EXCLUSIVE: Sony DCR-VX2100 Camcorder Review
by Robin LissPublished on Mar 29, 2004 12:00 AM
Sony's $2,999 DCR-VX2100 is the replacement for the hugely popular DCR-VX2000. The DCR-VX2100 has big shoes to fill, its grandfather camcorder, the DCR-VX1000 was the first digital consumer camcorder, along with the DCR-VX2000, have been the among the most popular and highly regarded prosumer camcorders for the entire eight years that they've been around. Their older brothers, in the professional range, the DSR-PD100, DSR-PD150 and now the DSR-PD170, are used by television networks because of their outstanding quality. Sony sent us a pre-production unit DCR-VX2100, and so we were the first publication to get our hands on a VX2100. This is the first review of the camcorder available anywhere. I do want to caution that this is a pre-production unit so there might be minor changes between the model we looked at and the consumer release, however, that is very unlikely because our model came off the production line (it wasn't hand built), so it should be nearly identical to the final version. The DCR-VX2100, like the DCR-VX2000 is an outstanding camcorder. Sony has made some minor improvements, which certainly make the DCR-VX2100 a better camcorder than the DCR-VX2000. The bottom line is that they're improving on a good thing, not making any leaps and bounds which would warrant upgrading from the DCR-VX2000 to the DCR-VX2100.
Video
Performance (9.0)
The video performance of the DCR-VX2100 is quite
impressive. The camcorder includes three 1/3 in. 380K pixel CCDs which have 340K
effective pixels for video and 340K effective pixels for stills. The specification’s
on the CCD's are technically the same, however in an interview from October when
Sony announced the DCR-VX2100, Yoshi Nishimura, Camcorder Product Manager for
Sony stated, ''The CCD specifications are the same, the only difference is that
we improved the sensitivity of the CCD itself. The improvement was made by improving
the process in making the CCD.... Since we've been making the CCD for more than
a couple of years, the CCD factory was able to improve the sensitivity so that
we can change our low light capability from 2 lux to 1 lux.''
Like the DCR-VX2000 before it, the DCR-VX2100 does an outstanding job of creating a crisp image with extremely accurate color representation. As seems to be the preference of the Sony engineers, the DCR-VX2100 strongly saturates the colors in the image creating a vibrant picture, that seems to lean slightly towards red, though certainly not to the extent of some of the lower Sony models. The DCR-VX2100's overall picture quality is outstanding and it will certainly impress. The dynamic range is great; there are no color smear problems and none of the colors seem to be under or over represented. I don't notice any major difference in the image produced by the DCR-VX2100 when compared to an image produced by an older DCR-VX2000.
The
Front (9.0)
The front of the DCR-VX2100 is laid out how a camcorder
should be, with nothing but a lens and a microphone. At the front of the DCR-VX2100,
towards the top, is the stereo microphone. It is placed quite well, attached to
the upper handle, which is a good inch and a half from the camcorder body. It
allows the on-camera microphone of the DCR-VX2100 to pick up decent sound - something
that is rare in a consumer camcorder. Separating the left and right microphones
is a recording tally light and the infrared receiver. Below the microphone is
the lens which has a focal distance of 6.0 to 72 mm and a filter diameter of 58
mm.
The
square lens hood on the DCR-VX2100 has been slightly upgraded over the DCR-VX200.
Now the lens hood includes a shutter door to protect the lens, which is opened
and closed by a black lever on the left side of the hood. The lens hood can be
removed by unscrewing a small metal dial on one side of the hood.
The
Right Side (8.5)
The most of the camcorder, the right side is very
well laid out. At the top back of the right side of the camcorder, is the tape
eject slider, which is on a round half moon that protrudes out about 1/4 in.,
for your hand to fall back onto when holding the camcorder in your right hand.
Moving towards the front is the tape mechanism. In the top left of the tape mechanism,
is a softer piece of grey plastic labeled push - it shows where you should push
to put your tape into place. The tape mechanism is a little too sensitive for
my tastes. The DCR-VX2100 is designed to be a 'working-shooter's camcorder' and
should not be finicky. Unless you press exactly on the press button the tape mechanism
won't close - I'm surprised that Sony's engineers haven't figured out a way to
develop a tape mechanism where you apply pressure anywhere, and the tape will
lock shut.
