Sony Z1 and FX1 various questions 2004 - 2005

Heath McKnight · December 8th, 2004, 08:34 AM

Hey, no sweat! We all get bogged down with projects! I was supposed to have a little book with my scripts out now, but between hurricanes, work, my next film and more, it's on hold...

heath

Mark Kubat · December 9th, 2004, 02:22 AM

Hi folks...

There's interest in cf25 and 50i most possibly offering a distinct advantage over 1080/60i... hope some of our members can get close enough to a real Z1 to "flick the switch" and get a sense if there's an appreciable difference between the formats when hooked up to a big HD monitor...

Er, Good Luck!

Have fun!

Pls. find out about "black stretch" - are the new and improved features reall worth all that extra moolah?

Steven White · December 15th, 2004, 11:29 AM

I was just wondering if the lux rating and the resolution of the camera are related, specifically when addressing the FX1 light performance to DV cameras.

It seems to me that the FX1 is sampling at roughly 4.5x the resolution of DV camera. Basic signal averaging tells me if I have a device (CCD) with a given sensitivity and gain, that when I bundle groups of the pixels together, not only am I downsampling, but signal averaging. In which case I would expect the noise of the downsampled image to be smaller by a factor of ~2.1 (i.e., sqrt(4.5))

When people are comparing the low-light performance of the FX1 with other cameras, are they taking this into consideration and comparing noise levels at similar resolution or not?

While ultimately the absolute noise levels at the HDV resolution will be of most interest to people, when comparing across cameras (and codecs) this kind of information seems essential to me... especially if someone were to choose one camera over another on this specification.

-Steve

Ron Evans · December 15th, 2004, 02:26 PM

I am not sure if the effect you bring up is the reason but with my FX1, on automatic shots in a theatre lighting ( read dark ) the HDV image is a lot better( cleaner, image stands out somehow) than the DV image both viewed on my 4x3 i'Art 24" TV via the composite output from the FX1 ( the FX1 is downconverting the HDV image for output as is the DV image converted to composite). The difference is even more on my Sony 27HS420, HiScan 4x3 1080i TV ( again composite input, with component input of course the TV will switch to 1080i then there is no comparison as the HDV image is startly). DV was also shot in 16x9 so that the images were the same size on the screens.

Ron Evans

Douglas Spotted Eagle · December 20th, 2004, 03:07 PM

If you'd like to download some high-action surfing in NTSC, we've uploaded a few files. We've got a lot more, but the PAL footage taught us we need to be bandwidth-prudent.
So, some FX1 footage in various modes, is up there now.
http://www.vasst.com/HDV/FX-1_images-Surfers.htm

The PAL footage is there too, on the same page as before.
We'll put up Z1 footage as soon as Sony gives us the go-ahead.

George Zabetas · December 21st, 2004, 10:47 AM

That looks amazing!

thanks for that link.

Anders Helmerson · December 22nd, 2004, 06:33 PM

Have anyone with the FX1 had any problems with the manual iris.On my camera it has a tendency to switch to auto even though it is on manual.I haave checked that the auto gain is turned of.I dont know what to do about this. At some occations the autofocus is not working when I want it to work.Any ideas?

Khoi Pham · December 22nd, 2004, 06:56 PM

You will need to also put the shutter on manual, and gain on manual in order for full iris control.

Joel Corral · December 23rd, 2004, 03:26 AM

well,

i am either buying another HDR-FX1 or I will Wait it out untill the HVR-Z1 is released. but my concern is if the two cameras will match during a shoot? it will be a waste if i cant use the two together. so, should i get a second HDR-FX1 or go pro?

thanks,

joel

Chris Hurd · December 23rd, 2004, 08:43 AM

See my FX1 - Z1U comparison chart at http://www.hdvinfo.net/articles/sonyhdrfx1/compare.php.

They share the same CCD block, lens and DSP. There's no reason why they wouldn't match each other perfectly.

Jared VanLeuven · December 23rd, 2004, 12:25 PM

Admittedly to my uneducated eyes, I'm looking at the available pictures of the FX1 and the Z1 and wondering if there's room for at least a simple UV filter behind the lens hood/cover contraption. Can anyone who has had hands-on experience share the love? Thanks!

Mike Tiffee · December 23rd, 2004, 01:40 PM

Yes, there's room for 1 filter with the hood installed. I leave a UV filter on it most of the time. I've also used a polarizer.

Toke Lahti · January 4th, 2005, 06:39 PM

Without and with CF, please!

Christopher C. Murphy · January 8th, 2005, 10:33 AM

Hey all, I got this link from another site.....it's Z1 info. translated from French. This guy apparently got a Z1 in the mail.

http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

Murph

Matteo Ricchetti · January 9th, 2005, 08:23 AM

I have added some very short movie to my page

www.eidomedia.com/hdv

You can download them until the hosting site doesn't close for too bandwith used... If someone want to offer a bigger Bandwith/diskspace I'll appreciate a lot.. Feel free to copy

Matteo

December 8th, 2004, 08:34 AM	#61
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Hey, no sweat! We all get bogged down with projects! I was supposed to have a little book with my scripts out now, but between hurricanes, work, my next film and more, it's on hold... heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

December 9th, 2004, 02:22 AM	#62
Mark Kubat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 375	who's seeing Z1 at DV Expo? Hi folks... There's interest in cf25 and 50i most possibly offering a distinct advantage over 1080/60i... hope some of our members can get close enough to a real Z1 to "flick the switch" and get a sense if there's an appreciable difference between the formats when hooked up to a big HD monitor... Er, Good Luck! Have fun! Pls. find out about "black stretch" - are the new and improved features reall worth all that extra moolah?

