sony dv cam wanted

[mondo]

wanted

sony trv 900 video camera

anyone?

cheers
:-a

mondo

[frank]

May be you look for the Sony Pd 150. Its the same model like the TRV 900 but its DVCAM (TRV 900 is not!) and has XLR Adapter and Zebra.
And the best is:nobody knows that model. I got my one 200 Euros cheaper than the TRV900 at Ebay :p

Ciao Frank

[sleepytom]

umm no it isn't
the PD150 is a DVCam version of the VX2000 the DVCam version of the TVR900 is called the PD100

they are both discontinued and have been replaced with the inferior TVR950 and PDX10P

watch out for the sound - our TVR900 has lost the ability to record sound using the internal mic - its fine when using an external mic - apparently this is a common fault

other than that its a really good camera - look out for the DVcam version though as its even better!

heres a comparison of the 900 and is DV cam version the 100

DCR-TRV900E DSR-PD100AP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Format DV(mini only) DVCAM(mini only)
Body Color Silver Gun metallic gray
Body Size 93x103x193 93x112x194
Body Mass 880g 900g
Zebra Pattern Yes (100% or more) Yes (100% or more/ 70%/ Off)
Digital Zoom 48x, Default is ON 48x, Default is OFF
(case reads 48x) (case reads 12x)

Index Titler Preset Titles 8 titles: 8 titles:
HELLO! SCENE 1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCENE 2
HAPPY HOLIDAYS SCENE 3
CONGRATULATIONS! SCENE 4
OUR SWEET BABY SCENE 5
WEDDING SCENE 6
VACATION SCENE 7
THE END SCENE 8
Timecode Reset No Yes
Laser Link Yes No
Rec Mode Normal, Anti Ground Normal only
Zero Set Memory Yes No
Eye cup Regular Large Size
Mic. Input Yes(Stereo Mini) Stereo Mini + XLR


Supplied Accessories (all supplied accessories are listed regardless of differences)

DCR-TRV900E DSR-PD100AP

Battery NP-F330 same
AC Adaptor AC-L10 same
DK Cable DK-215 No need
Exclusive Wide Conversion Lens No Yes (0.7x)
XLR adaptor No Yes
21 pin adaptor Yes No
S-Cable No same
AV Cable Stereo AV (Special) same
Wireless Remote Commander RMT-811 same
Dry Batteries for Remote R6 Battery x 2 same
Lens Cap Yes same
Carrying Belt Yes same
Clock LITHIUM?Vanadium Lithium?Yes(built-in) same
Operation Manual Yes same
Lens Hood Yes Yes (+one for Wide conversion lens)
FDD adaptor Yes No
Memory Stick No Yes
MS/PC Card adaptor No Yes
Parallel port adaptor No No

[videotechno]

"watch out for the sound - our TVR900 has lost the ability to record sound using the internal mic - its fine when using an external mic - apparently this is a common fault"

ahh... somewhat comforting to know that it's a common thing. along with that internal mic issue, our 900 now has a LOT of trouble with auto-focus stuff.

the 950 is really cool, but maybe they should have spent less time on all the bells & whistles... somebody go buy me a VX2000!

[frank]

Hi,

yes, sorry , the PD100 is the semipro of TRV900.

Thats interessting my Dad had the same trouble with the internal mic of TRV900. Didnt know that this is a common fault.


Ciao Frank

[Ollie]

Contemplate this before buying..

i hummed and arred for ages before buying my camera, cause i really wanted to get the best quality and not be pissed of having to buy another cam in a couple of years. So saved up long and hard and bought the VX2000, what a sweet peice of kit, truly a good camera.

But after filming lots with it, there is somthing that really really bugs me, and that is the attention that it gets from other people. Its not a subtle camera, people look, people wanna talk to you, ok bonus they think your a pro, but its lack of discretness for me is now undesirable, i like filming people doing there thing, not looking at me wondering if there gonna be on the tele. So i think that maybe the 900, would have been a better option, sometimes the tourist look is better than the pro'ish.

now i think i will spend like ?400 on one of those tiny babys to carry with me EVERY where, which is probably a good thing, and use the 2000 for those other improtant moments.

[spaceman]

I know what you mean about size, now I got a PC10 and I get great results and no-one could care less about me, they probably think it's a super8...also the size factor help getting weird shots that you would be able to get with regular size cams.

[mondo]

thanks peeps for all the great info.

im still saving the cash ...and searching e bay!
probably going for tvr 950 mebbes........jury is still out.

funny i borrowed a trv900 recently and it was a bitch trying to get the mic to work!
spent ages at a gig trying to record our output. viz came out great but sound was shite!now i know! thanks tom

[xiayu]

what's the difference between DV and DVCAM?

