I have succesfully managed to get the color bars to playback on my mem stick in the camera..

Now who knows the secret for making custom slides. There obviously something special in the .jpg header or hidden info that makes a regular .jpg unreadable. Even using the color bar images provide and not changing anytning, but adding text in P-shop then saving back to camera made file unreadable.

What programs will save jpg and not mess with header info (assuming that is the deal). It is also interesting the file is 640x480 not 720x480. Maybe due to square pixels.

rob

Does anyone know whether the VX2000 will support a 128mb Memory Stick? Everything I've seen either online or in the manual suggests that 64mb is the max.

- Jacob

Hi guys, newbie to the board here (not newbie to the DV world, however.)

I've been shopping the last couple of weeks, leaning toward the VX2000 when I noticed this from member "wgardner":
"I also use a Memory stick mask to "trick" my system into capturing a letterbox or anamorphic image."

After hours and hours weighing the pros and cons of the VX2000; comparing the color registration, low light performance, audio issues of the VX2000 vs all other camcorders, I believe this remark about the memory stick has clinched the deal!

My question to wgardner or anyone who knows: how does this masking with the memory stick work? I assume you put a black bar mask on the memory stick? Is this something explained in the manual or a brilliant little cheat you came up with?

And I just thought of something funny: could you use this memory stick mask to recreate the famous old "looking through binoculars" shot?

Thanks for any help.
- Rob

Howdy from Texas, Rob,

Go to my VX2000 Companion website at www.dvinfo.net/vx2000.htm and click on Resources -- and then "other VX2000 / PD150 websites" -- the first link will take you to some downloadable memory stick examples. I see no reason why you couldn't do a classic "binoculars" matte as well. Hope this helps,

Thanks for the info, Chris! You've got a great, informative site here. Wish I'd discovered it earlier!

is this possible? if i set to use progressive scan ( why not, i don't need the fps ) can i record timelapse to a memory stick and save the wear on the heads?

Don't know, have you tried it and failed?

no, i'm not familiar enough with the memory stick to know if this is feasible. i guess i need to sit down with my manual and figure this out. :D

Hi,

Does anyone know the maximum size memory stick that can be used in the VX2000?

Thanks

I think the original maximum of the memory stick was/is 128 mb.
So my guess would be 128 mb.

Hi,

I was wondering is there any sites hosting memory stick matte images? As the one everyone suggests http://www.streamovie.com seems to be down.

Thanks.

Anyone?

Or does anyone have them that they could e-mail me, or possibly host on an alternate site as this one is now gone.

Are you looking for a general collection or a specific matte?

Well it would be nice to have a selection, but I mainly need a 16:9 PAL matte.

Richard: Send me an e-mail to me at Gocycle@optonline.net and I will send you the mattes as I have them saved.

Lou Bruno

Recieved them, thanks a lot for that. :)

Hi guys...

I have customized my video settings to give me a more "filmy" look through suggestions on this board and now I am wondering if anyone customizes their Memory Stick settings.

I like using the Memory Stick to take still pictures with my camera. I like the results... although they are a bit rich in color and can be a little sharp looking at times.

I suppose I could play with the settings a little on my own but was wondering if anyone else has done this and what they think of the results. Also, how many of you actually use the Memory Stick to take still pictures?

The only way to acomplish any change to the memory stick is either by manually adjusting the camera-iris, shutter etc OR saving your setting in custom pre-set.

Thanks for the response Lou...

I am familiar with the custom pre-set feature and have customized my video settings to produce a more "filmy" look.

I guess I was just curious to know how others have customized their memory stick features, if at all. Also, how many out there use the memory stick to take still pictures.

Like I said... one thing I noticed about my VX2000 is that the colors seem to be heavily saturated and the image kind of sharp.

I haven't used the memory stick to take pictures. However, I do find the camera to overly saturate and in many situations to overexpose. I find the custom presets to be great for adjusting the levels to my liking.

