Re: PDW-700 Owners - Please Read

Tim,

I honestly think it's too bad that you could not accept the genuine nature of my response. After all, I too have been in the EXACT position you are in now. I think it becomes a question of attitude. I'm a "glass half full" kind of person.

I won't dissuade your feelings. I too wanted a trade in for my F350 in the beginning. I MADE my camera work. It was my attitude and hard work that persevered!

I can tell you for a FACT that national news networks do INDEED "take what they can get" in certain situations and in certain locations! I can tell you that up until the inception of the F350, certain networks preferred the 530 XD Cam in the SD flavor... NOT ONCE has anyone asked me, at the network level, "DO YOU HAVE MODEL XX" in the XD Cam flavor. I've been told "we want standard definition, DV Cam 25." "We want SD IMX 50." "We want XD Cam HD, 50, in 30 frames per second..." etc.

I have SEVERAL friends in the same boat you are in, and have asked their BIG clients like 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, CBS Sunday Morning, Evening News... "Do I have to have an F800 now?" The answer is "We want XD Cam HD, 50 Mbps, in 30p or 60i..." I too have made the calls to MY CONTACTS at the same networks to verify! The answers are the same! It's a situation where you MUST have one of the two cameras... if both models are on the same show... you can MATCH THEM! With a waveform monitor, a vector scope, and a little knowledge on how to paint, this task isn't that complicated.

ABC News only does HD for certain shows or certain situations. They are all over the board in what they want! The fact of the matter is that the PDW700 covers every aspect of their needs in HD and SD as well.

Often representatives at BOTH of those networks are ecstatic to hear we have XD Cam HD at all! Then the next question is what can I provide in terms of format, and bit quality... Model numbers just don't come up in conversation. In fact, most of the network "regular shooters" are just now getting up to speed on the 700. I know, I've trained several on the west coast. The process to GET to HD was hard enough. I truly don't think you have to worry about them replacing all of their gear at this point.

As far as D600 cameras being demanded by production companies, I can tell my thoughts for the reason behind that. I too own one of those! I was often emailed camera settings or a producer sent set up cards for our work with that camera. Many network shows have particular looks, which still holds true, and want their crews to follow guidelines. However, I have been on MANY network level shoots where in multiple camera situations, another shooter had an HL-V55. THEY WENT THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF MATCHING THEIR CAMERA TO THE CLIENT LOOK! They took the initiative to make what they owned work in that situation.

That's what I'm trying to explain. If you have good relationships with your clients, I think you can explain your situation, and they'll be willing to work with you.

I have producers, corporations, and networks that "trust" me. As long as I can deliver within the specs their boss' mandate, and I make them look good in the process, they don't care what I do. Our camera set ups rival the best. Our colors pop, our detail levels are flattering, we have rich blacks, and our clients flip over our results. And yes, that's on the corporate, cable, and network level!

If you feel that I was regurgitating the viewpoints from Sony reps, perhaps that did happen. I will tell you, in genuine conversations, in "off the record" situations with personnel at Sony, this is how they truly feel. They weren't looking to screw people over. They were responding to BIG corporations viewpoints in spending money. Companies that had to buy hundreds of cameras. These entities felt they only needed certain feature sets in their cameras and didn't want to pay for what they believe to be "frivolous" extras. This isn't one company. This happened with SEVERAL companies.

Sony truly does listen to their customers! Many "network" level camera men who NEVER shoot in 24p asked Sony to produce a high end cameras with features that would make their lives easier. That's exactly what they did. Many features on several models are a direct result of feature requests sent in by everyday users.

I feel that you are putting a negative association with the term "news camera" in contrast to a production camera. There was no malice aimed at one or the other, just that they are different. Those differences in shooting styles often mandate different features. For the first time, Sony decided to offer a high end product with features in an affordable range for people who wanted them. Further, they made upgrades a modular decision.

The 700 is NOT a lower end version of the 800! They have the same exact chipset in them! They can produce identical images in certain situations. Once camera has a few more bells and whistles that appeal to a certain range of client. The 700 will STILL be used in productions with 24p as the boards are being shipped out.

I happen to know for a FACT that the 700 is of the highest standards of acceptance with Nat Geo and Discovery! Others on the ICE Team have paved the way and made sure ALL of the camera owner/operators out there won't have to struggle to use that camera on shows! (More than "sales," that is what we do! I don't make a DIME off the sale of ANY camera!) Keep in mind that a MAJORITY of the time, the Networks/Outlets BUY programming from others, or pay a certain amount for 1/2 hour or hour of airtime. They give a list of guidelines to those companies and they often have several choices in the parameters of gear they are allowed to use. In the end the production company responsible for producing the show will make that final decision on format and/or model.

I had someone tell me that Discovery would ONLY accept material from an HDX900! I promptly emailed them MY LIST of acceptable cameras and formats, that I had received from Discovery Networks when I was pitching shows to them myself. That company did own up to having a choice and informed me of THEIR DECISION on what they wanted to use in the field based of their post production work flow.

