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Home: Video University Forums: Sony DV and DVCAM Forum:
To all you diehard VX-1000 fans...

SMG
Novice

Aug 10, 2004, 4:14 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1857 views)
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To all you diehard VX-1000 fans...	Can't Post

Okay,...
So I sent my last, remaining Sony VX-1000 back to Sony for repairs again.
This makes four times that its been at the shop.

The first time, it was under warranty and it needed the lens adjusted and the viewfinder cleaned.

The second trip was to replace audio components because I was getting a bad hum from the mic boards.

Trip #3...the infamous black viewfinder/bad ribbon cable problem.

And finally, #4...it took a fall and didn't bounce all that well...broken mic and who knows what else wrong with it.

So all in all, I've had this cam in the shop more times than any other that I've ever owned. I've feel that I will never get my money out of this cam, but I can't seem to give it up, I've got the Sony VX-1000 bug and it won't let go. Still, I need to replace it, because I just don't trust it anymore.

I've used VX-2000s and didn't really care to much for them. Without having the luxury of trying one out, I figure that a 2100 is basicly just more or less the same thing as a 2000. I'm leaning towards going with Panasonic cams across the board.

So my question to you is;
besides trading it in or selling it, what do I do with an aging VX-1000 that I won't trust for important shoots? I thought about using it for telecine, but the 10X optical lens is not enough for the telecine gear.
SMG

Bob A
Veteran

Aug 10, 2004, 8:51 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1854 views)
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Re: [SMG] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

So all in all, I've had this cam in the shop more times than any other that I've ever owned. I've feel that I will never get my money out of this cam, but I can't seem to give it up, I've got the Sony VX-1000 bug and it won't let go. Still, I need to replace it, because I just don't trust it anymore.

Wow! You obviously don't use it professionally. So how do you think you "get your money" out of the cam? The venerably Sony VX1000 cam has produced more income with high quality video for its users than any other 'consumer' cam in the history of video.

Postal_Boy
Veteran

Aug 10, 2004, 3:10 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1835 views)
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Re: [Bob A] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just a question - I have not used the VX1000. What is different with the VX2000 that you don't like, it being the "upgrade" and replacement of the 1000?
__________________________

PD-170, Dual athlon 2200+, 1gig ram,, Vegas, Combustion, Photoshop, dual monitor (ashamed of the video card, so I won't mention it), Samson wireless, and a couple of one-chippers (sony) just for the heck of it. - And an IRIVER

SMG
Novice

Aug 11, 2004, 8:41 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1789 views)
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Re: [Bob A] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Actually Bob, I did use it professionally. I've shot video intended for and used in motion pictures with this cam. To the right person, I could probably sell it for its "gee, wiz" value because it was used in 'such and such' movie. Of all the cams that I've ever owned though, this particular one was the most problematic at the worst possible times.

Don't get me wrong. I have always known that the VX-1000 has had a 'legendary status'. That's only one reason to hang on to them, though. I want to know what practical applications I can put this tired old cam to use to, today.
SMG

SMG
Novice

Aug 11, 2004, 10:04 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1784 views)
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Re: [Postal_Boy] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think that you were addressing this to me...if not, please excuse my jumping in.

After using the VX-1000 for many years, its possible for a person to tend to compare all newcomers to it. To many, the following might be considered as 'nitpicking'.
Still, these were my findings after extensive use of both of these cams...JMHO.

I found that even though the VX-2000 offered many useful improvements in function and picture quality over the VX-1000, right off the start I had problems in the transition. I could not get used to the VX-2000s unusual tape loading mechanism, (at least unusual, when compared with the 1000). I felt like an idiot when I had to phone up Sony to ask them why the tape door would not stay closed, (at first I thought I had a bad cam, but both were doing it). I just feel that putting a tape into a cam should be more intuitive than the VX-2000s system is.

They also had to move the VX-2000s tape well to the opposite side of the cam, in order to make room for the LCD screen. In many situations, I found that this impeded making fast tape changes...especially in a darkened room. The hand-strap always seemed to get in the way. I could easily make tape changes in the VX-1000 with winter shooter's gloves on, (a requirement for many of my shoots) but not with the VX-2000.

The VX-1000 also runs warmer because the battery pack is internal. This really helped when shooting in cold conditions. On hot days I would sometimes run the cam with the battery door opened.

I used two VX-2000s on a daily basis for a year and a half. The audible hum that they each produced when set in manual audio mode was a great disappointment. At least, when my VX-1000 developed a hum, it was because of a defective board set and the problem went away after it was fixed. The VX-2000s were just made to function that way, I guess.

These observations are strictly from the shooting sense. If you need analog input, a memory stick, flipout LCD, speaker, etc. then the VX-2000 has all of that and the VX-1000, (being an older design) does not. Aside from slightly better picture quality, larger lens and a manual zoom, the VX-2000 did not offer me much over the VX-1000. The inclusion of 16 bit audio recording is not a selling point if the audio system is going to be plagued with hum.
SMG

Bob A
Veteran

Aug 11, 2004, 11:41 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1775 views)
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Re: [SMG] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I feel much better now that you have sung the virtues of the good 'ole VX1000. I had 7 of them over the years and still have one left and am not in a hurry to get rid of it. I have VX2000s, DSR 200s, 250s and DSR 300 but I still like to use the VX1000 whenever I can. It has high sentimental value and is still one heck of a good cam. It has been the �benchmark� cam for an unheard of 10 years. I agree with all your assessments of the differences especially that the �hand strap� always needs to be pulled away to allow the tape door to open fully.
I have not been troubled by audio noise as most all events I do with the 2000s are loud anyway. I grossed over a 100 grand with events shot with the VX1000s so I definitely got my moneys worth out of that cam.

>>� I want to know what practical applications I can put this tired old cam to use to, today.�<<
The same applications you have always used it for!! I would be very hard pressed to tell whether a video was shot with a 1000 or 2000 unless it was in very low light where the 2000s do better. I have no problems using the VX1000 for a money shoot, especially if it is a �camera hostile� environment where the cam is at risk of not coming home in one piece. Like an �in boat� whitewater rafting video, that I already fed the water-gods one good camera. (the crew swore they had NEVER tipped a raft over on that river � guess what!! Gurgle, gurgle�..)I do not like to spend money on repairs but you must consider it part of the cost of doing business, just like an oil change or a brake job on the company vehicle.

SMG
Novice

Aug 12, 2004, 12:48 AM

Post #7 of 7 (1770 views)
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Re: [Bob A] To all you diehard VX-1000 fans... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bob, I think that over the years, I have just learned how to respond to your replys better. I'm glad I helped you feel better though. Wink

Quite honestly though, in the past we have agreed on many topics ranging from 'how the Sony VX-1000 is built like a tank' to 'if its smart to use head cleaners in your cam'.

I can see your point about using a VX-1000 instead of something newer when putting the cam in harm's way. To me, getting the shot is more important than the cam that's used. I simply can not trust my VX-1000 to get the shot anymore...its showing its age and tends to be breaking down at the worst times. Maybe its been cracked open one too many times.

For years, people would point to my cam and then strike up a conversation about it. They would say that they've seen one like it in some sitcom on TV or in an Adult film and they want to know more about why a cam this old is so much better than their smaller, newer camcorder.

Over the years, I've seen some real cool applications for this cam.
I remember someone hacking one in order to put an interchangable,
microscopic lens on. I've seen adapters made for the VX-1000 that could
record GPS information along with visual information to tape.
In Europe, they spent a lot of time hacking PAL VX-1000s to enable DV-in.

I want to know if there are any other applications that I have not heard of that someone is willing to share.
SMG