The Sony PD-150 Camcorder: A Quality and Affordable Tool for Filmmakers

If you are a filmmaker hoping to get a great broadcast quality image at an affordable price, the Sony PD-150 camcorder might be just what you are searching for. If you work in the media and entertainment industry and are seeking to make documentary films or are a videographer for a local television news station, this camcorder can save you a lot of money in your budget without compromising a quality picture. I have even heard that the Sony PD-150 has been used to make professional movies that have made their way into the Sundance Film Festival.

This camera is one of a growing number of professional camcorders that have been introduced in the last decade with more affordable prices for consumers. We purchased the Sony PD-150 after investigating different cameras that were out there on the market. We had a shoe-string budget but were aware that because of the technology, editing software and used camcorders were coming down to affordable prices. Sometimes a used professional camcorder in good condition could cost less than 3 thousand dollars within the last 3 years or so. That's a miracle for folks operating with shoe-string budgets. And today with everyone trying to keep up with the Joneses, due to the advent of the High Def 24p cameras, I've seen a used PD-150 camercorder selling for less than $1500 dollars on Ebay. But that does not diminish the excellence of this professional camcorder that can still hold its own.

And so after we prayed, did some research, and received a tax refund, we were now confident to purchase a used PD-150. We shopped on Ebay and were blessed to find one in good condition and an affordable price. It has been well worth the investment. This camcorder is a good looking camera that shoots a wonderful, broadcast-quality picture. Something else that was very important to me as a filmmaker and videographer was a quality camera that had XLR inputs (which this camera has) in order to connect the microphone for interviews.

The Sony PD-150 has a few other beneficial elements to it, like a color LCD screen that pulls out on the side to give you an idea of what the picture looks like. While working as a videographer and photojournalist at a local ABC News television station for 7 years, I found that there were times that I wish that I had a color LCD screen like this as a back up. With a black and white viewfinder, even the best photographers can't see what they're really shooting (even though they have a good eye and make few mistakes) until they return to the station and watch it on the color monitor. Nobody wants footage that can't or shouldn't be aired on professional television - especially footage that is bluer than Papa Smurf. This is a great back up to help in avoiding accidents like this that can cause huge grief for any videographer or filmmaker.

This camcorder is naturally a three chip camera (necessary for that broadcast look) and has all the capabilities to feed into a computer editing system via firewire. The image is great. It has the ability to do everything itself like auto focus and auto gain or it can be done manually. The PD-150 is also small enough which make it easy to move around with ease.

The greatest benefit of the Sony PD-150 camera is that it is lightweight and not a strain on the shoulder. After working at a news station all those years, it was rough on my back and shoulder from the weight of that heavy camera. If you ask any professional video photographer, that is a huge health issue for many of them to keep their backs protected. But this camera is very light and even has a built-in "steady shot" to compensate for camera shake. I have been very satisfied. I shot footage of firemen wading water in a river for one project and I shot it on my shoulder quite a distance from the shore. While we directed them by bullhorn, I was able to zoom in closer and there was very little shakiness in the camera - which is an amazing accomplishment.

The PD-150 camcorder's sound quality is not bad with the natural sound mic. Sometimes it is has recorded a little lower than usual, but can be cranked up in postproduction. I have heard stories of the early models having some problems with hiss. But I have not discovered any problems with this camcorder. Another plus is that the batteries are interchangeable with my Sony Hi-8 camera. I already had some batteries with my home video camera and this was an added benefit. This camera shoots with Mini-DV and these tapes are relatively inexpensive compared to the price of Beta Tapes.

The Sony PD-150 has been around for a while and so you might be able to find one for sale used at a reasonable price online. I've seen them for under $1500 on Ebay. It's always a risk to buy a used camera online so beware especially of scam artists when purchasing anything on the Internet. Always check the feedback of the seller and always approach a sale prayerfully. I also would recommend that you save up the money instead of going into debt to get your camcorder. Debt has a habit of destroying lives and enslaving impatient shoppers (and filmmakers are surely not immune to the lure of credit cards).

The Sony PD-150 is a great camera and it comes highly recommended. We plan, Lord-willing, to use this camercorder on our next project, a Black History docudrama/documentary, called "Freedom Lost? The Story of James City and Its Surrounding Communities."