Half
way down and towards the front of the tape mechanism is a tape progress window,
which is nice but hard to view unless you are under great lighting and look very
closely. Below the window along the bottom part of the tape mechanism is a nice
plastic pad which is placed so that your right hand falls on it - this pad wasn't
on the DCR-VX2000. The pad continues down and slightly wraps along the underside
of the camcorder. The pad is made out of a slightly softer surface which is easier
than the 'colder' metal of the rest of the body to rest your hand on and makes
for more comfortable shooting. It's a small but nice upgrade over the DCR-VX2000.
Moving away from the tape compartment are two pieces of soft plastic that form two columns. Removing the first piece of plastic reveals the headphone jack and the Control-L / Lanc jack. The next piece of soft plastic reveals the S-Video, Composite Video, Left Channel, Right Channel and Firewire jacks. Moving closer to the front of the camcorder is the actual camcorder lens, which is surrounded by a zoom ring and then a focus ring.
The
Back (9.0)
At the top of the back of the DCR-VX2100 is the viewfinder.
The viewfinder rotates up about 85 degrees. The eye cup on the DCR-VX2100 has
been changed from the DCR-VX2000, and is now much bigger and really surrounds
your eye socket. The viewable area of the viewfinder has been increased from .22
in. to .28 in. Below the viewfinder is the battery well, which is depressed inside
the camcorder slightly, giving you room to put large batteries and not have them
protrude from the back of the camcorder, and getting in your way while shooting.
To the left of the battery well, is the memory stick slot. The left of the memory
stick slot is a column of video picture element buttons. Going from top to bottom
is the program Auto Exposure button, the Shutter Speed button, the White Balance
Button, the Audio Level button and finally the jog dial button which controls
them all. To the left of those buttons is another column of buttons. On the top
is the silver shooting mode selector slider, which switches the camcorder from
auto lock, to full manual, and manual hold. Below that is the menu button. The
DCR-VX2100 has nice white guidelines on the back to illustrate the different buttons,
and which other buttons they effect. To the right of the battery compartment is
the power dial, which switches from VCR, to Off to Camera to Memory modes.
I really like the layout of the buttons on the back of the DCR-VX2100, the fact that all these key picture elements, white balance, shutter speed and audio level are given real buttons instead of being forced into a menu is outstanding. Their placement in the back is great, it makes them accessible and easy to find.
The
Left Side (8.0)
At the way back of the DCR-VX2100 is the 2.5 in.
LCD screen which has an information window, which displays tape and battery information.
The LCD is locked into place with a small piece of silver looking plastic, which
feels slightly flimsy to me. Opening up the LCD screen reveals a host of buttons
mainly used for effects and memory card functions. There are effectively three
rows. The first row has a display button, memory play button, memory index button
and a round delete button. The second row has a data code button, minus and plus
buttons, and a memory mix button. The third row has a title, digital effect, and
picture effect button. Below the title button is a timed picture button for taking
pictures with a delay. Centered at the bottom of the inside LCD area is a zebra
pattern button which toggles the zebra pattern on or off. It can be set to off,
70 IRE or 100 IRE sensitivity. Towards the left of the inside LCD area is a half
moon speaker.
Moving closer to the lens, away from the LCD screen, is the exposure button which is indented into the camcorder. Next is a silver ring which signifies the transition from camcorder body to camera body. Along the silver ring is a large dial dedicated just to exposure (aperture). It's a great feature and I really like that Sony dedicated a dial just to exposure. Moving forward, the camcorder has more of a rounded feel to it. There is another column of buttons with the index mark button at the top, the focus slider which switches from auto, manual to infinity, and the 'push auto' button which has the camcorder set the focus when in manual mode. The next button moving towards the lens is the Neutral Density Filter which can be set to either 2, 1 or OFF. Once you hit the camera lens the camcorder gets slightly smaller. There is a zoom ring and a focus ring one after another. The rings have a great texture which makes for easy grip. Hitting the very front of the camcorder (before the lens hood) is the 3CCD progressive scan logo with "48x digital zoom" below it. Why can't they brag about the 12x optical zoom instead of the junky 48x digital zoom? Lastly, towards the center of the left side along the base are a fader, backlight and spotlight buttons in black.
