2 questions about vx-2000?? help a newbie at DVinfo.net

Michael McConnell · April 25th, 2003, 10:31 PM

I recently bought a vx-2000 and want to increase my overall knowledge of camera operation. I took my vx to the auto car show in NYC and basically my camera shots sucked, is there anyplace on the web where I can read up on how to operate my cam a little better? My main goal is to do documentary style shooting so it's very important I learn these things.

My second question is what is a god lav mic for vx? I have a xlr adapter already.

Alex Knappenberger · April 25th, 2003, 10:33 PM

Any lav mic will work good... look at www.bhphotovideo.com

What do you mean by your shots sucked? Was it dull in colors? Was it shakey? What exactly was the problem?

The VX2000 in auto mode, generally gives good results, but taking advantage of the many manual features it has to offer, is always a good thing.

Michael McConnell · April 25th, 2003, 10:45 PM

Yes, the footage was really shaky and the color was also really dull. I'm really new to this digital video thing and I'm trying to at least capture solid shots of people..places and things. I have a book that recommends keeping the camera close to my body when i shoot to prevent shakiness but, thats the only reference to operating cam's that it gives. what auto modes are good to set?

David Hurdon · April 26th, 2003, 05:40 AM

Christina Fox recently posted links to BBC training material on the VX2000. I downloaded two PDFs and have learned some key stuff using them. Here's a link to the site:

http://www.bbctraining.co.uk/onlineCourse.asp?tID=5160&cat=2797

David Hurdon

Garret Ambrosio · April 26th, 2003, 10:01 AM

Mike, dude, make sure steady shot is on, avoid full telephoto unless you are on a good tripod and check your White Balance or just set everything to "auto" until you learn enough to go manual.

Harry Settle · April 26th, 2003, 10:35 AM

Get a decent tripod, monopod shoulder brace or whatever fits the occaision for you. Work with your white balance. Remember to shoot nothing less than 10 seconds, plan your shots, it's better to have too much than not enough. Shoot lots of film, practice, practice, practice. All of the book learning in the world won't help if you can't use your camera. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them, we all do.

Wayne Orr · April 26th, 2003, 02:12 PM

A wide angle converter will also improve the hand held shots. It would be an absolute for me if I was shooting an auto show. Many models of wide lenses available, check the archieves.

Paul Tauger · April 26th, 2003, 04:42 PM

One word of warning: apparently, wide angle lenses can degrade the performance of the VX2000's optical stabilizer. I discovered this myself on a shoot in India. When I commented on it here, someone mentioned that it's documented in the manual. Just goes to show that I shoud RTFM.

David Hurdon · April 26th, 2003, 06:56 PM

Paul, in what way was the image degraded? So many shooters never take the lens off that this should be a major issue.

David Hurdon

Wayne Orr · April 26th, 2003, 07:08 PM

And what lens was it? I have logged a lot of miles with my Sony wide lens attached and never had a problem with the steadishot, although the warning is in the manual. Was this a low light situation?

Mike Rehmus · April 26th, 2003, 08:27 PM

Many wide angle adapters soften the image somewhat. Not bad but definitly softer.

The Steadshot function in the 150/2000 can apparently be fooled by the WA adapter. Except for hand-held situations, I turn it off now. Sure miss the exterior switch the VX1000 had for the function.

Steady shot at full wide with an adapter is probably not necessary anyway.

BTW, I'm not certain the camera is really designed to have a WA adapter on it all the time. I'm thinking of mechanical stress on the lens and lens mount.

Michael McConnell · April 27th, 2003, 09:25 AM

NICE...The info has been very useful especially the christina fox tutorials. I'm taking my vx out and practicing so I can get comfy with operation. Mike rhemus what do you think of a pro mist filter? will it give the vx a professional look?

Paul Tauger · April 27th, 2003, 10:25 AM

Quote:

in what way was the image degraded?

The image wasn't degraded; the stability was. Steady shot couldn't keep the image as steady.

Quote:

And what lens was it?

Optex .65x

Quote:

Was this a low light situation

No -- full day light.

Quote:

Steady shot at full wide with an adapter is probably not necessary anyway.

It certainly is in the situations in which I shoot, i.e. walking behind my subjects.

Quote:

I'm not certain the camera is really designed to have a WA adapter on it all the time. I'm thinking of mechanical stress on the lens and lens mount.

Which is why I bought the WA with the bayonet mount, which takes the stress, rather than the lens mount which contains the screw thread.

Bryan Beasleigh · April 27th, 2003, 11:05 AM

That was an excellent answer Paul.
Mike, Christina Fox has a PD150 workbook on her site. there are many other informative articles as well.
http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm

Harry Settle · April 27th, 2003, 01:07 PM

Lot's of us are using the Canon WA-58, I haven't noticed any distortion with this lens at all.

