Directional mono shotgun microphone i.LINK ( IEEE-1394 ) in / out interface Analog S-Video input Two independent 3-pin XLR Audio inputs Manual shutter speed, recording level, white balance, AE shift, iris, zoom & focus Time / Date stamp with video readout Chroma-key capability for title, image or logo insertion from Memory Stick(R) Dimensions - 7-1/8H x 5-1/4W x 18D (w/ microphone) Includes wireless remote, battery, AC adapter / on-camera charger and shoulder strap
Amazon.com Product Description
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. |
3CCD camera system
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. |
12x optical zoom lens
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. |
Optical Super SteadyShot system
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 |
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·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 |
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·Large-sized Handle -- enhanced design for a better grip |
| ·Date Stamping -- Superimpose the date onto an image |
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·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 |
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·Custom presets -- choose common color level, sharpness, white balance shift, and agc limit |
| ·Digital effects -- still, flash motion, luminance key, trail, and old movie |
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·Guide frame -- provides vertical and horizontal subject lines |
| ·Time Code Preset -- fill in any timecode starting value |
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·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 |
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·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 Reviews:
One of the greats in prosumer DV history..........2005-07-15
Clean, beautiful images. Rugged construction. A fine run'n'gun videographic instrument, although after a year now I wish that I had gone with the shoulder cam version, the DSR-250, but that's another story...
Likes:
Wide range of shutterspeeds (1/4-1/10000).
Clean gain up to 9 or 12 db
and very light sensitive to boot.
Simultaneous B/W Viewfinder and color LCD.
Fairly sharp B/W Viewfinder, a must-have feature, imo.
Dislikes:
A few misplaced and unnecessary controls along the bottom ridge.
A few misplaced and very necessary controls, such as the iris control wheel that gets blocked by LCD screen when open and isn't very accessible for handheld besides.
Weak audio preamps.
For event videography, this camera just plain reigns supreme, for the price.
Outstanding camera, period........2004-12-15
I've used this camera on several professional video shoots now, including talking heads, outdoors and an indoor music video. The low light capability of this camera is nothing short of stunning, with clear, crisp images available even when using only available tungsten room lights. We shot a girl playing the piano with candles in the background and only the piano lamp and it looked great. The PD170 is very easy to use for the beginner and a breeze to tweak on the fly. It has solid, nicely positioned controls (for full auto and full manual configurations), pro XLR audio/mic inputs and easily accessible miniDV cassette mechanism that lets you change tapes while the camera is on the tripod. Its DVCam recording mode runs the DV tape at a faster rate, giving you about 43 minutes of recording on an hour miniDV tape. The higher recording speed is not mandatory, but does improve quality when you choose to use it. Autofocus is crystal clear, but easily manipulated manually with a great focus ring. This camera has lots of bells and whistles, including the ability to monitor both channels' recording levels onscreen, while taping. I've heard the networks' embedded reporters in Iraq are using PD170's and I believe it. The quality of the images captured by this camera is nothing short of professional. The heft and feel of the PD170 is just right. it's got a nice, built-in lens cover that's actuated by a solid feeling lever on the side of the lens housing. It also features two built in neutral density filters that can be flipped into position with another lever. The list of features and thoughtful design elements goes on and on. Obviously, I'm crazy about this DVCam and literally don't have a single complaint to share. If you're looking for a rock solid, professional grade camcorder in the $3000 range, look no further. Read up on it and the competition. Then buy this gem and prepare to be bowled over by its performance, pictures and exceptional design.
Product Description
This telescope has all glass components, coated optics and smooth functioning mounts, with the added benefit of slow motion controls on the mount for easy adjustments. The FirstScope 60 telescope tubes are glossy black aluminum.
The German equatorial mount features setting circles and slow motion controls on the R.A. and DEC axes. These controls will enhance your viewing experience by simplifying both locating and tracking objects. When you're looking for a telescope offering a bit more versatility and control than the altazimuth models, this is the telescope to consider.
Amazon.com Review
Celestron's Firstscope 60 EQ is an affordable entry level telescope packaged with two decent eyepieces, a "red-dot" finder, and a basic equatorial mount. But "affordable" doesn't mean "cheap": Like many other amateurs, my first unforgettable view of Saturn's rings came years ago with an entry level 60mm refractor very much like the Firstscope 60 EQ.
The best objects for small telescopes are bright objects like the Moon and planets. When I look at Jupiter with the included 10mm eyepiece (90x) or my own 7.5mm plossl eyepiece (120x), I can plainly see Jupiter's four moons and two major cloud belts. The rings of Saturn, the moon-like phases of Venus, and the little orange disk of Mars all show up quite nicely at 90x and 120x. Many deep space objects look best with the low power 20mm eyepiece (45x). The Pleiades cluster, for instance, fills the eyepiece with bright stars right across the field of view. Other famous deep space objects like the Ring Nebula, the Swan Nebula, and the globular cluster in Hercules are plainly visible, but they are too small and faint to show much detail.
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The Firstscope 70 EQ features a classic achromatic refractor design. |
The equatorial mount included with the Firstscope 60 EQ has dual slow-motion controls. Simply point the mount's polar axis at Polaris, the north star, and you can turn one knob to track stars and planets as they move across the sky. You can even add an optional motor drive for automatic tracking. In practice, however, the small equatorial has its drawbacks. I find the flexible control knobs are stiff enough to get in the way when viewing overhead. Some people even remove the counter-weight and set the elevation dial to zero degrees-this simple change converts the mount to Alt-Az operation with dual slow-motion controls. Alt-Az mounts use an easy to understand up-down (altitude), left-right (azimuth) motion instead of the more complicated "declination" and "right ascension" of the equatorial mount.
A subscription to Night Sky magazine would go a long way to helping a beginner learn how to use the Firstscope 60 EQ and how to identify the stars and planets. A small telescope like the Firstscope 60 EQ has its limitations; it won't show the divisions in Saturn's rings or resolve globular clusters into individual stars. Even so, if a small scope peaks your curiosity by showing you the rings of Saturn and the mountains on the Moon, it's done its job well. When you're ready for a bigger telescope, check out Amazon's telescope buyers guide. --Jeff Phillips
Pros
- Low cost
- Decent optics
- Good planet views up to 120x
Cons
- Too small for serious observing
- EQ mount can be hard to use
Customer Reviews:
Not a Good Starter Scope.......2005-08-19
This scope is NOT a good starter scope for anyone interested in astronomy. Here's why:
1. The objective is too small, only 60 mm, 2.36 inches, so it is too small to bring in the light necessary for even a beginning look at the universe. I suppose it is adequate for the moon, but that is it. The planets will appear as very small disks. One will be able to see Saturn's rings, but the image will be very small. Forget it for deep sky objects, clusters, galaxies, etc.
2. The mount is a cheap equatorial, which is difficult for youngsters to set up. A better mount is a more solid equatorial mount with fine motion controls which makes it much easier to track objects.
3. There is only one eyepiece which severly limits views.
4. The mount will vibrate when touched, which will cause the image in the eyepiece to "shiver", which is very frustrating.
Even for the low price, don't be enticed by this scope; it has too many flaws. Save your money for a larger scope with a better mount.
Jim "Konedog" Koenig, astronomy buff
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