The
Top (8.0)
The top of the DCR-VX2100 is where most of the upgrades
have occurred. The top has two parts, the base and the raised handle. At the front
of the raised handle is the stereo microphone. Behind that is the hot shoe. Behind
the hot shoe is a new feature upgrade over the DCR-VX2100, there is a black record
button with the letters 'REC' in red on it. Behind that is a two speed zoom rocker.
The zoom rocker has a small plastic switch on the right side of the handle which
switches from off, to speed 1 and speed 2. At the way back of the handle is an
IR receiver as well as a custom button which can be set to a custom function.
On the base of the DCR-VX2100 at the front left is a record button. Moving back and under the raised handle, is VCR control buttons which light up when in VCR mode. Towards the back of the VCR buttons and to their right, is the large zoom rocker with a silver photo button behind it. Behind that is the battery release button.
Picture
& Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.0)
The overall
automatic control of the Sony DCR-V2100 is good, not great, but that's not what
this camcorder is designed for. If you are looking for quality automatic and point
and shoot capabilities, the DCR-VX2100 is not the camcorder for you - you need
a simpler model. The automatic focus and automatic exposure and other picture
settings are perfectly reactive, however the DCR-VX2100 doesn't feature a touch
screen with spot focus and spot metering like other Sony camcorders do. Now don't
get me wrong, I'd much rather have the true manual control in buttons and dials
rather than the touch screen, but for automatic control and point and shoot shooting
only, there are better camcorders out there.
Overall Manual Control (9.0)
Minus
a few features like XLR inputs, a more rugged tape format, and a removable lens,
the DCR-VX2100 is a professional camcorder both in quality and in control options.
The manual control which is offered by the DCR-VX2100 is nearly perfect, there
are dedicate dials and buttons for every feature. Yes, there could be better placement
of those buttons, and yes, they could be dials around the lens, but for a consumer
/ prosumer camcorder the DCR-VX2100's control options are very good.
Zoom
(9.0)
The DCR-VX2100 includes a 12x optical zoom. The zoom is controlled
either by a zoom ring around the lens or by a zoom rocker on the right side of
the camcorder. The zoom ring is a great feature. When shooting with the camcorder
in your hands or on a tripod, the zoom ring and the focus ring allow you to easily
adjust those features without having to move your hand from the lens and thus
not shaking the camcorder. Zoom rings on every camcorder would be great, it's
really too bad Sony only puts one on it's highest end model. The only way that
the zoom ring could be improved, is if it was a true zoom ring instead of a servo
motor controlled one - i.e. the zoom ring doesn't actually rotate the lens, the
zoom ring rotates a sensor which controls a servo motor which rotates the lens.
This results in a slight delay and a somewhat odd feel when operating the zoom
ring, however after shooting with the camcorder for a little bit you would be
able to get used to it. The other improvement, and this is connected to the servo
controlled nature of the zoom ring, would be to include a removable zoom lens
so that you could swap in different lenses for different shooting situations.
The other level of control for the zoom is offered through the zoom rocker on the right side of the camcorder. The zoom rocker is really good. Its large size allows you to easily achieve your desired zoom speed and hold that zoom speed until you finish your zoom. You can achieve multiple variable speed zooms with the rocker and combined with the zoom ring, it gives the DCR-VX2100 great zoom control.
The third level of zoom control is the new zoom button on the top handle. The zoom button is small but functional, and using the button on the side of the handle you can pick between two speeds, as well as lock the zoom off so that you don't hit it by mistake. It's a nice little feature that will make the camcorder slightly more easy to use when shooting in "creative" positions.
Focus
(8.5)
Like the zoom controls on the DCR-VX2100 the focus is controlled
through a ring around the lens. The focus ring is really good, it's very wide
and not too sensitive so you can make ultra accurate focus adjustments. The one
thing I would change about the focus ring, is like the zoom ring, its servo motor
controlled, and doesn't actually adjust the focus, it turns a sensor which adjusts
the focus. An upgrade would be a real lens where the focus ring actually rotates
the lens adjusting the focus.
