Z7 MAJOR problem? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony HVR-Z7 / HVR-S270

Sony HVR-Z7 / HVR-S270
Handheld and shoulder mount versions of this Sony 3-CMOS HDV camcorder.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 11th, 2008, 10:02 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 107
Z7 MAJOR problem?

I always shoot full manual and one of the main compositional/setting places I live when shooting is at full tele, fully open iris. What I have found on both Z7s that I have is when you zoom in full tele to pull focus and then zoom out to compose the image gets slightly soft at the right and center and the left side gets very blurry. See screen shot here http://www.firstsightpictures.com/z7blur.jpg

So if you zoom into a bridal party or couple from a distance or anything at all to get a shallow DOF the focus plane on the left will be out of focus as you see the tree on the left out of focus. Yes i did do the auto and manual flange/backfocus adjustment but there was still no change in the result. This is EXTREMELY bad for any manual shooters who shoot creatively.

So Z7 users. Put the cam in full manual use ND and or shutter to bring your exposure into range and then zoom in fully to a lineup of subjects that are the same distance away if your iris is wide open it should be at 2.0, ten back out until you see the iris limit go to 1.8. In this range you should see the inconsistency at it's worst. I have already confirmed with another user that his Z7 does the exact same thing but the blur is on the right side.

Here is a short video clip http://www.firstsightpictures.com/z7blur.wmv of my closeup cam on a dance performance. You can see where I go in tight to pull focus twice during the clip and zoom out for a head to toe and it gets a little soft and then anytime the performers are in the left side of the frame it gets even blurrier. You can't see it at all on the Z7 LCD, even with peaking it looks to be in focus.
Bruce Ostrout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 07:54 AM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Williamstown Mass
Posts: 192
I have noticed this as well. I have not had a lot of time with the camera but I did video a classical concert last night and it does seem to have a similar characteristic that you mentioned. This might be a major problem! I cannot confirm that it is the lens or the electronics, though.

kdbf
Keith Forman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 08:22 AM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Platte River, NE
Posts: 86
As soon as I recieve my lens adapter for my Nikons I will run a test to determine if this is a lens issue or electronics. Maybe someone else can do it sooner.
Jake Latendresse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 08:24 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 304
I have the wonders of this as well. Interestingly, I have a blur on the right side whereas Bruce's was on the left.

I swear I'm really losing confidence in this camera and Company.

See attached image. It's a still frame from video I captured when talking with Bruce. Notice how the blur is on the right and not the left. Each box of DVD's were equally spaced and the curviture is based on the desk. Oh, and I didn't scale the image properly which is why it's skewed.
Attached Thumbnails
Z7 MAJOR problem?-bruce01.jpg  
Marshall Levy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 08:30 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jim Thorpe PA
Posts: 34
automatic back-focus adjustment?

One thing I don't quite understand is this from Sony that states "To address back-focus concerns, the Zeiss 14X and 8X zooms maintain automatic back-focus adjustment (akin to the automated back-focus routine in the EX1's service menu)".
Steve Gerhart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 09:04 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Williamstown Mass
Posts: 192
mine appears on the left side...
Keith Forman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 09:26 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jim Thorpe PA
Posts: 34
I would suggest a more exact test with a backfocus pattern and Carefull set-up to eliminate skew and alignment issue

Also check that lens has no wobble. Can you wobble the lens and does the image go in and out of focus?

Check that lens is fitted correctly, remove and re attach and check nothing is there

Also Aberration can be caused by any add on filters, remove any filters and re check
Steve Gerhart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 09:47 AM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Williamstown Mass
Posts: 192
I have to reevaluate. After reviewing the footage I took yesterday it appears to be not as much of an issue as I first though. It may just be an extremely narrow depth of field and not a camera issue with mine.
Attached Thumbnails
Z7 MAJOR problem?-vlcsnap-405314.jpg   Z7 MAJOR problem?-vlcsnap-406421.jpg  

Keith Forman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:06 AM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Gerhart View Post
I would suggest a more exact test with a backfocus pattern and Carefull set-up to eliminate skew and alignment issue

Also check that lens has no wobble. Can you wobble the lens and does the image go in and out of focus?

Check that lens is fitted correctly, remove and re attach and check nothing is there

Also Aberration can be caused by any add on filters, remove any filters and re check
No wobble. Reseated and locked numerous times and verified clean glass inside outside with no filters.

I have performed several manual and auto backfocus/flange tests on both the Z1 cams I have and both are exactly the same every time. Here is a clip showing proper focus technique and watch what happens to the subject.

http://www.firstsightpictures.com/Z7blur2.wmv
Bruce Ostrout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:10 AM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Forman View Post
I have to reevaluate. After reviewing the footage I took yesterday it appears to be not as much of an issue as I first though. It may just be an extremely narrow depth of field and not a camera issue with mine.
I am pretty much sure by your clip, that you have the exact same issue. It looks like the light in that perf was pretty decent so you may have been stopped down a little which begins to minimize the issue. Do exactly as I say open up full zoom in, focus and then zoom out 10-25% record it to CF and then put it in full frame on your timeline and see it yourself.
Bruce Ostrout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:15 AM   #11
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jim Thorpe PA
Posts: 34
Bruce, do you have a test with a zoom in all the way,
then focus,
then zoom back, as a continuance shot,
so we can see when the left part goes out of focus
also do u have any add on filters and have u removed and re seated lens
Steve Gerhart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:23 AM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 107
Yes the clip I just posted does just that.
http://www.firstsightpictures.com/Z7blur2.wmv
no filters and several remove, reseat, lock. under several lighting conditions and all 4 ND settings. I am pretty positive this is a lens issue. It was great that sony went after putting a full manual lens on a camera on this form factor, too bad it just sucks. Time for sony to get on Zeiss and get these changed out. Sucks because i have to reset all of my camera bags back to Z1 cams and explain to several customers why their expensive video is blurry and wait for these cams to be made right.....
Bruce Ostrout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:34 AM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Williamstown Mass
Posts: 192
I am not sure now. Here are some grabs from you video. I don't see the issue of one sided blur on these.

kdbf
Attached Thumbnails
Z7 MAJOR problem?-grab1.jpg   Z7 MAJOR problem?-grab2.jpg  

Keith Forman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:38 AM   #14
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Williamstown Mass
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Ostrout View Post
I am pretty much sure by your clip, that you have the exact same issue. It looks like the light in that perf was pretty decent so you may have been stopped down a little which begins to minimize the issue. Do exactly as I say open up full zoom in, focus and then zoom out 10-25% record it to CF and then put it in full frame on your timeline and see it yourself.

Yes, it was a very dark room and the f-stop was fully open. no gain. it looks like a narrow depth of field issue but not a camera problem.
Keith Forman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2008, 11:45 AM   #15
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Forman View Post
I am not sure now. Here are some grabs from you video. I don't see the issue of one sided blur on these.

kdbf

You have to watch the video. I don't know what you did to that second grab. Looks like you put a gaussian on it to even out the blur. The first grab is from where I zoomed in to pull focus and then you see I zoom out and the subject I placed in focus goes blurry but everything from the center to the right of it at the same focal length is in focus. Sony just called me from NAB and said they are analyzing everything now. So if you have a Z7 don't want to be stuck with a major issue of a half muddied up frame for a large portion of your shots you need to do this test properly.
Bruce Ostrout is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony HVR-Z7 / HVR-S270

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:00 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network