Sony Handycam® DSR-PD150 DV Camcorder

Pros: 3CCD, manual zoom, image quality, low compression DVCAM format, full manual controls.
Cons: Hissy sound, quirky auto over-rides, really need expensive DVCAM tapes to get best from camera.

I love these wee pro-spec cameras, as usual with sony the quality is first class, it feels very well built, the controls are all solid and smooth (the manual zoom & focus rings are sublime).

Has more than enough features to keep low-end pro's...

Pros: camera recording quality. Lot of options.
Cons: reliability, sound hiss on some cameras, and weight distribution

I was one of the first to buy this camera, and it was revolutionary when it came out. Today there are way better cameras on the market. I have a bad history with Sony. I have bought many of their products and have always suffered dearly whenever I had ...

Pros: Versatile, great image quality, XLR mic input, DVCAM, miniDV, great for low light situations
Cons: maximum 1 hour recording in SP mode. slight hum in headphones when recording, price.

I have been shooting video footage with my PD-150 for 2 years now and I have found this camera to b ...

Pros: Image quality, progressive scan, DVCAM,
Cons: Heavy, poor standard mike, backlight problems(Auto).

This is a very good camera without doubt. The image quality is very good in almost every kind of light. In dark rooms(6-18 db) you get a nice warm picture, and in daylight faces are almost always correct. In contrary to VX1000 were you got yellows faces...

Pros: When used in memory card mode to take stills it produces great clear quality.
Cons: Sound can be a bit of a problem, not as good as expected

For a low end professional camera I was pleased with its results. Has all the features that you need to produce good quality videos. I would recommend it for independent filmmakers.

Pros: AUDIO! Picture quality is incredible, just keep the lens clean.
Cons: They don't make this camera anymore.

I used this camera at the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation), CTV, YTV and other networks, and time and time again it has performed excellently! I made a behind the scenes DVD as well as broadcast segments in Athens prior to the Olympics, and all those who saw and heard the footage did not believe that I was using the camera mic. EXCELLENT audio! Editors with over 30 years experience were fooled.

The earlier PD150 models had a problem with picking up motor sounds when zooming, but the later model has addressed this and is excellent! Picture quality - well, I just put it in anti-idiot mode (auto lock) and shot indoors and out (you can't ride the iris, so avoid going from indoor to outdoor conditions) and absolutely loved the fact that I could focus on the creative side of things and let the camera worry about the technical aspects.

I miss this camera so much...

Pros: Great low-light sensitivity, reliable workhorse, both DVCAM and dv format, seamless compatibility
Cons: Non-interchangeable lens requires adapter for wide-angle, very early first models had hiss problems.

This is the camera (in PAL) that was used to shoot Pieces of April, Tadpole, The King is Alive, Charlotte Sometimes - feature films that were transferred to film and had theatrical distribution. It is also used extensively by the BBC because of its beautiful picture and camera dependability. XLR inputs and capability for add-ons such as the anamorphic adapter or wide-angle lens make this a very adaptable camera. Weight is perfect, not as heavy as the older Canon XL-1 but more solid and professional-appearing than many of the other mini-dv cams. Also can take stills on a memory stick.

A solid all-around professional camera good for ENG, weddings, events as well as indie filmmakers.

Watch out for the very early issues of this camera (the first 3 months) as they had severe hiss problems with the audio. Most were sent back and repaired by Sony and then all subsequent units sold after that time already had the improved audio.

For a professional image quality with exceptional low light capability this is the camera. With the Century WA lens, you still have great WA to zoom reach. The unit seems to work best on auto audio gain, which caused no breathing. This is the minimal equipment for a professional educational or documentary camera.

Our organization used this camera throughout Mexico and Canada for four educational videos we produced. It performed flawlessly. An outstanding camera that performs very much like those costing ten times as much.

I've used a PAL version of this camera in England for the past two years while working for a digital television channel and never had any serious problems with it. The picture quality (especially in low light) equals much more expensive cameras and its ease-of-use makes it great for one-man-bands. The on-board mic is pretty useless. Add a Beech box and radio mics and it's good enough for b-cast though. It's not the most impressive looking piece of gear you'll take on a shoot, but it does the job and its cost, reliability and flexibility make it hard to beat.

It's to heavy and u can't hand it for a long time, but if u're looking for something cheap ato shot a short it's probabily the best u can find in the consumers.