get this installed? Is the PD 150 far superior to the VX2000 anyway? The unit will be used at a range of 14m-28m in tropical water so a good low light performance important. Thank for your time Ben.


TomW
New User

Jul 5, 2004, 5:52 PM

Post #2 of 13 (5093 views)
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Re: [X-Ben_] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
The PD150 and the VX2000 are, as far as I'm aware, identical in their low light performance.


Bob Swick
Novice

Jul 25, 2004, 10:15 PM

Post #3 of 13 (4966 views)
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Re: [TomW] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
I have the Amphibico PD150. I rarely if ever use the menu bar on the side. The main problem with the PD150 for underwater use is that you will need a monitor. This is necessary to do white balancing and be able to see colors you are shooting. For me, the monitor is useless for focusing though as I need reading glasses. So I have to look through the viewfinder to focus and then check the monitor for white balance. I am thinking of getting a VX2100 so I dont have to dive with the monitor. Also, if you have an Amphibico VX2000 housing you will need to rig something up for the microphone jack which is different on a vx2000 and PD150. Amphibico will change the wire for you but it is expensive. Probably better off going to en electronics shop and getting an adapter.


TomW
New User

Jul 27, 2004, 10:59 AM

Post #4 of 13 (4896 views)
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Re: [Bob Swick] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
Hello Bob,
Just got mine back after conversion to PD170, along with loaner WA/macro lens. Tryout soon as orthopedic guy says it is OK (long story). Have you tried the macro yet? What is the button combo to press?
Tom


Bob Swick
Novice

Jul 27, 2004, 7:27 PM

Post #5 of 13 (4884 views)
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Re: [TomW] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Tom,
Just got mine back too. I can now run PD150, PD170, VX2000 or VX2100 in it. I currently have the NTSC PD150 and am thinking of getting a PAL VX2100. That way I get more lines, lower light sensitivity and don't have to bring down the monitor for white balance as the 2100 has a color viewfinder. The circuit board in the housing was fixed to be able to do macro shooting. In other words it now allows the camera to close focus which it çould not do before. Ron told me originally that I would have to press the zoom speed button to reset it. But then later said that that was not correct. I didn't any official final instructions when I got the housing back but figured it out myself. I am extremely happy to report that it works fantastically now!! I am very happy!! Thank you Amphibico! It will allow close focus when first turned on whether it is in auto or manual. The first time you switch from manual to Auto or Auto to manual it still allows close focus. On the second go it gets confused and then does not close focus anymore. This is remedied underwater by momentarily turning the camera off and on again. For me this is not a problem at all. It is fantastic.

Ron also gave me one of those mis-designed OPAL 110 lenses to try out. Told me that with the plastic dome on it it has light shadows but without the dome it is a fantastic macro lens. This is exactly right. I will have to post some photos from Sipadan on my website soon to show the almost microscopic detail. This is the best macro I have been able to shoot. The main problem is that if you have this lens on you cannot shoot anything more than about a foot away or it will be out of focus. With the plastic dome on, you can shoot wide angle and also macro but not as close as without the dome. With the dome on, it is extremely tricky to get the light reflections out of the image. This depends on the strength of the light and the direction of the light. Too bad the dome has to be screwed on at the surface and is not wet mount. The o rings are very tricky to get lined up too. One nice thing about the lens is that it has a very nice thick foam casing. This protects the lens from corals and also provides required buoyancy. It is really a pity that this lens has the light reflection problems or it would have been a fantastic lens. Maybe they can somehow make it work with the wet mount wide angle glass dome they have for the standard port. I will experiment with that on my next trip.

I haven't tried using diopters with the flat port since the close focus problem has been fixed. Dont know how close that would get me to the macro abilities of the OPAL 110 without its dome. BTW diopters will not fit with the OPAL 100 only the flat port. Using diopters with the flat port I believe will also limit the focal length of the camera. Too bad they cannot be flipped in and out.
I am debating whether it is worth keeping for macro only diving or whether the money they want for it would be better spent elsewhere. hdtv?

Hope you feel good enough to go diving soon!!!
Best regards,
Bob


Bob Swick
Novice

Jul 27, 2004, 7:45 PM

Post #6 of 13 (4878 views)
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Re: [TomW] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
As far as I know from an old post on this site, the PD150 has a sensitivity of 2 lux while the VX2000 has 4 lux. The new vx2100 and PD170 have a 1 lux rating. These probably make very little difference for typical shooting.
The main disadvantage of the PD150 is dragging around the monitor to do white balance.

