The Sony Z1u Is Unbelievable! at DVinfo.net

Nicholas Natteau · February 20th, 2005, 11:12 AM

Hello everyone,

Just want to add my take on this outstanding video camera.

I just bought the professional Sony HVR-Z1U and was blown away by the picture quality.

Not true that the Z1U is not as good in low light as the Sony VX2000 or PD150. In fact it's noticeably better!!!

Even in low light, the picture is crystal clear clean!
And I was watching the video I shot with a digital projector with the projected image nearly 100 inches diagonal!

Awesome features on this camera. Buttons in all the right places and very easy to learn. I'm a low budget documentary film maker and until now I was using the Sony VX2000. I've never had a professional video camera before and within one hour I was fully at ease with the Z1U.

I have nothing but positive things to say. No problems yet. Ghosting? Haven't encountered it yet.

Conclusion: IMHO, HDV is the greatest leap forward since video was invented. It will change everything. Given the fact documentaries are now so in fashion, I'm sure we'll soon be seeing the first HDV features on the big screen this year.

Darrell Essex · February 20th, 2005, 11:24 AM

can you post some footage, please?
or at least some stills.
thanks.
Darrell
FIRST CINEMA PICTURES

Nicholas Natteau · February 20th, 2005, 11:36 AM

Hi Darrell,

Unfortunately, I don't have iMovie HD or Final Cut Express. I brought my footage into Final Cut Pro HD by downconverting it from HDV to DV. How would I bring it in uncompressed or raw so you can see the picture as full resolution?

- N.

Steven Gotz · February 20th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Darrell,

I have been posting some M2T files for people to play with. Is that what you are after?

The YouSendIt.com site is down at the moment, but I have been posting 50MB and larger files for people to download to play with until they get their own HDV camcorder.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · February 20th, 2005, 12:30 PM

There are also 50i and 60i files found for download on the VASST site, vasst.com/hdv/hdvportal.htm will get you to them. High motion, high action, bright color, non-processed vid.

Darrell Essex · February 20th, 2005, 01:16 PM

thanks everyone for replying. what i do with m2t files is open them in a program called mpeg streamclip. then i choose export quicktime, choose the compression Apple DVCPRO HD, set the size at 1920x1080, then click the deinterlace button at the bottom and render. then i open the rendered file in quicktime pro, set the timeline where i want capture the still, choose export, then choose export movie to picture or bmp.
i have just about every plugin there is for after effects, so playing with the m2t footage lets me know just what we can really do with this new camera.
hope this helps. if anyone has a fas connection and would like me to email some of the stills i have already collected, let me know.
we have begun to just scratch the surface of what this camera can do.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · February 20th, 2005, 01:18 PM

Darrell, I'll take whatever you want to send;
dse ATSYMBOLsundancemediagroupDOTcom

Darrell Essex · February 20th, 2005, 01:42 PM

Douglas Spotted Eagle, i am having trouble sending to this address. can you send me an email, then i will click reply and everything should then work?

Simon Harris · February 21st, 2005, 06:57 AM

I agree - the Z1 is an amazing camera, it produces real high definition pictures that look stunning and is a very nice camera to use.

Christopher C. Murphy · February 21st, 2005, 11:02 AM

The more time I spend with the camera...I am realizing what a huge leap forward this whole HDV really is...it's the next generation video that our kids and grandkids will have until "ultra HD" comes. That'll be around 10 years or something, so we now have quite long time to get used to this stuff.

February 20th, 2005, 11:12 AM	#1
Nicholas Natteau Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 70	The Sony Z1u Is Unbelievable!!!!!! Hello everyone, Just want to add my take on this outstanding video camera. I just bought the professional Sony HVR-Z1U and was blown away by the picture quality. Not true that the Z1U is not as good in low light as the Sony VX2000 or PD150. In fact it's noticeably better!!! Even in low light, the picture is crystal clear clean! And I was watching the video I shot with a digital projector with the projected image nearly 100 inches diagonal! Awesome features on this camera. Buttons in all the right places and very easy to learn. I'm a low budget documentary film maker and until now I was using the Sony VX2000. I've never had a professional video camera before and within one hour I was fully at ease with the Z1U. I have nothing but positive things to say. No problems yet. Ghosting? Haven't encountered it yet. Conclusion: IMHO, HDV is the greatest leap forward since video was invented. It will change everything. Given the fact documentaries are now so in fashion, I'm sure we'll soon be seeing the first HDV features on the big screen this year.

February 20th, 2005, 11:24 AM	#2
Darrell Essex Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: kelseyville, ca Posts: 123	can you post some footage, please? or at least some stills. thanks. Darrell FIRST CINEMA PICTURES __________________ darrell

February 20th, 2005, 11:36 AM	#3
Nicholas Natteau Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 70	posting clips... Hi Darrell, Unfortunately, I don't have iMovie HD or Final Cut Express. I brought my footage into Final Cut Pro HD by downconverting it from HDV to DV. How would I bring it in uncompressed or raw so you can see the picture as full resolution? - N.

February 20th, 2005, 12:25 PM	#4
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	Darrell, I have been posting some M2T files for people to play with. Is that what you are after? The YouSendIt.com site is down at the moment, but I have been posting 50MB and larger files for people to download to play with until they get their own HDV camcorder. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

February 20th, 2005, 12:30 PM	#5
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	There are also 50i and 60i files found for download on the VASST site, vasst.com/hdv/hdvportal.htm will get you to them. High motion, high action, bright color, non-processed vid. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

February 20th, 2005, 01:16 PM	#6
Darrell Essex Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: kelseyville, ca Posts: 123	thanks everyone for replying. what i do with m2t files is open them in a program called mpeg streamclip. then i choose export quicktime, choose the compression Apple DVCPRO HD, set the size at 1920x1080, then click the deinterlace button at the bottom and render. then i open the rendered file in quicktime pro, set the timeline where i want capture the still, choose export, then choose export movie to picture or bmp. i have just about every plugin there is for after effects, so playing with the m2t footage lets me know just what we can really do with this new camera. hope this helps. if anyone has a fas connection and would like me to email some of the stills i have already collected, let me know. we have begun to just scratch the surface of what this camera can do. __________________ darrell

February 20th, 2005, 01:18 PM	#7
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Darrell, I'll take whatever you want to send; dse ATSYMBOLsundancemediagroupDOTcom __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

February 20th, 2005, 01:42 PM	#8
Darrell Essex Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: kelseyville, ca Posts: 123	Douglas Spotted Eagle, i am having trouble sending to this address. can you send me an email, then i will click reply and everything should then work? __________________ darrell

February 21st, 2005, 06:57 AM	#9
Simon Harris New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 23	I agree - the Z1 is an amazing camera, it produces real high definition pictures that look stunning and is a very nice camera to use.

February 21st, 2005, 11:02 AM	#10
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	The more time I spend with the camera...I am realizing what a huge leap forward this whole HDV really is...it's the next generation video that our kids and grandkids will have until "ultra HD" comes. That'll be around 10 years or something, so we now have quite long time to get used to this stuff. __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer