Z7

Simon Keating · March 16th, 2010, 03:32 AM

Hi - I've been a bit slow to reach into the full capabilities of this rather nice camera, but I read in the instruction manual..

"your camcorder can play back pictures recorded in the HDV 720/30p format but cannot output it from the HDV/DV interface (i.LINK)"

If you can't output this format, what on earth would be the point of shooting in it? Are they saying I need to purchase a deck at a cost of over $3000?? Or is there another way to ouput that I'm missing.

Cheers for your help!

Jun Galinato · March 16th, 2010, 07:51 PM

If im not mistaken, the Z7 can not record to 720P. Use the camcorder you have shoot the 720p to capture.

Jun

Simon Keating · March 17th, 2010, 01:13 PM

Hi Jun,
I guess that was my point - that quote was direct from the Z7 manual which was rather confusing.. I now realise you can't shoot in 720p.

So is it just saying that if you happen to have some 720p footage from some other camera, don't expect your Z7 to be able to capture it?

I find the Z7 display rather annoying because even when you're supposedly in 1080p, it still says 1080i in the top left and you have to rely on the 25p indicator to confirm you're actually in 1080p. Why couldn't they have programmed the camera to change the text?!?!
Cheers

Adam Gold · March 17th, 2010, 01:41 PM

Page 84 of your manual. You can shoot 25p and it can write to tape either as Interlaced 1080i or Progressive depending upon your needs. You need to set both REC TYPE and SCAN TYPE under HDV PROGRE. If I set my Z5 (admittedly not the same cam but similar firmware and menus) to 30p or 24p but leave REC TYPE on INTERLACE, the LCD still shows HDV1080i. If I set to PROGRESSIVE and then 24 or 30, it doesn't. Might be the same for the Z7 -- the manuals have exactly the same text in this regard.

(Obviously if you've confirmed you've done this and the cam doesn't behave the same way, then they differ and I agree it's silly.)

You can output 720p via component and possibly HDMI. You could capture this way but you wouldn't have timecode. But at least you could display. As I would never shoot 720p but might work with others who do, I think it's a nice little bonus feature to have. Glass half full, as they say.

Simon Keating · March 17th, 2010, 03:12 PM

Hi Adam,
I've had a thorough look through the menus (thought I knew them pretty well, but you never know..)

I have the following options on the IN/OUT REC menu:

1st. REC FORMAT > HDV1080i or DVCAM

2nd. HDV PROGRE. (not sure what this abbreviation is for...) > REC TYPE: INTERLACE (50 or 25p) or PROGRESSIVE (25p)

Not terribly sure what HDV INTERLACE 25p would *be* exactly... surely a total contradiction?

But definitely the logo HDV1080i is still there. All this resolution stuff is tough enough without my own camera trying to trick me..!

Adam Gold · March 17th, 2010, 03:28 PM

HDV Interlace 25p shoots progressive but writes to tape as interlaced for decks or NLEs that don't support true progressive.

If you set REC TYPE to Progressive then you shouldn't have 1080i showing, but as I said our cams may not behave the same way. If you set REC TYPE to Interlaced but SCAN TYPE to 25p then the 1080i should show, to remind you that you're not recording to tape as true progressive. I'm looking at the Z7E/Z7P manual right now and you should be able to set both independently. If it's giving you a choice of 50 or 25 then you are set to interlace. When you set to Progressive it either won't give you a choice and automatically go to 25p, or 25p will be the only choice available. As I'm on NTSC, can't be sure what the actual display is.

In any event, if you're in true progressive mode, you probably shouldn't be seeing the 1080i icon in the LCD. But as my expertise is purely limited to reading the manual and experimenting on my similar but not identical cam, here's where my knowledge ends.

Simon Keating · March 17th, 2010, 03:34 PM

Think my camera is a Z7P (P for PAL?) but anyway, thanks for the clarification on the INTERLACED 25p setting, that clears that up. As for the other thing, I guess it's just an annoyance I'll ignore!
Cheers again
Simon

Adam Gold · March 17th, 2010, 03:49 PM

Yeah, the Z7E and Z7P use the same manual. Post above edited to reflect this.

So you're sure you've chosen REC TYPE > PROGRESSIVE and the screen still says 1080i? Interesting.

Simon Keating · March 17th, 2010, 03:53 PM

Totally, 110%, cast iron certain.

Adam Gold · March 17th, 2010, 03:57 PM

Must be a bug they ironed out when they released the Z5. Black Gaffer tape will fix this for you.

(Partial explanation on page 136: seems to imply this designation in the LCD is to distinguish from DV/DVCAM [SD only]. So you're either in one or the other.)