In our business we use progressive scan mode on occasion to take pictures. The advantage of progressive scan is that you have a lot of stills to pick from, rather than the one still that you get from taking stills to the memory card. Of course, the frames collected this way are 720x480 and would appear stretched if printed. We use the frames in video montages, so the stretching is desirable as it matches the internal video format.

I've never compared the quality of stills (sent to the memory card) and the individual frames shot using progressive scan. Have you done a comparison to see if one is superior to the other from a quality perspective?

Alan...

No, I haven't compared progressive scan stills with memory stick pics. Seems like when I am in Memory Stick mode images and looking through the viewfinder, it kind of acts like progressive scan (real choppy images).

I used memory stick when I first got my cam (about 2 years ago). Just of the family pets, etc. The quality was "okay". Probably because I just got the camera and wasn't used to digital equipment.

Still curious to see who else is out there using Memory Stick and how they customized their memory settings.

Linda, as I mentioned on another thread, it does appear your observation is correct about the VX2000/VX2100 going into progressive scan in memory mode.
It also uses a mechanical "progressive-shutter" in this type of still-picture capture.

As far as customizing camera settings in memory, I never do it. Every series of shots is different in lighting and I like to start from scratch each time, to get the best results.

As far as comparing the quality of memory mode stills to those captured later from progressive-scan tape footage, I'm still trying to see much difference. However, two factors are important: Since the memory mode uses a very fast mechanical shutter, the light level needs to be higher for good results. This means not getting the best pictures in memory mode, in dim light. Also, since you'd have 15 frames per second from progressive video from which to choose, the chances of getting the one special shot you want are immensely greater than from the one frame at a time memory mode.

However, with my 128Mb stick, I've been rattling-off dozens of still shots, then transfering them to Zip disks later. My peripheral Zip drive has a C. Flash slot and with a multi-card Flash adaptor, it's easy to slide the stick pictures onto it with one punch of the Copy button. It's amazing how many 640 X 480 pictures will fit onto one 250Mb Zip disk.

Thinking about what still photographers have to go through to get just one keeper shot, capture from progressive videotape seems like cheating. Imagine what nice stills could be captured if we ever get 1080p Hi-Def camcorders? Ones we can afford, that is. Even frames from 720p models would be very good, if they had 3 big CCDs and low-loss compression.

Thanks Steve...

I have been playing around with the memory mode. So far, not much... just things like adjusting white balance, etc. Still haven't tried to take still in progressive mode.

The color saturation is still pretty intense, but seems to look okay when taking photo shots in darker lighting (towars sunset, etc.).

Not quite sure what you mean by zip drive, C, etc., but I don't want to get off topic!

Linda, a Zip drive is a unit by Iomega that magnetically records on a flexible disk contained in a holder. Typically, the disks have a 250 Mb capacity, but they also have 100 Mb sizes and probably even larger by now. They are sometimes described as a super floppy disk, but are much more dependable. They often use USB connections and can be tied to a computer, but some are stand-alone. Some have camera-card slots and adaptors let you insert Memory-Sticks into their Compact Flash slots. I use my stand-alone model to store my pictures from Memory-Sticks and Smart-Media cards.
I can get more than 650 pictures on a 250 Mb disk, of a 640 X 480 size, double-recorded, one recording prepared for video output to a TV on S-Video for easy viewing. The disks cost about $6. to $8., less in bulk from a discounter. I've never had a single picture go bad in 4 years. You can get about as many double-recorded pictures on one disk as on a $75, 128 Mb Memory-Stick. Twice as many, if you don't double-record them for TV display.