Exposure (Aperture) (9.5)
The exposure
control on the DCR-VX2100 is nearly perfect. There is a large dial on the side
of the camcorder which is easily accessible. The camcorder gives you aperture
readings in F Stops. My only complaint is that I wish there were more levels of
control, I wish you could make finer adjustments. You have multiple steps of exposure
control (24) but you can't really fine tune it as you would like to. The exposure
control is actually a slight upgrade over the DCR-VX2000 which had only 19 steps.
Shutter
Speed (8.0)
The shutter speed is controlled by pressing in the shutter
speed button on the back of the camcorder, and using the jog dial to move it up
or down. The DCR-VX2100 has a shutter speed range from 1/4th of a second to 1/10,000th
of a second. Like the exposure, the only thing I would improve regarding the shutter
speed control is giving the user more options between the low and high shutter
speeds.
White Balance(9.0)
The DCR-VX2100 has four white balance
modes, indoor, outdoor, manual and auto. The camcorder doesn't offer a florescent
mode like some Panasonic models. I do really like how the white balance gets a
dedicated button.
Gain (8.0)
The gain control on the DCR-VX2100
is done through the aperture / exposure dial. When you have the aperture set to
fully open, you can then adjust the gain from 0 dB to 18 dB. The fact that gain
is given a dedicated dial is great, however, I wish Sony had again added more
steps of adjustment between the 0 and 18 dB levels - and I wish that Sony had
made the gain control separate from the aperture control.
Still Performance(4.5)
Saying
that stills are not the DCR-VX2100's forte, is an understatement. The camcorder
records 640 x 480 stills to Memory Sticks and the stills can be transferred from
the camcorder to the computer using USB. The camcorder includes both a USB cable
and a 8 MB Memory Stick. The fact that Sony didn't put improved still performance
into the DCR-VX2100 really speaks to who this camcorder is aimed at - serious
Videographers. The DCR-VX2100 is a serious camcorder for people who want to shoot
video. If you want stills, buy a digital camera. I'm glad that the DCR-VX2100
gets a low score for stills, it shows how Sony has their priorities on track.
If they had attempted to put higher resolution stills in the camcorder, they would
have had to use a different chip, which would probably have cost the camcorder
in low light in video performance, like was done with the DCR-PC330 (Review, Specs, $599).
VCR
Mode (8.5)
The VCR mode on the DCR-VX2100 does exactly what it needs
to and nothing more. The buttons are dedicated not touch screen, and you have
frame by frame shuttling capability. KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid applies here.
Low
Light Performance (7.0)
The low light performance of the DCR-VX2100
is really good. With this model, Sony has improved the low light LUX rating from
1 to 2 - and though I can't really quantify it, the low light performance has
made a noticeable, though not huge, improvement in my opinion. The colors are
well represented, bright and well saturated. The low light performance of the
DCR-VX2000 was very good to begin with, and with the DCR-VX2100 Sony has improved
on a good thing. The low light performance of the VX2100 is among the best in
the consumer / prosumer arena.
LCD/ Viewfinder (8.0)
The DCR-VX2100
includes a 2.5 in. LCD screen towards the back of the camcorder. The upgraded
LCD screen is now a hybrid LCD, which means that it is designed to do well in
both sunlight and dark situations. The performance of the hybrid LCD is great,
you no longer have to worry about not seeing your LCD in the sun. The image produced
is also very sharp with 211K pixels. Sony has also upgraded the viewfinder on
the DCR-VX2100, although I really wish they had included a black and white viewfinder,
the color viewfinder is good. The viewable area has been increased over the DCR-VX2000
from .22 in. to .28 in.
Audio (9.0)
The on-camera microphone
is quite good, but that's not what we really rate camcorders on. Rather, we rate
them on their options, and the DCR-VX2100 offers a host of audio options. The
camcorder has a dedicated headphone jack, and a dedicated microphone jack. An
option which can not be found on any other consumer camcorder, is the ability
to select whether the microphone is line or mic level. You can also manually set
the audio level on the DCR-VX2100 and the camcorder provides on screen audio meters.
