Sony DSR-PDX10 Camcorder Review
by Tony FonsecaPublished on Apr 8, 2004 12:00 AM
The market for 3CCD ¼.7 inch prosumer cameras is heating up thanks to the recent introduction of Panasonic's AG-DVC30. These types of cameras are a complete blend of the consumer and professional worlds. By trying to serve the needs of both they occasionally falter and fall flat. Sony's $2,395 (MSRP) DSR- PDX10 is a solid player in this field that faces stiff competition from veteran models as well as new contenders.
Video Performance (8.5)
The DSR-PDX10 is a camera capable of capturing great images under ideal lighting conditions. For reasons that will be explained later in this review, ideal lighting is necessary for this camera. At 3000 lux the DSR-PDX10 reproduces the color palette beautifully with bright saturated colors and sharp detail. The three ¼.7 inch CCDs all have 1,070,000 total pixels and 690,000 effective for video acquisition in the 4:3 aspect ratio.
Under ideal lighting conditions at 3000 lux the DSR-PDX10 obtains an excellent picture. At this light level color reproduction a bit more vivid than on the AG-DVC30, and on par with the GL-2 and XL-1s.
The DSR-PDX10 produced a very accurate color palette that did not emphasize red or blue as is the case with some cameras although the AG-DVC30 produces a brighter image, the DSR-PDX10 produces a richer image at 3000 lux. Under ideal lighting conditions this camera is a stunner, but everything changes when the lights go down.
The Front (8.5)
The front of the camera primarily features the lens and the lens hood. Sony provides the user with a large and small sized hood and both are easily removed and attached by a twist and lock mechanism.. An attachment point for the XLR breakout box is located on top of the body just behind the on camera microphone is located directly below the lens barrel and moved aft of the focus ring. Similar to the Panasonic AG-DVC30, the on camera microphone is placed too close to the focus ring. These two cameras do not have top handles such as the Canon GL-2 and the VX2100, so the microphones are stuck in awkward locations. The problem with the microphone placement on the DSR-PDX10 is the lack of distance between the microphone and controls that the user must manipulate such as the focus ring. Fortunately Sony provides the user with an included XLR adapter so that professional shotgun microphones can be mounted away from the body and be more isolated from noise. The breakout box becomes the prominent frontal feature once attached to body. The included shotgun mike juts out to the upper left and extends out past the lens hood. A microphone jack is located to the left of the microphone half an inch back. A small window is located under the lens barrel for the Holographic AF laser.
The Right Side (8.0)
Starting at the front of the camera and moving to the back the focus ring is the first feature that stands out. Moving back, body colored flap is covers the Audio/Video jack, the headphone jack, the USB port, the Lanc control jack, the Firewire port, and the S-Video port.
The tape mechanism and the hand strap are located just aft of the port flap. The hand strap is made of a very soft felt like material that is very comfortable. Interestingly, a memory card slot is located on the exterior of the tape mechanism. The hand strap on the PDX10 is attached to the tape door on one side and a fixed point on the other side. This allows the door to be open without being restricted y the strap, but also makes for a reinforced attachment point incase the tape door was to fall open and bear the weight of the camera. The memory card door is accessible by simple tilting the hand strap down while inserting or removing a card.
The zoom rocker switch sits directly on top of the tape door and the photo button is located to the left and the memory card eject button is located just below. Unfortunately this button is a dedicated button and cannot me re programmed like the user 1 button that rests in a similar location on the AG-DVC30. A mode lock button is located right at the back next to the on/off/camera/vcr.
The Back (8.5)
The black and white EVF is the most prominent feature when viewing the camera from the back and can be slid rearward and tilted upward if desired. The included eye cup is extremely small and doesn't take up much space. The EVF has a diopter for user customization. The battery is housed directly underneath the EVF. The battery compartment on this camera is not recessed as much as on other models such as the PD170 or the AG-DVC30. A metal bracket for a camera strap is attached on the top right of the battery compartment. A similar bracket rests on the bottom next to the DC flap.
