Just awhile ago at GV Expo (sure wish I could have attended this year), my friend Anthony Burokas got his hands on the brand new HVR-S270u. See his blog entry at:

http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/back-from-gv-expo-reports-to-come/

plus his earlier entry at:

http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/sony-refreshes-hdv-line-hvr-s270-and-hvr-z7e/

Follow this link to a video of the Sony HVR-S270U's camera menu.

http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/the-hvr-s270u-hvr-z7u-camera-menu/#more-351

The author of the article states that he will also be adding videos of the following menus:
Audio
Display
In/Out
TC/UB
Others (that’s Sony’s name for the last menu)

Video features of the HVR-Z7


http://video.aol.com/video-detail/sony-hvr-z7-hdv-camcorder/955934206

Good stuff from the InterBee show. Thanks for posting this,

Hey guys,

I'm wondering how this camera would work optically with the Fuji lens. I read the brochure and see that an adaptor can be purchased, but am wondering if a 2/3" to 1/3" adaptor would result in a magnification factor. Thanks!

Peter

I do nature documentary shooting and I am heavily invested in Nikon and Canon SLR glass.

Will this new system work with these lenses? If so what mount adapters will be needed or forth coming by Sony.

If this is true, this system will be just the ticket with cold weather and rain forest moister

Many Thanks

Tom

I do nature documentary shooting and I am heavily invested in Nikon and Canon SLR glass.

Will this new system work with these lenses? If so what mount adapters will be needed or forth coming by Sony.

If this is true, this system will be just the ticket with cold weather and rain forest moister

Many Thanks

Tom

These cameras have interchangeable lens, so I can't imagine Sony not coming out with adapters for not only SLR glass but also other glass (like 2/3 inch).

My sense is that this question won't be answered until the cameras are actually released, but I'm really curious to see how Z&/Z270 footage will look when intercut with footage from a DSR-400/450. I really like the idea that this cam can do both SD/HD and that you can effectively shoot to CF media.

I do corporate event work and this would save a lot of time in terms of getting footage into my NLE for editing as well as having an archival copy on tape. The bother would come if the footage really stood out from the DSR-450's that are routinely used given their 2/3" chips and better glass.

Hopefully, this thread will provide a spot for early adopters/reviewers to provide perspective on this.

For all you brits that have been the the earls court show and haved a tested the new Z7 type camera how does the Z7 compare in low light to the DSR 300 DSR 450 I have the FX1 and the XDCAM330XD the XDCAM is ok but the the FX1- Z1 is all but useless only when used in well lit conditions so cant see the point in buying one unless it is up to the job of being used it less than fovourable
conditions
Thomas

Anyone know if the Z7U will shoot SD in 4:3?

Spoke too soon, sorry. Deleted.

How many cards does the recording unit hold at one time? 1 or 2 ? I know with the ex1 you can switch cards in the middle of recording because it's still going to one. Will the z7 work the same way or do I have to stop recording to switch out cards?

THanks!

Will the z7 work the same way or do I have to stop recording to switch out cards?

The recorder has only 1 CF slot. However, you can record to tape whilst switching cards (or record to card whilst switching tape). Not quite as slick as A/B rolls, but a great step forward.

What settings are all you guys using for your custom presets?

I am hoping to learn more about this - we have had a FX1 for a long time, but I have never used the settings.

I am going to be using it for some weddings, and then pair it with the Fx1 for now, and an EX1 that I am ordering today.

Any suggestions?

Plus - what are the best settings to minimize the grain.

Thanks for any help.

George

I just figured out that the expanded focus function only works in
tape mode. It doesn't work in the mode where you are recording to CF and tape simultaneously, relay mode or CF only mode. Surely this is a bug that needs to be fixed!

I was thinking about this and realized that normally when you use the expanded focus function, the expanded focus video is not sent to the video output. Thus there might be a problem using expanded focus with an external recorder. If this was the case, then there should be problems with the V1 and DR60 recorder and using expanded focus as well. With that in mind, I checked the V1 forum and sure enough, I found this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=90202&highlight=expanded+focus

Boy is that bad news. It means that we might have to live with this and there may never be a firmware fix.

As far as I'm concerned, pulling good focus is difficult enough without this roadblock. This is a really important function. Please fix it Sony!

Can you continue to record to compact flash while changing a MiniDV tape? This, of course, is when I'll need to record to both tape and CF at the same time.

Thanks!

Ian

Hello.

If you record on a tape on SD mode, you can capture on premiere pro with scene detection (very useful and time saving).
But if you record on HDV it doesn't works (what a shame, because it works if you downcorvert direct by the cam to SD; I don't understand this issue because time code is writen also in HDV but it's unuseful for scene detection).

I'm speaking with SONY FX-1E in mind.

