Camcorder Review:
Sony DSR-PD170 DVCAM (page 2)

Image quality is superb. The PD170 has squeezed about as much dynamic range and color out the DV format as is possible. In high contrast mid-day sun, one of the most challenging shooting situations, shadows still retain some detail while the highlights aren't overly blown out. Colors are fully saturated and accurately rendered. There is no noticeable sensitivity to one or more colors providing a true color response. Even in very (very) low-light situations, colors and contrast remain rich and accurate providing an excellent dynamic range with very little noise, even when employing gain (up to +18dB).

The auto white capability is very good, but it can be fooled in multiple light temperature environments. Sony has made it so easy to white balance manually that it would be a shame not to take advantage of this. Exposure control is also under both auto and manual control. Iris and shutter have independent control via dedicated wheels. Auto Exposure Shift allows the user to change the shutter or iris, while simultaneously letting the camera select the appropriate gain for correct exposure.

The PD170 is a professional-grade Mini DV camcorder. Controlled by a knowledgeable user, it can create images and audio near the top range of the format's capabilities. If you are shopping for a camera in this class, there are only a few to consider. For example, the PD170 is much smaller, more portable and less expensive than the Canon XL2. It does not, however, have the endless imaging tweaks and subtle adjustments that are available with the new XL2 or the Panasonic DVX100. The PD170 does have all of the basic manual controls a professional needs to create outstanding images and sound, but it also has superior automatic features. This makes it an ideal run-and-gun shooter, which is why you see it in the field with journalists and documentary shooters so often.

Brian Peterson is a Communications Director with the American Lung Association and has more than 14 years of broadcast video production experience.

Format: Mini DV and DVCAM
Lens: F/1.6-2.4; fl=6 mm to 72 mm; 12x optical zoom; 58mm filter diameter
Image sensor: 3 x 1/3-inch CCD
Gross pixels (per CCD): 380K
Video pixels (per CCD): 340K
Viewfinder: color (180K pixels)
LCD viewscreen: 2.5-inch color (211K pixels)
Focus: auto, manual
Anamorphic 16:9: no
Image Stabilization: optical
Exposure: auto, manual, presets (5)
Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/4
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/10,000
Iris: auto, manual
Electronic Gain: +18dB
Frame Rate: 60i
Neutral Density Filter: yes (2)
Zebra Stripes: yes (70%, 100%)
White Balance: auto, manual, presets
Audio: 12-bit (default), 16-bit
Audio Gain: auto, manual
Microphone Input: XLR (x 2), 48V DC phantom power
Headphone Output: 1/8-inch stereo mini
Inputs: FireWire, S-video, composite
Outputs: FireWire, S-video, composite
Edit Interface: FireWire
Additional: wide-angle adapter (0.7x)
Dimensions (w x h x d): 4.9 x 7.1 x 15.9 inches (125 x 180 x 405 mm)
Weight (sans tape and battery): 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg)

Horizontal Resolution: 520+ lines
Field of View (4:3): 39 degrees
Field of View (w/ included adapter): 54 degrees

• Professional controls
• Outstanding imaging
• Relatively small size

• No anamorphic 16:9 mode
• Limited imaging flexibility

From documentaries to the nightly news, the Sony PD170 is a run-and-gun shooter for professionals.

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