The camcorder also has a hot shoe for an extra microphone and, an audio dubbing
option in playback. The camcorder can record in either 12-bit or 16-bit stereo
sound.
One of the upgrades of the DCR-VX2100 over the DCR-VX2000 is improved audio circuitry. The new circuitry reduces the noise level with a lower signal-to-noise ratio by 6 dB, though I personally couldn't notice any improvement, but I'm not an audio engineer.
Handling (9.5)
The DCR-VX2100 handles wonderfully.
The zoom ring and focus ring allow you to hold the camcorder for long periods
of time in your two hands and not have to budge and inch. The placement of the
controls, all in buttons, is great. The camcorder includes a nice plastic pad
on the right side to make holding for long periods of time easy. Generally the
handling of the DCR-VX2100 is great. The only downside, and this only applies
to some users, is that the camcorder is somewhat heavy. If you are planning on
going on a family vacation, the DCR-VX2100 is probably not for you, it's too big,
too bulky and will likely just get in your way. However that goes back to the
theme that this camcorder is for prosumers and professionals, not for every day
family use. If you are going to be using this camcorder in professional and prosumer
situations, you should also appreciate the DCR-VX2100's weight, because it gives
you much steadier picture.
Ports (9.0)
The DCR-VX2100 offers
a dedicated S-Video jack, and true full size composite video and audio jacks -
a feature which is disappearing from camcorders. The camcorder also offers a dedicated
1/8 in. microphone in jack and headphone out jack as well as a Control-L / Lanc
jack. The DCR-VX2100 has a Firewire and a USB jack for connection to a computer.
The DCR-VX2100 pretty much has all the jacks and plugs you'll need, the only upgrade
would be XLR inputs instead of the microphone in jack, but that can be found on
the DSR-PD170, the professional version of the DCR-VX2100.
Other Features
(8.0)
The 'other features' on the DCR-VX2100 are all business and
no play - as they should be.
Neutral Density Filter - The ND filter of which there are two levels is a great feature. The ND filter is effectively a grey filter which allows less light in the camcorder, they allow you to use extremely low shutter speeds, decrease the depth of field by using wider apertures, and most importantly to film very bright subjects like snow which would usually wash out the image.
Zebra Pattern The DCR-VX2100 has an optional zebra pattern which can be set to a sensitivity of either 100 or 70 IRE. The zebra pattern displays, a bunch of diagonal lines (only on the LCD, not to tape) on any areas of the shot which are over exposed, it's a great shooting tool.
Optical Image Stabilization The DCR-VX2100 includes optical image stabilization, while most consumer camcorders now include electronic ones. A few years ago, I would have put a lot of weight in this because electronic image stabilizers used to degrade the image, however now that most camcorders include chips with more pixels than they can use, the difference in image quality between electronic and optical image stabilizers is negligible. However, the optical image stabilization on the DCR-VX2100 is very good, and I would pick it over an electronic one.
Analog to Digital Pass Through A feature which is coming more and more in demand, analog to digital pass through allows you to hook up an analog source like an old VCR to the DCR-VX2100, and convert, on the fly, the video from analog to digital. It's a really nice feature, though, it's more appealing to consumers than the likely crowd of DCR-VX2100 owners.
Comparisons(no score provided)
DCR-VX2100
The comparison which everyone is waiting for is that between the DCR-VX2100
and the DCR-VX2000, the camcorder it's replacing. The major upgrades, all of which
I've talked about are the improved audio circuitry, improved low light recording,
the record button and zoom rocker now on top of camcorder, the new hood with lens
shutter, the greater viewfinder area, the bigger eye cup, the hybrid LCD and the
increased number of exposure steps. The other major changes are aesthetic, the
color of the camcorder is more silver now (it was blackish on the DCR-VX2000).
Here are a series of side by side images Sony provided us with comparing the DCR-VX2000
to the DCR-VX2100.