December 15th, 2004, 11:29 AM	#63
Steven White Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 547	lux rating and resolution on the FX1? I was just wondering if the lux rating and the resolution of the camera are related, specifically when addressing the FX1 light performance to DV cameras. It seems to me that the FX1 is sampling at roughly 4.5x the resolution of DV camera. Basic signal averaging tells me if I have a device (CCD) with a given sensitivity and gain, that when I bundle groups of the pixels together, not only am I downsampling, but signal averaging. In which case I would expect the noise of the downsampled image to be smaller by a factor of ~2.1 (i.e., sqrt(4.5)) When people are comparing the low-light performance of the FX1 with other cameras, are they taking this into consideration and comparing noise levels at similar resolution or not? While ultimately the absolute noise levels at the HDV resolution will be of most interest to people, when comparing across cameras (and codecs) this kind of information seems essential to me... especially if someone were to choose one camera over another on this specification. -Steve

December 20th, 2004, 03:07 PM	#65
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	More HDV for you to download If you'd like to download some high-action surfing in NTSC, we've uploaded a few files. We've got a lot more, but the PAL footage taught us we need to be bandwidth-prudent. So, some FX1 footage in various modes, is up there now. http://www.vasst.com/HDV/FX-1_images-Surfers.htm The PAL footage is there too, on the same page as before. We'll put up Z1 footage as soon as Sony gives us the go-ahead. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

December 22nd, 2004, 06:33 PM	#67
Anders Helmerson Tourist Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London uk Posts: 1	lightcompensating Fx1 Have anyone with the FX1 had any problems with the manual iris.On my camera it has a tendency to switch to auto even though it is on manual.I haave checked that the auto gain is turned of.I dont know what to do about this. At some occations the autofocus is not working when I want it to work.Any ideas? __________________ rabbit1

December 15th, 2004, 02:26 PM	#64
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	I am not sure if the effect you bring up is the reason but with my FX1, on automatic shots in a theatre lighting ( read dark ) the HDV image is a lot better( cleaner, image stands out somehow) than the DV image both viewed on my 4x3 i'Art 24" TV via the composite output from the FX1 ( the FX1 is downconverting the HDV image for output as is the DV image converted to composite). The difference is even more on my Sony 27HS420, HiScan 4x3 1080i TV ( again composite input, with component input of course the TV will switch to 1080i then there is no comparison as the HDV image is startly). DV was also shot in 16x9 so that the images were the same size on the screens. Ron Evans

December 21st, 2004, 10:47 AM	#66
George Zabetas Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Argos, Greece Posts: 70	That looks amazing! thanks for that link.

December 22nd, 2004, 06:56 PM	#68
Khoi Pham Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 747	You will need to also put the shutter on manual, and gain on manual in order for full iris control. __________________ Khoi Pham www.proeditproductions.com

December 23rd, 2004, 03:26 AM	#69
Joel Corral Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brea, CA Posts: 356	Will the HVR-Z1 Match The HDR-FX1? well, i am either buying another HDR-FX1 or I will Wait it out untill the HVR-Z1 is released. but my concern is if the two cameras will match during a shoot? it will be a waste if i cant use the two together. so, should i get a second HDR-FX1 or go pro? thanks, joel

December 23rd, 2004, 08:43 AM	#70
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	See my FX1 - Z1U comparison chart at http://www.hdvinfo.net/articles/sonyhdrfx1/compare.php. They share the same CCD block, lens and DSP. There's no reason why they wouldn't match each other perfectly. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 23rd, 2004, 12:25 PM	#71
Jared VanLeuven New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 21	FX1/Z1 and filters Admittedly to my uneducated eyes, I'm looking at the available pictures of the FX1 and the Z1 and wondering if there's room for at least a simple UV filter behind the lens hood/cover contraption. Can anyone who has had hands-on experience share the love? Thanks!

December 23rd, 2004, 01:40 PM	#72
Mike Tiffee Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 150	Yes, there's room for 1 filter with the hood installed. I leave a UV filter on it most of the time. I've also used a polarizer.

January 4th, 2005, 06:39 PM	#73
Toke Lahti Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 158	Could somebody shoot a resolution chart with slow shutter speeds? Without and with CF, please!

January 8th, 2005, 10:33 AM	#74
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Z1 info. on this link Hey all, I got this link from another site.....it's Z1 info. translated from French. This guy apparently got a Z1 in the mail. http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 9th, 2005, 08:23 AM	#75
Matteo Ricchetti Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Italy Posts: 39	FX1 50i Nikon-lens movie clips I have added some very short movie to my page www.eidomedia.com/hdv You can download them until the hosting site doesn't close for too bandwith used... If someone want to offer a bigger Bandwith/diskspace I'll appreciate a lot.. Feel free to copy Matteo