"Guy" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote in message news:COl%a.4127$z7.721684@wards.force9.net...

> > Yes...., and yes....;-)

> > As I point out in the VX2000 review, though, these cameras as a class

> > (and the VX2000 in particular, with its excellent auto controls) permit

> > (actually, encourage, since their manual controls are not great...) a

> > different approach to camera operation from that of the shoulder-mounts

> > (with their better provision for manual control, but inferior auto

> controls),

> > which is auto control with biasing - and with these it is actually more

> reliable

> > than trying to use manual focus with unsharp finders, manual apertures

> with

> > non-continuous diaphragm shifting, manual WB when it is not well set up

> > in the camera for neutral results, etc. (The review is at:

> > www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm.) BTW, this is a process

> > that happened in still photography earlier: pros resisted using AF and AE,

> > but eventually realized their advantages for making good-quality images

> > faster (especially as the AE and AF accuracy improved in the cameras).

> > I resisted using auto controls with still cameras longer than most, but

> now

> > I would not return to MF and ME except with stationary subjects and/or

> > camera - I can get more good images (and more good footage in video)

> > relying on good AE and AF (and WB) then when not (and the minor

> > errors [which would be present in manual operation also] can be corrected

> > in post, where it is most practical to do it...).

> > --

> > David Ruether

> I totally disagree. I find the PD150 an adequate camera for working

> manually (obviously no match for a full format cam) but very usable.

>

> If your subject walks in front of a bright window or doorway you would be

> happy with the auto exposure change? If you were filming a subject across a

> room or hall and a bright object (a nice white wedding shirt type of thing)

> passes in front of the camera you would be happy with exposure and focus

> change from the subject (Bride&groom)?

>

> Tell me it aint so David...

'Tis so, 'cuz these do not present the problems you

imaging (I do not think you have used the auto controls

much, or you would know that they do not respond instantly,

to avoid just the problems you imagine...;-) The auto-control

response to change is "gooey", simulating a good manual response

(if one could start the response that promptly, and respond that

smoothly...;-). Sure, there will be change - but that is desirable

in most instances (and if not, that is what the lock buttons are

for - or corrections in post...). For you: try a smooth exposure

shift as you pan from an exterior view to an interior (or to any

predominantly darker or lighter area). You cannot do it smoothly,

since the manual exposure shifts in 1/2 stop increments with

these cameras instead of smoothly. Try follow-focusing manually

a bride coming down the aisle, starting with a close-up tele view

and ending in a wide view (with WA attached). Works fine in AF.

Oh, you missed it? Sorry, you cannot repeat it...;-) Try walking

]from a tungsten interior through a door to outside and manually

shift WB to match. Can't be done, though the AWB will get you

close enough to correct the result in post. Anyway, you can

come up with ways to fool auto controls, and I can come up with

ways in which auto controls are superior - but the point was, for

fast shooting with these auto-oriented cameras, auto mode will

get you more (much more, if you are really shooting fast) good

footage than using manual controls. But, as I pointed out before,

I would not try this with the bigger cameras with better manual

controls and worse auto controls (nor would I use auto controls

when the situation is static, and does not require them...). Be

open to the advantages the newer gear provides - if you are

always planting these small cameras on tripods, limiting your

range of motion to accommodate what changes you can

compensate for manually, you are limiting the range of

your video vision. I prefer to be not so dull - these cameras

enable a wider range of view...;-)

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com