VX2000 -- various topics

mr cameraman · October 4th, 2002, 08:03 PM

Hi folks!

I'm new to the forum. I've decided to spend a bundle on the best camera for my money and have decided on the Sony VX 2000.

Was I wrong? I've heard that they are the best Mini Dv format Camcorder available for picture quality and low light picture quality.

I do wedding videos and want the best for this purpose without selling my house to buy a Beta SP Cam!

I've read about some complaints on this forum of elongnated pictures, motor noises, etc. and it has got me a little worried.

Anybody?

Mike Rehmus · October 4th, 2002, 08:36 PM

I've never seen nor heard of an elongated picture. The noise is something every camera emits. In a professional application, nobody places the microphone on the camera so we don't pick up camera noise anyway.

The VX-2000 is, in my opinion, the best bang for the buck picturewise. I have a PD-150 because I have a need for XLR inputs and more control over the audio.

Dan Ballmer · October 5th, 2002, 07:23 AM

I would also agree that the VX2000 delivers the best picture for its price. Some users have reported having serious audio problems on this model though, so test it before you buy it if possible.

-Dan

mr cameraman · October 6th, 2002, 01:07 PM

Are the audio problems you describe on the vx 2000 corrected on the current models. From what I heard it was reported that the audio hiss problem was only heard at high manual record level settings and that there was no hiss problem with its auto gain circuit engaged.

Am I correct or are there more serious problems?

Bryan Beasleigh · October 6th, 2002, 02:32 PM

You are correct, the audio problem is experienced only when using a setting over 50%. a bright mic like the ME66 gives absolutely no problem.

Most of the grousing is from people that don't own the camera.

Steven Forrest · October 7th, 2002, 06:03 PM

I can vouch for that. The AGC boosts the record level up automatically. If you wanted to have a higher recording level, you can do it manually also and get the same effect. But along with the higher record levels, you get more noise. This is especially apparent if you use the built-in mic.
After an extensive search and demo period I ended up with an on-camera mic solution for the VX2000, which I think, is about as good as possible without spending mega-bucks. Actually some of the DVinfo.Net Community helped me a great deal settling on the following mic combo which gives far better sound than the built-in VX2000 mic and cost ~$650.
For a Mic I chose the Sennheiser ME66 with the K6 power supply (with the built in AA battery, not phantom power) and added the MZW 66 Pro Foam windscreen.
For a shock mount I needed to do a bit of jury-rigging. I bought the Senn MZQ6 camera mount and the Senn MZS6 Shock mount. I took them apart (per Senn's recommendation) and use the shock mount top from the MZS6 and the lower part of the MZQ6 camera mount to attach the system to the hot shoe of the VX2000. Very shock resistant and not as obtrusive as some mounts out there.
I bought a XLR to Mini-plug cable from Equipment Emporium (XLR-H8DV) to connect the mic system to the VX2000 mini-plug and control the sound level with manual vol control and use a pair of Sony MDR-706 Professional Monitor Folding Headphones to listen to the sound.
The ME66 does not extend too far over the end of the camcorder so I can't see it in the picture. If you want an even longer shotgun end for the K6, you can screw on the ME67! This might show, however, but you might be able to get it positioned back far enough over the camcorder in the shock mount to keep even that monster out of the picture!
My system cost me about $650 and I don't think I could have gotten as good on camera sound from any other combo for the price.
I am a beginner at all this stuff, so I'm not sure the long term will prove my purchases ideal. BUT, I couldn't see skimping on the Mic System once I had the fabulous video quality of the VX2000!
Yes the real pros don't have the mic on the camera, but for me, this was the only option. I'm not doing pro work but still wanted the best combo of picture and sound in ONE package as I could get without spending way, way, to much. Thus the above combo! It still was WAY more money than I wanted to spend for "home videos", but in the end, I decided to go for it!
SO, if you want an on camera sound setup, I think I found a pretty good one. You get nice clean sound at reasonable input levels and avoid any (I better say, most) camera generated noise.
Thanks to all who helped me out with this.
Steve
P.S. Now I just have to START using the bloody thing!

mr cameraman · October 11th, 2002, 05:10 AM

Thanks everyone for all your info.!