For clients like this... you have to get creative! I've purchased SEVERAL PDWU1 drives and sent those as a free loaner (and after a while I RENT THEM) to my clients to use in the post process. (Think of it as the hook to "set the bait!") This makes life easier for them, they don't have to buy expensive decks and I get to keep using my camera, thus making money. (Now you can reel them in!)

Ironically, I have been personally responsible for converting SEVERAL high end, network level clients/outlets into XD CAM HD! Once they see how easy the format is to use, and how great it looks, they are sold. I've been an evangelist. I've been a pioneer. I've been an instructor. I've been bold! I've called people and said, "let me shoot with my new XD Cam HD camcorder... if you aren't blown away, and it doesn't surpass what you've been using, I won't charge you for that shoot and we'll go back to using -- (whatever)." I ALWAYS GET PAID! WE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS! What's better, I get to use my XD Cam HD from that point forward.

Perhaps I'm a good salesman. I doubt it! I'm slow just like others in the business. I'm not that good at "BS-ing" people either. I tell it like it is, make suggestions and then kill myself to back it up.

This is a tough time economically for everyone involved in our field and at every level! When I get creative, I tend to be able to make things happen.

You have to keep in mind ANY camera manufacturer is marketing to THOUSANDS of potential clients. Your particular range may fall within one or two models. I agree that you have to make decisions based on your individual needs.

Again, I do understand your frustration. I too have been in your shoes. I too was angry. I DID SPEND $20+K ON A CAMERA, only to have a new model show up in months. I wanted an upgrade. I wanted a trade in. No one would listen.

After time passed I did understand that the onus is on the buyer. As I was upset with my salesman, I continually chewed on HIS ear. He indeed DID know the next model camera was coming, and never elected to share that information with me. However, in the end, I have to take responsibility for my actions.

It's not like I haven't made money with the camera. I got a great deal, and the dividends have been HUGE for me. So honestly, I can say that I've saved about $9K on the price difference and it hasn't hurt my business, although I truly expected it to hurt my business. I found that it was the way I approached ALL of my clients on every level that made the difference.

One of my largest hurdles was when Sony removed "my" model of XD Cam HD camcorder from their website; which made using a camera many had never even heard of... HARDER! Heck, I paved the way for people like you! I was out there calling people everyday trying to get them to let me use my camera, let me show them the XD system! So when I told them about it and they checked out Sony's website, and my camera wasn't there... It became a harder sell!

So please excuse me when I tell you I DO KNOW how things go down! I will not let you invalidate my personal experience. I was NOT a member of the Sony ICE Team at that time... it was through my hard work of building that network acceptance that you are concerned with, that Sony became aware of me.

You are fortunate enough that your camera is STILL viable in the world of news and production. Your camera is still listed on their website. I just checked the site too... You know what, F800 is the last camera listed on their site! They aren't touting it as a better camera than the 700, just different. Allow me to QUOTE the website: "With features such as Slow & Quick Motion (over-crank and under-crank recording) make the PDW-F800 ideal for cinema and TV drama productions, as well as ENG applications."

This camera is being marketed for that indie type production/cable drama/regional commercial market. Surely you would agree that you wouldn't use a D600 to shoot a "feature film!" Sony has cameras that do that! They are in two different classes! The same applies here. In fact the same applied in the world of Digital Betacam! The introduced the 709, then the 790 was released. The same applied in the world of HD Cam SR... the F23 was released and then the F35. All have their place. All have price points. You can't knock them for realizing they are "onto" a great technology and then improve upon that technology. Sony's "hope" is that XD Cam HD becomes the "NEW Betacam!"

I can only contradict your statement about NAB 2009. Sony, in NO WAY, "dumped the model (700) in favor of the 800." You couldn't be farther from the truth. I know. I was ON the XD Cam Stage, along with Jody Eldred. In fact, we only BRIEFLY mentioned the F800! Instead, we focused on the F355 and the PDW700! Our presentations revolved around those cameras. Others like Greg Boston and Dave Sperling,and Doug Jensen answered questions at the camera pavilion. Sony NEVER instructed or requested us to reduce the stature of the 700 in any way! In fact, it was quite the opposite... Often I asked people "What are you going to do with the camera? Who are you clients? What are you using now? What is your budget?" I believe that if you don't need or use 24p and over/under cranking, and you are on a tight budget, then the PDW700 is a perfect camera for you.

I'm not accusing you of slandering Sony in any manner. I understand your position as an individual trying to service your clientele. I understand that you want to feel secure in your choices and have security with that choice for a particular time period. I feel that Sony has indeed done "the right thing" by offering the 24p option, along with all the other options to upgrade your 700 to 800 capabilities. Technology will continue to advance. Equipment will continue to improve. You should have solace in knowing that Sony is committed to the XD Cam HD format, and ALL of the current 50 Mbps camcorders they offer today.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. If you owned a D600, that means that you've been at this a while! If you've been at this a while, and still going strong, that must mean you have talent. A individual with your skill set and equipment will continue to turn heads. Keep up the great work.

I apologize for the length of the this post.

Curt Pair
Picture This Productions
Sony ICE Team
F900/F800/F350/PDW700/EX1/EX3/D790/D600
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 HD/Matrox
Phoenix, AZ