Shot my first client footage with FX1 today.
 

Finally got to review it tonight on my father in law's 65 inch HDTV.

I had to change my pants.

It looked amazing. We shot documentary style in a confrence room with just the ceiling lights. I was concerned how the footage would look under these conditions and I was blown away when I saw it.

Such detail, amazing color and just a fantastic shoot.

Just wanted to share about my first 'real' day out with the FX1. I'm very pleased with this machine.

Also, used the DVRig Pro for 1.5 hours straight and it worked like a dream.

Congrats to you! Glad to hear you like it. It's addictive, isn't it? Having a 700, I've always got the quality but it's such a PITA to shoot with. On the other side....These are cheap, light, fast, no sweat, and just plain fun.
And that's why I'm so enthused about the format in the way Sony has presented it.

The real pain comes from knowing that you're going to have to distribute in SD.

Bryan,

Are you using a battery mounted on the DVRigPro? I'm trying to figure out what on-camera light to get, and how I could use whatever battery I get as ballast for the rig. My church is growing pretty fast and, although I disagree, they want to go for this type of man-on-the-street interview approach on a regular basis. Also, you may have answered this in another thread, but have you noticed much MPEG-2 artifacts with moving shots done on the Rig?

@ Brian
 

Brian did you use a camera light when shooting in the conference room (where there was only ceiling light)???? Please can you post a link where I can see the footage you shot. I am very very interested how it performed under those conditions :-)

No battery on the rig right now, but I just got it so I'm not sure what I'll end up doing to it.

No light either, just the overheads for the shoot.

I'll put some footage up, but it will be Monday before I can get to it.

No artifacts at all that I noticed, but I was not doing much fast moving in this shoot.

That would be nice if you can do make a link to that footage. I am still in doubt wether to buy the Z1 or the PD170. If the low light capability is enough to shoot good footage on a church

, in door (home) surrounding I will go for the z1. Else I have to wait for the update of the z1 probably some where end 2006 and stick to SD footage.

The stuff I shot wasn't really low light, just not controlled light. There was enough light in the room, it just wasn't ideal.

Just to let you know that what I shot yesterday wouldn't really be a good low light test.

I am not looking for absurd low light tests as shannon rawls performed (which is basically like trying to shoot in a dark room, I am not into pornography LOL :-)) ). I just want a cam which is able to shoot good footage (preferably in HDV format) in ordinary life conditions like living rooms, churches, exposition halls, in door sports events etc. I am still not sure if the z1 can bring this. I haven't seen any footage yet from people who posses a FX1/Z1.

As Bryan saw in my family room with the FX1 connected directly to the HDTV via composite cables as I shot he and his friend, lighting certainly makes a huge difference.

But I think the FX1 does just fine in "normal" lighting.

I've done some more shooting and I tell you, I keep getting butterflies in my stomach when I see the footage.

It's that good.

I can't believe this is coming out of a $3300 camera.

Hurry up HD-DVD!!!

www.lifeproductions.net/HiDef.html has some very interesting, very low light, extreme dynamic range footage.

Our Z1 performs about 90% as well as our PD170's in low light. Very nice camera.

BTW Hi guys - this is my first post here.

Steve Connor
Cardinal HD

steve
 

Can you post some links withfootage of the z1 in low light conditions together with the same footage of the PD170 as comparison ??