VX2000 -- various topics

Charles French · May 10th, 2003, 08:36 PM

Has anyone gotten any good stills with the 2k. I've taken a few, some are better than others. Any suggestions on any required settings.

ty, charles

Tom Hardwick · May 12th, 2003, 09:53 AM

Rather than take stills to the Memory stick (which I presume you're doing) simply go into the menu and set the camera to Progressive scan. Now you have a motordrive still camera that will record 15fps for an hour or more, and not break sweat. You'll also record full stereo sound and you'll be able to choose the *perfect* moment from the timeline in post. Further, you won't have JPEG compression trying to squeeze lots of info into memory.

From a taking point of view, don't use the ND filters. Up the shutter speed so that you're shooting at the sharpest aperture - f4. Shoot in bursts if you like. When you've taken 30 pictures of a group of four people you'll get a much better print than the guy who took one picture on his mega-pixel Nikon.

tom.

Joel Landis · May 14th, 2003, 10:39 AM

ok, i have asked this about a 100000000 times but have never really been told the answer i guess.....anyways on the vx1000 i have been told that it doesnt have dv-in. now what does that mean? does it mean that i cant hook it up to my compter or whatever?

Thanks

Mike Rehmus · May 14th, 2003, 11:37 AM

The information you have is false for VX-1000's in the US. The connector is clearly marked DV In/Out and it works.

In Europe, the input was defeated for import duty reasons, I'm told.

Rick Spilman · May 14th, 2003, 11:52 AM

Mike is correct (as usual). The (non-EU) VX1000 has dv in and out. DV in/out just means that it can record or playback a video signal over a firewire cable. You can connect the camera to a computer or another dv camera and playback or record.

The only thing that the VX1000 will not do is an analog to dv pass through. You can't use it to convert analog to dv like you can the VX2000/PD150 and most other newer DV cameras.

Joel Landis · May 14th, 2003, 12:19 PM

alright thanks

Garret Ambrosio · May 20th, 2003, 12:25 PM

I think the VX2000 has much better low light capability compared to it's older sibling, the legendary VX1000, but it simply improves from the legend, the VX2000 does not set the standard as it's predessor did in its market segment. With good grounding the beachtek adaptor for the VX2000, though not as great as the PD150 is definitely decent. Not to mention the imporve battery placement and LCD screen.

Dennis Hull · May 28th, 2003, 08:43 PM

First real experience with my new VX2000 came on a fast driving trip from St.Paul, MN to Seattle, WA and on (by ferry) to Victoria, BC. Encountered wide variety of indoor and outdoor scenery and subjects including shots through snow (Montana mountains in May); rain and drizzle with bursts of sun breaking through (Seattle area and Victoria, BC). These lighting conditions gave some great scenic shots, but with pressing time deadlines did not have time to stop and do a lot of experimenting with manual settings beyond working with iris to minimize zebra striped portions in high contrast lighting and switching in ND filters as directed by camera. As the David Ruether article on VX2000 commented--this camera does a great job in full auto settings. The indoor shots (high tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC for instance) were amazing in color accuracy and brilliance and the high contrast outdoor lighting shots (snowy, overcast weather with bright sun breaking through to light portions of mountain pines covered with new snow) were handled very well. As a hobbyist, my only personal comparison was my previous TRV 9, but I am still very impressed with the VX2000 as were those subjected to viewing my unedited shots.

Obvious things to most of you that I learned again: (1) investment in an easy to use good rain cover would be good since you can get some great lighting effects in drizzly rainy conditions and you can't count on getting dry skies when you are "on site" (should have bought one before the trip); (2) should have done a lot more experimenting with camera before taking trips like this--don't try to learn while taking shots of great scenery (this is why I left camera on auto most of time); (3) use of various controls needs practice so they are second nature--no time for searching for control or menu item while some action is going on; (4) some of the auto features like "spotlight" really do a great job (learned this in a wax museum where it took the white out of subject faces).

Kevin Nardelle · June 1st, 2003, 01:32 PM

I want to say something about the VX-2000, it is one durable camera!!
While filming some stuff at a motorcycle shop, I sat my camera on this big bike seat, the seat was huge and I felt comfortable sitting the cam there for a second. I turned around to get a gum ball out the machine and I heard CRASH! A few people that were there said OH DUDE!! I could not turn around, knowing good and well what hit the floor haha. In shock I turned and saw my camera sitting straight up on the lens on the floor with the flip out view finder open (it was closed). Oh and the cam had the wide angle on it so there was no rubber sony shade installed at the time. I have to admit, I checked everything and the camera is fine. My ABSOLUTE WORST nightmare came true though, my cam was dropped, and it was my fault not to mention a very stupid decision - all for a piece of .25 gum. I honestly cant find anything wrong with the camera, I am wondering if I should take advantage of that MACKIE warranty and send it in for a checkup. What do you think?

Rick Spilman · June 1st, 2003, 03:11 PM

Does it work? If it works why send it for a check-up?

