Comments on: Sony Announces HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U Pro Cameras

By: Colin Rootz

Colin Rootz — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:57:21 +0000

Sorry - the choice is between the Z7u and th V1U - NOT the A1U

By: Colin Rootz

Colin Rootz — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:06:52 +0000

This sounds like a really great camera, and so does the PMW EX1. The things I don’t understand about either camera is, in the case of the Z7U, why have Sony decided not to push the capture resolution to a full 1920×1080 (progressive) with 4:2:2 colourspace like it’s HDV cousin, the HVR V1U or even it’s smaller cousin, the HDR SR12 (not 4:2:2). Pair that res with the removeable lens and solid state recording (on CF cards!!) and you’ve got a low-cost hands-down winner - and yet, one that won’t compete with high-end XDCAM HD cameras.

RE: the EX1 - why not add the flexibility of a removeable lens? Pair THAT with the XDCAM solid-state recording and CineAlta variable frame rates and you have ANOTHER low cost winner in a whole other market!

Being a prosumer looking to acquire a versatile HDV camera, while avoiding the high cost of XDCAM media, I’m split between the Z7U with solid-state CF card recording & interchageable lenses and the A1U with full 1920×1080p. What’s the dealbreaker here?

By: Kendal Miller

Kendal Miller — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:32:40 +0000

While there is no BluRay DVDSP support in Mac, hopefully this will be forthcoming pretty quickly, Toast will allow you to make BluRay disc for data archive on Mac. So if you are simply after an archive solution try BluRay burned to disc via Toast. However, another very solid archive solution is an external HDD bay enclosure that uses smaller capacity HDDs around 200 GB as backup cartridges. Label them and then use a software like Disc Traker to index all the data and create a database that can be searched. This is the current work flow I am looking at implementing for Red One, EX1, and P2 Footage.

By: Cody Stanton

Cody Stanton — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:25:26 +0000

As usual Matt, you are a step ahead of everyone else with the right answer. Of course Sony won’t release an update anytime soon. Why would they? And Canon does march to the beat of their own drummer. Besides anything offered by Canon that is a step above the XLHI would certainly cost more than $10,000
So that leaves us with Panasonic updating the HVX200 and coming out with a beast that takes on the EX1
In an earlier conversation and another thread, weeks ago, you did mention what a dream camera would be to you, if only manufacturers would come up with such a camera, effectively putting together the best features of all cameras. Maybe someday they will get it, although by not ‘getting it’ simply benefits them as we are forced to part with more money by purchasing multiple models that serve multiple purposes.
Here’s a burning question Matt.
How do filmakers achieve that Holy Grail of 1080p on a Blu Ray disc?
Isnt it true that even if I shoot in 1080p with the EX1 and somehow archive it on a Blu Ray disc ( one such method is to import it from the Macbook after editing to another camera that is Blu Ray capable like the new Hitachi consumer model) it still ends up being 1080i?
I was told that the only way to archive it in 1080p on Blu Ray disc is to shoot in film first.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks, Cody

By: Matthew Jeppsen

Matthew Jeppsen — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:31:05 +0000

Cody,

I don’t see Canon trying to compete directly with the EX1 with a similar model…they tend to march to the beat of their own drummer as it were. Nor do I see Sony dropping an EX2 any time soon…expect this model to remain on the market for years without an update. Finally, I am curious to see if Panasonic updates the HVX200 at NAB…I’ve heard rumors and rumblings. If ANY manufacturer announces a new camera, my money is on Panasonic.

-Matt Jeppsen

By: Cody Stanton

Cody Stanton — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:25:34 +0000

THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT
Matt,
the EX1 still remains the top choice compared to everything out there in that price range. You were on point explaining that however it is still an HDV camera with a higher bit-rate.
A salesman at B&H said the same exact thing and went onto say that ‘at the end of the day,when all is said and done, the EX1 is in the same HDV boat as the Canon XL-HI’
However,the fact that they went with a CMOS sensor instead of 3CCD is the fly in the ointment. While both have their share of issues, I truly think that 3CCD would have been a better choice.
So here’s my next question. Do you think that Canon will answer the bell with a model of their own that can compete directly with the EX1 the way the EX1 has been pitted directly against the Panasonic HVX200?
I’m a big Canon fan and I think their camera lenses offer better optics.
One of the most amazing things with their lenses is the ‘Instant Autofocus’ feature that is now becoming standard fare on their camcorders. No longer does their cameras have to ‘hunt and search’ for focus which other cameras are handicapped doing (in the autofocus mode)
Perhaps we can expect to see an EX2 in the forseeable future?
I wasnt that thrllled with some of the EX1’s shortcomings although it still managed to come out the gate a winner in many respects. Nonetheless there was much to be desired
Cody