A column of Program control buttons is located to the left of the battery compartment. Buttons for AE, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Exposure, and Audio Level are placed in descending order. A small scroll wheel is located at the bottom of the column and can be pushed rolled to navigate the menu or pushed in to execute and option.
Moving to the right of the battery compartment is the on/off/vcr/camera selector. As on most cameras, a red record button is located in the middle. A grey battery release button sits right on top of the battery and a DC power jack is located on the bottom of the chassis concealed by a body colored flap.
The back of this camera is really the central control center for the main functions of the camera and houses dedicated buttons for manual adjustment.
The Left Side (8.0)
The right side of the camera is packed with features. The focus ring is the first feature starting at the front of the camera and moving towards the back. The ring offers a good amount of drag. The ring texture is not pronounced enough to provide optimal control. The rings on the PD170 have a better feel and are much easier to grip because of its high raised ridges that are well placed around the ring. The PD170 also uses rubber for the surface of the focus ring whereas the PDX10 uses metal. The AG-DVC30 has a great texture to the ring, but doesn't offer the nice drag of the PDX10.
The next set of features from top to bottom are the silver index button, the auto/ manual focus selector, the push for auto focus button, and the fader button. The neutral density switch from the VX2100/ PD170 was left out on the PDX10 which is unfortunate because it's such a great thing to have. Moving on to the right the next feature is the large LCD housing. Just beneath the LCD housing lay the back light, spot light, edit/search buttons, and the auto lock/ SEl , Push Exec/ hold switch. Just to the right of the LCD door is the small menu button
Opening up the LCD panel reveals a large 3.5 inch screen. The VCR control buttons are located on the panel covered by the LCD housing. The display/touch panel and volume buttons are right above the VCR buttons and the speaker is just to the left. Beneath the VCR buttons additional buttons can be found for TC/U-Bit, Bars, Custom Preset. The Zebra switch is at the bottom of the section with settings for off, 70, and 100.
The Top(6.0)
Similar to the AG-DVC30, the PDX10 is a form changing camera. Depending on the circumstance the user may want to attach or remove the XLR breakout box. The top of the camera is lean on details but this is changed when the XLR breakout box is attached. The silver attachment point for the XLR breakout box is the first item starting at the front of the camera. Interestingly, this camera does not include top handle of any kind. This may be a problem for users more familiar with cameras such as the GL-2 and the VX2100. A top handle is very useful when shooting low angle shots and transporting the camera in general. Because this camera is extremely compact, lugging it around should not be a problem. That having been said, a top handle would be useful none the less.
The EVF is located just behind the attachment points moving towards the back of the camera. The Zoom rocker is just right of the view finder located between the open/eject switch and the photo button. The purple memory card eject button is located just to the right of the zoom rocker.
Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (9.5)
The automatic control on the PDX10 is excellent for a prosumer camera and even a consumer camera for that matter. Cameras in this range generally do not feature the same types of ease of use controls as their consumer siblings, but the PDX10 shines in this arena.
The PDX10 features a touch sensitive LCD screen which allows the user to perform spot focusing and metering. This is a huge help for those users not skilled enough to do it themselves, or for pressing situations when speed is the key. Both spot metering and spot focus work by presenting the user with a white frame on the screen wherein the user is able to select an area by touching it. Although Sony has put the touch screen feature on many of its consumer cameras, it had been left out of its other prosumer offerings such as the VX2100 and PD170.
Auto exposure is very accurate but often ups the gain to brighten the image. The PDX10 includes a Program Auto Exposure feature that is pre tuned for various shooting circumstances such as soft portrait, sports lesson, beach and ski, sunset and moon, and landscape. Dedicated back light and spot light buttons are located right below the LCD housing. These buttons allow the user to quickly obtain a better exposure in troublesome lighting situations. Although manually adjusting the camera in these situations is always a better course of action, these are great features for those who do not have the knowledge or the time to do so.