BTW Amphibico put in a new viewfinder on my housing that is even bigger and brighter than before. A million times better than my old gates Diego housing with its microscopic viewfinder.


Rich S
Novice


Jul 31, 2004, 7:40 AM

Post #7 of 13 (4835 views)
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Re: [Bob Swick] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
As far as I know from an old post on this site, the PD150 has a sensitivity of 2 lux while the VX2000 has 4 lux.
Thats not true..the lux ratings are identical (2 lux)

Rich S
"An edit is never finished, only abandoned when the editor runs out of time."


Bob Swick
Novice

Aug 1, 2004, 6:33 PM

Post #8 of 13 (4804 views)
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Re: [Rich S] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
HI Rich,

Please refer to the post on June 18, 2000 by Tom W. This was one of the reasons I bought the PD150 instead of the VX2000. If in fact it is not true I should have gotten the VX2000 as I wouldn't have to drag down the monitor. I do like the DVCAM though. The tape has never jammed and I have never ever experienced any dropout or pixelation unlke all my previous cameras including PC10, TRV900, and my old TRV750 Hi8 which was notorious for eating tape and jamming all the time.

Regards,
Bob


Rich S
Novice


Aug 1, 2004, 6:49 PM

Post #9 of 13 (4801 views)
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Re: [Bob Swick] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
HI Rich,

Please refer to the post on June 18, 2000 by Tom W. This was one of the reasons I bought the PD150 instead of the VX2000. If in fact it is not true I should have gotten the VX2000 as I wouldn't have to drag down the monitor.
Well, those links don't work work any more, but my VX2000 owner's manual states 2lux at f1.6. Now I did purchase the camera in 2002, so maybe there were changes between 2000 and 2002?

Also, I can tell you from experience that the PD150 and VX2000 are identical in performance because I use them both for event videography. Personally, I like the PD150 better because of the better manual control, but yeah, WB is a problem underwater.

Respectfully,

Rich S
"An edit is never finished, only abandoned when the editor runs out of time."


Bob Swick
Novice

Aug 1, 2004, 9:04 PM

Post #10 of 13 (4791 views)
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Re: [Rich S] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
Dear Rich,
OK the printed manual is good enough for me. I am ready to go buy a PAL VX2100 now. Wondering if you notice any less tape problems with the PD series?
Regards,
Bob


Rich S
Novice


Aug 2, 2004, 9:18 AM

Post #11 of 13 (4777 views)
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Re: [Bob Swick] Pd 150 Vs Vx2000? [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Dear Rich,
OK the printed manual is good enough for me. I am ready to go buy a PAL VX2100 now. Wondering if you notice any less tape problems with the PD series?
Regards,
Bob

Interestingly enough, I've had more tape problems with my PD150 than my VX2000. Now, I've only seen problems on two occasions over the last year and it was a single dropout each time so no big deal or reason to think that there's a problem with the PD150 versus my VX2000.

Sony makes the best tape transport in the business and I don't think you'll have any tape problems. You may also want to make sure that whetever tape brand you start with, stick to it. Some say that mixing different tape brands that use different lubricants can "gum up" the heads and cause issues.

Rich
"An edit is never finished, only abandoned when the editor runs out of time."


TomW
New User

Aug 8, 2004, 10:17 AM

Post #12 of 13 (4731 views)
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Self-defense [In reply to] Can't Post
Hey guys - here's a discalimer: If you re-read my old posts - you can get there by using a search - you'll see it was a question, not a statement! Angelic

Sony's web site at that time had the 2 & 4 lux numbers. Dunno if they still do...

Next month I get to try the PD170 - I'll let you know if the 1 lux rating has any meaning UW Cool

Tom


scubadru
Novice

Aug 25, 2004, 7:48 AM

Post #13 of 13 (4513 views)
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Sony marketing BS [In reply to] Can't Post
Sony fudged the figures for the NTSC market because they needed to boost the PD150 sales. Not only did the manuals state the same lux in the PD150E/VX2kE, on the Japanese websites they also state the same lux figures. Only the US Sony website and Pro section fudged the numbers when I researched online when it first came out.
As for the 1lux usability, you'd be hardpressed to find the difference until you use 6db gain. Only plus for the PD170 is the more incremental exposure dial which is nice for transitional lighting shots but I usually shoot with A/E and a chosen shutter speed if needed. Macro and lighted shots I use manual exposure since Sony has a tendency to overexpose highlights. Use the zebra function, it'll save a lot of clips for you!