OK, how it works if you record an hour on a 16 GB card? One single file of more or less 14 Gigas or various files of 2GB or 4GB or something like that?

What file system if formated the media (FAT32, NTFS, another no computer friendly)?

How it works if you record blocks of 5 minutes during one hour? One single file or 12 files?


Thanks a lot!!!!

Tapeworks Texas Inc will have HVRZ7U camcorders in stock this Thursday 03/05/08. Depending on what time they arrive will depend on if they will be available to ship same day.

Please contact Tapeworks Texas Inc toll free 866-827-3489 for a quotation or you can email me at tapeworksscott@sbcglobal.net

Don't forget that we have Transcend 32GB 133X cards available for $149.00!

Best Regards,
Scott Cantrell
Tapeworks Texas Inc - HDVinfo Sponser

Scott,

Can you fire one of those 32GB cards my way?

Thanks,

Chad

Wondering if any 270 owners can give the board a review of the cam.

Here is already a first impression from Jim Forrest.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=116034

One of the things that makes this camera useful is it's ability to record DV (DVCAM too?), which is useful for some clients projects. I was curious how this looks in relation to other DV cams like the DSR 300/400/450. I'm mainly speaking of the S270 here.

This may have been answered in another post, but if you're just recording SD, can you record directly to tape? Sometimes you have to just do a hand off to clients after the shoot.

Here's another bit of a review of the Z7.:

http://www.macvideo.tv/camera-technology/reviews/index.cfm?reviewId=100294

And this one compares the Z7 to the EX1:

http://www.macvideo.tv/camera-technology/interviews/index.cfm?articleId=100300&pagType=samecatsamechan

And this one compares the Z7 to the EX1:

http://www.macvideo.tv/camera-technology/interviews/index.cfm?articleId=100300&pagType=samecatsamechan
Replaced the second link for you, they're both the same.

Since no one in the English-speaking world is posting any Z7 images, I will share with you this Japanese blog. It is called... hdv-kukky!

http://ameblo.jp/hdv-kukky

It includes some low light examples, with different levels of gain:

http://ameblo.jp/hdv-kukky/page-2.html

Tapeworks Texas has a great offer on the new Sony HVRS270U Camcorder!

Sony HVRS270U 1080i HDV Shoulder Mount Camcorder.
Kit Includes HVRS270U camcorder with Carl Zeiss 12X Optical Zoom lens, Lens Hood, CR2025 Lithium Battery, Eye Cup, Shoe Kit, ECM-XM1 Monaural Electolet Condenser Microphone, Shoulder Belt, CD-ROM Operating Instructions, Printed Operating Instructions, HVR-MRC1 Memory Recording Unit Kit, 1-Year parts/labor Sony mfg Warranty.
TapeWorks Promotion: Order your HVRS270U camcorder with TapeWorks Texas Inc and receive a FREE CAMRADE CB-575 CAMBAG!
TAPEWORKS TEXAS INC PROMOTIONAL PRICE VALID STARTING 03/20/08: $8,495.00

For information on the Free Camrade CB-575 Cambag, visit www.camrade.com
Stop by their booth at NAB 2008!

Additionally, Anton Bauer is providing 2 promotional packages!

AB-PKGA-HVRS270U
Kit includes (2) Hytron50 Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries with 14.4V/50 WH (over 6 hours of camera runtime with both batteries), (1) Titan Twin 60-watt Two Position Portable Quick Charger and a FREE QR-DSR Gold Mount Adaptor
Tapeworks Texas Inc Price: $969.00

AB-PKGB-HVRS270U
Kit includes (2) Dionic90 Lithium-Ion Batteries with 14.4V/90 WH (over 12 hours of camera runtime wtih both batteries), (1) Titan Twin 60-watt Two Position Portable Quick Charger and a FREE QR-DSR Gold Mount Adaptor
Tapeworks Texas Inc Price: $1,269.00

Tapeworks can package any other accessories for your applicaion including extended warranties, tripods, media etc. Please contact Tapeworks Texas Inc Toll Free 866-827-3489 for a customized quotation!

Best Regards,
Scott Cantrell
Tapeworks Texas Inc - HDVinfo Sponser
tapeworksscott@sbcglobal.net

How do you use a standard def monitor with the Z7 in either DV or HDV mode?

Are the 24p & 30p functions available in both DV & HDV?

Can the 1080p HDV format be easily mixed with 720p footage such as footage from an HVX200 P2 Panasonic? Will most edit software allow this mix on the timeline & will they cut together OK?

What about PAL? Can the camera be switched between PAL/NTSC?

Thank you

Doug Clark's posting of the operating guide answered my question that you can shoot 24p & 30p in DV.
It also answered that I can view on a SD monitor when shooting in HDV.
Thanks Doug

How about ease of mixing 720p & 1080p?

And what about the PAL/NTSC convertability?