By: Toronto Weddings

Toronto Weddings — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:49:27 +0000

I got this camera last 2 weekes im first one i have this camera in canada wen i swa online i did love the look it relly look very close to dsr250 the one i use befor so on the pic looks smiller but relly is biger and is amazing camera ( camera do evrything any cameraman need )

By: sPp

sPp — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:21:58 +0000

This is the world of Electronics…you’ll never get what you want (undercranking, 4:2:2, better audio capture, 24p, interchangable lens) without paying an arm and a leg. I say forget all these wonderful features, and focus on making what you wanna make with what you got and hope when you start making some money, then you can go get what you have always desired. Electronics companies are bastards…they love fu*king with us! They know what they’re doing and they do it on purpose…
“it’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s reality!” A.S.

By: Vito

Vito — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:04:40 +0000

Hey, what is not clear about SONY and others, spliting formats and feachers?
There is only one reason for that. They just whant final user to buy each feacher separately- each one in additional unit, and if somebody needs more than one of those, they gotta spend more money to
SONY (4 example)
So, there is no any reason to wait for the purfect unit. Everybody have to make their choice

Vito

By: DARRYL FROM 24P CINEMA.COM

DARRYL FROM 24P CINEMA.COM — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 18:07:34 +0000

WHY WHY WHY!!!!! WON’T Sony GIVE US A One Chip LARGE C-MOS CAMERA THAT WRITES @ between 35 & 50MBits WITH ALL THE GREAT FEATURES COMBINED??????? FROM V1U THE 27U, AND STOP MAKING ALL THOSE CAMERAS WITH a Feature HERE AND a FEATURE THERE.

DON’T THEY SEE THE REVENUE POTENTIAL??? DON’T THEY GET IT??? If they think it will hurt their Broadcast Division, They couldn’t be more incorrect.

WHO IN God’s NAME IS RUNNING THAT DIVISION.
D.

By: Matthew Jeppsen

Matthew Jeppsen — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:48:20 +0000

My understanding is that you have the option of four channels of audio for tape recording, and can mix and match them as you wish in the menus. However, I believe it is still compressed HDV audio (which frankly isn’t that bad of a compression ratio).

-Matt

By: Jason Fifield

Jason Fifield — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:19:42 +0000

Any word on audio specs for either of these babies? Will it ever be possible to shoot HDV to mini-DV tapes while recording decent quality (not mp3) audio to the same tape?

By: Kendal Miller

Kendal Miller — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:19:34 +0000

Z7 is an HDV camera so it would be 4:2:0 unless Sony releases some new unmentioned variation of the HDV format which is highly unlikely. Samething with the Ex-1 even though is XDcam technically its just higher bitrate HDV still based on long form GOP compress so it will also be 4:2:0 as well.

By: jose

jose — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:20:14 +0000

Does anyone know if this new Z7 model manages 4:2:2 compr. rate? Did anyone find a comparisson between z7 and EX1 ?

By: Matthew Jeppsen

Matthew Jeppsen — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:26:38 +0000

It has no over or under crank that I am aware of. Being that they probably want people to get the XDCAM EX for that functionality, I’m not surprised.

-Matt Jeppsen

By: Charles Dasher

Charles Dasher — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:59:56 +0000

Does anyone know if the Z7 will have over and under cranking capability? Thanks for any info

By: Kendal Miller

Kendal Miller — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:41:13 +0000

MArc,
Agreed its so frustrating to see camera manufacturers build and separate technology rather than combining it into one really well built and thought out camera.

By: Kendal Miller

Kendal Miller — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:39:37 +0000

No No,
Kendal says the ColorSpace out HDMI if it is an uncompressed port would be uncompressed 4:2:2 minimal. All thing assuming of course its pre-DSP. Samething for HD-SDI and other ports. Even the Z1u has component out uncompressed. Its hard to imagine this wouldn’t be implemented in some form or fashion.

By: Matthew Jeppsen

Matthew Jeppsen — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:16:28 +0000

One would assume that HDMI would be pre-HDV encode, like the V1U. But I’m not sure that’s been checked or confirmed by anyone from Sony. We shall see. I had the same question about the colorspace, and Kendal seems to think we are going to get 4:2:0 out the HDMI port. Again, we don’t know yet. If you find out before you see it here, please drop a comment!

-Matt Jeppsen

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:24:19 +0000

Is the HDMI out of the z7u an uncompressed signal (before the HDV encode) for use as a poor man’s HD-SDI uncompressed capture (as well as monitoring)?

And I assume it would be a true 1080, but would it be 4:2:0, 4:2:2?

Thanks,
Lonnie