Hi.

I've got a couple of PD150's, and I'm planning to pick up a Z1. I just wanted to make sure I was picking up the right accessories. Does the Z1 use the same batts as the PD150?

I'm looking at picking up a couple of the NP-F970's - I've got a number of the older NP series batts as well, and I've got the same mount on my Mini35 adaptor.

Also - any observations on how they do with the batts (how long you can shoot with a tape running, LCD showing, etc?

Lastly - if anyone has any additional z1 footage you could point me to, I'd love to see it and drop it into my editor for pre-purchase tests. I've found the VASST clips, and some others here and there. I'd love to see other footage, as well as low-light clips as well.

Thanks much everyone.

The batteries are the same. I'm using my NPF-960 from my VX-2000 on my Z1. I haven't done any scientific testing, but that battery would give me close to 8 hours on the VX-2000 with the tape running and LCD screen at full. I doubt that it lasts any longer than 4 hours on the Z1. I also have a Sony NPF-970 and a third party NPF-970 (Power 200 maybe?). Honestly, I don't see much difference between either of these and the NPF-960. They probably last a little longer but nothing dramatic.

I'm pretty sure that althought they use the same battery, on a PD-150/170/VX2000/VX2100 you can get a way with generic batteries whereas the Z1/FX1 check to make sure it's a genuine Sony.

I just checked and my 3rd party battery is indeed a Power 2000 NPF-970. It works just fine on both my VX-2000 and HVR-Z1. No idea how other 3rd party batteries perform.

Having said this, I prefer the genuine Sony batteries though. The only reason I got the Power 2000 was because B&H was out of stock on the Sony 970. See the thread in the Canon forum about a voided warranty after performing repairs to a camcorder using a non-Canon battery...

Watch out for generic batteries with the new Sony HDV cameras. I bought some for my A1 and they worked fine at first, but stopped working (with a "use real sony batteries" message) after recharging in a Sony charger. I don't know exactly what is going on, but just because they work once don't assume that that means you won't have problems in the future. It is a trademark protection issue and not a quality issue.

See also the following:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=39096
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=47304