One thing that I love about Sony prosumer cameras is that they are rugged. I have really let my old VX1000 get battered and I have dropped, knocked and otherwise abused my PD150 in ways that I would rather not admit. They are very well built cameras.

Kevin Nardelle · June 1st, 2003, 04:07 PM

My camera is a really sacred thing, I try not to let it get dusty lol. it has the problems of the fireflies and the (both) viewfinders are not good enough resolution to know if you are in focus or not. Other then that, they kick butt. sony makes a fine product but I think the next camera I get will be a XL1s just for a change of pace.

Will Nuttall · July 4th, 2003, 03:37 AM

Has anyone noticed when using a mobile phone nere a VX2000 in camera mode it starts to vibrate and grind? Just thought I'd see if I was alone on this.

Cheers,
Will

Mike Rehmus · July 4th, 2003, 11:11 PM

The PD150 and I suspect the VX2000 are very sensitive to Radio Frequency Interference and ElectroMagnetic Interference (RFI & EMI).

Mine will go nuts around handheld radios, strobe lights, etc. When I tested my PD150, my cell phone didn't seem to bother it but a hand-held police radio sure did.

What you are hearing is the SteadyShot jumping around. Probably not too good for the mech. I turn mine off which is a pain given that it is a menu function, not a push-button.

Dave Valencic · July 5th, 2003, 12:07 PM

I was shooting a short film that needed a fairly good bit of direction with a lot of cars, and we were using Motorola FRS handhelds and every time you would hit the talk button, you could hear background noise and a click sound on the VX2000's audio track. We had to end up using GSM cell phones (two Sony/Ericsson T68i's with headsets) instead of the handhelds as those didn't interfere with the VX2000.

Jan O. Norrman · July 11th, 2003, 05:43 PM

Inspired by the "seven secrets of shooting video..." from DVcreators I intend to buy the tiffen soft f/x 3 filter for my vx2000.
Now, I think I have read a post that it one can´t use the lenshood if you attach a second filter (I have a uvfilter to protect the lens)
I have made a search with no result.
Am I mistaken? Or if only one filter can be attached to the vx2000 and keep the lens hood on can the tiffen filter be used also as a protection instead of the uv one?
Thanks in advance for any help

May 10th, 2003, 08:36 PM	#316
Charles French Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: grenada,ms Posts: 78	vx2k stills Has anyone gotten any good stills with the 2k. I've taken a few, some are better than others. Any suggestions on any required settings. ty, charles

May 14th, 2003, 10:39 AM	#318
Joel Landis New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Orrville, Oh Posts: 9	vx 1000 ok, i have asked this about a 100000000 times but have never really been told the answer i guess.....anyways on the vx1000 i have been told that it doesnt have dv-in. now what does that mean? does it mean that i cant hook it up to my compter or whatever? Thanks

May 14th, 2003, 11:37 AM	#319
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The information you have is false for VX-1000's in the US. The connector is clearly marked DV In/Out and it works. In Europe, the input was defeated for import duty reasons, I'm told. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 20th, 2003, 12:25 PM	#322
Garret Ambrosio Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 263	I think the VX2000 has much better low light capability compared to it's older sibling, the legendary VX1000, but it simply improves from the legend, the VX2000 does not set the standard as it's predessor did in its market segment. With good grounding the beachtek adaptor for the VX2000, though not as great as the PD150 is definitely decent. Not to mention the imporve battery placement and LCD screen. __________________ "USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population." -David Letterman

May 28th, 2003, 08:43 PM	#323
Dennis Hull Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St. Paul, MN USA Posts: 151	Impressions of VX2000 First real experience with my new VX2000 came on a fast driving trip from St.Paul, MN to Seattle, WA and on (by ferry) to Victoria, BC. Encountered wide variety of indoor and outdoor scenery and subjects including shots through snow (Montana mountains in May); rain and drizzle with bursts of sun breaking through (Seattle area and Victoria, BC). These lighting conditions gave some great scenic shots, but with pressing time deadlines did not have time to stop and do a lot of experimenting with manual settings beyond working with iris to minimize zebra striped portions in high contrast lighting and switching in ND filters as directed by camera. As the David Ruether article on VX2000 commented--this camera does a great job in full auto settings. The indoor shots (high tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC for instance) were amazing in color accuracy and brilliance and the high contrast outdoor lighting shots (snowy, overcast weather with bright sun breaking through to light portions of mountain pines covered with new snow) were handled very well. As a hobbyist, my only personal comparison was my previous TRV 9, but I am still very impressed with the VX2000 as were those subjected to viewing my unedited shots. Obvious things to most of you that I learned again: (1) investment in an easy to use good rain cover would be good since you can get some great lighting effects in drizzly rainy conditions and you can't count on getting dry skies when you are "on site" (should have bought one before the trip); (2) should have done a lot more experimenting with camera before taking trips like this--don't try to learn while taking shots of great scenery (this is why I left camera on auto most of time); (3) use of various controls needs practice so they are second nature--no time for searching for control or menu item while some action is going on; (4) some of the auto features like "spotlight" really do a great job (learned this in a wax museum where it took the white out of subject faces).

