Monday was the 1st time I have gotten to really use the Z7 since I got it back from Sony in a real video shoot. Now on autofocus it seems as good as my VX2000's and FX1. I don't know what they did to it but I had no promblems on panning, shooting with objects in the foreground, different lighting, zooming in and out. The compact flash card still gives me the digital blocks. Sony had it on Cashe and I did't know it. I ened up with 2 clips with same # 1,1 2, 2 ectthe 1st clip was a couple of seconds before I turned the camera on record and had green in it. Would take a long time to just delete these extra clips. I put it back to normal and will try it wed and thur. I doing a seminar for 2 photographers here in Orlando, so I'll have a lot of different shots. Last monday I did an engagements shoot and the auto and manual were both fine. I'm happy now. I will try a faster CF card someday as Sony said they had no trouble with their 300x 8GB card with my camera and CF unit. I sugguest anyone with autofocus trouble send their camera back to Sony in NJ and have it fixed--Bruce

Marshall & Bruce,

You guys have no idea how many people are watching this forum closely. I too, wanna purchase the Z7, but I won't until I am absolutely sure that there's no problems with the Z7.

I am an Event Videographer and auto focus is a must, in low-light and normal light. I am not interested in manual focus.

When you guys give the green light for the Z7, then I will make my decision.
Remember the auto-focus has to be just as good, if not better then the FX1/Z1. Keep us posted gentlemen. Your troubles are our gain.

Regards...

Sony is getting the most recent "repair" back as well as the 2nd cam that hasn't been worked on yet, but suffers from the blurred left side issue that so many people who know how to replicate it have found. I have owned and operated XL1, GL1, Vx200, pd170, FX1/Z1 cams and all have had their quirks but none that I have ever felt like I had to send in for service like this Z7 model. This cam has the potential to be the best event videographer cam ever, but the lens, which was such a positive selling feature, at this point has become a virtual boat anchor to this camera.

Hopefully they will make it right, so this camera can become the blockbuster seller that it should be and produce images at least as sharp as an $800 HC7 or HV20...

For the post regarding the Z7 must have great auto-focus, yeah, that'd be nice, but it's not a perfect world. I don't see how anyone can, professionally, rely strictly on auto-anything. If that's the intention, I don't think that this camera is a safe bet (or many others for that matter).

Regarding the camera that I got back, it works much better than previously. The auto-focus actually seems to lock onto something, and there is no noticeable left-side blurriness.

Regarding those who have any of these issues, just send the camera in, properly note what is taking place, mention my name as they all seem to know who I am, mention these forums, and you should have a camera within a week or two.

As of now, no widespread announcement will be made because all of these issues are very sporadic with regards to who has what issue.

B&H currently has the s270 on "Backorder" status. There is also this: Important Notice!
This item is temporarily not available. We have no estimated arrival date at this time.

Perhaps Sony is working on these issues now? I hope so because I'm looking at getting one but I don't want the focus problems mentioned here.