Sony PD 150 Shooting Manual page 6

PD 150 shooting guide
19. PICTURE AND LIGHTING - INTRODUCTION
This section of the guide will look at the functions on the PD 150 that will help you to record pictures successfully. Refer to
the index on the cover if you are interested in a specific subject.
For information about recording audio successfully refer to the audio section of the guide.
20. AUTOMATIC VERSUS MANUAL OPERATION AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
The PD 150 has automatic settings for its picture functions like focus, exposure and white balance, some of which are very
good in many circumstances, but we do not recommend using the camera fully automatically. Focus should normally be
operated manually; in auto focus the PD 150 tends to hunt for new focus points while you are filming, producing amateur
looking pictures that you cannot correct in post production.
The decision about which other functions to operate manually and which to leave in automatic mode is not easy to answer
as it depends on your level of experience, the complexity of the shoot and the location you are filming in. Basically be
sensible; if you are filming on your own, or under pressure then you will almost certainly get better results leaving some
functions on their automatic settings than trying to control everything manually. This does not however imply that you should
never use the other manual picture functions. Again be sensible, you could leave them automatic until you find yourself in a
particular situation where manual is better, for example when your subject is in front of a bright window.
On the left hand side at the top rear is a three-position switch. The top position, 'autolock' sets exposure, white balance and
shutter speed all to auto. This means that they will be set and changed by the camera as it reacts to what it sees. The
middle position allows manual control of these functions. You can select the manual function you want to control and set
your own level. Operation of each is detailed in the next section.
Focus and sound level, however are controlled separately, and are not affected by the 'auto lock' switch.
Once you have set your manual picture functions you can hold those settings by switching to 'hold'. You'll need to switch
back to the middle position to access these manual controls again. The camera remembers your manual settings, so you
can switch between the two modes without worrying.
21. FOCUS - INTRODUCTION
Focus on the PD 150 is controlled independently of all other camera controls using the focus wheel behind the lens and the
sliding switch on the side of the camera which has three positions; auto, manual and infinity. Below is the push auto button
that enables you to make use of the camera's auto focussing, while remaining in manual mode.
22. SUGGESTED FOCUS METHODS
What follows are three tried and tested methods of focussing, each of which should produce good results in different
circumstances. Shots can sometimes go out of focus through a zoom, so for guaranteed good results zooms are generally
best avoided.
23. A QUICK & EASY METHOD FOR INTERVIEWS AND VOX. POPS
A quick & easy method for interviews, vox. pops etc. is to select manual focus, frame the shot and then tilt down to the
person's chest area. This avoids any possibility of the camera focussing on the background. Press the push auto button and
hold it for three seconds. Let go and return to your desired framing. Do not zoom or move whilst doing this.
24. ALL PURPOSE FOCUS TECHNIQUE FOR HANDHELD FILMING
An all purpose focus technique for handheld filming relies on you going fully wide on the zoom and staying wide throughout.
Point the camera at a sharp object about a metre away, select manual focus and press 'push auto' for 3 seconds. Provided
you are in reasonable light conditions everything between half a metre and 10 metres will be in focus, but you must not use
the zoom.