May 12th, 2003, 09:53 AM	#317
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Rather than take stills to the Memory stick (which I presume you're doing) simply go into the menu and set the camera to Progressive scan. Now you have a motordrive still camera that will record 15fps for an hour or more, and not break sweat. You'll also record full stereo sound and you'll be able to choose the perfect moment from the timeline in post. Further, you won't have JPEG compression trying to squeeze lots of info into memory. From a taking point of view, don't use the ND filters. Up the shutter speed so that you're shooting at the sharpest aperture - f4. Shoot in bursts if you like. When you've taken 30 pictures of a group of four people you'll get a much better print than the guy who took one picture on his mega-pixel Nikon. tom.

May 14th, 2003, 11:52 AM	#320
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	Mike is correct (as usual). The (non-EU) VX1000 has dv in and out. DV in/out just means that it can record or playback a video signal over a firewire cable. You can connect the camera to a computer or another dv camera and playback or record. The only thing that the VX1000 will not do is an analog to dv pass through. You can't use it to convert analog to dv like you can the VX2000/PD150 and most other newer DV cameras.

May 14th, 2003, 12:19 PM	#321
Joel Landis New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Orrville, Oh Posts: 9	alright thanks

June 1st, 2003, 01:32 PM	#324
Kevin Nardelle Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Orleans - Metairie Posts: 87	VX2000 takes a beating I want to say something about the VX-2000, it is one durable camera!! While filming some stuff at a motorcycle shop, I sat my camera on this big bike seat, the seat was huge and I felt comfortable sitting the cam there for a second. I turned around to get a gum ball out the machine and I heard CRASH! A few people that were there said OH DUDE!! I could not turn around, knowing good and well what hit the floor haha. In shock I turned and saw my camera sitting straight up on the lens on the floor with the flip out view finder open (it was closed). Oh and the cam had the wide angle on it so there was no rubber sony shade installed at the time. I have to admit, I checked everything and the camera is fine. My ABSOLUTE WORST nightmare came true though, my cam was dropped, and it was my fault not to mention a very stupid decision - all for a piece of .25 gum. I honestly cant find anything wrong with the camera, I am wondering if I should take advantage of that MACKIE warranty and send it in for a checkup. What do you think? __________________ Regards, Kevin --

June 1st, 2003, 03:11 PM	#325
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	Does it work? If it works why send it for a check-up? One thing that I love about Sony prosumer cameras is that they are rugged. I have really let my old VX1000 get battered and I have dropped, knocked and otherwise abused my PD150 in ways that I would rather not admit. They are very well built cameras.

June 1st, 2003, 04:07 PM	#326
Kevin Nardelle Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Orleans - Metairie Posts: 87	wow My camera is a really sacred thing, I try not to let it get dusty lol. it has the problems of the fireflies and the (both) viewfinders are not good enough resolution to know if you are in focus or not. Other then that, they kick butt. sony makes a fine product but I think the next camera I get will be a XL1s just for a change of pace. __________________ Regards, Kevin --

July 4th, 2003, 03:37 AM	#327
Will Nuttall Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 25	Mobile Phone & VX2000 Has anyone noticed when using a mobile phone nere a VX2000 in camera mode it starts to vibrate and grind? Just thought I'd see if I was alone on this. Cheers, Will

July 4th, 2003, 11:11 PM	#328
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The PD150 and I suspect the VX2000 are very sensitive to Radio Frequency Interference and ElectroMagnetic Interference (RFI & EMI). Mine will go nuts around handheld radios, strobe lights, etc. When I tested my PD150, my cell phone didn't seem to bother it but a hand-held police radio sure did. What you are hearing is the SteadyShot jumping around. Probably not too good for the mech. I turn mine off which is a pain given that it is a menu function, not a push-button. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 5th, 2003, 12:07 PM	#329
Dave Valencic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cleveland OH Posts: 34	I was shooting a short film that needed a fairly good bit of direction with a lot of cars, and we were using Motorola FRS handhelds and every time you would hit the talk button, you could hear background noise and a click sound on the VX2000's audio track. We had to end up using GSM cell phones (two Sony/Ericsson T68i's with headsets) instead of the handhelds as those didn't interfere with the VX2000.

July 11th, 2003, 05:43 PM	#330
Jan O. Norrman New Boot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 13	vx2000 and tiffen soft f/x 3 filter Inspired by the "seven secrets of shooting video..." from DVcreators I intend to buy the tiffen soft f/x 3 filter for my vx2000. Now, I think I have read a post that it one can´t use the lenshood if you attach a second filter (I have a uvfilter to protect the lens) I have made a search with no result. Am I mistaken? Or if only one filter can be attached to the vx2000 and keep the lens hood on can the tiffen filter be used also as a protection instead of the uv one? Thanks in advance for any help __________________ jon