October 28th, 2002, 03:53 PM

Can someone tell me where I can get the cheapest Vx2000 or TRV 950 in USA. Also shall I go for PAL or NTSC. There are some companies like Broadwayphoto.com and AandMphotoworld.com selling them cheaper but some one told me they sell JUST the camera not the camera kit as it comes from SONY. So that measn they even charge you separately for things which come inisde one SONY box. All suggestion are welcome. Please tell em what is the latest and cheapest source for both of them and which one is better worth its money.

And in Ebay I always meet someone who wants to do a money scam by telling you down to earth price but actually just wants money sent to him thru Westernunion in Paris or somewhere in Spain and then he runs away with it leaving me emty handed. Some people operating on Ebay have even made their FAKE escrow sites to get free money. One I met told me to deposit money at www.corporateescrow.com whic is nothing but fake.

Thanks,

Sanjay

Mike Rehmus · October 28th, 2002, 04:02 PM

Sanjay,

We'd like to help everyone who asks this same set of questions. But if we do, then we spend all our time answering the same set of questions. You need to do some research on the subject. Not ask us to do it for you.

Use the search on this forum, look at the 950 forum on this site, on Dejavu and other locations, read the postings here, and at some of the other specialist sites. Read the USENET forums like rec.video.com, etc.

In your search you will find out who are the reliable suppliers and whom you should avoid. Then when you have specific questions maybe we can answer them and will be happy to do so.

The reason you may be getting scammed is because you are looking for too great a bargain. There is no free lunch in the video world.

Chris Hurd · October 28th, 2002, 04:07 PM

See these threads -- post a reply to these particular threads if you have further questions.

Best source (not the cheapest, but the best):

http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=4096

About dealing with Broadway:

http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...=&threadid=278

About dealing with Ebay:

http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=2724

http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=2954

October 28th, 2002, 04:25 PM

Thanks. I am new to this forum/board. Dont want to pay unreasonably more. I think I appreciate Chris Hurd's suggestions more than Mike Rehmus's preachings.

Mike Rehmus · October 28th, 2002, 04:28 PM

Also look here:

http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/index.htm

October 28th, 2002, 04:31 PM

Thanks Mike to you too. I appreciate this reply of yours. :)

Mike, just checked the site u sent me. I can say it is nothing but EXCELLENT.

Bryan Beasleigh · October 28th, 2002, 04:43 PM

katiyar_sanjay
If you had included your email I could have sent you a list. I'm surprised at the reaction to your postthough.

The best rule of thumb is if the price seems to good to be true, then it is. Beware of prices that are dramatically lower then the competition.

If you take the chance you could be getting grey market goods (no warranty). It could be a refurbished camera. The retailer may strip the accessories (battery, charger etc) from the box and sell them separately. You may be required to buy shoddy 3rd pary accessories to get the sweetheart deal.

You may not get the camera at all.

It's best to buy from an established dealer. The dealers that Chris recomends are reliable and offer the best available pricing. They have to ,other wise the word will get out and no one will deal with them. The customer base from this forum is very well educated and they just won't pay more than they have to or accept anything but the best service.

Mike Rehmus · October 28th, 2002, 06:02 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by katiyar_sanjay : Thanks. I am new to this forum/board. Dont want to pay unreasonably more. I think I appreciate Chris Hurd's suggestions more than Mike Rehmus's preachings. -->>>

Look, Sanjay, it's not that I don't appreciate neophites. We all were and still all are in some aspect of video world.

But you asked questions that you could have answered with a look at the titles of the postings on the first page of this particular forum. Had you done a search on the words 'Broadway' and 'ebay', for example, you would have found the comments on them too.

Maybe it's just the wrong phase of the moon for me today. I did not mean to insult you or chastise you. Only to guide you (grumpily, I admit and for which I appologize) to where the answers can be found.

Why did you ask the question regarding NTSC or PAL?

