I'm really curious how people are shooting with their Z7's. What's your work flow?

Are you shooting more 24p, 30p 60i etc?

Are you shooting with CF card and tape or just one exclusively?

Anybody done much green screen work?

Any gotchas we should know about?

Are you generally happy with the cameras?

1. I'm really curious how people are shooting with their Z7's. What's your work flow?
Most of the time. Shoot tape & CF card. CF card into a Lexar FW800 reader import footage. Edit in FCP, export, delete any footage taking up space needed for next project. Un-re-wond tape goes on shelf to collect dust as a safe back up.

2. Are you shooting more 24p, 30p 60i etc?
I have shot mostly 1080i60 b/c all of the client's other footage was coming in 1080i60.

Done a little 1080p24 & it looks great, but in very high motion I got some nasty artifacts. So I like 1080p30 the most, but that is me. I want to do some controlled tests at some point to really see the difference in motion problems between 1080i60, 1080p30 & 1080p24. Overall you'll have those issues w/ any HDV camera to one point or another.

3. Are you shooting with CF card and tape or just one exclusively?
5% of the time when I'm just testing something out, like a new wide angle, CF card only.
5% of the time when I have to hand off a tape, tape only.
90% of the time CF & tape.

4. Anybody done much green screen work?
I haven't yet, but I'd assume it would be just a problematic as any other HDV or DV camera. If you're doing a lot of green screen get a Blackmagic Intensity card. You can go pre-HDV compression straight off the chips, through the HDMI & into a computer at 4:2:2 color space & you should have a much easier time chroma keying.


5. Any gotchas we should know about?
imo the only gatcha is CF card speed. other people here haven't had a problem w/ 133x cards, but I have issues here & there. buy the best CF cards you can. 300x are my cards of choice.

6. Are you generally happy with the cameras?
Very, very, very much so. If I had an extra $4k when I bought my camera, I would have gotten an EX3. If I had an extra $40k I would have gotten a Red. But I think the Z7 is the best bang for your buck for sale today.

Very, very, very much so. If I had an extra $4k when I bought my camera, I would have gotten an EX3. But I think the Z7 is the best bang for your buck for sale today.

I have only had mine for a short time and Zach's opinions seem to be on the mark. Since I am still doing a lot of learning and playing, I am mainly using the CF card. So far anything I have shot for a client, however, has been belt and suspenders (tape AND CF card).

On some post somewhere, Douglas Spotted Eagle (I respect his opinions) said that in some ways that the Z7 was superior to the EX1. I wish he would have eloborated more. I would like to know why he said that.

Are you shooting more 24p, 30p 60i etc?

- 50i PAL. Tried progressive, clients hated the look.

Are you shooting with CF card and tape or just one exclusively?

- MiniDV only for event work. CF only for corp work or timelapse.

Anybody done much green screen work?

- Robin Ridden - Avon City Ford on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/1522575) (hd promo)
- The Making of AVON CITY FORD Promo Video on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/1844632) ("making of" in sd)
- This is a password protected video on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/2490333) (current project intro - password=steve)

Any gotchas we should know about?

- New or prospective owners... before spending $5000+ buy this....
Vortex Media: VIDEO & PHOTO Tools and Training (http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_Z7U.html)

Are you generally happy with the cameras?

- Scared me at first - coming from PDxxx and VXxxx. It nearly broke my wrist during the first event I shot. But because I sold my PDxxx range, I couldn't go back. Now once I've figured out how to hold and use it properly... I LOVE IT! :)

S270 and Z7 UK user here and shooting as follows:

1: Shoot Tape and Compact Flash as 1080i 50i. ( transcend 16gb 133x cards as std) native 25p looks crap

2: Tape goes on shelf as back-up.

3: Import CF files via clipwrap to firewire drive for use in final cut studio 2 on macbook pro or i-mac. (I have an express card reader and a sandisk firewire 800 CF reader)

4: Edit HDV in Final Cut at 1080i 50i

5: Export audio tracks as OMF for dubbing in pro tools 002 LE with DV toolkit 2 (guide DV pic if required) 24 bit 48k

5: Export master audio AIFF from PT and re-import into final cut timeline as master audio mix track

6: Export quicktime master movie at Pro Res 422 1440x1080i 25p ( or 1920x1080i 25p if required) 25p at this stage looks very good see below

7: Author DVD, desktop, ipod or flash size files for delivery from pro res master. (also master at 1080i 50i to HDV tape as safety master on tape or Digi Beta/HDcam via SDI)

See my web sites below for examples of streaming and I love both cameras

On some post somewhere, Douglas Spotted Eagle (I respect his opinions) said that in some ways that the Z7 was superior to the EX1. I wish he would have eloborated more. I would like to know why he said that.

Could be alcohol related. Like his Z7 training DVD.

Could be alcohol related. Like his Z7 training DVD.

Now, that is not nice....

I haven't seen his Z7 training video so I can't speak to that.

Now, that is not nice....

I haven't seen his Z7 training video so I can't speak to that.

I have both training videos, DSE's and Doug Jensen's from Vortex Media.

I was disappointed with DSE's video. Years ago when I started working with Vegas 4 I respected DSE and VAAST. Actually, DSE was great with support. I think once Sony bought Vegas it went to DSE's head. I had a very bad experience with VAAST about 2 years ago and did not get any support from DSE or his team at VAAST. Actually, not one of my emails were responded to and I have just given up with VAAST. Shortly after that I discovered Vortex Media and have been impressed with their training videos and tools. If you have a limited budget, I would invest in the Vortex Media Z7U training DVD by Doug Jensen.

Are you shooting more 24p, 30p 60i etc?
- 30P

Are you shooting with CF card and tape or just one exclusively?
- CF card or directly to hard drive if the environment allows it.

Any gotchas we should know about?
- I have two Z7Us with very early serial numbers and my cameras have had to go in for a firmware update a one of them had something wrong with the lens (focus issue) and I had to replace the lens (fortunately under warranty)

Are you generally happy with the cameras?
- Thrilled. It is a great camera and meets all of my needs.

I LOVE this camera. They say that the stove doesn't make the chef, but i feel much better about my shooting some days:)
Anyhoo, here's my workflow and some tips:
-i mainly shoot HDV 30p on both card and tape, edit in FCP, export as a pro res file for compressor as the job warrants. looks great, No problems , (early on some bugs but I made adjustments)
- i always make sure that the card reader is the only firewire device plugged in while using fcp, otherwise it doesn't mount on the desktop, and no log and transfer window will appear
-different success with different card readers, now i only use the cf unit itself for the transfer
-Use the transcend 32gig cards, and format before each shoot.
-camera settings for card is synchro, rECORD MODE CACHE
(but quick on and off and I still lose some clips sometimes)

Just wanted to thank everyone for the detailed explanations of their work flows. There's nothing like a little real world advice for a new user like myself.