Well, I've finally done it!
 

around tuesday-wensday next week i'll be ordering my brand new VX2100 from B&H.
I'll be filming short video's and skateboarding.

I just have a few short questions...

1. Is it bad to charge the battery's using the "On Camera" charger?

2. (About) how long does the stock battery last? i'm also buying an NP-F550 extra.

3. On the VX2100 you can control sound manually right? like sound levels

Thanks ahead of time for any responses

Shawn

Vx2100
 

As I owned VX2000,then i guess they a similar cameras mostly.

On camera charging - i cant see no difference,maybe separate charger will
charge more quickly,and other drawback is that u can't charge ur second battery while u use the camera.

Supplied battery not just strong one,recomended to have higher capacity battery.

and yes sure , you can adjust audio level manually,through menu.
and be sure - vx2100 is great camera.

i've been using my vx2100 for a couple years. I have to say it is a great camera (mostly because of the low-light ability).

the sound for the vx2100 camera records very "hot". you can do manual recording of sound, but when you view the meters to see your levels of sound, you are not able to adjust anything else (ie, exposure.) You need to turn off the level meter before doing any changes, kind of stinks. but you learn to work around these things.

Basically if you don't have external battery charger, the camera is the only way to charge the battery. I would suggest getting an external battery charger. That way you can charge battery and use the camera as well. you can't use the camera and charge batteries at the same time.

I bought a np-f970 battery for about $115 and it well worth it. I run an on-camera light (Sony's hotshoe attachment), with the LCD screen open and i can get about 4 hours of time. 6 hours if I don't use the light...pretty impressive.

I think you will love your vx after you play around with it.

Thanks very much Jay!

seeing as how i'm only 16 and i'm taking a loan from my parents (help me pay half until i can pay them back) i'm a little short on cash, so right now i'll be purchasing
VX2100
NP-F550
UV filter to protect the lens
Ogio Atiba camera backpack
and a used raynox fisheye from my friend ( i just LOVE fisheye shots)


and within the next few months i plan on picking up an NP-F970 an external charger (as soon as possible) and hopefully XLR mic/beachtek adapter
After spending 2400$ on my setup, i wanna be able to get this thing to pay for itself. we'll have to see



Thanks to everyone on DVinfo.net for helping me make my choice, even though i've rarely posted, i've lurked for quite a while and read many posts on different cameras and have chosen the VX2100.

If you get an NP-F570 battery, it will give you quite a bit more recording time, but shouldn't cost much more.

Thanks Stephen, i've decided to go with the cheap ebay batteries way.

paying 20$ for a fake NP-F970, 50/50 chance of it working/not working
but hey, if it doesnt work, its only 20 bucks opposed to 120

the vx2100 camera can only use batteries that state...infoLithium on them.
I tried the cheap (non-Sony) brands and they don;t work. at least for my camera.

The NP-F970 is a good choice and highly recommended. It will cost more but you will not be disappointed.

Regards,

Margus

I'm using a comparable 950 and comparable 750 Lenmar on my VX2000 and my FX1, and don't have charging issues. Not sure why the 2100 would be different.

Also charge on both camers charging systems, most of the time.

Audio adjustment on camera, but for more control, add a Beachtech adapter.

About the Batteries
 

He're an old message that I wrote on here about batteries:

"In case anyone else was wondering and doesn't have a manual, here's a brief outline:

NP-F570 - 90 (typical w/ LCD screen) to 230 (continuous w/ viewfinder)
NP-F770 - 190 to 470
NP-F970 - 295 to 705
(those are approximate minutes of recording time"

As stated previously, the only real downside of charging the battery on the camera is that you can't charge a battery while you are using the camera. Plus, if you like to keep your camera in a case, it is conventient to have a charger out while your camera is kept safe, away from anyone that might knock the camera over while it's charging.

Personally, I charge both of my batteries at the same time with a charger and the camera, thus saving time.

Enjoy the camera, it rocks.!

Thanks very much guys!

I'm changing my mind again, and not going the ebay battery route, but the Impact battery route.

B&H has them for about 20$ cheaper than the smaller "sony" brand battery's


I'm gonna get a NP-F770, the battery's say "Li-Ion" so i'm not worried about them not working.

Hey Shawn...

I'm surprised this was not posted eariler....but....I wanted to point out that you can get genuine NP-F970 from e-bay.

I got mine for $75 (with a charger and including the shipping)...

This is the real deal and it comes in the Sony authentic sealed plastic box with a small hologram on the upper left corner.

You can get just the battery for $50 (that includes shipping).

I got mine from e-bay seller lcd4video (the same guy who sells the 7" LCD for camcorders)

here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-NP-F970-BAT...em170078416792

If you click on the link he has a shot of the back and front of the battery where the Sony logo is and the LI written on the front in gold.
It came in the mail yesterday and it is 100% genuine Sony (the same thing BH sells for $109).

Thanks very much alex, i'll look into that in a few months after my camera is payed off,

I just ordered it today, very excited.

Impact batteries do not work with any of my sony gear. The pd170, vx2100, and the sony 20 watt light all do not work with. It is not the battery to buy.
BH should really stop selling it as a battery that works with Sony gear when it clearly does not.

Oh, now you have me worried, haha.

The reason i got it, was because I figured if B&H sold it, it should work with the camera.

Oh well, if needed i can just return it.