Hi--

At 0106 AM 9/5/01 -0500, you wrote
Good useful camera comparisons! I commend your thoroughness.

If you've got a few minutes...

I currently still have the VX-1000. Except for the low light ability of
the
VX-2000, I'm not completely convinced that the upgrade is a good move.
Should I be? - The smooth renditions of the 1000 get replaced by some
sharper pictures in the close and middle distance, along w/some very
annoying artifacts... better zoom control on the 2000, but smaller vf
image!
Hmmmm...

The VX-1000 picture also has artifacts, but a bit less, with the
VX-2000 being noticeably sharper - I don't regret switching in terms
of picture at all, but it is harder to find good WA converters, to
add external mics, to hold the camera steady zoomed long, and (somewhat)
to see the VF as easily. But, I would take the 2000 any day over the
excellent 1000 (and did, twice...;-). The picture REALLY is better...

Sound - It seems that your take on the 2000's hiss problem seems to be
the
opposite of others' I've read, who say that the AGC produces no hiss
w/external mics, problematic only set on manual...

My findings are not different, except I find no problem in manual
either with hiss. The problem is that the AGC gain is not compatible
with
most external mics, causing over-compression with most mics, curable
with a mic pad.

In the intervening months
(year?) have you looked into the BBC's solution of modifying the 2000 so
line-in is used for mic jack, w/ quieter result (if I recall this
correctly)
I'm sure we could get qualified camera tech in the US to void warranty
in
this way easily enough...

I'm not sure what they do, but my guess is that they simply use a small
external mic preamp into the line in - easy to do, and then one can use
a very high-quality preamp designed to use XLRs instead of just adapted.
No need to void the warranty...

Is VX2000 noisey (whine) like 1000?

???? I had three, no whine (in audio? the drum rotates at 9000cps,
as I recall, and produces a small whine, but not objectionable)...

Have you had a look at the Panasonic MX-3000? Japanese import only, very
small, good-looking images, no low-light ability (Damn!)

The images I've seen from it make me not want it... You
*************cannot**************** beat the VX-2000 picture,
short, *******possibly********* the big JVC (and many still
prefer the VX2000 picture...). That is about as strongly as I can
state it. Short of a better medium, this is the best there is...


It's like they're all pretty good, and they all suck.

That's my conclusion - but the bottom line is always picture and
sound quality, and with understanding of how to get it, and the
VX2000 produces the best of both... (the XL-1 sound ***may***
equal it, and have more options, but the picture....;-) The drawbacks
of the 2000 pale by comparison with what it does well.


Your updated reflections appreciated,
Peter

Peter Wallach


There they be - pretty much unchanged...;-)