The auto white balance is accurate for the most part but is confused by multiple light sources of different color temperatures. The user should always take the time to white balance in any new shooting environment if possible.
The auto focus is very efficient and on par with the Panasonic AG-DVC30. Overall the automatic control on the DSR-PDX10 the best of any camera in this range.
Overall Manual Control (7.0)
Manual control on the DSR-PDX10 is good overall but certainly has its problem areas. Manual control is initiated by moving the auto lock/select/hold switch to the middle position. Once this is done the user has the ability to access the manual controls through the row of buttons located on the back of the camera to the left of the battery.
Focus can be switched to manual control any time by sliding the focus switch from auto to MAN. The user can re-engage auto focus at any time by pressing push auto button. The DSR-PDX10 displays focal distance (from .1m to infinity) on the bottom of the screen when manual focus is engaged. This is a nice feature that very few cameras have. On the flip side, the PDX10 lacks the zoom indicator that the AG-DVC30 has. It's too bad that both of these features weren't included on the PDX10.
Manual exposure is controlled by pressing the exposure button on the back of the camera and using the scroll wheel below to adjust the exposure and make the picture brighter or darker. Oddly, the PDX10 displays the exposure as an empty bar with a ( -) on one side and a ( +) on the other side. Cameras in this range usually give the exposure in F stops. It's great that exposure is given its own button but unfortunately there is no way to exert manual control over the iris and the shutter at the same time. The user is forced to either choose the exposure or choose the shutter speed.
The PDX10 does not feature any sort of ND filter which is an inconvenience. ND filters can be added externally, but having one built into the camera would be a big plus. ND filters come in handy when shooting in extremely bright situations such as on snow or sand. They also come in handy when trying to go for shallow depth of field in a shot.
The biggest problem with the manual control is the inability to directly control the gain. The user is given the option to limit the gain to 6db but there is no way to disable it completely. This is a huge problem because gain is very unattractive and there is no way to get rid of it.
Similar to the AG-DVC30 and the GL-2, the DSR-PDX10 lacks a second ring around the barrel. This is a problem because the user is not able to cradle the camera barrel in their hand and control the zoom and the focus with the same hand. Unlike the AG-DVC30, the DSR-PDX10 does not allow the user to assign other functions to the available ring. Cameras such as the DSR-PD170 and the AG-DVX100 feature dedicated focus and zoom rings.
Zoom (8.0)
The DSR-PDX10 features a 12x optical Zoom. Like most cameras, the zoom is controlled by a rocker switch located on the right of the camera body. Unlike the AG-DVC30, there is no numerical zoom indicator available on the LCD display or in the EVF. The zoom is very smooth and quiet. Controlling the zoom is very straight forward and it is reasonably easy to get a consistent zoom speed although it would be nice to know for sure via LCD or EVF. The zoom function would be better with a dedicated ring
Focus (7.5)
The focus on the DSR-PDX10 is controlled by the focus ring on the front of the camera. Sony got the feel just right on the focus ring. There is just enough drag so that movement of the ring is deliberate and noticed, but not so much that it frustrates the user. On the flip side, the actual texture of the focus ring is too smooth and needs to be rubber as on the DCR-VX2100 (Review, Specs, $1980) and DSR-PD170. As mentioned above, focal distance is displayed on the bottom of the LCD and EVF when in manual focus mode. Aside from the texture of the ring, the focus is very good.
