VX2100 vs. pd170 « Videomaker Community Forums

Particlebox
Member

Any opionions on these two. Do both of these do 16:9?

Posted 6 years ago #
BryantProductions
Member

I own a VX2100... looking back I probably would have gone with the PD170... in order to get XLR into the VX2100, I needed a Beachtek adaptor which would not have been needed if I had the PD170... I believe the PD170 is the regular DV, not MiniDV, which I hear has a lower probability of frame drop outs... anyone know if this is true? If so, between the XLR connections and better reliability, my next camera will definitely be a PD170 over the VX2100...

Posted 6 years ago #
BryantProductions
Member

Oh, and the VX2100 does 16:9... I assume the PD170 does also, since it seems to be an improvment upon the 2100.

Posted 6 years ago #
jimbodeanny
Member

I own a PD170. What a great camera, by far one of my best investments I've ever made. Works unbelievably well in low light (comes in handy especially for events like weddings). The biggest differences between the vx2100 and PD170 are that the PD170 has the XLR inputs and can record either on miniDV or DVCAM tapes (which are known for fewer dropouts than miniDV due to the width of the tape). The Vx2100 only is miniDV and has no XLR inputs

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Another point in favor of the 170 is that it has separate volume controls for left and right channels.

For instance, last weekend I had to mic a minister up near the neckline, due to the fact that his robe zipped that high, leaving no other place for the lav clip. I had to turn his mic way down, using my mixer, but I couldn't use the camera audio meter on my VX2100 because the minister was even clipping through the groom's mic which needed to be set fairly high to catch the meek "I do's".

If I'd had a PD-170, I would have been able to use the meter to see just how far to back off the minister's volume.

Posted 6 years ago #
jimbodeanny
Member

Yes that is very true, it is really nice to have the audio controllability. I can't stress how great the low light performance of this cam is though. I've done so many weddings where I could actually see BETTER with the camera at the reception than my eyes alone. It works amazingly well and the quality is fantastic. I was in a wedding a couple days ago (groomsman) and they had hired a videographer who was using a Canon XL1. The reception was very dim and he had a bright light mounted on it. What a nusense. The light was as bright as a spot light, casted shadows on everything he shot and catching everyone's attention. Very intrusive and unnatural looking. All I could think was that the same reception could've been shot just beautifully without the need of a light had he been using a Sony PD170 or VX2100. The XL1 is a GREAT camera, just not ideal (in my opinion) for low light events

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Excellent point. XL1 & 2, GL-2, Panny 100, etc. they're all good cams for their suited purpose, but none of these are event cams.

If I'm not mistaken, the VX-2100 has the same low Lux rating and low-light capability as the PD-170.

About the only time we had to mount our 50watt Bescor light was during an outdoor wedding, after dark, when the park lighting over the cake cutting event, burned out. If not for our light, there wouldn't have been a cake cutting.

Posted 6 years ago #
Particlebox
Member

Thanks for all the input. I purchased a pd170 and I am thrilled.

Posted 6 years ago #