March 16th, 2010, 03:32 AM	#1
Simon Keating New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 6	Z7 - capture of HDV 720/30p Hi - I've been a bit slow to reach into the full capabilities of this rather nice camera, but I read in the instruction manual.. "your camcorder can play back pictures recorded in the HDV 720/30p format but cannot output it from the HDV/DV interface (i.LINK)" If you can't output this format, what on earth would be the point of shooting in it? Are they saying I need to purchase a deck at a cost of over $3000?? Or is there another way to ouput that I'm missing. Cheers for your help!

March 16th, 2010, 07:51 PM	#2
Jun Galinato Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 231	If im not mistaken, the Z7 can not record to 720P. Use the camcorder you have shoot the 720p to capture. Jun __________________ Sony Z7U, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 F4L, Canon 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 580 EXII, Zoom H2.

March 17th, 2010, 01:13 PM	#3
Simon Keating New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 6	re. Z7 - capture of HDV 720/30p Hi Jun, I guess that was my point - that quote was direct from the Z7 manual which was rather confusing.. I now realise you can't shoot in 720p. So is it just saying that if you happen to have some 720p footage from some other camera, don't expect your Z7 to be able to capture it? I find the Z7 display rather annoying because even when you're supposedly in 1080p, it still says 1080i in the top left and you have to rely on the 25p indicator to confirm you're actually in 1080p. Why couldn't they have programmed the camera to change the text?!?! Cheers

March 17th, 2010, 01:41 PM	#4
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Page 84 of your manual. You can shoot 25p and it can write to tape either as Interlaced 1080i or Progressive depending upon your needs. You need to set both REC TYPE and SCAN TYPE under HDV PROGRE. If I set my Z5 (admittedly not the same cam but similar firmware and menus) to 30p or 24p but leave REC TYPE on INTERLACE, the LCD still shows HDV1080i. If I set to PROGRESSIVE and then 24 or 30, it doesn't. Might be the same for the Z7 -- the manuals have exactly the same text in this regard. (Obviously if you've confirmed you've done this and the cam doesn't behave the same way, then they differ and I agree it's silly.) You can output 720p via component and possibly HDMI. You could capture this way but you wouldn't have timecode. But at least you could display. As I would never shoot 720p but might work with others who do, I think it's a nice little bonus feature to have. Glass half full, as they say. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

March 17th, 2010, 03:28 PM	#6
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	HDV Interlace 25p shoots progressive but writes to tape as interlaced for decks or NLEs that don't support true progressive. If you set REC TYPE to Progressive then you shouldn't have 1080i showing, but as I said our cams may not behave the same way. If you set REC TYPE to Interlaced but SCAN TYPE to 25p then the 1080i should show, to remind you that you're not recording to tape as true progressive. I'm looking at the Z7E/Z7P manual right now and you should be able to set both independently. If it's giving you a choice of 50 or 25 then you are set to interlace. When you set to Progressive it either won't give you a choice and automatically go to 25p, or 25p will be the only choice available. As I'm on NTSC, can't be sure what the actual display is. In any event, if you're in true progressive mode, you probably shouldn't be seeing the 1080i icon in the LCD. But as my expertise is purely limited to reading the manual and experimenting on my similar but not identical cam, here's where my knowledge ends. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

March 17th, 2010, 03:12 PM	#5
Simon Keating New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 6	Hi Adam, I've had a thorough look through the menus (thought I knew them pretty well, but you never know..) I have the following options on the IN/OUT REC menu: 1st. REC FORMAT > HDV1080i or DVCAM 2nd. HDV PROGRE. (not sure what this abbreviation is for...) > REC TYPE: INTERLACE (50 or 25p) or PROGRESSIVE (25p) Not terribly sure what HDV INTERLACE 25p would be exactly... surely a total contradiction? But definitely the logo HDV1080i is still there. All this resolution stuff is tough enough without my own camera trying to trick me..!

March 17th, 2010, 03:34 PM	#7
Simon Keating New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 6	Think my camera is a Z7P (P for PAL?) but anyway, thanks for the clarification on the INTERLACED 25p setting, that clears that up. As for the other thing, I guess it's just an annoyance I'll ignore! Cheers again Simon

March 17th, 2010, 03:49 PM	#8
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Yeah, the Z7E and Z7P use the same manual. Post above edited to reflect this. So you're sure you've chosen REC TYPE > PROGRESSIVE and the screen still says 1080i? Interesting. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

March 17th, 2010, 03:53 PM	#9
Simon Keating New Boot Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 6	Totally, 110%, cast iron certain.

March 17th, 2010, 03:57 PM	#10
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Must be a bug they ironed out when they released the Z5. Black Gaffer tape will fix this for you. (Partial explanation on page 136: seems to imply this designation in the LCD is to distinguish from DV/DVCAM [SD only]. So you're either in one or the other.) __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."