October 4th, 2002, 08:03 PM	#196
mr cameraman New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14	vx2000 picture Hi folks! I'm new to the forum. I've decided to spend a bundle on the best camera for my money and have decided on the Sony VX 2000. Was I wrong? I've heard that they are the best Mini Dv format Camcorder available for picture quality and low light picture quality. I do wedding videos and want the best for this purpose without selling my house to buy a Beta SP Cam! I've read about some complaints on this forum of elongnated pictures, motor noises, etc. and it has got me a little worried. Anybody?

October 4th, 2002, 08:36 PM	#197
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I've never seen nor heard of an elongated picture. The noise is something every camera emits. In a professional application, nobody places the microphone on the camera so we don't pick up camera noise anyway. The VX-2000 is, in my opinion, the best bang for the buck picturewise. I have a PD-150 because I have a need for XLR inputs and more control over the audio. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 6th, 2002, 01:07 PM	#199
mr cameraman New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14	audio problems Are the audio problems you describe on the vx 2000 corrected on the current models. From what I heard it was reported that the audio hiss problem was only heard at high manual record level settings and that there was no hiss problem with its auto gain circuit engaged. Am I correct or are there more serious problems?

October 11th, 2002, 05:10 AM	#202
mr cameraman New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14	vx2000 Thanks everyone for all your info.!

October 28th, 2002, 03:53 PM	#203
katiyar_sanjay Posts: n/a	vx2000 Can someone tell me where I can get the cheapest Vx2000 or TRV 950 in USA. Also shall I go for PAL or NTSC. There are some companies like Broadwayphoto.com and AandMphotoworld.com selling them cheaper but some one told me they sell JUST the camera not the camera kit as it comes from SONY. So that measn they even charge you separately for things which come inisde one SONY box. All suggestion are welcome. Please tell em what is the latest and cheapest source for both of them and which one is better worth its money. And in Ebay I always meet someone who wants to do a money scam by telling you down to earth price but actually just wants money sent to him thru Westernunion in Paris or somewhere in Spain and then he runs away with it leaving me emty handed. Some people operating on Ebay have even made their FAKE escrow sites to get free money. One I met told me to deposit money at www.corporateescrow.com whic is nothing but fake. Thanks, Sanjay

October 5th, 2002, 07:23 AM	#198
Dan Ballmer Contributor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 19	I would also agree that the VX2000 delivers the best picture for its price. Some users have reported having serious audio problems on this model though, so test it before you buy it if possible. -Dan

October 6th, 2002, 02:32 PM	#200
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	You are correct, the audio problem is experienced only when using a setting over 50%. a bright mic like the ME66 gives absolutely no problem. Most of the grousing is from people that don't own the camera.

October 7th, 2002, 06:03 PM	#201
Steven Forrest Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 43	I can vouch for that. The AGC boosts the record level up automatically. If you wanted to have a higher recording level, you can do it manually also and get the same effect. But along with the higher record levels, you get more noise. This is especially apparent if you use the built-in mic. After an extensive search and demo period I ended up with an on-camera mic solution for the VX2000, which I think, is about as good as possible without spending mega-bucks. Actually some of the DVinfo.Net Community helped me a great deal settling on the following mic combo which gives far better sound than the built-in VX2000 mic and cost ~$650. For a Mic I chose the Sennheiser ME66 with the K6 power supply (with the built in AA battery, not phantom power) and added the MZW 66 Pro Foam windscreen. For a shock mount I needed to do a bit of jury-rigging. I bought the Senn MZQ6 camera mount and the Senn MZS6 Shock mount. I took them apart (per Senn's recommendation) and use the shock mount top from the MZS6 and the lower part of the MZQ6 camera mount to attach the system to the hot shoe of the VX2000. Very shock resistant and not as obtrusive as some mounts out there. I bought a XLR to Mini-plug cable from Equipment Emporium (XLR-H8DV) to connect the mic system to the VX2000 mini-plug and control the sound level with manual vol control and use a pair of Sony MDR-706 Professional Monitor Folding Headphones to listen to the sound. The ME66 does not extend too far over the end of the camcorder so I can't see it in the picture. If you want an even longer shotgun end for the K6, you can screw on the ME67! This might show, however, but you might be able to get it positioned back far enough over the camcorder in the shock mount to keep even that monster out of the picture! My system cost me about $650 and I don't think I could have gotten as good on camera sound from any other combo for the price. I am a beginner at all this stuff, so I'm not sure the long term will prove my purchases ideal. BUT, I couldn't see skimping on the Mic System once I had the fabulous video quality of the VX2000! Yes the real pros don't have the mic on the camera, but for me, this was the only option. I'm not doing pro work but still wanted the best combo of picture and sound in ONE package as I could get without spending way, way, to much. Thus the above combo! It still was WAY more money than I wanted to spend for "home videos", but in the end, I decided to go for it! SO, if you want an on camera sound setup, I think I found a pretty good one. You get nice clean sound at reasonable input levels and avoid any (I better say, most) camera generated noise. Thanks to all who helped me out with this. Steve P.S. Now I just have to START using the bloody thing!

