Z7U 35mm Lens Adapter & 1920x1080?

[Rodger Smith]

35mm ADAPTER: Anyone have any updates on where one can get a 1/3" to Nikon adapter for the Sony Z7U? Not looking for auto anything, just like to mount my Nikon Series E or newer Nikon lenses to the Z7.

1920x1080: Anyone heard of a hack or mod that gets 1920x1080 out of the Z7U? A friend of mine who is into "listening" to the market said there is a hack or mod that will provide this. I'm challenged to see how it could happen other than I heard that the imagers in this camera were in fact set up for 1920x1080 limiting the output of the camera to 20mbit (limits also of a 133x CF I think I read) and thus using a slightly faster CF the camera with the hack/mod could output to 24mbit, get the 1920x1080, and go to CF properly.

My thinking on this latter is that it is an HDMI out to DV rack or something similiar that gave them a true HD.

Anxious to hear if anyone else has heard this.

[Gary Nattrass]

Mike Tapa at MTF services makes a nikon mount and you can get them from e-bay:Nikon to Sony HVR-Z7 & HVR-S270 lens adaptor on eBay, also, Lens Mounts Adaptors, Camera Lenses, Photography (end time 03-Oct-08 15:58:21 BST)

Dont know about the hack to get full 1920x1080 in the camera but I do this re-size in final cut pro when I transcode to pro res 422 HQ 1920x1080i

Here is a pic of my Z7 with the MTF mount and a nikkor 70-300mm

[Rodger Smith]

A little pricy huh? That's about $325 US. Whew. Work seemlessly? BTW, looks HOT! Want it!

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by Rodger Smith

A little pricy huh? That's about $325 US. Whew. Work seemlessly? BTW, looks HOT! Want it!

Not as bad as the sony adaptor it is even more $$$

[Rodger Smith]

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

Not as bad as the sony adaptor it is even more $$$

The adapter works alright? No problems with operation or image quality? Also, how's the DOF with it?

[Gary Nattrass]

No problems with quality at all and the dof is actually too much on some lenses so I stop down a bit to f8 or 11 to improve this. There is a nice moon shot here taken at 300mm (X7=2100mm)
Untitled on Vimeo

You can see some shots done with the 60mm micro lens here:Watch this Space on Vimeo

[Ofer Levy]

Hi Rodger,
I also use the Mike Tapa's adapter and it is great. It won't effect picture quality as its just a ring with no glass.
Have a look at this short clip - Z7E, Nikon 400mm f3.5 ED AIS from about 25 meters - the original is really nice and crisp with plenty detail and awesome DOF.
Sony HVR Z7 wildlife clip on Vimeo

Cheers,
Ofer Levy
Ofer Levy Nature Photographer

[Rodger Smith]

[QUOTE=Ofer Levy;933665] . . . Have a look at this short clip - Z7E, Nikon 400mm f3.5 ED AIS from about 25 meters - the original is really nice and crisp with plenty detail and awesome DOF.
Sony HVR Z7 wildlife clip on Vimeo Cheers, Ofer Levy . . .QUOTE]

Nice, great DOF and images but YUCK on the subjects :o) Thanks

[Andrew McMillan]

I hate to burst your bubble. But since that adapter is not mechanical the DOF is similar to the original 1/3 inch lens. Ovibously some of the those lens may have a higher f stop and have more DOF than the stock lens , but still not even close to 35 mm.

I really don't see the piont of putting these 35mm lens right on to the 1/3 sensor block.

[Chris Barcellos]

Originally Posted by Andrew McMillan

.

I really don't see the piont of putting these 35mm lens right on to the 1/3 sensor block.

To increase focal length, for things like nature shooting...300mm becomes something like 1500mm effectivley.

[Rodger Smith]

Originally Posted by Andrew McMillan

I hate to burst your bubble. But since that adapter is not mechanical the DOF is similar to the original 1/3 inch lens. Ovibously some of the those lens may have a higher f stop and have more DOF than the stock lens , but still not even close to 35 mm.

I really don't see the piont of putting these 35mm lens right on to the 1/3 sensor block.

Well, if one is able to mount a 300 and 400 mm lens to a camera that won't go that far in zoom, I can certainly see the advanatage. Secondly, regardless of what specs say, if the look and feel are what satisfy the buying publics eye on "look" then it's a go for me. I know for one I was sold on the HVX200 technical specs over HDV but in the end when I witnessed our business being encumbered by storage methods and data transfer times let alone complications with editing massive amounts of computer data to get an HD image and then took HDV video side by side with our DVCProHD and showed both to clients and they couldn't see the difference, then why should I work harder with solid-state "no backup" when I could go HDV and have tape safety?

Thus, what I'm saying is that technically speaking there may not be an advantage but that doesn't mean that there isn't. I am looking forward to putting some big Nikon lenses on our Z7U.

[Andrew McMillan]

Well ok I just assumed that we were goning for the whole cinema look.

[Rodger Smith]

Originally Posted by Andrew McMillan

Well ok I just assumed that we were goning for the whole cinema look.

just my opinion, but i think the "whole cinema look" goes beyond the lens; i will say the lens and the dof have a lot to do with it but filters, softening, lighting, shadowing, etc. make the "whole cinema look" come into play before the lens. in fact, i think i'm safe in saying that the lens has hardly 15 to 25% of the effect so long as the image quality and light are not refracted and the image detail is clear.

just my opinion though.

[Andrew McMillan]

i meant "that" cinema look.

[Zach Love]

Originally Posted by Rodger Smith

Anyone have any updates on where one can get a 1/3" to Nikon adapter for the Sony Z7U?

If you want one, just e-mail the company. They are very helpful.

I like the adapter & as you can see many people here are happy w/ it too. The biggest thing to remember is that you lose the handle on the lens so you can only hold the camera from the top handle when using a 35mm lens.

Also from my experience the back focus is off (if someone knows of a fix for this, please post), but when I use a Nikon zoom lens, the focus changes as I zoom. Makes it harder to make sure everything is in focus.

The biggest plus is: this adapter + used Nikon lens = $600 or so. New 1/3" video lens: $1,300-$10,000.

I'd say that unless you already have a bunch of Nikon glass, look at the Sony mount. You might be able to use more features w/ that lens adapter.


[QUOTE=Rodger Smith;9323211920x1080: Anyone heard of a hack or mod that gets 1920x1080 out of the Z7U? [/QUOTE]

What I understand is that the censor isn't full 1920x1080, but the HDMI (and I'd assume even composite) is pre-HDV compression. So what you get is probably close to DVCPro HD, 4:2:2 100Mbps, similar to the HVX200 only should be a better picture since the Z7 has a higher rez on the chips.

Now the "mod" (I wouldn't call it a hack since plugging in Video out isn't that tricky) you'll need to do is find some way to record the video. HDMI capture card is your cheapest option. A portable option would be to use the S270 SDI (or Z7 +SDI converter) and record to one of the portable hard drives that are being targeted at the EX1/EX3.