On Mon, 18 Mar 2002 22:37:35 GMT, Gary Eickmeier wrote:

>Neuman - Ruether wrote:
>
>> The Pan "10" is basically an EZ30U "blown up",
>> and as such, not only is manual exposure shift
>> not smooth, but AE also shifts in "klunks".
>> Low light range is also very limited... Add
>> a WA, external mic, and side grip to the 2000
>> and you have a more maneuverable camera (with
>> usable stabilizer) that doesn't look "amateurish"
>> (if that is the issue for you - no one ever
>> complains about mine...;-), and that is excellent
>> in all light levels encountered at weddings
>> (which are often gruesome - and often well below
>> the capability of the "10"). For more, see:
>> www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm

>Thank you, Jim and David -
>
>The main issues are operation, such as in manual exposure, and

You may find, as I have, that the VX2000 AE/AF are so
good (with AE-bias and other picture characteristics
optimized for the shooting conditions) under most lighting
conditions that you are pleasantly freed from the manual
attendence to these "duties"...;-) This, besides the
excellent picture characteristics in most lighting
conditions, is a BIG reason for using the 2000 for
events-shooting...

>ergonomics, as in being able to hand-hold during a ceremony where a
>tripod is out of the question. I don't know if it ever occurred to
>Sony, but holding a camera up to your eye for a while with just your
>arms gets tiring, and shaky.

I hand-hold before and after the ceremony, but rarely
during (I have 3 unattended camera and one attended
camera for the ceremony coverage, with the last placed
AWAY from the ceremony on a tripod - I do *not* intrude
on the event...
For long-term hand-holding of the 2000 (during the
sometimes interminable toasts [I clocked one at 42
minutes!!!]), I lay the 2000 down on my forearm and
use the side-panel finder pointed up (belt-pods,
side-handles, monopods, and shoulder-pods can also
help...).

>For our weddings, we go hand held for
>most everything outside of the ceremony, and sometimes during the
>ceremony for the guy on the altar. I know they have those dopey
>gunstock mounts, but I was hoping for a camera that was already
>shoulderable.

I prefer "dopey"-but-works-well-and-is-light to the
alternatives...;-) The 2000 is light enough to shoot with for
hours (and ***one*** light/small/cheap NPF960 battery
will power the 2000 for hours, freeing you from power
concerns, another strong point for the 2000/150...),
especially when a simple left-side handle is added.
The image is also good enough in very low light levels
to make carrying lights and power for them unnecessary.
This camera makes this kind of event shooting down-right
fun!

>Thanks again for the info and sites,

See also the sites referenced in the given site, if you
haven't - there is more there...