I Did A Sony Z7U Camera Test...A Little Nervous
by Jason Aumount
on
Mar 31, 2008 at 10:02:48 pm
I went by Abel Cine here in NYC today to test out the Sony HVR-Z7U to see how it felt and to get sample footage for a workflow test. First off, I have to say, Charlie down there was very cool and accommodating. They just lent out their display model, and he opened a brand new box so I could test it out.
I loved the build and ergonomics, Sony sure knows where to put things. I came away quite impressed with the Z7U.
When I got home and loaded up the footage, and the picture looked great. Until I noticed that on quick pans, tilts and zooms it seems like the image shows a lot of compression (digital blocks). I did these tests to see if the rolling shutter was a big issue. I can live with some slight skewing (which I didn't notice too much), but these compression artifacts are a deal-breaker for me.
Below are 2 frame grabs from the test. One is from a still shot on the tripod, the other is the same object during a quick pan. I shot HDV-24P-24f shutter-5.6f. Since this was my first time ever touching the camera, I hope I just didn't set something properly. Please look at these shots and let me know if you think it's a setting, is it a CMOS thing, is it the nature of HDV/long GOP, etc.
I need to know because I was leaning towards this camera for a documentary and I wont be able to shoot some of the action without quick camera movements.
Re: I Did A Sony Z7U Camera Test...A Little Nervous by Douglas Spotted Eagle on Mar 31, 2008 at 10:16:29 pm
If you're going to be doing whip pans:
A-shutterspeed of 1/24 isn't going to work.
B-24p doesn't like whip pans either.
C-HDV may not be for you.
The tearing you see there is a combination of slow shutterspeed, 24p,and GOP.
Also, the question that begs to be asked of most folks posting images, is "What does it look like in motion." If you're expecting to see the same clarity in a frame grab as you see with a still camera, it doesn't work that way.
Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor
Re: I Did A Sony Z7U Camera Test...A Little Nervous by Jason Aumount on Mar 31, 2008 at 10:39:25 pm
I wasn't expecting to see clarity during motion, but I was also not expecting to see so much compression. I've owned a Canon A1 for almost a year now, and I can not remember seeing this in my footage. I mostly shoot 24F with that camera.
But on the Z7U, the only reason I noticed it was because it looked really "digity" (is this how you spell this made up word?) while watching it at normal speed. I was expecting blurry, not blocky.
I'm concerned because my project will be about a sporting event. I know I'll have to move the camera quickly at times, so this compression makes me nervous.
I'll have to do a test with my Canon A1 to see if this is just something I never noticed before.
Do you know if this would be the same for the EX1 or the HVX 200? Is there another sub $7000 camera you would recommend?
Re: I Did A Sony Z7U Camera Test...A Little Nervous by Jason Aumount on Mar 31, 2008 at 10:54:11 pm
Here is a shot from my Canon A1. It's an exterior shot with the 1/32 ND, shot at 24F at about a f/8. This was a fast pan, and I do not see any jagged compression at all.
Re: I Did A Sony Z7U Camera Test...A Little Nervous by david soriano on Apr 1, 2008 at 5:07:28 pm
interesting comparison with the A1. I too am looking for a camera for documentary production. My budget is $6,000. This will be my first "HD" camera.
If you are doing sports coverage i would look into the JVC HD200. 60P coverage with this camera, no? Also, the options with the lenses would make for better adaptability i would think.
I can't dercide between the JVC, V7U, HVX200, EX-1 or a Canon what, G1?).
Some More Info by Jason Aumount on Apr 1, 2008 at 5:24:51 pm
Here is some more info that may help figure out what is going on.
One of the tests I did was to see how the CF unit operated while recording HDV to the tape while capturing SD to the card. Here are two frame grabs from the DV/AVI file. The HDV shows that horrible compression you see above. The camera was set to record at 24P, but the DV/AVI came in to the timeline as 29.97. Now instead of that bizarre compression on fast moves, it seems as if it's now interlace for 2 frames, then one frame of normal motion blur (what I expected). Is this HDV compression some sort of interlace/24P issue? Maybe a wonky camera?
Re: Some More Info by Gerardo Campos on Aug 2, 2008 at 8:54:20 pm
In first place you have to remove the 2-3 pull-down if you want to have a 24p real image; you can use Vegas 8.0c Pro to do it or another NLE software that can work with 24pA (advance) 1080p. Here you have many videos in 1080p (divx) 1920x1080 24p: http://www.gecoproducciones.cl/letus35%20extreme.htm ,go for the letus00113.avi or letus00114, these are made with letus and the hvr-v1u Sony HDV with 1080p 24pA that it's the same in the z7u. Any way if go to do sport use 30p not 24p.