Hello,
I am very close to pulling the trigger on purchasing the Z7U for a documentary I'll be shooting this summer down in South America.

On paper, it seems like the Z7U is perfect for this project. The ability to record to affordable CF cards while simultaneously archiving to HDV tape is perfect for a low-budget documentary where we'll be shooting hours of footage every day over the course of 4 months.

The only thing that we can't get a handle on is the workflow with Final Cut. Can you please describe your workflow for editing the Z7U's footage?

Also, based on the type of shoot we are doing, do you think this is the best camera for this type of project. Our camera budget is $7000 (cam, tripod, batts, case, accessories).

Thanks,
Jason

You can get the camera from TapeWorks Texas.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=117339
http://tapeworkstexas.com/

Comes with a good bag.

$5,595.00

-------------------------------------------

Transcend 32GB 133X CF Card

Depending on how much you shoot, these cards hold 146 minutes of footage.

TapeWorks has a deal on these too.

$149.00

-------------------------------------------
Mini-DV tapes

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/132812-REG/Sony_DVM60PRL_DVM_60PR_Mini_DV_Video.html

$ 2.65/tape

-------------------------------------------

Batteries, you can get some cheap generic 970's that work just as well as the "Sony Brand" depends on the amount left in your budget.

http://power101.com/item.htm?id=60029
Cheap and work well.

$13.51

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352125-REG/Sony_NPF970_NP_F970_Info_Lithium_Battery_Pack.html
Expensive Sony Branded Battery

$ 99.95

-------------------------------------------

Tripod

Matthews M25

http://www.msegrip.com/mse.php?show=product&cat=410&products_ID=26753&PHPSESSID=d75ee043ee5ee1dc495b58df3c680459

$170.00

Not sure what other accessories you might need but you are under budget so far.

-------------------------------------------

FCP workflow is straight forward.

*Production*

You would need to capture from the cards at the end of every shoot day, or whenever they get filled up.

Put the tapes in a safe place. Stay organized with your tape and file naming convention.

-------------------------------------------

*Post Production*

You will need to visit this link and install the plugin for the CF Recorder Unit that comes with the camera.

http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=HVR-DR60&site=biz_fr_EU&category=HDVVTRs&contentId=1205247708665&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true

Then open FCP and select File>Log and Transfer.

The rest is pretty self explanatory, drag the clips to the capture area (lower left corner of the Log and Transfer window).

If you already know your FCP basics you should be fine.

Aaron

today i got my sandisk extreme firewire card reader.
sandisk promises 40mb/sec transfer speed.

i made some shots (8 files) with my HVR-Z7. these 8 files have exactly 2 GB size.

i put the original 8 GB sony CF card in the sandisk reader and it took 1min 5secs to transfer this 2 GB.

after that i did the same with the sony CF recording unit and it took 1min 19secs.

so it's not just faster, you even don't need battery power on the compact flash recording unit.

all tests were done on a macbook pro. the sandisk reader were connected to firewire 800, the sony unit with 400.

some nice details: the sandisk card reader is delivered with a firewire 400 and a firewire 800 cable ('cause it's firwire 800). the sandisk card reader was about 50,- euros.

regards,
clemens

Will progressive video shot with the Z7 playback in the HVR-1500. I've read that Sony "doesn't recommend" playing back the V1U's progressive video in the 1500. Does the same go for the Z7?

for the z7, what are a good wide and fisheye lenses for the camera?

thanks

Here is my new Benchtest comparing the HVR-Z7 supplied Sony Compact Flash 8 GB Card and a Sandisk Extreme III 16 GB Card.

All Tests were done on a Macbook Pro 2.2 with a Sandisk Firewire Extreme Reader, connected thru Firewire 800.

http://www.bilder-space.de/thumb/odl00NY1Vi1BPXf.jpg (http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=odl00NY1Vi1BPXf.jpg)

http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=odl00NY1Vi1BPXf.jpg

http://www.bilder-space.de/thumb/KcABx2aAYzETYRw.jpg (http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=KcABx2aAYzETYRw.jpg)

http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=KcABx2aAYzETYRw.jpg

http://www.bilder-space.de/thumb/BxxoZG8JD4xZN39.jpg (http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=BxxoZG8JD4xZN39.jpg)

http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=BxxoZG8JD4xZN39.jpg

http://www.bilder-space.de/thumb/kQaOmMqM54nOi5w.jpg (http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=kQaOmMqM54nOi5w.jpg)

http://www.bilder-space.de/show.php?file=kQaOmMqM54nOi5w.jpg

Some of the images are really small, but interesting results with those that could be read. I'm trying to get some Sony cards to test since they're not yet available around here, but we'll see what happens.

Regarding the Z7U:



16x9inc has one that supposedly works, although it's advertised as working with the Z/FX1 cameras.



