Hello all,

I recently purchased a VX-2100 and am deciding on some extra batteries, a UV filter and a tripod.

1. Which is a good Brand of UV filter?

2. I've read some posts on batteries, and a recent post on 'camcorderinfo.com' mentioned an aftermarket battery posted on the following link. Brand is 'Amstron'

http://www.atbatt.com/getItem.cfm?ItemID=188&AffID=20020115D5981Y090204

Has anyone here used this battery? The user on the other forum said he did use it on his VX-2100 and it works.

Also in general do aftermarket batteries wear out faster than sony? Or develop memory quickly?


3. The sony vct-870 rm tripod. How good is it?
Would you guys reccomend it?
I already have a bogen 3011 tripod for my film camera. Would i be better of buying a fluid head for this instead? The bogen is very heavy though.

Thanks

+ i bought a b+w uv haze filter for my vx2100 and i love it.

+ i bought the sony np-f750 (brand new still in sealed blister pack) off of ebay from a guy in hong kong for $40 including shipping. he sent it right away and it was packed nice and clean registered mail. i think his ebay name is thebattery or something like that.

- i don't know much about which tripods are good so i can't help you there.

-greg

I don't know about the filter, but as for the tripod, look in the local photo shops. I found some great bargins at the local family shop.

I've heard of a lot of problems with people using generic batteries in their vx2100's so I just took the plunge and bought a np-f750 full charge on it I think is over 400 min, i forgot but it is more than enough to last me.

Batteries - I would buy Sony's. I cannot say one way or the other, but there have been issues in the cell phone world with 3rd party lithium batteries exploding and catching fire. SO, I would stick with the big Sony.

Tripods - hearsay is that the Sony tripods on their site are not so hot. I would consider a 3011 with a 501 Fluid Head. Yes, it will weigh about 10 lbs, but it will tilt and pan like silk. Even with that weight, I do have to finger the base at times to not tip. The weight only is bad carrying it. :) If you have a few hundred extra dollars laying around, you can get one of the composite ones that are really light. :)

I, and I am not an expert, use Tiffen and Crystal Optics filters.

What about good mics and whatnot?

Sandeep, I live in Washington also, if you ever want to get together and create something give me a email...

I have some generic batteries that work fine on my VX-2000. They definitely do not work with my VX-2100. The 2100 recognizes that they aren't Sony batteries and shuts down with a message that you must use Sony batteries. I wouldn't take a chance with a non-Sony battery unless you had a way to verify that it works beforehand.

I bought the VSO-F960 H Amstron from ATBATT.COM and it works just fine in my new VX2100. Lasts forever. It's around $60.

Why mess with an aftermarket battery when you can buy a new Sony on Ebay for about 1/2 price of new? I've bought several off there and never gotten a lemon.

For mics, the Sennheiser ME66 is probably the most popular for the VX. I have gone to the ME64 which is cadiod. The ME66 shotgun was too long for my style. But that's personal preference. Another good accessory is a Rycote softie wind sock for the VX's onboard mic. Cuts down on wind noise.

Enjoy,

Mark G

mark

Is there a cheap substitute for the Rycote wind sock. It's $50.

It looks like a little piece of fur. Perhaps could get some at a fabric store and stich it myself.

Any thoughts from anybody?

thanks

I wouldn't consider anything other than a real Sony NPF-960. Considering that you will use it for years to come the price difference isn't such a big deal. And the 960's are really amazing in their stamina. I can get close to 8 hours on my VX-2000 with LCD screen on the whole time. Why would you settle for anything less?

Tripods - spend a little while reading through Support your local camera (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=42). This topic has been thoroughly covered many times.

I've been debating on what to do with my battery situation. Has anyone bought, or used one from here?
http://stores.ebay.com/Camera-Accessories-Megastore_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm

Better yet check out my situation.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27390

I'm right with Mark and Boyd. The latter puts it so well:

''8 hours on my VX-2000 with LCD screen on the whole time. Why would you settle for anything less?''

<<<-- Originally posted by Tom Hardwick : I'm right with Mark and Boyd. The latter puts it so well:

''8 hours on my VX-2000 with LCD screen on the whole time. Why would you settle for anything less?'' -->>>
I just don't know what I should do with this battery I already have.

Since you already own it, just use it and see what happens.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Rehmus : Since you already own it, just use it and see what happens. -->>>
Just afraid of it damaging my camera.

I'll come back to what I said before: why bother with aftermarket batteries when you can buy new (or nearly new) Sony batteries off Ebay for 1/2 price?

<<<-- Originally posted by Mark Goodsell : I'll come back to what I said before: why bother with aftermarket batteries when you can buy new (or nearly new) Sony batteries off Ebay for 1/2 price? -->>>That's what I got, a Sony battery off Ebay for 1/2 the price. Only thing is that it turns out that it's a fake. But some others who bought the same ones send me pics comparing them. Supposedly they die a lot sooner, like 3 months, but it depends. I guess i'll try to use it, I had already charged it, no prob.