Z1 secret plug

Filip Kovcin · March 8th, 2005, 07:39 AM

you read my mind.

filip

Chris Hurd · March 8th, 2005, 08:31 AM

<< it's still strange that they disabled the other option, and left it physically there. >>

It leads you to believe that it was first designed for the consumer division, and then adopted for the professional division. From a camera production standpoint, it may have been more economical to leave it there and add the cover.

Filip Kovcin · March 8th, 2005, 08:54 AM

chris,

you are absolutelly right, the money rules here, but i can BET that when i tested DEMO Z1 camera (the unit which was shown on IBC last year) the plug which was used was that old style plug. so if this worked on demo version - why not on final?

the thing i do not understand is - why to heck someone is covering something which WORKS - even if this is just for a few seconds?

to sell more lithium batteries?

maybe i'm too curious.

filip

Mike Tiffee · March 8th, 2005, 09:23 AM

If I were guessing, the Z1 is simply the FX-1 with new firmware. The demo unit you got probably was still written with a lot of the FX-1 features and they "hadn't gotten to it yet". Another example is the mic holder on the Z1. there is a cover on the FX-1 hiding the mounting hardware for the clamp.

Does the dummy battery have any circuitry? Could it be the PAL / NTSC issue? Power standards?

Ignacio Rodriguez · March 8th, 2005, 10:08 AM

> you can even use that plug for feeding the power and switch on
> the camera, BUT after a while - the lcd screens shows:
> "use lithium battery" and swithces OFF. completelly.

Filip, are you using an older Sony power supply to feed the cam through this plug? Perhaps the message is just a standard error message and it is simply not supplying enough power. If so, the plug and circuitry might be fully operational!

If it's a firmware issue we can sure ask Sony tu update the firmware so the plug can be used, right? And while they are at it, they could enable DVCAM track pitch for the HDV mode... uhh... well, I can dream, can't I? <grin>

Chris Hurd · March 8th, 2005, 10:47 AM

It would take somebody with an FX1 power supply, a Z1 camera and a screwdriver to tell us for certain.

;-)

Bryan McCullough · March 8th, 2005, 11:23 AM

If anyone wants to send me their Z1 for testing, I'd be happy to try it out.

:)

Filip Kovcin · March 8th, 2005, 02:23 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ignacio Rodriguez : Filip, are you using an older Sony power supply to feed the cam through this plug? ... -->>>

Ignacio,

i am using power supply from my HDV M10 player/recorder, so i beleive that this (at least) should be the same generation...
but i will try with FX1 power supply if i can find one in my neighbourhood.
will tell you then.

filip

Ron Evans · March 8th, 2005, 04:19 PM

Its interesting that my old Hi8 VX3 also has the dummy battery adapter. Seems like Sony went back a lot to the past--dummy battery adapter, exactly the same manual controls as the old VX3!!!!

Ron Evans

Filip Kovcin · March 12th, 2005, 02:27 AM

i just saw a "dangerous" situation - and want to warn you about it.

my my friend was shooting "table photography" for documentary film. (papers, photographies, small things etc.) and during this shoot he had his pd150 plugged in usual way - no batteries, but thru adapter. and in certain moment he forgot about the wire of that adapter and CROSSED that "barier" line, means he pushes the wire strongly by his body - and the power plug pops off the camera.

nothing special. but his camera was on relativelly light tripod, and despite some work - to shoot the same shot again everything went fine.

but!

let's pretend that Z1 was used here - what will happend?
you cross that line where the wire is and since the whole dummy battery adapter is firmly connected with the camera - in worst case, it will pull down the camera also...

what do you think?

filip

Peter Rixner · March 12th, 2005, 03:48 AM

What I think ?

I think: I see more cables than this on the set.
Thas not really a reason to claim for a plug that slips out of the camera. Maybe even if your panning.

I like this Z1-solution better. But a serious plug like XLR connector would be of course the professional solution.

Somehow they dont want certain thing on such prosumer models.

So dont panic on the set :)

Greetings

Peter

Mark Utley · February 7th, 2006, 01:21 AM

I know this is an old discussion but has anything further been discovered about this hidden plug? Sony can be really weird sometimes.

Chris Barcellos · February 7th, 2006, 01:34 AM

Yes, everyone, that closed off plug, is the same plug I use on my FX1 for charging my batteries on camera, and for AC power.

Boyd Ostroff · February 7th, 2006, 07:55 AM

Personally I'm not interested in plugging my Z1 into an AC line, and I especially don't want to do it through a plug that Sony has intentionally disabled. Read back through old threads here and you'll find several FX1 owners who've had camera problems requiring repairs while the charger was plugged in. I have 2 NP-F970's and a NP-F960; that's all that ever powers my camcorder. Just seems like one less thing to worry about for me...