The Sony website and the manual for the VX2100 have ambiguous translations about the compatibility of their various sizes and types of Memory-Sticks for this and similar camcorders. I have a standard, 128Mb stick in mine now, but am wondering about the X2 128Mb stick (128Mb X 2, for 256Mb total). The website says a flip of a switch changes from one storage compartment to the other and implies that camcorders could use it. But where is the switch?
On the stick? It says in the VX2100 manual that Duo Memory-Sticks can also be used, but what size and type of these will this camcorder accept? Might I be better off to just buy another one or two of the standard 128Mb capacity sticks?

Question re the VX2100: Is there any way to upload the memory stick images to a Mac using only the camera and a FireWire connection? Or do I need to purchase a reader (unfortunately my iomega Zip doesn’t have one). Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

TIA (thanks in advance).

I don't think firewire communicates with the memory stick.
Any usb on the cam?

I thought most new cams come with a usb memory card reader.

No, there isn't a way. Shoot progressive scan and take video grabs.

I don't know if they translate to the Macsphere, but there are USB memory card readers. Some support almost all of the memory types.

Yes, AFAIK most of the USB card readers are cross platform. I have a Dazzle reader that takes PC cards, type 1 & 2 compact flash cards, SD memory cards, Sony memory sticks and probaby some others as well. It wasn't expensive. Sony included a USB memory stick reader with the VX-2000, don't they do this anymore? I never even used it since I had the other reader however. They didn't provide any Mac drivers, but I suspect OS X would work with it right out of the box.

I also use the same Dazzle USB reader on my old Windows PC to read and write data on both SD and CF cards for my GPS units. If you want to take stills with the VX-2100 (this never interested me on the VX-2000 due to the low res) then you should just pick up a card reader. Eventually you'll own some other gadgets and will find new uses for it.

The Sony GV-D1000, a mini-DV VCR, has both a Memory-Stick slot and a USB port.
I'd recommend it as a companion for any Memory-Stick Sony camcorder and it has the other obvious use as a tape player.
Its 4" viewscreen and optional battery, allow you to carry it in a coat pocket, as a complete audio/video presentation system.

Steve McDonald

Steve,

In another thread we were speculating on the capabilities of the GV-1000 MiniDV Walkman and it sounds like you own one.

How robust is the transport mechanism?

Can you import MiniDV to the computer via Firewire using the Walkman?

Can you use the Walkman as a preview monitor via Firewire to preview NLE timeline editing?

Thanks in advance.

At $1,050 that would be a really pricey solution just to get low res stills into a computer when a $40 card reader will do the same thing :-)

They do look pretty cool though. However the 4" screen is very low resolution with only 123,000 pixels (compare that to 2.5" screen on the PD-150 with 201,000 pixels or the 3.5" screen on the PDX-10 with 246,000). So it is probably going to be a lower quality image than you would see by hooking up a camcorder to your NLE.

I'm guessing that the tape transport is higher quality than what you might find in a 1-chip camcorder since it's geared towards editing. Otherwise you might as well get a little camcorder and have the benefit of also being able to film. If you want something portable for presentations I'd think a little DVD player might be better since they have larger native widescreen LCD's, no need to fast forward or rewind the tape, and are considerably cheaper.

Not really knocking the walkman; it's something that I thought I wanted the first time I saw one, but on further consideration it didn't seem like I would use it very much. What kinds of things do you use yours for Steve?

Patrick, if a computer will recognize and work with a Sony DV camcorder, it will do the same things with a GV-D1000 or any of the other GVD series models. If the proper FireWire capture program is installed and if it doesn't do all the functions you mentioned, blame it on the computer or the operator. This VCR will do a pass-through, analog-to-digital conversion through FireWire to a computer or to another DV or Digital8 recorder.

It seems to be very solid in its build and mechanical functions. I've put heavy use on a GV-D200 Digital8 model for more than 3 years and it continues to run nicely.

The main purpose of such a VCR is to provide a means to play tapes without wearing down a camcorder or occupying it when someone else might be shooting with it.

