Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business.
by Superfly
on
Jul 4, 2007 at 6:11:58 am
Ohhhhh Panasonic. Why did you have to go and do it? I LOVE my DVX-100 but I think I am stuck going back to Sony for HDV as my business must be very lean and mean. I am very happy that Sony adopted some of the great features of the DVX like real time adjustable stereo pots, larger LCD, etc.
I am slightly prejudiced towards a larger camera for a number of reasons. Large LCD is absolutely critical for me. Visual presence for my customers, weight, feel. Frankly, I am currently leaning toward the Z1U as I have never used the 24P on my Panny DVX-100 and I would rather someone handle that in post if I ever got lucky enough to put my work in that format.
Right now, mainly a lot of live professional performing arts gigs.
What do you think?
PS, I did search the posts....I have been in business 10 years but I ask these questions here for real world advice that I know I can only get at the COW!
Thanks!
S.
Todd Roush
Dreamscape Digital Media
Panny DVX-100's
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Todd at Fantastic Plastic on Jul 4, 2007 at 2:46:23 pm
I agree...
And by the way, even though I'm a huge Sony fan, I'm a HARDCORE Canon XLH1 fan. I'd urge you to beg borrow or rent one to play with a bit before making your decision.
T2
__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Michael Palmer on Jul 4, 2007 at 3:55:33 pm
Moving to HDV means understanding what it is and how to use it. There are several ways to work with it and knowing the choices of each HDV camera and flavor (format) is just as important. Sony makes this easy with recording to tape as 60i.
The Z1 is a really nice camera with an extremely sharp image. It shoots 60i/50i HDV & DV only. Just know the interlaced imagers will never capture at the same time like the progressive units do. If you're OK with this then the Z1 has basically 2 ways to pull in the recorded images into your NLE system, i-link/firewire or component. If you plan on working in native HDV you will use the i-link/firewire connection and it works very well for most HDV users. I personally don't like to work natively and there are other products now available for these options.
As to monitoring while you work, you can use the component in the field and in the edit you need to know the HDV system doesn't run the signal back to the camera and out to the monitor like the way you work with DV, so your going to need to purchase a product (capture card) to allow this. I would recommend the Sony M25U HDV deck as it has the HDMI connection. More on this later as I have participated in an HDMI article for the Cow.
As to shooting HDV you will have to limit or slow your pan movements as it just doesn't capture well if used like this. I always keep the manual setting up on the on board monitor as I have made mistakes with the gain control in the past. Make sure you look into the wide angel adapter, and possible the telephoto too. For run and gun I really like the manual zoom ring. If you have no interest in 24p this is an extremely good HDV camera. If you are really interested I may be willing to part ways with my Z1 as I am preparing for the EX coming out later this year.
Good Luck
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Superfly on Jul 5, 2007 at 5:58:32 am
So again Sony is playing catch up with Panasonic.
I must still salute Sony for giving us the HDV option whereas Panny did not.
In my price range it is either Z1U, V1U or Panny HVX-200 which may unfortunately be cost prohibitive right now. Panny might be a good gamble as I will likely use whatever camera I buy to shoot in standard DV for the next 2-3 years.
Unfortunately, Cannon does not offer the features I need in this price range, nor does JVC.
Thanks.
S.
Todd Roush
Dreamscape Digital Media
Panny DVX-100's
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Michael Palmer on Jul 5, 2007 at 3:49:21 pm
You can call it anything you like but one of the differences will be the flash memory cards. The P2 uses a very expensive pcmia card, and these ports are no longer being shipped on any new laptop because of faster (cheaper) pci card systems, (this is what Sony will use). These new pci cards will not be proprietary to Sony as companies like San Disk makes them too. Anyone even thinking about the HVX 200 should know about the EX. The EX will have 3-1/2 chips and they should be the Cmos clearvid system.
I will say the tapeless system is not what I know at all, and the learning curve may come with some added expense. There are products that are out or coming out that will allow more and more live capturing direct to hard disk, and thats going to be even better than these flash cards. I believe the EX will provide for this with it's HD-SDI port, the only ports on the HVX-200 are the firewire or the (analogue) component separating the audio from video. Sony will continue to use the Mpeg-2 technology with a higher bit rate to choose from than the 25mbps on Sony's HDV products. It is 1080p with variable frames rates up to 60 fps. With the HVX-200 you do get a wonderful 720p system on the P2 cards, but imagine 1080p uncompressed for under $8k. You can make your own History channel series in HD
Oh and yes renting is a good way to checkout what you are purchasing.
Good Luck
Michael Palmer
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Brian McCartney on Jul 5, 2007 at 3:30:49 pm
Hi Todd,
If you venture over the hill at all you can try VMI in Sunnyvale. They have a Z1 for rent, no V1U though as far as I can tell. Just a thought, you might see if anyone over at the Digital Media Factory has either camera to lend.
I think the real benefit to the EX over the HVX is that the memory cards Sony will use are supposed to be widely available and fairly affordable. Unlike the Panasonic P2 cards. Only time will tell I suppose.
I own an FX1 and have been using it for just about 2 years now and I love the camera. Very similar to the Z1 but no XLR inputs and 60i only. I use a Beachtec XLR converter so it all works out. It will all depend on your intended workflow but I think HDV is a pretty decent format for acquisition.
If you have any specific questions about HDV let me know, I might be able to help.
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Michael Palmer on Jul 5, 2007 at 8:07:49 pm
Is this something you've heard or read? I would have either said what the issue is or provided the link to what was said. All this does is confuse others from a statement that as of now holds no value. I wouldn't have wasted me time posting something this vague.
Michael Palmer
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Michael Palmer on Jul 6, 2007 at 4:17:06 pm
Unless you describe this issue or provide links to what you're talking about I must dismiss this. My V1U has no issues. Sony's Clear Vid system is extremely solid. Further more no one here on this thread was considering Canon and personally I wouldn't consider any Canon video camera especially that little HV20. Perhaps your friend Barry can provide you with this information you can't direct us to that you are so compelled to divulge.
Michael Palmer
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by Uli Plank on Jul 7, 2007 at 7:40:56 am
If I may chime in on this one:
I suppose he's referring to the rolling shutter issue. It can be an issue when you are doing motion tracking (3D tracking in particular), but even then it's not always ruining your shot.
Take the latter one with a grain of salt: I don't know any professional who'd do high-end VFX with such a camera ;-)
Apart from this, the HV20 is a great little camcorder, but nothing but a backup for a serious pro. It's image quality is remarkable for the price, but handling is awful for any trained DOP. Anyway, grabbing uncompressed live footage via HDMI with BlackMagic's Intensity will make your jaws drop, I swear!
I never thought this possible with a device under 1K U$.
Regards,
Uli
Director of the Institute of Media Research (IMF) at Braunschweig University of Arts
Re: Sony HDR-Z1U or V1U? Time to grab the first HDV comcorder for my business. by brian pitt on Jul 5, 2007 at 10:32:27 pm
I was in the same boat you are. I spent weeks testing and comparing all of the prosumer HDV cameras out there. I ended up going with 2 V1Us. I am on my 3rd or 4th project and I am more than happy with my purchase. I love them. LOVE!!!
But I agree, try them all out before making your decision.
