Sony DCR-VX2000 Camcorder Review
by Chuck LittmanPublished on Feb 12, 2004 12:00 AM
This review is my personal impression of the Sony DCR-VX2000 semi-professional Camcorder on the first day I had it:
I wish it was not bright silver, the color contributes an element of tackiness to the camera. Logically, the VX2000 model is not far from identical to the VX1000. I suspect that with a wide-angle adapter lens and the external mounted battery, it should have a steady balance. Camera will use the NP-F960 battery for, as Sony claims, up to 9 hours of shooting time. The 960 battery is large and heavy, comparable to brick. The battery fits into a recessed compartment, though, so it only sticks out the back about 3/4 of an inch. The common NP-750 battery actually sits level in the camera.
The camcorder’s handle has a wavy grip like a pro camera, which is nice. With the 2.5-inch screen, the handle must feel secure since most people will shoot while holding the camcorder by that handle. The LCD screen is perhaps the sharpest I've ever seen. This is the first screen I have seen on a camcorder that shows focus better than its viewfinder-I kid you not! Of course I wish the LCD screen were larger. I miss the direction arrows the VX1000 had that told me which way to turn the lens to focus. That feature was dropped from this model, which is unfortunate since it was an intelligent thing to have with an unmarked lens. The manual focus was about as swift as the VX1000, possibly a bit faster. The auto focus, for the short period I used it, seemed better than the VX1000's, possibly because of the quick light response of the 1/3-inch HAD chips.
The dim light shooting was very impressive. I shot some tape and Sony played it back on a WEGA TV (no professional monitor since this was a consumer showcase). The dark weave of a Sony representative's suit reproduced really well, with very little color noise. This camera seems to handle a wider range of light levels and white balance anomalies than I expected. The darkest colors and details in the shadows did not crush easily. By the time I found something the camera would not reproduce, I realized I could not see that part of the carpet with my own eyes! I took it outside and shot a section of the walkway, half in bright sun and half in shadow. I was able to clearly discern detail in the sidewalk on both sides upon playback. There are currently two levels of neutral density filter, which is good. The glass lens is extremely sharp and gives a nice flat edge to the image.
I happily welcome the return of the manual zoom, the skinny ring closest to your hand when shooting. However, it is a servo controlled focus lens therefore it has a short delay, which aggravates me when I try to zoom at specific times. The rocker for the zoom switch has little indention in it and is more predictable than the VX1000's. Although that VX2000 has a good, slow speed, the Canon GL1's may be slightly slower.
Fortunately, someone intelligent insisted that the menu, manual mode settings, white balance, shutter speed, and audio controls be mounted on the back of the camera. Previously, the TRV900 / PD100A, hid many of these vital functions behind the LCD. It is pleasing to push the audio level button and instantly control the level. You can also see a VU meter spread across the bottom of your display (even if it is only a single meter averaging). The right and left channels, however accurate they are actually, are somewhat helpful). While I am speaking about audio, I would like commend Sony for “beefing up” the mini microphone’s jack into a healthy looking, stainless steel component that might not have to be replaced as often as the old plastic ones. The inclusion of a line/microphone input switch next to it allows us to run something live out of a mixing board.
The new, on-camera microphone is two capsule, instead of the VX1000's four. The TRV900/PD100A is notorious for an abysmal, background noise, or hiss. That noise was a problem that kept me from buying the camera. If you are ever looking at one of these cameras, be sure to check this noise problem out. By the way, the 2000 will now do 16-bit or 12-bit audio on two tracks and leave you two free for audio dubbing.
There is an intelligent shoe for compatible Sony accessories, like their intelligent shotgun (that's one for the NRA, isn't it?) microphone that zooms audio with your video. The camera captures still pictures onto tape or Sony's memory stick at a 640x480 resolution. It WILL shoot in progressive scan, however, so I do not believe this to be the camera of choice for web production. Unlike the Canon GL1, whose progressive scan is actually smooth enough for some people to use it for shooting web video, this camera's progressive scan mode appears to be more of a convenience in obtaining a non-interlaced still picture. (I believe it shoots progressive scans at 15 frames per second).
Shooting 16/9, available in the menu, seems very sharp. It is, of course, not a separate chip set, but an electronic conversion. There was no monitor available to check the output, but I loved how it looked on the LCD screen. Unlike Canon's, Sony's 16/9 is displayed loosely, in letterbox, which is much more realistic when composing your shot. Because the lens is now 58mm, your old Sony wide-angle adapter will no longer fit it. Sony will have a new wide-angle adapter and teleconversion lens to fit.
The camera will convert analog video and audio to DV output through its IEEE1394 jack while shooting (you don't have to record it first or put the camera into record), which is great. The VX2000 also comes with a memory stick reader with a USB jack used to download images onto a computer. It can also upload images onto the memory stick media. Inside the LCD screen compartment, there are controls for a 20-shot assemble editor, two levels of zebra stripes, and the obligatory digital and picture “cheese” effects that Sony insists on foisting onto the world. Does anybody actually use these features?
This camera will come out of Sony going for about $3000, which probably means we will eventually see it on the street for something near $2600. I have to say I liked the VX2000 very much. Would I give up my GL1 for it? Yes, I think so, although I’ve begun to wish for a gun rack with half a dozen DV cameras on it, ready to go. Each DV camera is perfect for a different shooting situation. Barring any potential audio problems, which one should not assume it’s free of, consider this unit approved!