The Memory-Stick feature in the GV-D1000 has multiple functions. You can transfer stills from tape or an external input to the stick or send them from the stick out on USB or on S-Video or Composite connectors. There is a CD-ROM supplied that contains a USB driver. The manual describes USB use only with Windows. There is a selector for Fine or Standard compression modes. If a Memory-Stick is recorded in another unit such as a still digital camera or a MegaPixel camcorder, with a higher pixel-size than the 640 X 480 limit from a video source, it can be played and the signal sent out on USB, if the images are in sizes of 1,360 X 1,020 and 1,152 X 864, as well as 640 X 480. There is no guarantee that all Memory-Stick recordings, especially from older still camera models, will be playable in the GV-D1000, however.

M-PEG movies can also be made internally from tape recordings or external video sources and recorded on the Memory-Stick. Pixel sizes of these are 320 X 240 and 160 X 112. No sound is transfered to a computer with MPEG movies with Windows 98. There is also a Photo button on the GV-D1000, that can be used to record a still picture on several seconds of tape, from an outside source.

These GVD's don't come with their own remote controlers, but most any Sony camcorder or VCR controler will run them.
I often use the large and complicated controler from my EV-S3000 VCR with them, to get better frame-by-frame and shuttle function. This Hi-8 VCR controler will do everything but call up the Datacode.

A big advantage in using one of these mini-VCRs for portable display, is that you can call up the TC and Datacode onscreen, which couldn't be done from a DVD. I frequently give presentations of my wild bird shots (sometimes rare ones). The doubters in the audience require numerous replays and the date and time display is critical for getting the sightings accredited by review committees.

Any other video presentation that requires exact date and time for legal or certification purposes is facilitated by this. The only way you could have date/time showing on a DVD would be to have it called onscreen during copying. It would be permanently visible onscreen and you would have to use an analog connector to carry it to the DVD recorder. The Datacode shows the numbers from the original camera shots, even if it's an edited tape and has the 2nd gen. timecode.

Most often, I have a large monitor available to show the video, but if none is handy, the built-in screen does the trick for a small group. The 4-inch viewscreen also works quite well for showing the playback TC during editing, even if I'm mostly watching the footage on the main monitor. Not having a front-panel for TC display, the viewscreen fills in for its absence.
On a 4-inch screen, 123,000 pixels looks sharp enough for me.

The GVD models use plug-in power adaptors or run on camcorder batteries, which they can charge.

Another good use for these VCRs is as stand-alone recorders with any camera that has a FireWire, S-Video or Composite output. They have LANC and headphone jacks. They even have RF output capability with an external adaptor that plugs into the A/V outputs and draws phantom power from the VCR. I have several of these RF adaptors that came included with Sony and Canon Hi-8 camcorders in past years (never throw away any of these gadgets). I've actually shown videos with them, when the only TV around had nothing but an RF input. On their left sides, there's an extensive bank of electronic contacts, resembling those on a camcorder hotshoe, that has a sliding plastic cover. No explanation for its purpose is given. Perhaps it is there for a service technician to use.

Prefer not to use English? The right side of each page in the manual is in Greek. A separate manual is in French and Spanish. Seriously, the French descriptions are often more detailed and precise. Does this indicate that French speakers are more electronically advanced and demand better manuals or that they need to be given more instructions?

Steve McDonald

Steve,

Very good review of the equipment characteristics, thanks for the details and assessment. Might have to put this on my wish list.

I got a SanDisk 8-in-1 card reader for my 2100's memeory stick. I use it on my Mac G4 with great success. No drivers. No installation of anything. Just works.

If you look around, I was able to get this from Buy.com for $20 or so. The exact same thing in BestBuy (I think) was twice that.

Anyone used the M Chroma feature on their VX-2100?

In my short, which is a parody of a TV spot, I have a small, hot pink spray bottle which I want to superimpose over a moving background. Do I need to buy a special type of blue background paper for this to work well? I certainly can't afford to rent studio time for this.