David Dwyer · February 7th, 2006, 09:58 AM

Yeah just seen my Z1E as it

March 8th, 2005, 07:39 AM	#16
Filip Kovcin Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: warsaw, poland Posts: 440	you read my mind. filip __________________ in kino (sic!) veritas

March 8th, 2005, 08:31 AM	#17
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	<< it's still strange that they disabled the other option, and left it physically there. >> It leads you to believe that it was first designed for the consumer division, and then adopted for the professional division. From a camera production standpoint, it may have been more economical to leave it there and add the cover. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 8th, 2005, 08:54 AM	#18
Filip Kovcin Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: warsaw, poland Posts: 440	chris, you are absolutelly right, the money rules here, but i can BET that when i tested DEMO Z1 camera (the unit which was shown on IBC last year) the plug which was used was that old style plug. so if this worked on demo version - why not on final? the thing i do not understand is - why to heck someone is covering something which WORKS - even if this is just for a few seconds? to sell more lithium batteries? maybe i'm too curious. filip __________________ in kino (sic!) veritas

March 8th, 2005, 10:08 AM	#20
Ignacio Rodriguez Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 932	> you can even use that plug for feeding the power and switch on > the camera, BUT after a while - the lcd screens shows: > "use lithium battery" and swithces OFF. completelly. Filip, are you using an older Sony power supply to feed the cam through this plug? Perhaps the message is just a standard error message and it is simply not supplying enough power. If so, the plug and circuitry might be fully operational! If it's a firmware issue we can sure ask Sony tu update the firmware so the plug can be used, right? And while they are at it, they could enable DVCAM track pitch for the HDV mode... uhh... well, I can dream, can't I? <grin> __________________ Ignacio Rodríguez in the third world. @micronauta on Twitter. Main hardware: brain, eyes, hands.

March 8th, 2005, 10:47 AM	#21
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	It would take somebody with an FX1 power supply, a Z1 camera and a screwdriver to tell us for certain. ;-) __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 8th, 2005, 09:23 AM	#19
Mike Tiffee Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 150	If I were guessing, the Z1 is simply the FX-1 with new firmware. The demo unit you got probably was still written with a lot of the FX-1 features and they "hadn't gotten to it yet". Another example is the mic holder on the Z1. there is a cover on the FX-1 hiding the mounting hardware for the clamp. Does the dummy battery have any circuitry? Could it be the PAL / NTSC issue? Power standards?

March 8th, 2005, 11:23 AM	#22
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	If anyone wants to send me their Z1 for testing, I'd be happy to try it out. :)

March 8th, 2005, 02:23 PM	#23
Filip Kovcin Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: warsaw, poland Posts: 440	<<<-- Originally posted by Ignacio Rodriguez : Filip, are you using an older Sony power supply to feed the cam through this plug? ... -->>> Ignacio, i am using power supply from my HDV M10 player/recorder, so i beleive that this (at least) should be the same generation... but i will try with FX1 power supply if i can find one in my neighbourhood. will tell you then. filip __________________ in kino (sic!) veritas

March 8th, 2005, 04:19 PM	#24
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	Its interesting that my old Hi8 VX3 also has the dummy battery adapter. Seems like Sony went back a lot to the past--dummy battery adapter, exactly the same manual controls as the old VX3!!!! Ron Evans

March 12th, 2005, 02:27 AM	#25
Filip Kovcin Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: warsaw, poland Posts: 440	i just saw a "dangerous" situation - and want to warn you about it. my my friend was shooting "table photography" for documentary film. (papers, photographies, small things etc.) and during this shoot he had his pd150 plugged in usual way - no batteries, but thru adapter. and in certain moment he forgot about the wire of that adapter and CROSSED that "barier" line, means he pushes the wire strongly by his body - and the power plug pops off the camera. nothing special. but his camera was on relativelly light tripod, and despite some work - to shoot the same shot again everything went fine. but! let's pretend that Z1 was used here - what will happend? you cross that line where the wire is and since the whole dummy battery adapter is firmly connected with the camera - in worst case, it will pull down the camera also... what do you think? filip __________________ in kino (sic!) veritas

March 12th, 2005, 03:48 AM	#26
Peter Rixner Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Munich, Bavaria Posts: 139	What I think ? I think: I see more cables than this on the set. Thas not really a reason to claim for a plug that slips out of the camera. Maybe even if your panning. I like this Z1-solution better. But a serious plug like XLR connector would be of course the professional solution. Somehow they dont want certain thing on such prosumer models. So dont panic on the set :) Greetings Peter

February 7th, 2006, 01:21 AM	#27
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	I know this is an old discussion but has anything further been discovered about this hidden plug? Sony can be really weird sometimes. __________________ Mark Utley

February 7th, 2006, 01:34 AM	#28
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Fx1 Yes, everyone, that closed off plug, is the same plug I use on my FX1 for charging my batteries on camera, and for AC power. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

February 7th, 2006, 07:55 AM	#29
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Personally I'm not interested in plugging my Z1 into an AC line, and I especially don't want to do it through a plug that Sony has intentionally disabled. Read back through old threads here and you'll find several FX1 owners who've had camera problems requiring repairs while the charger was plugged in. I have 2 NP-F970's and a NP-F960; that's all that ever powers my camcorder. Just seems like one less thing to worry about for me...

February 7th, 2006, 09:58 AM	#30
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Yeah just seen my Z1E as it