In the near future I will be heading to Nepal to begin shooting a documentary. I am looking for some advice on purchasing the Sony PD170. It seems like it would be a perfect camera for the task, although the audio I will be recording from interviews is probably more important overall than the images recorded (although both are quite important). I realize that the PD170 comes with it's own external shotgun mic, but should I be thinking of purchasing a separate shotgun mic (I'm looking for a semi-directional shotgun mic which might pick up a little of the ambient background noise) or would the PD170 mic suffice? If so, any recommendations for shotgun mics under $300?
Also, there's quite a price differential on the PD170 when you start poking around the web. How comfortable should I feel about purchasing from companies on the lower end of the price scale?
Finally, is there any sort of insurance I can purchase for the camera and other equipment that will cover me while I am overseas? If so, who would I purchase this from?
Thanks in advance for all of your help!
Hi Marty,
The Sony PD170 is a great camera and now dropping drasticly in price due to the advent of Sony's new Z1 HDV cameras ???
I used the PD170 extensively for several years and found the onboard mic to be pretty good for ambient sound and even for some interviews in very controlled environments.
However, many PD170s are now being sold as package deals both privately and commercially. So you may find a real bargain on camera, tripod, mic, bag etc. which would be ideal.
If you do intend to purchase your mic seperately I would recommend the Senheisser K6/ME66 mic setup. Don't forget you may need a seperate shock mount for your PD170 to keep the mic out of shot when rigged on the camera. Also if you intend to have the mic seperate from the camera don't forget to purchase a length of XLR cable!
All the best
Ross
Video Dept.
XPotential Media
"Photography does not so much confirm our experience of the world as it actively constructs it." AS-G
"Photography does not so much confirm our experience of the world as it actively constructs it." AS-G
Ross - thanks so much for your advice!