[monsho]

Dvcam records at a higher rate, basically for better quality. You're meant to use DVcam tapes to get the best out of them but they are pricey. You get about 40 minutes of footage on a normal 60 min miniDV tape.

I've got the use of a PD100 and it really is a fantastic camera, and quite subtle without the wide angle lens and XLR adapter on it - if you want to look pro stick the lens on and a nice mic - bobs your uncle!

Also have a JVC dvp9 mini camera, tiny thing that goes in the pocket, very good for subtly filming without attracting any attention. Only downside is it ain't much good in low light levels, so filming in a club environment is a bit of a bummer. Good quality otherwise.

[mondo]

mmmm
you are the second person who recommends the PD100

maybe i should save for that

thanks for advice

[stevefromNewcastle]

actually the dvcam and miniDV use exactly the same compression, but the tape track in DVcam is slightly wider, making the tapes slightly mre durable, the also have locked audio tracks, making it better for audio syn.

In my expirence, the quality of picture is fairly subjective. I have a canon XM2 and I wouldn't swap it for a DVcam, but it comes down to personal choice.

Also a big factor for me was the extra, ?600 for a DVcam camera, over that of my canon. Go into a shop try a few, see how thew feel etc.
Steve

[monsho]

yeah, knew it was something techy like that :D

I would probably go Canon myself if I was splashing the cash, but the Sony is a belting Camera - I'm not arsed about the DVCam bit, but the quality and durability of the Sony Semi pro kit is excellent, it feels really solid and I've already dropped it a few times (don't tell my boss!!) without any problems.

The PD100 has been replaced with the PDX10, another great camera, with things like balanced XLR inputs etc.

As Steve said, have a look for yourself, if you can get a quick play with each one you'll get a better idea of what you like.

[AlwaysB]

Hi chaps thought I'd add to this thread, first time virgin.

My PD150 rocks :nod: The only thing for me to improve it would be to have a focus ring that actually tells me my distances! But that only happens on Pro end lenses.

The PD150 is the most popular semi-pro camera out there at the moment and for good reason... it's the best, for quality, accessories, hardy, low-light happy and television networks won't except anything shot on less. Except for the XL1, which personal I can't stand, but is better than a kick in the teeth.

Sony have the monopoly on most electronic toyz and cameras ain't no different. They have been playing around with thier R&D for years on ALL their models Commercial and Semi-pro (they're already the leaders in the Pro world) So they've had time to perfect their cameras to lifestyle models, broadcast documentry models etc. whilst the other brands are catching up and trying not to copy - but are! Nokia vs other mobile phones.

Anyway- Cameras: For film-makers, doco hunters and extreme sportist it's the PD150 and XL1 (oh and wedding 'videography')!
For VJ's at top end I would recommend the PDX10 as the best for your needs. Smaller with almost all the trimmings of a PD150 but still at the same quality image (3x1/3 chip). Mid range camera would be the TVR900 family, smaller still than the PDX10 with a minium drop in quality (3x1/4 chip) but a considerable drop in price. But by the sounds of the rest of this thread the Audio sucks.
At the bottomish end but top of the commerical market (1x chip)that I highly recommend for VJ's is the PC5,8,101 (touchscreen) cameras as they're very small, they have all the right things you need or never thought would need until you use it! Nightsight - the ultimate rescue with filming in most clubs with crap lighting. Slightly better but bigger is the PC110, 120. All these Sony Cameras (Don't know about TVR900)can play on Mini DV, DVcam, in NTSC or PAL and Record in both Mini DV and DVcam.

Quick thoughts: If you're going to be using the camera as a deck just as much as a lens then the larger the fold out monitor the better.
Sony and Cannon products don't like mixing - be adviced if you shoot something on a Cannon you can only digitize from the same camera, i.e you can't successfully capture from a tape shot on a PD150 through an XL1!
What I said about Sony accessories being the best wasn't excaltly true, certainly the most covered and greater variety but... don't buy their mics or lenses, they're a rip-off because they don't really specialize in them - hence the mark up. Sony make electronics. Cannon make lens. Shure/Sehnnieser make mics. Stick to that and you'll always get better value for money with quality. Basically I could have brought my wideangle lens from Sony @ ?450+ or get my better one from Cannon for only ?160.

Hope this rant has had some use for it feels like it's gone on forever. Personally as a VJ's cameraman I'm not going to be truely happy til I 'ave my PD150 a new PDX10 and a PC101 - but I'm just greedy :p

B.

Oh P.S. Mini DV vs DVcam: DVcam is more robust and would be better for VJ's repeatable playing off of it, it is more pro for On-lining (most editing VJ's are Off-lining in TV industry talk) and yes the audio may be better... but personally filming in gigs and clubs I prefer Mini DV because it gives that extra 20 mins of tape goes a lot further in well, time and money out of pocket compared with "is it really the best I could be recording at!" How many acts do a set less that an hour?