April 25th, 2003, 10:31 PM	#1
Michael McConnell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: corona,ny Posts: 66	2 questions about vx-2000?? help a newbie I recently bought a vx-2000 and want to increase my overall knowledge of camera operation. I took my vx to the auto car show in NYC and basically my camera shots sucked, is there anyplace on the web where I can read up on how to operate my cam a little better? My main goal is to do documentary style shooting so it's very important I learn these things. My second question is what is a god lav mic for vx? I have a xlr adapter already.

April 25th, 2003, 10:45 PM	#3
Michael McConnell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: corona,ny Posts: 66	twas really shaky...colors extremely dull Yes, the footage was really shaky and the color was also really dull. I'm really new to this digital video thing and I'm trying to at least capture solid shots of people..places and things. I have a book that recommends keeping the camera close to my body when i shoot to prevent shakiness but, thats the only reference to operating cam's that it gives. what auto modes are good to set?

April 26th, 2003, 05:40 AM	#4
David Hurdon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 484	2 questions about vx-2000?? help a newbie Christina Fox recently posted links to BBC training material on the VX2000. I downloaded two PDFs and have learned some key stuff using them. Here's a link to the site: http://www.bbctraining.co.uk/onlineCourse.asp?tID=5160&cat=2797 David Hurdon __________________ Site:http://www.faceliftmarketing.ca Blog:http://www.websitevideo.blogspot.com

April 26th, 2003, 10:01 AM	#5
Garret Ambrosio Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 263	Mike, dude, make sure steady shot is on, avoid full telephoto unless you are on a good tripod and check your White Balance or just set everything to "auto" until you learn enough to go manual. __________________ "USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population." -David Letterman

April 26th, 2003, 10:35 AM	#6
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Get a decent tripod, monopod shoulder brace or whatever fits the occaision for you. Work with your white balance. Remember to shoot nothing less than 10 seconds, plan your shots, it's better to have too much than not enough. Shoot lots of film, practice, practice, practice. All of the book learning in the world won't help if you can't use your camera. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them, we all do. __________________ "DOH"!!!

April 25th, 2003, 10:33 PM	#2
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Any lav mic will work good... look at www.bhphotovideo.com What do you mean by your shots sucked? Was it dull in colors? Was it shakey? What exactly was the problem? The VX2000 in auto mode, generally gives good results, but taking advantage of the many manual features it has to offer, is always a good thing.

April 26th, 2003, 02:12 PM	#7
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	A wide angle converter will also improve the hand held shots. It would be an absolute for me if I was shooting an auto show. Many models of wide lenses available, check the archieves. __________________ Wayne If it was easy, they'd get a relative to do it.

April 26th, 2003, 04:42 PM	#8
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	One word of warning: apparently, wide angle lenses can degrade the performance of the VX2000's optical stabilizer. I discovered this myself on a shoot in India. When I commented on it here, someone mentioned that it's documented in the manual. Just goes to show that I shoud RTFM.

April 26th, 2003, 06:56 PM	#9
David Hurdon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 484	2 questions about vx-2000?? help a newbie Paul, in what way was the image degraded? So many shooters never take the lens off that this should be a major issue. David Hurdon __________________ Site:http://www.faceliftmarketing.ca Blog:http://www.websitevideo.blogspot.com

April 26th, 2003, 07:08 PM	#10
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	And what lens was it? I have logged a lot of miles with my Sony wide lens attached and never had a problem with the steadishot, although the warning is in the manual. Was this a low light situation? __________________ Wayne If it was easy, they'd get a relative to do it.

April 26th, 2003, 08:27 PM	#11
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Many wide angle adapters soften the image somewhat. Not bad but definitly softer. The Steadshot function in the 150/2000 can apparently be fooled by the WA adapter. Except for hand-held situations, I turn it off now. Sure miss the exterior switch the VX1000 had for the function. Steady shot at full wide with an adapter is probably not necessary anyway. BTW, I'm not certain the camera is really designed to have a WA adapter on it all the time. I'm thinking of mechanical stress on the lens and lens mount. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

April 27th, 2003, 09:25 AM	#12
Michael McConnell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: corona,ny Posts: 66	NICE...The info has been very useful especially the christina fox tutorials. I'm taking my vx out and practicing so I can get comfy with operation. Mike rhemus what do you think of a pro mist filter? will it give the vx a professional look?

April 27th, 2003, 11:05 AM	#14
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	That was an excellent answer Paul. Mike, Christina Fox has a PD150 workbook on her site. there are many other informative articles as well. http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm

April 27th, 2003, 01:07 PM	#15
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Lot's of us are using the Canon WA-58, I haven't noticed any distortion with this lens at all. __________________ "DOH"!!!