Panasonic HMC150 vs Sony Z5 Side By Side Comparison Clip at DVinfo.net

Mark Von Lanken · March 16th, 2009, 12:48 AM

I recently had the opportunity to spend a few hours with the Sony Z5. We did a low light comparison at various gain settings.

We also compared how the two cameras handle a camera flash. There has been a lot of talk about rolling shutter, but this was the first time I experienced it first hand. This internet clip will give you a glimpse at what it looks like, but it does not paint the true picture until you watch rolling shutter footage on a 40+ HD monitor.

The final test is a whip pan. Many videographers will not pan this quickly, but if a really quick pan is part of your shooting style, you need to know how the rolling shutter of CMOS will affect your footage.
Tips & Tricks

Tom Alexander · March 16th, 2009, 04:58 AM

Very good Mark, Thanks.

The Z5 image does appear brighter at the different gain levels. Color reproduction looks pretty close, although I prefer the saturation levels a bit more on the HMC clips.

Wow, I've never seen rolling shutter reproduced like that.

Tim Polster · March 16th, 2009, 03:43 PM

That is some skew for sure.

I have been happy with my HMC-150. I would like to decrease the mosquito noise that seems to be at all settings though.

I have become pretty picky after watching HDTV for a year now.

Brent Ethington · March 18th, 2009, 11:39 AM

At the end of the video with the pan shots of the pool, all of the shots are labelled as coming from the Z5 with none from the HMC150 - just a typo?

Mark Von Lanken · March 18th, 2009, 08:44 PM

Hi Brent,

You bring up a good point. I did not test the HMC150 by the pool. The HMC150 is not affected by rolling shutter. So to answer your question, no, it is not a typo. All of the pool footage is from the Z5.

Brent Ethington · March 18th, 2009, 08:47 PM

Hi Mark - Thanks for clarifying!

Steve Wolla · March 24th, 2009, 01:49 AM

Very interesting footage Mark, thanks a lot! In many of those shots, the last few anyways, low light did not seem all that much different.
The rolling shutter demo was most interesting as well. I think all the flash shots looked bad, and in reality shots from either like that would not be acceptable for use, in my opinion anyways.
And that panning clip was also surprising.
It's still the HMC150 for me.

March 16th, 2009, 12:48 AM	#1
Mark Von Lanken Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 910	Panasonic HMC150 vs Sony Z5 Side By Side Comparison Clip I recently had the opportunity to spend a few hours with the Sony Z5. We did a low light comparison at various gain settings. We also compared how the two cameras handle a camera flash. There has been a lot of talk about rolling shutter, but this was the first time I experienced it first hand. This internet clip will give you a glimpse at what it looks like, but it does not paint the true picture until you watch rolling shutter footage on a 40+ HD monitor. The final test is a whip pan. Many videographers will not pan this quickly, but if a really quick pan is part of your shooting style, you need to know how the rolling shutter of CMOS will affect your footage. Tips & Tricks __________________ Mark Von Lanken www.VonWeddingFilms.com

March 18th, 2009, 08:44 PM	#5
Mark Von Lanken Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 910	Hi Brent, You bring up a good point. I did not test the HMC150 by the pool. The HMC150 is not affected by rolling shutter. So to answer your question, no, it is not a typo. All of the pool footage is from the Z5. __________________ Mark Von Lanken www.VonWeddingFilms.com

March 16th, 2009, 04:58 AM	#2
Tom Alexander Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Ca. Posts: 121	Very good Mark, Thanks. The Z5 image does appear brighter at the different gain levels. Color reproduction looks pretty close, although I prefer the saturation levels a bit more on the HMC clips. Wow, I've never seen rolling shutter reproduced like that.

March 16th, 2009, 03:43 PM	#3
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	That is some skew for sure. I have been happy with my HMC-150. I would like to decrease the mosquito noise that seems to be at all settings though. I have become pretty picky after watching HDTV for a year now.

March 18th, 2009, 11:39 AM	#4
Brent Ethington Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WA Posts: 180	At the end of the video with the pan shots of the pool, all of the shots are labelled as coming from the Z5 with none from the HMC150 - just a typo?

March 18th, 2009, 08:47 PM	#6
Brent Ethington Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WA Posts: 180	Hi Mark - Thanks for clarifying!

March 24th, 2009, 01:49 AM	#7
Steve Wolla Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 477	Very interesting footage Mark, thanks a lot! In many of those shots, the last few anyways, low light did not seem all that much different. The rolling shutter demo was most interesting as well. I think all the flash shots looked bad, and in reality shots from either like that would not be acceptable for use, in my opinion anyways. And that panning clip was also surprising. It's still the HMC150 for me.