Many people are blasting Sony for not including a 24 frames progressive mode of HD capability on the DCR-VX2100. I agree that these are both good features that should be included in future models, however the technology just isn't there yet. If Sony were to include 24 frames progressive it would certainly mean a huge research and development investment cost which would increase the price of the camcorder significantly. As for HD, the HDV standard has been developed and JVC is currently producing two camcorders that use it, the GR-HD1 and the JY-HD10U. The HDV standard allows for recording of MPEG2 video to MiniDV tapes. The problem is that the performance of the JVC HD camcorders is terrible. Their low light performance compares to that of the $300 JVC camcorders. The technology just isn't there - if Sony was attempted to include the 'under-developed' HD technology which JVC is using on the DCR-VX2100 it would ruin the camcorder. I have been criticized for my opinion on this, but all I have to say to my critics is be patient. Consumer and prosumer HD just isn't there yet, wait another model year or two and you'll have an HD DCR-VX2100, but be patient. If you have a DCR-VX2000 I wouldn't recommend shelling out another $3,000 to upgrade.
XL1S This is also a tough comparison. The XL1S beats the Sony in both low and normal light situations, it has many more features, better manual control, and replaceable lenses, however it's about twice the size. It's a tough decision, both camcorders are outstanding and you’re going to get great video out of them. The short of it is that if you are looking for a movie type camcorder, and want something full sized, the XL1S is a great option. If you're looking for something more portable, I'd go with the DCR-VX2100.
Who's
it For
Point and Shooter's (1.0) You couldn't pick a worse camcorder.
The auto is good on the DCR-VX2100 but on the 'buttons and dials' will most likely
confuse a point and shoot user. If you're looking for a point and shoot camcorder
don't waste your money on the DCR-VX2100.
Budget Consumers (7.0) If you're on a budget, the DCR-VX2100 is a great camcorder with good low light performance, however there are certainly camcorders out there which the DCR-VX2100 only offers marginal improvements over, like the Sony DCR-TRV950 or the Panasonic PV-DV953 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $899.88) which I would recommend if you are on a tight budget
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (4.0) If your looking for good stills in your camcorder the DCR-VX2100 is not for you.
Gadget Freaks (4.0) The DCR-VX2100 is a no frills camcorder and not for you.
Manual Control Freaks (10.0) If you're looking for manual control, the DCR-VX2100 has it all!
Pro's / Serious Hobbyists (9.0) This is one of the top prosumer camcorders out there and you'll be very happy with it. If you're more of the filmmaker type, you might want to look at either the XL1S and the Panasonic AG-DVX100. Both offer options for more film like shooting than the DCR-VX2100.
Conclusion
The final
score chart for the Sony DCR-VX2100 is as follows:Area Weight Raw Adj. Poss. Video Performance2.009.018.0020.0The Front0.209.01.802.0The Right Side0.308.52.553.0The Back0.259.02.251.63The Left Side0.208.01.602.0The Top0.158.01.201.5Automatic Control0.506.03.05.0Overall Manual Control0.609.03.36.0Zoom0.759.056.757.5Focus0.708.55.957.0Exposure0.659.56.186.5Shutter Speed 0.608.04.806.0White Balance0.559.04.955.5Gain0.508.04.005.0Still Performance 1.204.55.4012.0VCR Mode0.308.502.553.0Low Light Performance2.007.0014.0020.0LCD / Viewfinder.608.04.86.0Audio1.009.09.0010.0Handling1.259.5011.8912.5Jacks / Ports / Plugs.809.007.208.0Other Features0.708.05.607.0Value1.256.07.5012.5Total (weighted)134.27170.5
The
DCR-VX2100 is a solid camcorder. The video and low light performance is great
- the camcorder does a wonderful job in both situations. The DCR-VX2100 also offers
a host of manual control options making this a real professional camcorder. The
size is great, not too big, not too small and the camcorder handles wonderfully,
it's comfortable to hold and you can easily access all the buttons when shooting
hand-held. Sony has improved on a good thing with the DCR-VX2100 and I would certainly
recommend it, it lives up to the reputation of it's father camcorder, and you'll
be very happy with it.
well thanks for the review robin I waited for it for a while.
