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#16 |
Photographer
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 155
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Normally I wouldn't take a new camera out of the box, charge the batteries and immediately put it to work, but I went out on a limb with this new camera and I'm very glad I did. The menu is very similar to my X-70 and my FS/7, the form factor and general control placement felt good so I decided to roll the dice.
My experience in this industry pales in comparison to most of you here so it is no try intent to contradict anyone, but I love this camera so far. I'm digging into the footage from my first assignment with it and will have some clips for you to look at in a day or two. The shoot was challenging, as always, with lots of moving parts and changing light. The Z-150 performed wonderfully, and I'm pleased that I made the investment. I have a mint X-70 with a Samaurai Blade and extra batteries for sale. Here are some stills to set the stage.....
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Jim |
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#17 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
I am finding the Z150 to be much better at doing my active live shots, particularly the iris ring, that makes such a difference!
Paul |
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#18 |
Photographer
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 155
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
I agree Paul, the layout is much more professional!
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Jim |
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#19 | |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Quote:
Paul Color corrected |
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#20 |
Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 565
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Pictures are the same but coming from an ex with a true focus,iris ring,that's crucial for me and worth the extra 600.00
I shoot totally manual and the focusing and little iris knob on the 70 don't cut it,especially the infinite turning ring. I'll probably get the 150,still pondering the fs5 now that they have a fix for that 18 105 lens issue. |
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#21 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Iceland
Posts: 58
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
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#22 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 1,253
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
With regard to the “infinite turning ring”, a possible solution might be something like the Focus-One from Edelkrone:
Home: https://www.edelkrone.com/eu/ Focus-One: https://www.edelkrone.com/eu/p/504/focus-one It has a set of lines that can be matched up and if it’s setup so that they’re lined up when the lens is on Infinity then one would be good to go with the infinity focus. |
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#23 | |
New Boot
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 7
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
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#24 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
The Z150 is infinite turning as well, but the telephoto infiniti to macro turns are only about 1/4 now, not several full rotations liek the X70.......MUCH improved there!!!
Paul |
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#25 |
Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 565
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
when i handled it at nab paul, it seemed like my ex, i zoomed in and focussed quickly didnt turn it much at all. the x70 def isnt like that.
on the 600.00, i thought the x70 was 2,000 plus 500 for the 4k upgrade. so actually 700.00 difference. either way, id get the 150 cuz of the lens setup, thats what im used to, and that difference in money will easily be made up on one job for me. |
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#26 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
The X70 is not "tripod friendly" AT ALL......in fact, it is quite a PITA to adjust things on a pod, with that LCD tilted things get blocked.
Paul |
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#27 |
Photographer
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 155
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Finally getting some time to look through my Z150 clips from my air to air mission last week. The camera performed remarkably well in the low light at the end of the shoot and the color and quality of the footage straight out of the camera seem very pleasing. I don't use auto focus much, but for this shoot I used it throughout, never it lose track for even a split second. Much as I like my X-70, I couldn't rely on the focus tracking, especially as the light dropped off, not terrible, but noticeable. The Z-150 followed my acrobatic subject wherever he went, and tracked the biz jet perfectly for 40 minutes.
The following day I was with The Blue Angels and I found the same reliability. By the time the sun had set on my first day with the Z-150, it had paid for itself.
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Jim Last edited by James R. Wilson Sr.; April 28th, 2016 at 05:16 PM. Reason: spelling |
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#28 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
The more I use the Z150, the more I like it. Really gotten used to the controls, so my "active" exposure transitions in night ENG situations and really improved my video quality.......no more popping gain ups and down all the time, and no more wobbling camera as I focus at full telephoto!
I also NAILED some new custom color correction PP4 settings, for the ones posted a long time ago for the X70. I now have alterations that allow me TRUE direct from camera color correct footage, unlike my X70, which always required a bit of massaging. The changes were color 1 modification +5 instead of +7 for phase, and master phase +1. Last setting change was white balance off-set for +1 R. With those, everything just looks right, and no more greenish tint/hue. I am also running black gamma LOW +7 and master black at -1. This works amazingly well for low light where you need to see shadows next to a brightly lit subject, or keep the background from turning superblack while shooting a talking head with a camera light. Black gamma HIGH + 7 really is very bad for low light ENG work, especially with the lack of highlight handling of this sensor. May work well in the day, but not at high gain at night. Paul |
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#29 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Something to note, the top handle zoom rocker is of a fixed speed variety, there is no variability with pressure application. Also no top record button lock switch.
Menu note, the sound menu ncludes an on/off limiter, and a -/+ offset for level for each channel. Paul |
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#30 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Diego, Califonia
Posts: 1,559
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Re: PXW-Z150 first impressions
Here is some more night ENG Z150 4K footage.......this time, the detail was left at default of 0, instead of maximum!
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