October 28th, 2002, 04:02 PM	#204
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Sanjay, We'd like to help everyone who asks this same set of questions. But if we do, then we spend all our time answering the same set of questions. You need to do some research on the subject. Not ask us to do it for you. Use the search on this forum, look at the 950 forum on this site, on Dejavu and other locations, read the postings here, and at some of the other specialist sites. Read the USENET forums like rec.video.com, etc. In your search you will find out who are the reliable suppliers and whom you should avoid. Then when you have specific questions maybe we can answer them and will be happy to do so. The reason you may be getting scammed is because you are looking for too great a bargain. There is no free lunch in the video world. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 28th, 2002, 04:07 PM	#205
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	See these threads -- post a reply to these particular threads if you have further questions. Best source (not the cheapest, but the best): http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=4096 About dealing with Broadway: http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...=&threadid=278 About dealing with Ebay: http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=2724 http://new.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=2954 __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 28th, 2002, 04:25 PM	#206
katiyar_sanjay Posts: n/a	Thanks. I am new to this board. Thanks. I am new to this forum/board. Dont want to pay unreasonably more. I think I appreciate Chris Hurd's suggestions more than Mike Rehmus's preachings.

October 28th, 2002, 04:28 PM	#207
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Also look here: http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/index.htm __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 28th, 2002, 04:31 PM	#208
katiyar_sanjay Posts: n/a	Mike, just checked the site u sent me. I can say it is nothing but EXCELLENT. Thanks Mike to you too. I appreciate this reply of yours. :) Mike, just checked the site u sent me. I can say it is nothing but EXCELLENT.

October 28th, 2002, 04:43 PM	#209
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	katiyar_sanjay If you had included your email I could have sent you a list. I'm surprised at the reaction to your postthough. The best rule of thumb is if the price seems to good to be true, then it is. Beware of prices that are dramatically lower then the competition. If you take the chance you could be getting grey market goods (no warranty). It could be a refurbished camera. The retailer may strip the accessories (battery, charger etc) from the box and sell them separately. You may be required to buy shoddy 3rd pary accessories to get the sweetheart deal. You may not get the camera at all. It's best to buy from an established dealer. The dealers that Chris recomends are reliable and offer the best available pricing. They have to ,other wise the word will get out and no one will deal with them. The customer base from this forum is very well educated and they just won't pay more than they have to or accept anything but the best service.

October 28th, 2002, 06:02 PM	#210
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Re: Thanks. I am new to this board. <<<-- Originally posted by katiyar_sanjay : Thanks. I am new to this forum/board. Dont want to pay unreasonably more. I think I appreciate Chris Hurd's suggestions more than Mike Rehmus's preachings. -->>> Look, Sanjay, it's not that I don't appreciate neophites. We all were and still all are in some aspect of video world. But you asked questions that you could have answered with a look at the titles of the postings on the first page of this particular forum. Had you done a search on the words 'Broadway' and 'ebay', for example, you would have found the comments on them too. Maybe it's just the wrong phase of the moon for me today. I did not mean to insult you or chastise you. Only to guide you (grumpily, I admit and for which I appologize) to where the answers can be found. Why did you ask the question regarding NTSC or PAL? __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!