I believe I can accomplish the same in post with my FCP4 HD, but as I'm a novice, I'm thinking I can do it in-camera in a single pass and save time.

Thanks!

Such camera features are usually targated to consumers and not
serious pro-sumers or professionals. I wouldn't expect good results
from such a feature. But why not do a small test? That's always
the best method to see if and how such a feature works (and you
can do it in FCP as well).

I don't have this camera so I do not know what kind of color it
would need. What does the manual say on the chroma feature?

Thanks, Rob!

The Sony manual says:

"M. CHROM (Memory chromakey)
You can swap a blue area of a still image such as an illustration or a frame with a moving picture."

I'll try the local pro video store to see if they sell sheets of blue for this operation. Failing that, there's an art store in my neighborhood.

See the following thread on paints and such:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36083

And some more blue/green screen threads here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36463
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30950
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30143

For your test, all you have to do is import an image to your memory stick from your pc, of the pink bottle on a blue background. Then use the chroma setting with the memory stick image to superimpose the pink bottle overlayed on your live footage. Choose a blue with the settings R=0, G=0, B=255.
Rick.

<<<-- Originally posted by Carl Russo : Thanks, Rob!

The Sony manual says:

"M. CHROM (Memory chromakey)
You can swap a blue area of a still image such as an illustration or a frame with a moving picture."

I'll try the local pro video store to see if they sell sheets of blue for this operation. Failing that, there's an art store in my neighborhood. -->>>

Thanks, fellas!

One of the links Rob included above led me to this page:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/12bluscreens.html

Can't beat the price!

I set a up small blue screen studio. I purchased a 10' x30' roll of blue chroma key paper and hung it from my ceiling. It was $40 dollars.

I get the best results shooting in 15 fps progressive, and then using the Ultimatte plugin for After Effects. I suggest highly recomend using a more advanced plugin like Ultimatte instead of striaght chroma keying.

With this combination I don't have to work to hard to light my subject to get near perfect reluts.

I need a memory stick for my pd150 and was wondering what is the maximum capacity in MB that the pd150 is compatible with? Does anyone know?

I searched this and other sites but could not find any answer.

Thank you.

I believe that only the original MemorySticks will work, not the new MemoryStick Pro or Pro Duo. The maximum capacity of the original sticks is 128 meg, although you can get 256 meg sticks that have a tiny little switch on them that switches between two 128 meg banks. The PD150 handles 128 meg (or the switchable 2x128 meg sticks) just fine.

www.memorystick.com

You can get at least 400 PD-150 still shots on a 128 meg stick. Depending on the complexity of the image and how much the JPEG image compression can "squish" them, you may be able to get perhaps 600+ PD-150 stills on a stick.

John

John, thank you for replying.

A 128MB stick should be enough for my needs, though it would be nice if the pd150 could accept the new 512MB Pro or the 1GB cards.

Okay, I was wondering for the memory mix mode on the VX2000, I know that 16:9 mode on the VX2000 reduces resolution greatly. Sooo I made a matte for memory mix: 640x360 (1.78:1 or 16:9). Is this the correct dimensions for a 16:9 matte?

Thanks!
Josh

I bought a Lexar 512mb memory stick pro for the Pd170 and all I can get is a "memory stick error" message. I can't use it, erase it or format it.
Is the stick incompatable, defective, or is 512 larger than the camera will accept?

Thanks, mike

I just tried the stick in a Panasonic that I bought to use as a capture deck and it works fine so I assume the stick is OK.
I guess I will try another brand in the pd170.
I hope it is not the camera (2 days old!)
Any ideas appreciated.

Oh Shoot^&^$*@#,

I went to Sears and bought a Sony Memory Stick Duo.
I am getting the same error message.
Is there a setting that I am missing???
I hate to think that a brand new pd170 (B&h) is defective.
I have not even put a tape in it yet.
I guess I'll try that.

mike (about to cry) Coco