Was I ripped off or did I get a good deal?

Question

Hello, recently I bought a professional video set online. I was willing to only spend around $1800 but came across a buy that looked to good to be true. The auction included a Sony PD150 Professional Camcorder, a Glidecam 2000 pro, a Manfratto 501 pro tripod, a warming filter and a UV Filter, 1 normal battery and 3 Lith-ion batteries, 13 DV-Cam Tapes, a widescreen lens adapter, a professional microphone (and the mic that originally came with the camera), and a professional carrying case for the tripod and camera.

When I first saw this I had to have it. I ended up paying $2,300 for all the equipment. I thought to myself money well spent but now I am having second thoughts on how much I payed. I am not sure if I payed to much or to little for all the equipment. I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me how much all this stuff may cost and if I was ripped off or not.

I also have one more question, does the Sony PD150 shoot in progressive scan? It does not matter what frame rate I just want to know if it is able to shoot in progressive scan.

Thank you!

Here is a link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300242642528&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

Answer 1

With any camcorder, but especially a pro/prosumer model, the value is related to the use... how many hours on the heads. Hopefully this is not too old.

As for the items, let's see... the Camcorder itself, maybe $900-$1500 used, depending on shape; it's not available new anymore. The microphone, I'd guess at least $200... Sennheiser is a decent brand. My Rode camcorder mic ran around $350. The NP-F90 batteries are about $100 new (real Sony batteries, anyway), but they're not as valueable if they have too much use, you can only charge them so many times. That Optex 16:9 adaptor (anamorphic lens) probably ran as much as $1000 new. A Glidecam 2000 Pro starts at $300, depending on accessories, new. The Manfrotto 501 is actually a fluid head for HDV camcorders (and of course, DV models), it's not the whole tripod. Probably at least $300 new with a basic tripod, potentially much more if they have a really nice one.

So, as long as there's not too much wear on this, $2300 isn't a ripoff by any means. I spent a bit more just for my HDV camcorder, no accessories, and while this isn't HDV, it's certainly a well DV/DVCAM regarded model. This is based on the same electronics as the Prosumer VX2000, but it's got some of the nice broadcast division features not found on the VX2000, and yet, still has the near legendary low-light performance of the VX2000.... you'll not see that in HDV models. David Lynch used the PD150 in shooting "Inland Empire", and there are many indie films shot with these.

There is a progressive scan mode, but I don't know the details. Some of the Sonys, like my HVR-A1, have a kind of fake 24p mode that's not really 24p, but this seems to be some kind of actual progressive mode.  

Answer 2

Why don't you try Googling each item to see what they cost, and then add it up?

Answer 3

$2300 for those parts is not a ripoff.

It cannot record in progressive scan.

Only the Canon GL\XL models can do that and the Panasonic, in that class\price range of camera.

The panasonics have 24p mode, while the Canon line has "Frame" mode, which will record in 30p.