Beachteks use a 9-V battery.
[Edit--that refers only to Beachteks that provide phantom power. The others don't require any battery.]

That is the optical stabilizer

FWIW, I found an earlier thread on this same topic:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=29598

BTW, another reason this isn't gonna work as to do with the camera firmware. When you plug the XLR box into the smart shoe on the PDX-10 (and A1 I assume) an additional "XLR SET" menu becomes active which lets you choose some specific settings.

Thank you all for the information.

I never thought that the optical stabilizer system is located there as my previous camera (Panasonic GS400) was a lot smaller and didn't have anything that big so it must have been fitted somewhere inside the small cam. The Sony's stabilizer wins Pana big time though!

That's probably the case with those PDX and A1 adapters... It's unfortunate that Sony has not made a similar adapter available for the VX series, but if they did, then they would have probably lost quite a few PD sales.

I think I should just go for the DXA-4 adapter as I'm not very sure if I need the Phantom Power at all. For example, I used a reporter microphone in the DXA-2S I had on my GS400 and the microphone worked perfectly without any extra power.

Does someone know that if I buy the Sennheiser MKE300 shotgun, will it work with DXA-4 or will it require phantom power?

Thanks!

The MKE300 has a mini plug that can go directly into the cam's mic jack or into the auxilliary input of the DXA-4.

Be advised, however that the Rode Videomic is reported as far superior to the MKE300. I don't have an MKE300 but I do have the Rode and it's a joy to use when I want a cam mounted mic--a huge bang for the buck.

Neither mic requires phantom power--they take batteries. BTW, one of this site's sponsors, B&H, provides a public service for all the world--their online catalog is virtually an encyclopedia of audio and video equipment features and specifications:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

I have an MKE300 mic and it's a very ordinary mic for quite a lot of money in my view. Fine for feeding a Minidisc though. The 'D' version (even more money) will be needed if the mic is anywhere near the VX2k. Go for the Rode I say.

The DXA-4 Beachtek is purely passive, but allows a variety of inputs in mono or stereo. It's well built, quiet and is made in heaven for the VX2k, 2k1 and FX1.

The lump alongside the front element of the PD170 and VX2k1 is indeed the housing for the VAP electronics and activation mechanism. The Panasonic GS400 (as well as the FX1, MX500, TRV900, PDX10, DVX100 and so on) all use internal vibrating elements to stabilise the image. The VX/PD and Canon XM2, XL2 etc all use the VAP (vari-angle prism) mechanism that's fitted in front of the zoom's front element.

This VAP technology seems to be fading now. It's bulky, noisy, costly, uses lots of power, and has more inertia that the vibrating element principle. It also holds converter lenses away from the zoom's front element - not a good idea at all. The FX1 has shown how you can assign different 'powers' to the OIS, so this is the way forward. No more nasty cancerous growth lumps on the side of our lenses any more, either.

tom.

Thanks!

I thought that the MKE300 is the best, but I was wrong then.

In order to get the Rode VideoMic placed correctly, I will probably have to buy something like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search I think. However, it's very expensive and even more than the microphone itself so I would be glad if you could point me to something similar, but cheaper.

No, you don't need to buy a mount at all. The Rode VideoMic comes with a built-in shock mount. It's ready to slide into the camcorder's accessory shoe. The electrical configuration of the shoe doesn't matter. The mic only uses it for a mechanical mount. All you have to add is a 9-V battery.

Yep, I actually had the Rode VideoMic for a few days when I hadn't sent my GS400 with accessories to the new owner yet and then I tried the microphone to my VX2100. The problem is that the shock-mount is so big that it basically covers a great part of the handle including the buttons (REC, ZOOM) and therefore I will not be able to use the VideoMic on my camera, at least not without some additional mount which takes it a bit away from the handle. Any ideas? Maybe some VX2100 + VideoMic owners can comment on it?

Thanks!!

I would be one of those. I can still use the handle's zoom rocker and start/stop switch, but if you need more room then
This:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search
Plus this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search
would give you more room under the shock mount.

Or this one, which mounts to the cam's tripod mount, can take the mic off to the side and then optionally be mounted to a tripod itself. I have one of these and like it a lot.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Very interesting, especially the last one! Thanks! By the way, how long it approximately is?

The center of the top mounting shoe of the bracket will be 3-1/4" to the side and 4-3/4" up from the cam's tripod mounting hole.

Thanks, Fred. I hope I can acquire that thing when I will be re-buying the VideoMic.

VX2100 Phantom Powered XLR Hotshoe.
 

I have a VX2100 and looking for phantom powered XLR unit that pulls its power from the hotshoe and in turn from the camera battery.

I don't like the Beachtek, and don't want to worry about additional batteries or power supplies.

The Sony PD100 has this XLR unit as shown here:
http://www.vip26.com/pd100.jpg

and the schematic diagram for this unit can be found here:
http://www.vip26.com/A7094044A.pdf

and is a separate part that can be purchased from Sony Professional Parts for around $200 bucks.

Question is: If anyone has tried this and or knows if there is compatibility here, far as drawing the VX2100 power to this unit via the hotshoe as it does the PD100? I have read on serveral posts now that this XLR unit works on other Sonys?

-Jason