Sony DCR-VX2000

Reviewed on 9/23/02    Updated on: 10/16/02    Release date: 5/1/00    Editors' note: Ratings have been updated to reflect the current market. (March 23, 2004)

The successor to Sony's already capable DCR-VX1000 MiniDV camcorder, the three-CCD DCR-VX2000 offers significantly improved low-light performance, a color viewfinder with higher resolution, a smoother zoom motor, a foldout color LCD, and a manual zoom ring. Compact enough to carry in an over-the-shoulder camera bag, this versatile prosumer model delivers images that suggest they came from a professional camera. With a list price of nearly $3,000, the VX2000 is not a camera for the casual videographer, but it offers an excellent value to anyone with a serious interest in getting great footage under nearly any circumstances.

Design of Sony DCR-VX2000

The VX2000's sleek magnesium-alloy body announces that it isn't just another consumer camera. Its 2.5-inch foldout LCD and relatively light weight--about 3 pounds, 7 ounces with the battery and the media loaded--make handheld shooting a breeze, although the camera's squared-off base may cramp your hand after extended periods.

The focus and zoom rings are too close together.	The cassette hatch is located behind the hand strap, which can get in the way of opening the tape door.

Most controls are available through easy-to-access buttons and dials, with two exceptions: While the addition of a manual zoom ring represents an improvement over this camera's predecessor, the focus and zoom rings are so closely positioned that while turning the focus ring, our thumb inadvertently adjusted the zoom, too.

Features of Sony DCR-VX2000

Controls galore.

Sporting a 12X zoom lens, the VX2000 offers plenty of advanced features, including two levels of zebra stripes, manually adjustable audio levels, a neutral density filter, and SMPTE color bars. In addition to fully manual exposure controls, there are aperture- and shutter-priority modes and three programmed autoexposure modes.

You can fine-tune image parameters such as saturation, white balance, and sharpness, and when the camera's iris is wide open, you can boost the gain.

The Zen of manual control.	Included accessories.

The VX2000 also lets you digitally record analog tapes, plug in your own minijacked mike or an audio line (to record from a PA system, for example), and capture low-resolution stills onto a Memory Stick.

If you're looking for even more features, such as XLR audio compatibility, separate controls for each audio channel, and a higher-resolution viewfinder, try the VX2000's professional counterpart, the DSR-PD150a.

Performance of Sony DCR-VX2000

	Input/output ports.

This camera was a pleasure to operate, with a smooth, agile zoom motor; a fast, precise autofocus mechanism that adroitly handles even tough situations such as low light or rapid focal changes; and optical image stabilization that lets you shoot without a tripod and still get great results. The color viewfinder is among the sharpest that we've seen, making it easier to find manual focus even through long, eye-tiring takes.

And the foldout LCD greatly eases handheld work. Although the screen is small for manual focusing, the camera's autofocus is so good that you can use the foldout screen just for framing while the autofocus and the autoexposure handle the rest.

You can save still shots and MPEG video on the included Memory Stick.	The LCD is suitable for framing.

There's a helpful Push Auto focus button on the camera body as well, which allows you to quickly lock the focus on a subject when you're in manual focus mode.

Image quality of Sony DCR-VX2000

In our tests, the VX2000 captured crystalline images under almost any conditions, the sole exception being that it produced artifacts in areas of strong contrast.

The good.

The bad.

Its low-light performance was excellent, generating very minimal noise. Colors tended to run a tad cool in daylight; for example, gray asphalt appeared slightly blue.

Good low-light quality.

Still captures fine for e-mail.

The camera provides a progressive--noninterlaced--shooting mode, but it's not terribly useful, due to the visible stuttering of the images it captures. You can partially offset that effect by increasing the shutter speed, but that solution has other consequences, such as picture noise and increased exposure. The VX2000 captures good still shots for a camcorder, meaning that they're quite suitable for e-mail or the Web but can't compete with images taken with a decent still camera.

• 8.2/10

  Average user rating from 37 users

  Excellent
• Write your own review How would you rate this product?
• 9/10 Spectacular

  January 29, 2007

  by ws120967 (see profile)

  "Great and versatile" Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect

  January 18, 2005

  "4 years and counting" Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular

  January 12, 2005

  "One of the most versatile for the price!" Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect

  October 3, 2004

  "Best Camera Best Price" Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect

  July 22, 2004

  "Hate first review! Great Camcorder!" Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular

  April 14, 2004

  "Professional's Choice" Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect

  March 7, 2004

  "The best damn camera!!!" Read more >>

• 6/10 Good

  October 21, 2003

  "Good camera for portable use" Read more >>

• 7/10 Very good

  July 12, 2003

  "It's OK..." Read more >>

• 10/10 Perfect

  March 27, 2003

  "Great features; excellent video, too heavy for steady handheld-tripod a must." Read more >>

• Write your own review See all 37 user opinions >>

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