Accessories for VX 2100 (please help)

[Adina Barbulescu]

Hi,

I am really new to this field and I need your help. I am planning to buy a Sony VX 2100 as a gift for my father but I am confused about all the accessories I see online. I don't know which ones are vital for the digicam's operation and which ones are "nice to have". I should mention that my father is a semi-professional.

If the retailer doesn't list any included accessories, does that mean that the camera has no accessories, not even a battery?

Also, why do I see such a huge difference in price from one retailer to another (leaving aside kits)? Should I not trust those with low prices - such as $1,000?

Thank you! I would really appreciate your help.
Adina

[Boyd Ostroff]

Originally Posted by Adina Barbulescu

If the retailer doesn't list any included accessories, does that mean that the camera has no accessories, not even a battery?

If that's really the case then it's a huge red flag. Questionable mail order places unbundle the product and charge you something ridiculous for the "accessories" which should be included, plus they will pressure you to buy other overpriced things like cheap filters, wobbly tripods, etc. I would cross any vendor like this off your list.

Take a look at the VX-2100 on B&H photo's website and click on the "item includes" tab:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Any vendor should provide AT LEAST the following:

•*AC Power/ On Camera Charger (AC-L15)
•*Battery Pack (NP-F330)
•*Remote Control (RMT-811)
•*2 AA Batteries
•*4MB Memory Stick Media
•*Audio/Video Cable
•*Lens Hood
•*Shoulder Strap
•*1-Year Parts & 90-Day Labor Warranty

Regarding other accessories.... well the list goes on forever :-) But seriously, I would at minimum get him an NPF-970 battery (will run the camera around 8 hours between charges) and a package of Sony Premium DV tapes to get him started right (and explain to him not to buy any other kind of tape in order to keep his camera running well). Also get a 58mm UV filter, which is pretty much a clear piece of glass that you can leave on the lens all the time to protect it.

Beyond that, I think my next choice would be a nice tripod - as a favor to yourself so you won't have to watch hours of shaky video when he invites you over ;-) Unfortunately, these are not cheap but here are a couple ones to consider:

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

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

You will also probably want some kind of carrying case. There's a whole range of prices here too. If you're dealing with a reputable store you might ask them to suggest something inexpensive but decent quality.

Speaking of which, we urge you to shop at our sponsors since they make this site possible. They also offer the best service in the business as well as competitive prices. The full list is here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/

[Tom Hardwick]

I'll go along with Boyd's list, but I'd add another few accessories - a 'microfibre' lens cleaning cloth, a head cleaning tape and a wide-angle converter. If there's anything the VX lacks, it wide-angle coverage.

The next thing is a small radio microphone that he can clip to someone in the group he's filming. Result - instantly better soundtracks.

tom.

[Laurence Kingston]

My list is slightly different:

a Rode VideoMic.

A 10db six inch or less attenuating cable from microphonemadness.com (it brings the VideoMic level down to same volume as the internal mic so you can use AGC.

A Sony VCL-HG0758 thread mount wide angle lense.

A Sony LSF-S58 lens hood (which looks like the standard lense hood but is larger and will fit over the Sony wide angle lense).

A generic high capacity battery or two and charger.

A Spiderbrace shoulder mount.

A decent generic camera bag.

A cheap aluminum tripod.

[David Ennis]

Originally Posted by Boyd Ostroff

...(and explain to him not to buy any other kind of tape in order to keep his camera running well)...

Arrgghh! :>)

[Adina Barbulescu]

Thank you all for your advice! I appreciate it!

Adina

[J. Stephen McDonald]

You said your father was a semi-professional-----I assume this means he's already using video equipment. I'd check with him and find out if he already has any compatible accessories before you buy any for him and avoid duplication.

I bought an extra Sony NP570 battery, which has medium capacity. I use it much more often with my VX2100, than my large NP960, as its 2-hour plus recording time is all I usually need. A combination of the NP570 and NP970 would cover most needs. The small NP330 that comes with the camera not only has low capacity, but it hasn't held up very long for me and many other users. Sony makes some great video batteries, but doesn't seem to include the good ones as furnished accessories. Why not buy him a 10-pack of Sony Excellence DV cassettes instead of the cheaper "Premium" type? I never use anything but these topgrade tapes and don't regret paying extra. I've re-recorded on a couple of them 20 times in my editing VCRs and still no glitches.