Sony Z90 questions

[Simon Denny]

I have a few questions relating to the Sony Z90 that I can't seem to find answers to and I have searched.

I'm close to purchasing one however I can't demo in store to check this, so a purchase is based in info found on the net.

I shoot a lot of action sport and need to follow/track players, cars etc... and I mostly use Sony broadcast shoulder mounts with B4 lenses, which by the way are killing my back.

The Z90 is for my own productions and looks like a fantastic small solution that will suit what I'm current doing.

Is the Z90 lens a Parfocal lens, zoom in focus, zoom out still in focus, zoom in still in focus?

Can I manually pull focus while following a car, player etc...

Can I have the LCD and View Finder active at the same time.

Last one, can I output SDI to a switcher and also HDMI to a external screen like a Small HD etc...


If anyone has the answers to this I really appreciate any feed back.

[Doug Jensen]

Hi Simon,

Yes, the lens is parfocal.
Yes, you can pull focus manually.

The viewfinder and LCD monitor can never show a picture at the same time, but that shouldn't be an issue for you because the viewfinder has a proximity sensor so the camera automatically turns the LCD off and and switches the viewfinder on when you put your eyeball up to it. The design makes it really easy to seamlessly switch between the two instantaneously as often as you want.

SDI and HDMI cannot be used at the same time. You have to choose one or the other.

The Z90 is a great little camera and I use it much more often than I ever expected I would when I bought it.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/z90

[Nate Haustein]

Not to derail this - Doug or anyone else, could you comment on the image quality considerations versus last generation Sony 1” chip camsrras? Specifically the Z90/NX80 vs the Z150? I’m in market for a grab-n-go cam.

[Simon Denny]

I was hoping you would respond Doug, your footage I've seen online has made the decision a lot easier for me.

Thanks for the fast response on those questions mate.

Cheers, Simon

I forgot to mention I'll also be checking out your tutorials on Vimeo also.

[Doug Jensen]

Nate,
As far as I can see, without putting them side by side on charts, the Z90, NX80, and Z150 have identical image quality. They are all basically the same camera, with the exact same lens, in different shaped boxes. So choose the physical size and ergonomics that appeal to you, and go for it. There are a few other differences among the features that each of them offers, but when it comes to image quality, they are all the same.

Simon, glad I could help.

[Cliff Totten]

I have the X70, sold my Z150 and now own the NX80. I think the image quality between the Z90/NX80 and Z150 are really damn close. The sensors are slightly different as the Z90/NX80 sensor is equipped with on-sensor phase detection zones/points. So, it technically the latest version of the 1inch-type Exmor RS (fully stacked, back side illuminated) sensor.

The Z150 has decent contrast detection AF with a forever spinning fly by wire lens. (No hard stops = no focus fun)

The Z90/NX80 offers a CRAZY fast and super wild AF that is much faster than I ever could be on a fly by wire lens in 4k looking at a tiny low resolution screen and view finder.

I my opinion, my Z150 gave me absolutely nothing over my NX80 in 4k.

And now Im waiting for Doug to give us the 411 on the new Z190 and Z280 soon!! ( I love that Z280 Fujinon lens)

[Nate Haustein]

Thanks guys - I appreciate the comments.

[David Dixon]

Cliff, how about the IQ difference between the X70 and Z90/NX80? And, do you miss the XAVC-L option now that you have the NX80?

+1 on Doug's training videos - excellent. I used one years ago when I got my first prosumer cam (Canon XF series) and just watched the free part 1 of the 90/80/700 series. Warning, it will give you serious upgrade fever :-)

[Christopher Young]

Re the IQ difference between the X70 and the Z90 I'm finding the Z90 is about 1 stop quieter as the gain goes up compared to the X70. The newer sensor looks like it may even have a bit more dynamic range. Early days yet so will have a better idea on that after more experimentation / test shooting.

Most noticeable to me is that there were certain hues in the purple range that the X70 reproduced with a strong blue bias.Straight out of the box I'm not seeing this with Z90, much truer in those purple hues. I feel the Z90 is overly sharp so I'm trying it out with detail set to -2. Haven't shot enough with it to confirm that's where I will stay. Should know in a day or two time permitting.

Chris Young

[Cliff Totten]

Originally Posted by David Dixon

Cliff, how about the IQ difference between the X70 and Z90/NX80? And, do you miss the XAVC-L option now that you have the NX80?

+1 on Doug's training videos - excellent. I used one years ago when I got my first prosumer cam (Canon XF series) and just watched the free part 1 of the 90/80/700 series. Warning, it will give you serious upgrade fever :-)

The X70 looks good and its from the same generation as the original Handycam AX100. Yeah, the Z90/NX80 does look noticably cleaner than the X70.

For me, I dont shoot much 1080 anymore as 90% of everything I do is 4k, even if Im only delivering in 1080. So, I dont miss the X70's 1080 10bit or SDI output. (I still have that camera, I just use the NX80 instead) I use HDMI in my live switchers anyway too.

I also prefer the NX80's .mp4 wrapper too. Im not a fan of .mxf. In my years if tests, its clear to me that .mp4 unpacks faster, plays smoother and edits smoother than the same h.264 video in .mxf.

I see zero h.264 difference in image quality over the same 100mbp/s in both .mp4 and .mxf wrappers...only the playback smoothness and CPU overhead. The only actual CODEC difference I have found is that XAVC-S uses a standard long GOP fixed IBP structure but XAVC-L appears to use a sliding or variable IBP cadence. So, it seems that XAVC-L can throw more or less I frames in based on how much movement a scenes has. But again, I see zero actual quality difference.

I grab my NX80 all the time and I leave the X70 at home unless I need multicams for events.

CT

[Mike Meyerson]

I'm close to purchasing a Z90 as well. I was considering an XF405 until I got my hands on one (I'm a long time canon-guy, and very confused and disappointed by it).

A few Z90 questions...any advantages in using an external recorder, other than being able to use apple/avid codecs? Can it record externally AND internally at the same time?

Thanks.

[Cliff Totten]

HDMI is locked down to 8bit only. However, you wil get double the chroma resolution over internal 4:2:0. It outputs 4:2:2.

You can record internally and over HDMI at the same time but you will lose video on your camera LCD screen. You will see all the camera conditions and information but no live video....but now you are watching your external recorder.

In my opinion, the Z90/NX80 blows that Canon out of the water. The Z90/NX80 has a FAR better sensor and much more 4k resolving power. I have seen comparisons between them and that Canon looks like "OK" 1080p...not even 4k looking at all.

[Simon Denny]

Great info Cliff, and to everyone else who owns a Z90.

I'm all over this camera and ordering one today.

[Simon Denny]

Hey, one last question, the NP-FV70A battery how much run time will this produce? I'm thinking of getting another and hope I'll get a days shoot out of these two batteries.

[Doug Jensen]

Only if it's a very short day. :-)
That battery will only run the camera for about an hour.