Just ordered one -- questions!
 

I put in an order today for a VX2100 -- should be in on Monday. I also got the 4 year service plan, an extra F570 battery, some sony mini dv tapes, and a 4-6 firewire cable... I've picked out a tripod that I want but now I'm stuck on filters -- I'm leaning towards a set of Tiffens on eBay and was wondering what you guys would recommend other than a UV and polarizing filter -- 1/2 of my shots will be indoors under fluorescent lights (office building) and the other 1/2 will be outside, in a small plane, or at the edge of a hangar with plenty of daylight.

Couple very stupid/newbie questions... how does the hood fit on with a filter? Also, what other basic accessories would you recommend for shooting a short campus tour and a couple of documentary-style videos?

I'm also considering a new directional mic and possibly a mini to xlr converter if needed??

Also, as far as a carrying case goes, I'm planning on using my Swiss Gear backpack to carry this and the basic accessories around... decent padding but I will add more just in case... no problems hauling a laptop around campus for a year. The gear's only going in my car to the site and back.

Ahhh let me know... too much stuff to think about right now!

Alex

Alex,
A UV and a polarizing filter are probably all you will need.
I use a Tamrac 976 bag. It carries on one shoulder very nicely and stores the gear you would most often want to have with you. Lenses, batteries, charger, mic, cable, etc.
The VX2100 hood should open OK with a polarizing filter and UV filter installed. It will have difficulties with added lenses though. There are other hoods that can be purchased when you go with add-on lenses.
I use a Sennheiser MKE300 ($170) with a Beachtec DXA-4 ($170) as an easy to manage rig for general shooting. I mount the mic on a Minimount by Lightwave Audio ($165). If you use an external mic you should also have a good headset to monitor the sound. (Sony MDR 7506 $120) When and if you use a headset remember that the headset volume is controlled by the same buttons on the monitor that are used to control the volume of the little speaker on the monitor.

I think I'd add a wide-angle converter to your kit Alex. Although the VX has a 12x zoom, it's all in the normal to telephoto range, and the cam cries out for a 0.5x converter. You can get zoom through versions and partial zoom through. I like the latter, but then I'm fussy. Get a hood for it too.

If you do buy filters, make sure they're properly multi-coated ones, as they end up being the front element of your camera.

The K6 /ME66 Senheisser mic is a goodie, and more in tune with the capabilities of the cam than the MKE300. You'll love a radio mic for the freedom it brings, but I'm spending your money a bit fast, aren't I?

toim.

Alex,
Tom is correct. I use my camera a lot while backpacking and I find the MKE300 a lot more user friendly under those circumstances even though it is not as good a performer as the K6/ME66 combo.

How's the Sony MDR-V700 for monitoring? I've already got a pair of them for DJ monitoring (just switched from some Sennheiser studio monitors that I used). They seal my ear very well and are damn accurate...

I am very happy with and use the At815B and At835B mics, but you also may want to look at the new Rhode On Camera Video Mic

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

it has gotten great reviews so far.

I'm bidding on a DXA-4 on ebay right now... I'll check all the mics and see if I can test a couple out from my school's production department. I've used a lot of Rode mics for vocal recording and have had nothing but good experiences with them. What about a mic and some sort of mount where I could use the same mic on a boom as well as on the camera?




As far as batteries go, I can get the F570 for $30 a pop so I will stick to those even though the 770 and 970 perform so much better. Since the camera doesn't come with an external charger and I will have 2 batteries to start off with, I'd like to look at a basic generic charger for the 330 and the 570 -- any experiences w/ them?

Alex,
My measures are full ear cup and durability. The frequency range isn't such a big deal to me as my intent is to be sure that there is audio present and that it isn't cutting in and out, clipping, missing a channel, or full of unwanted background noise. The coil cord on the MDR7506 is nice also.

I use the Sony BC-V615. It works with 110V up to 220V 50-60Hz. So anywhere I travel it can be used. Be aware of the 220V feature when you buy a generic charger if you plan to ever be in a 220V country.