Schneider has one but requires an additional adapter ring.



Sony's WA for the Z7U (VCL-308BWH) won't be released until May or June. No info on price, either.



Watch out for BH in that they're still convinced that the Z1U WA works when it doesn't. I've told them this so many times.

Just FYI for those that are looking for training with the Z7 and S270, I saw that VASST had some new Training DVD's in the New Products list. I haven't seen them before and I don't know of any other training DVD's out there so if you've been looking for training, it looks like these are available for purchase now.

S270
http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id=4590ae8e-fea6-4787-89a5-a8234c7e75aa

Z7
http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id=96aaae3f-b57d-4db5-a10f-eadbbb8278cc

If anyone orders one of these, I'd be curious to hear what you think of the DVD.

Thanks

The Z7 and S270 have a "native recording mode" which is not compatible with the 1500. However, both cameras have 24 and 30 frame scan modes that are compatible with the 1500. In the 24? 30 scan modes, 3-2 pulldown is added to the progressive signal to reorded on the tape with a 60i syntax. Final cut and other NLE will extract the 24P or 30P signals.

Juan Martinez
Senor Manager, Sony Electronics

Has anyone compared SD pictures from HVR-S270 with those from DSR-450/570? Could the HVR-S270 with supplied lens be considered as a replacement for a 570 with a fairly standard Fujinon VCL916BYA lens?

You pose a very good question. I haven't done the comparison, but the 570 uses 2/3" chips, the 270 1/3", so it's extremely likely the lowlight performance of the 570 will be superior. Likewise the depth of field characteristics of the 570 will allow more controllability.

Because the 270 will be producing HD pictures and downconverting for SD, a lot will depend on the performance of the downconversion circuits - difficult to do without spending a lot of money.

Hence I'd guess they should be seen as catering for two different needs. The 570 for optimum quality if you are working in SD, the 270 allowing HD work and SD ability if required.

I've been trying to keep up with all of the info about the Z7 but it's a lot of info so I apologize if this has been discussed at all.

Is there anyone here that is using or has used the canon a1 and owns or has used the Z7 also. I've been waiting for the sony but am not sure I'm happy with the problems the cameras are having...especially for their price. I've seen some amazing footage come from the canons and I'm starting to think that dealing with low light will be easier that dealing with the cards, lens issues and everything that could affect me all day at a wedding rather than just the dark reception.

So I'm just looking for anyone that has used both of these or if anyone has any comments one way or another. My main factor being low light. If they are even comparable, I would be ready to go with canon. Any info on this aspect would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

THanks!

Check out this month's issue of Event DV, the Z7 is tested in it and the author compares the Z7 to his A1 in regards to low light.
In essence he states that image quality between A1 and Z7 is equal in all but low light, where the Z7 enjoys an advantage.

Here's a link, or address to the site.
http://www.eventdv.net/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?CategoryID=224&ArticleID=41396

so I searched & searched & haven't found this (if it exists, please point me to it) but both of these cameras have been out on the streets for some time now & I'd like to see a side by side shoot off

I know the EX1 should blow the Z7u away, but I'd like to see how well the Z7u holds up w/ different (read: better) glass on the front. as well as I'd like to see some shots of these cams uncompressed (ie 4:2:2 straight into a computer / VTR)

I wouldn't be too surprised if in well lit situations it would be hard to tell the difference, but there is really only one way to see the difference & that is to see the difference

You really would be better off with a hands on demonstration...

NAB next week!

A test on several CF cards and their transfer rates:
http://techthoughts.org/2008/03/14/compactflash-media-test-results/

Hey, there isn't a specific EX3 section so sorry for posting here, but anyone know if they are using a rolling shutter in the new ex3 or finally a global?

This may not be worth a thread of its own, but I tried asking in another location without luck.

I have searched high and low, near and far for the assignable "RET" button that is supposedly somewhere on the z7u lens. I removed the lens, watched the VAAST training video, looked through the manual, did a google search. But even after all that, I CAN NOT FIND this button, which is probably hiding in plain sight. Can anyone point it out?

Thanks very much, and please pardon the interruption if this is a truly dumb question.

Paul

UPDATE: More than 70 views of this, and no answer. Is there a "ret" button??

Hey, there isn't a specific EX3 section so sorry for posting here, but anyone know if they are using a rolling shutter in the new ex3 or finally a global?

As I understand it the sensor block is the same as in the EX1. No changes to the shutter (or lens, or recording modes, etc). Basically the same camera, more (arguably better) outs, timecode/genlock support, removable lens in a package that is a bit better to handle.

George/

P.S. There is a Sony XDCAM EX CineAlta (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=150) forum here on DVInfo.net

Z7U Clips 24p NAB and VEGAS night Low light clips flash format.

http://www.dvdaction.net/dvdaction_028.htm