No card reader included with the VX2100 and it doesn't have a USB port, either. This model was clearly designed for the best
video performance that could be delivered for its price and still pictures aren't a necessary part of this. However, the VX2100 does produce some of the best 640 X 480 stills you could find.
With a 128mb Memory-Stick, I am constantly clicking still images on mine for Internet posting and E-Mail attachments. With this low pixel-size and large memory card, I can get close to a thousand pictures stored in the camera. I'd prefer having two 128mb cards than one of 256mb size, to keep all my eggs out of one basket.

Those who have a Sony GV-D1000 mini-DV VCR, get full Memory-Stick functions and a USB port. I have an older Sony TRV730 Digital8 camcorder, that no longer has a working tape drive. However, its Memory-Stick and USB functions still operate and could be used to transfer the VX2100's still pictures. Also, many people have computers or DVD recorders with card slots. Some of these will take a Memory-Stick directly or with a card adaptor.
If you take inventory of all your gadgets and the ways you could adapt them for alternative uses, you may not have to buy anything, to carry out what you need to do.

And yes, the VX2100 is as good in low-light as many are saying. The best thing about this, is that many of its low-light pictures look very usable for important productions, not just passable in quality. I've shot unlighted footage of deer with mine, when it was too dark to see them with my bare eyes, but they showed up clearly, although not brightly, on the tape. And just a little bit of added light goes a long way with this camera. When I go hiking in the woods at night, I carry a tiny LED flashlight. I've mounted a clip on my camcorder to hold it lined-up with the camera's field of view and it shoots some amazing things with just this bit of illumination. This light cost 15 bucks and runs 50 hours on three AA batteries. I intend to get some Cougar shots this way or be eaten in the process-----or maybe both??

Is there something like Frame Mode (on the GL1 and GL2) on the vx2100? I see Frame Rec, but I don't think thats the same.

low light
 

Just shot a wedding with a DSR-500, DSR-300 and my trusty old vx2000. It was a dark ceremony with an african american couple. My little VX WAY out performed it's two bigger cousins in this instance. After we got back and took a look at the footage I was left wishing I had a whole army of vx's for shooting weddings.
Dont get me wrong, the 500 wipes the floor with the vx when you have ample lighting, but this was the first time I've seen the footage from the vx be much, much better than the 500.
I was kinda proud of my little fella. I'm always secretly rooting for the vx when we put him head to head against the big boys.

A few simple questions
 

I have just recently bought a VX2100. I have a few questions if you guys don’t mind helping me out. The first question is. What are my ideal settings to get the best quality of picture? The second question I have is when importing footage in to my Adobe Premier 6.0 what are the best settings to capture from? And last What is the best way to export from Adobe?

Thank You
All the help will be very much appreciated
Brennan

Congratulations on obtaining a great camera, Brennan.

You've asked 3 questions, only one of which can be answered with the information you provided.

Camera settings are application-dependent. It depends on upon what you are shooting at the time.

There are no settings on the camera for export. Plug in the firewire cable and grab the footage.

Exporting footage from any editing program depends on what ultimate use will be made of th footage and the media onto which you are going to record it. And, BTW, just to keep the lines clear between the forums, the editing question should be asked in the editing forum, not here. I'd appreciate you posting just the Adobe portion of your querie there.

And good luck, you will like the camera.

Technically, the best quality movie footage is obtained by:

1) turning off the OIS
2) using a rock solid tripod using the remote control
3) shooting in slightly overcast conditions
4) removing any filters and converter lenses
5) using the default shutter speed of 1/50th sec (PAL)
and 6) shooting at an aperture no smaller than f/5.6

Oh, and having a clean front element, tape path and good quality tape.

I also find my VX's zoom is better at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle.

Premiere 6 doesn't have an MPEG2 encoder, so export back to tape - it's the best storage method there is.

tom.

VX2100 questions
 

Hey all. I am considering getting the VX2100. Can you use any kind of filters on it? I've never used filters for a camcorder, but like the red type filters for SLR cameras and wondered if they'd work. Also, how does anyone like the 2100? Is there lots of freedom with the manual controls? I now have a TRV18 and want something better. Will the difference be that much better? Thanks in advance.