Exposure (Aperture) (7.5)
Exposure is controlled by pushing the exposure button and using the select scroll wheel to open or close the iris. As mentioned above, the exposure is not given in F stops and because of this it is hard to tell exactly how many degrees of variation exist between fully open and fully closed iris. The nice thing here is the dedicated button to exposure. The user can quickly select to adjust exposure by simply pushing a button and moving the scroll wheel. The exposure control on the AG-DVC30 is forced to split time to control the shutter as well as the gain. Although the DSR- PDX10 takes a step in the right direction by giving exposure a dedicated button, it is not perfect. The DSR-PD170 features a dedicated dial for controlling the exposure. Dedicated dials are the most convenient for controlling functions with multiple steps such as exposure, shutter speed, and audio levels. As mentioned above, it is unfortunate that the user cannon control the iris and the shutter at the same time.
Shutter Speed (7.5)
Shutter speed is controlled in the same manner as exposure. Even though the shutter speed is eventually controlled with the same select scroll wheel that controls the exposure, it has a dedicated button which makes it easy to select. Available shutter speeds range from ¼ to 1/10,000 of a second. The unlike the AG-DVC30, the DSR-PDX10 does not include frequency match settings for shooting television screens.
White Balance (9.0)
White balance is controlled in much the same way as the shutter speed and the iris. A dedicated white balance button is located on the back of the camera to the left of the battery compartment and once pressed it allows the user to control the white balance from the select scroll wheel. Settings include daylight, tungsten, and manual. The automatic white balance is good but is confused when faced with multiple color temperatures. As always, the user should manually white balance whenever possible.
Gain (5.0)
The gain cannot be controlled manually on the PDX10. The camera adds the gain automatically depending on the exposure situation. The only control that can be exerted over gain is AGC (Auto Gain Control limit) which is located in the custom preset menu under AGC LIMIT. If the user does not adjust anything the factory preset will add up to 18db of gain to an image in order to boost the brightness. This corresponds to the OFF setting for AGC because the full 18db of gain is available. The user has the ability to limit gain to 12db or 6db. This is a horrible way of controlling gain and really hurts the great control scheme this camera has going for it. Basically it means that there is no way to prevent gain from creeping into an image since it can't be disabled completely. It is also very confusing that when AGC is set to off, it doesn't mean that there will be no gain added, it means that ALL the gain will be added. It's hard to believe that Sony went wrong here because their DSR-PD170 has excellent exposure control and even features a dedicated gain control button.
Still Performance(8.0)
Mega Pixel still images can be recorded to Memory Stick in either 640x480 or 1152x864. Image quality can be selected from Superfine, Fine, or Standard.
VCR Mode (7.5)
VCR controls rest behind the LCD screen covering. The VCR buttons are extremely small and users with larger hands may have difficulty accessing them. It is hard to navigate the VCR section in a dark situation because unlike the DCR-VX2100 and DSR-PD170 the buttons do not light up. Other than that, the VCR controls are very straight forward and perform their function well.
Low Light Performance(6.3)
Low light performance is really not that good on the DSR-PDX10. As mentioned before, there is no way to totally disable the gain on this camera. Under ideal lighting conditions this is not a big deal but when it gets to 60 lux and under, the gain makes an appearance. The AG-DVC30 beats the DSR-PDX10 in low light although it may be difficult to discern that from our screen shots. Please understand that brightness is not the reason why the AG-DVC30 is a better low light performer, rather it all has to do with gain and obtaining a clean image. At 60 lux the AG-DVC30 is still delivering almost optimal images. On the other hand, the DSR- PDX10 is adding gain and in the process messing up any chance at a clear picture.
The DSR- PDX10 is better than the GL-2 when it comes to low light, but both have far too much gain on the image. It should be pointed out that the DSR-PDX10 is not truly a ¼ inch camera because its chips are slightly smaller at ¼.7 inches. The low light performance of the DSR-PDX10 is not that good and the user should seriously consider this when deciding to buy.
LCD/ Viewfinder(8.5)
The 3.5 inch LCD screen is very good on the DSR-PDX10. With a resolution of 246,000 pixels, it has 46,000 more pixels than the screen on the AG-DVC30. This translates into a sharper more accurate depiction of what is actually being captured to tape. That having been said, the DSR- PDX10 has a strange texture on the LCD screen that is not present on the DSR-PD170. This may be due to the fact that the LCD screen on the DSR-PDX10 also functions as a touch screen for menu navigation when this option is selected. The 180,000 pixel precision black and white view finder is excellent and provides the most accurate means of focusing the camera.