Which wide angle lens do you guys use? I'm looking for the most bang for the buck -- I will def need one in the plane... but they're not paying me top-dollar either.

Chose as if you are going to live with the selection for a long time. Much longer than the job.

Century has my vote for quick on and off and rugged mount that doesn't stress the filter threads on the lens.

How well do the filters mount to this lens?

Alex,
I agree whole heartedly with Mike. Don't cut corners on anything with glass in it. The higher cost of good lenses is due to the purity of the glass and the precision of the grind. These two factors plus a good optical design will give a lens that you will use as a lens instead of a paperweight. Good lenses also have good mounts to match. The Century Optics 0.65X WA comes in screw-on or bayonet base. $399.99 at B&H Photo. A 0.5 WA lens is a little more aggressive and the Century Optics 0.55 does not have full zoom through. The 0.65 does. I would recommend the 0.65 for your first wide angle as it will not have any surprises for you.

A cheaper lower quality lens will make you sick with regret one day.

Added:

Century Optics sells a sun shade that fits on the 0.65 WA lens and it will accept an 82mm screw-on filter. Sun shade $160 - Tiffen 82mm Circular Polarizer $100

What about the Sony .7x VCL-HG0758? Paperweight?

I'd probably want one with front threading for the filters, correct? You're right -- I don't want to get garbage... I'd rather not get one at all.

Does the VX2100 support both thread and bayonet?

Alex,
The Sony does not have threads in front either. You don't want to put any filters between the camera and the wide angle so don't even think about it.
The Sony is somewhat cheaper than the Century but you may get what you don't pay for.

Here is a page from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...L-HG0758&Q=&O=

Yes, the VX2100 supports both 58mm threads and bayonet mount. The bayonet mount goes on the same way the lens hood does. You can't have the stock Sony hood and a bayonet mount lens installed at the same time.

Ok... so no fluorescent filter even though I will be shooting inside under fluorescent lights? What about an ND filter?

Alex,
You can put filters on the hood that goes over the wide angle lens if you mount a wide angle lens. You just don't want to put filters between any aux lens and the camera because this will put the aux lens out away from the camera. Most if not all aux lenses are designed to be mounted directly to the camera with nothing in between. If you do not have an auxillary lens mounted then you can mount 58mm filters on the front of the VX2100.

If you are going to be shooting under fluorescent lights then you should do a white balance at the time of the shoot. Actually you should white balance whenever you start a shoot or whenever the light has changed or may have changed. It takes no time and doing it often will give you great comfort.

The VX2100 has two ND filters built in. The ND1 filter is equivalent to 2 f-stops or the light is reduced to 1/4 of what it is without the filter inserted. The ND2 filter is equivalent to 5 f-stops or the light is reduced to 1/32 of what it would be without the filter inserted. The camera will tell you when it is a good idea to insert the ND filters and when to take them out. Inserting them will let the camera aperture operate in a normal range. Shooting outside in the sunlight will most always require an ND filter.

The camera already has a built-in set of ND filters. You really don't need a Flo filter. This is a video camera that is capable of white-balancing in a flo-lit environment fairly well by itself. You can touch it up in post if necessary.

Remember, filters can only take away, they don't add anything. So they cannot add missing specral content in the lighting.

The VX has two built-in ND filters and rarely needs more. If you want to use maximum aperture you can always up the shutter speed.

The manual white balance should take care of any lighting conditions you come across, it has a huge range, and any slight modifications can be done in post.

tom.

Ooops, sorry guys. Didn't see your posts (above) and I seem to have said the same words.

Hmmm... they decided to send it UPS ground shipping (which was free)... I'll go ape if it comes busted up!! I presume they're packed well in Sony's box???

Ok in summary, I got an extra battery, some tapes, firewire cable, a fluid head tripod, a rode videomic, a uv filter, a clear filter, and a circular polarizing filter... extra charger and hard case are going to have to wait because I haven't found anything worthwhile yet.

What kind of battery life are you guys getting w/ the stock 330 and the 570 batteries?