I have a VX-2000 which is the previous model. It's a nice camcorder, but only if you want to work in the 4:3 aspect ratio. It has a setting that lets you shoot in anamorphic 16:9 however the results are low resolution as it has to crop the 4:3 image to get the correct proportions. Therefore I almost never use my VX-2000 anymore. However if this isn't an issue for you then I'm sure you'll be happy.

You can control the iris and shutter speed manually, although there is one "gotcha." If you change shutter speeds the iris will automatically reset itself, but afterwards you can take manual control of the iris. So the trick is to be sure to set your shutter speed before adjusting the iris.

Of course you can use filters! If you want to experiment with a lot of different ones you could get the Cokin "P series" filter holder. This lets you drop square glass filters into a plastic carrier:

http://www.cokin.com/ico1-p1.html

However if you want to work with filters it's a good idea to view the results on a production monitor since the little camera LCD screen isn't high resolution enough to reveal potential problems. Another approach would be to shoot without filters and create your effect in post using software.

I'm not familiar with the TRV-18, but since the VX-2100 has three 1/3" CCD's I suspect it will provide a much nicer image.

Now if you want to shoot in the 16:9 widescreen format and like the Sony cameras you could look at the HC-1000 and PDX-10 for standard definition, or the HDR-FX1, HVR-Z1, HDR-HC1 and HVR-A1 for both standard and high definition.

4:3 and 16:9 are not important to me at all. I'm just wanting something that's much better video quality than my 18 (which works for now). I have 2 questions.
1) When the camera shuts off at the 5 minute mark with no use, when you power back up, does it resume at the settings you had it at (meaning the shutter speed and aperature)?
2) With the Beachtek adaptor, can you run 2 mics into it, and adjust their volumes separately on the adaptor so one would record in quieter?

How can 4:3 and 16:9 not be important to you at all? In order to pick the right camera you need to know which format you will primarily use.

1. I think so, but haven't used it in awhile so not 100% sure. The usual trick is to press the still photo button to wake it up. If you switch the power on and off I think your settings will be lost.

2. Yes. I have a DXA4 which has 2 XLR connectors and two volume controls. You can control each channel separately, however when the Beachtek is in use you can't use the camera's built-in microphone. Also, the volume controls on the Beachtek are just to set a level, not to use as a mixer. They move in clicks, and the instructions warn they aren't intended to fade a microphone in and out.

I have VX2100 and it's an awesome camera with beautiful picture. I still mostly shoot in 4:3, but when it's absolutely necessary to film widescreen, then the camera will do it. I know it crops the top and bottom, but once filming your video, the lost will not be that noticeable. I even filmed a DVD project once in widescreen with PD150 and the results were just fine when I watched the footage.

In my opinion it's quite ok to buy a 4:3 ratio camera today for professional production, because even if broadcast is slowly switching over to 16:9, most will still have to wait at least a few years until they can broadcast in true widescreen, because as far as I know widescreen picture would be stretched just like when watching the video from your camera in standard ratio TV set and it would take quite a while until most of the people buy 16:9 TVs. I've heard that Finland televisions are planning to go widescreen in 2007 and here they haven't said anything at all yet.

If talking about HD then I would wait for the next family of Sony cams, I'm quite sure they will have many improvements.

Thanks for all your replys! I am pretty sure I will go with the 2100. This would be my 4th Sony camcorder, and I do like their products. I say that widescreen is not important because most of our stuff goes onto the internet, and none of us (except me) own a widescreen tv. Plus this is a hobby for me, not a living. I also don't want to wait for HD because my video editor (a Casablance Avio / stand alone unit) does not edit HD. Min DV is more than fine for us. One of my concerns was the size of the VX. It comes in at 15 1/2" long.

Then you might want to consider the Canon GL2. It's smaller and lighter, has a better zoom and better audio features. I own both, but I consider the GL2 to be a better value ($1750 after rebate, vs. $2400 for the VX2100).

The VX2100 gives slightly crisper video, but for some (like myself) this is not always desireable--a matter of taste. The GL2's footage is sharp, but somehow softer and warmer. The Sony is sturdier and certainly impressive looking, and, of course is the king of low light cams in the price range affordable by most mortals.

For a wedding or documentary, or for very dim lighting, I'd be inclined to use the VX2100. For most anything else I grab the GL2.