Audio (10.0)
Similar to the AG-DVC30, theDSR-PDX10 has manual audio control as well as on screen level indicators. Once the user sets the cameras to manual audio control through the menu, audio levels are accessed by pressing the audio level button on the back of the camera just above the control wheel. The included XLR breakout box provides 48 volt phantom power and can be attached when desired.
Handling (9.0)
The DSR-PDX10 is a camera that handles very well. This model is even stouter and box like than the AG-DVC30. This camera is very well balanced because it doesn't extend far from its center of gravity. The excellent padded hand strap is very comfortable and can really glue the users hand to the camera.
The DSR-PDX10 lacks the programmable user buttons that the AG-DVC30 has. This is unfortunate because a few well placed buttons would allow the user to keep frequently used functions close at hand. Fortunately the DSR-PDX10 has so many dedicated buttons in one central location that finding the desired function is never a problem.
As always, the manufactures should have included a second ring around the lens barrel. Sometimes the user may want to focus and zoom with one hand and this camera won't allow it.
This compact camera handles beautifully but there are some drawbacks. Although this is a prosumer in terms of features and performance, the DSR-PDX10 is built on a consumer camera chassis. This is great for the size factor, but it becomes a problem when the camera is asked to perform as a more professional model. There is no top handle for this camera so shooting low angle shots and transporting the camera must be done differently than on the GL-2, AG-DVC30 (with handle attached), DCR-VX2100 etc.
The addition of the XLR breakout box adds some heft to the camera. The user may find that the camera becomes to front heavy and wants to pull their wrist down. This is unfortunate because the XLR inputs add so much to the camera. Similar to the AG-DVC30 this camera handles superbly when unencumbered by additional weight but becomes awkward when accessories are added.
Ports(7.5)
The DSR-PDX10 features an S-Video in/out, a dedicated 1/8 inch microphone jack, as well as a mini AV in/out jack. Sony presumably uses a mini AV jack in order to save space on the body, but it would be nice to have the option of using full sized RCA connectors for times when the proprietary cable is not with the camera. A Lanc jack, USB port, and firewire port are all located underneath a body colored flap near the front of the camera. The PDX10 does not include XLR inputs on the body, but comes with a 2 channel XLR breakout box that mounts on top of the camera and provides 48volt phantom power.
Other Features (9.0)
DVCAM - One highlight of the DSR-PDX10 is its ability to record in the professional DVCAM format. DVCAM is a proprietary Sony format that is considered more stable for editing and archival purposes. The main difference between DVCAM and regular DV is that DVCAM records to a 15 micron track pitch where as DV records to a 10 micron track pitch. Basically this means that DVCAM allots more physical space for recording data to tape and in doing provides less recording time than normal DV. DVCAM also includes an audio lock function which is useful for audio editors. While DVCAM may not be important to all users, this feature is very key none the less. Aside from this camera, the next step for recording on DVCAM is the DSR-PD170. This is a large jump in price, so if DVCAM is a must but the budget is tight, than this might be the camera to buy.
16:9 - Almost all cameras in this range feature a 16:9 mode but the DSR-PDX10 has an edge here. Most of the three chip presume cameras have CCDs with pixel counts that range from 280,000 to 410,000. The problem with 16:9 modes on most cameras is that their chips are actually 4:3 in format so in order to acquire in 16:9 they have to throw out some of the vertical image resolution. The DSR-PDX10 is different because it has 1,070,000 pixels for each of its ¼.7 inch CCDs. Obviously the DSR-PDX10 is not a Hi Def camera and it uses most of the extra pixels for still resolution. The advantage is that when the CCD crops down to get the 16:9 image it has roughly two times as many pixels to crop. This means that the final image will still have over 480 lines of vertical resolution even after the crop.