Alex,
The VX2100 comes with the firewire cable but having two isn't a bad idea. Leave one at the computer and keep one in the camera bag in case you ever need one while traveling.
The 330 stock battery is good for about 30 minutes. The 560 should be good for at least 2-3 hours maybe 4 hours.
Rest easy. The camera will be arrive safely as the packaging is more than enough but be sure to check the box for obvious external damage and don't let the delivery guy get away until you have inspected the exterior on the box.

I work at Best Buy part time so the firewire cable was $1.38 and the camera's being delivered to the store just in case I'm not home at the time... any problems and I'm getting a full refund before I even accept it from the store.

hi

No dout that the VX-2100 is an amazing camera, but lets a biit radical here:)
On B&H , VX-2100 and PD170 have a dif of something like 800 and there's also a rebate of $300 if I am not mistaken - this way dif goes down to $500.

The XLR adaptor+the wide angle that you will need in the fututre will be more than $400. Plus you will have "dv cam" also.

Regaring xlr adaptors: I have both of them (studio 1 pro and Beachtek) and dislike both. Studio seems like a toy, and it needs to clip on my belt(think now they have news ones that go under the camera like the Beachtek).
The beachtek, it sees like a solid piece has the a very silly problem : While yoiu record you cannot use the roll-on faders because the noise gets into your recording.

What I am trying to say is that both adaptors don't deserve their prices.

Regarding shot gun mic : I don't how will you use the camcorder. I do wedding s and I realise that the mic that has the least use is the shot gun.
End up working with two wireless and 2-3 voise recorders..and no place for the shot gun mic. All though is a good thing to have it (for occasions) it's much better to use a cheap on camera mic ($50-$100) to get the ambient.

I know that it will sound crazy but it not, when it comes to weddings and events is better to work with cheap mics. Why? because there is no need to spent on mics that gives you great freq range and pic up the AC!
The same goes for sophisticated MP3 recorders or MD to record a simple human voise. You don't need it since human voise has a limited range.


o,,think was in the mood for typing! I hope that I helped a bit

Have fun with your new gear!

Anthony

Here's why I got the VX2100 over the PD170...

1.The price including tax, was 2385. I was also able to get a 4 year service plan that covers everything on the camera (including lens and battery) for $175. The ease of use for the service plan was a big part in my decision.

2. I threw it all on 6 months no-interest financing from the store (I've got better things to do right now with my working capital). My choices for the no-interest financing were the XL2, FX1, or the VX2100.

3. I don't need the XLR ports at the moment -- it seems like the Rode Videocam will do it all for me.

4. Looking at this from a business sense, I'm trying to maximize my short-term return on investment because the sooner I can get a positive cash flow on these projects, the sooner I can get cameras that are now beyond my price range with features that will let me work on larger projects. (HDV, 24p for example). For the projects I'm working on, the VX2100 will get me the same return that the PD170 will -- and by minimizing cost, I've also minimized my potential losses.

What about a good lavalier mic that doesn't need XLR? I'm worried about noise on the mini-jacks, but since the mini-jack inputs are stereo and the mics are mono, could I just combine the 2 channels in post -- wouldn't this cancel out the interference just like a normal balanced connection?

It isn't audio noise that a twisted-pair cable with a balanced input on the camera, rejects. It is electrical noise that, if induced in both sides of the tightly twisted cable, is cancelled out because the camera circuit is measuring for a differential signal between the wires and ignores the signals that are the same on both wires.

Yea but since the Videomic sends a mono signal over 2 channels and is recorded as 2 channels -- couldn't I do the same in post by combining the two channels?

You are missing the point. The noise is added to the signal if it gets to the recording circuitry. In a balanced system, the noise is cancelled before it gets to the recording stage.

If you subtract one signal from the other in Post, you cancel both the noise and the sound.

Anthony's message above was that if you're going buy an XLR adaptor and a wide angle lens for the VX2100, you're up to the price of the PD170/wide angle package with rebate. That certainly got my attention. The PD170 has additional advantages.

2740 roughly... 2930 shippsed on the PD170... about 200$ difference still, but I see the point. I can live w/o those features... and the financing is worth a lot more as well.