Optical Super Steady Shot - Every company has a tag for their brand of image stabilization and this is Sony's. It is often hard to tell how much motion is being removed from the image but it can't hurt to leave it on just incase it is doing something positive.
Holographic AF - Holographic AF can only be used when an external flash is attached to the camera. Its main purpose is to focus on subjects in a dark area before the flash comes on, thus removing the need for multiple flashes.
Zebra - Zebra is one of the most useful functions on any camera. It allows the user to easily identify over exposed areas within the frame. Here Sony gives the user the option to set the zebra for 70 or 100 IRE.
Comparisons
The DSR-PDX10 is a unique camera that just isn't as good as it should be. In the ¼ inch CCD arena it competes with the Canon GL-2 and the new Panasonic AG-DVC30. The DSR-PDX10 also competes wit the DCR-VX2100 because of the relatively close price points and the fact that users are often looking at these cameras when deciding what to buy.
When compared to the GL-2 the DSR-PDX10 is a better camera. As long as Canon's 30p frame mode is not something that the user desires go for the DSR- PDX10, its professional DVCAM recording option, and its included XLR breakout box.
The DCR-VX2100 is a better buy overall. If the user does not need to record in DVCAM format or have XLRs (although the user could always purchase a third party breakout box such as those made by Beach Tek). The DCR-VX2100 yields a better picture across the board and it top notch in low light.
The AG-DVC30 is the better camera when compared to the DSR- PDX10. The ability to customize control layout with the user buttons and the good low light performance pushes the new Panasonic in front of this Sony.
Who's it For
Point and Shooter's (8.5) This is the best prosumer camera for the point and shoot crowd.
Budget Consumers (3.0) Too expensive for a true budget consumer but the price point for this DVCAM model could enchant those who need that capability.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.0) The DSR-PDX10 is good as a hybrid camera and can produce Mage Pixel images.
Gadget Freaks (6.0) The PDX10 should please the gadget freak with all of its options and the included attachments.
Manual Control Freaks (4.5) This camera offers a lot of manual control, but true manual control freaks should look at the PD170.
Pro's / Serious Hobbyists(4.0) This camera could have a lot of appeal to Pros and hobbyists. The only problem is that it won't perform like cameras that are truly made to pro specifications. The low light is too poor and the lack of gain control is disappointing.
Conclusion
Feature wise, the DSR-PDX10 is top notch especially when it comes to automatic control. Prosumer cameras are often called to do double duty by incorporating pro features into a user friendly body and control scheme. The DSR-PDX10 is unmatched in terms of automatic features. The touch screen spot metering and spot focusing alone put the DSR-PDX10 in a league of its own for ease of use. Unfortunately this group of contestants must also stand up to the rigorous standards that professionals place on a camera. This is where the DSR-PDX had a chance to break through, but faltered in stead. Sony gives the user a strange bag of tricks with this camera. On one hand the professional DVCAM recording option is an excellent pro feature as well as the included XLR breakout box. Things like this push the DSR-PDX10 forward in its class. On the other hand, the automatic features such as the spot light and back light button allow the unskilled consumer to adjust to difficult situations. It seems that Sony got a little confused by trying to please everyone and in the end decided to skip on the pro side. This camera wears all the pro badges, but doesn't always play a pro game. The inability to fully control the gain is a huge step backwards. Any serious shooter wants to have this control over their image and here they cannot. Another big mistake is exclusion of a dedicated iris control. Instead Sony gives us an exposure control that prevents the user from adjusting the shutter speed when activated.
If shooting DVCAM is a must and budget is a factor than take a long look at the DSR-PDX10. If the overall objective is to purchase a camera with great manual control that will shoot well in many situations than look at the Panasonic AG-DVC30 and the DCR-VX2100.
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