Sony Z5 Steadyshot works or not?
 

I am having trouble getting my steadyshot on my newish Z5 camera to work when zoomed in.

In fact having the steadyshot on or off seems to do almost nothing.

I came from the Z1, and I had no shake problems, but with the Z5 it seems impossible to have a steady shot with any zoom at all. It may be the balance of the camera, my wrist not strong enough to hold a 5lb camera or something else.......

Ideas?!

could be that you're now working with a x20 zoom rather than a x12?

i would have thought (judging by your post) that using a tripod might be advantageous when zooming fully in.

leslie

I should be able to zoom half way and get a decent shot, but it seems like it wobbbbleeeessss terribly.

Do you have the Z5? I wonder if this is a error with my camera, it really should be better then this, or maybe I need to adjust to a heavier camera

have z5 -though i usually shoot on legs, the occasions i have hand held with steadyshot on seem to have worked well (as opposed to turning it off) - however, i usually am shooting pretty wide in most cases.....

can you get access to another z5, or perhaps visit a showroom and try one out there?

I agree with Leslie's strategy.
- Simply take it to a store that has a Z5 available for demo, where you can check your unit it back-to-back with the demo Z5, and then this will instantly tell you whether it's a problem with your specific unit. That's absolutely the first thing to do.

Try this with your Z5,

Set up a cup or other object about 3 feet away, zoom in so that the cup fills the width of the screen, standing about 3 feet away, you should be at about 60-70% of your zoom.

Turn your steadyshot on and off and see if it makes any difference.

For me there is no difference whatsoever.
I can't wait 4 weeks for Sony to get the camera and send it back. I just did that because something went wrong and the lens had to be replaced. Its still under warranty but I dont have enough time between jobs to send it away that long.

Ha. Here it says the camera has no steadyshot, even though the function exists on the camera....

Compare Sony HVR-Z5 DV Camcorder vs. Sony Handycam HDR-XR520 High Definition AVCHD Camcorder - Shopping.com

i wouldn't put too much faith in shopping.com, or any other site that simply cuts and pastes tables.

if you don't believe what it says in the manual....

meanwhile, check out a z5 at a store - quicker than sending it away for no reason.

Mine works great. Better than some of the other cameras I've used in the past.

Mark G

Mark,
Have you tried zooming in most of the way and holding handheld?
Does it work well.... it must be a flaw on mine because it shakes horrible!

steady
 

Try to upload an example video with Steadyshot on and off. I have the NX5, on maximum zoom I can definitely see an improvement with if I activate any Steadyshot setting (NX5 has more Steadyshot functions that Z5 but It has also the standard Steadyshot found on Z5). It's not stable as I wanted to be but it makes a difference.
Here it is a example I shot with the standard Steadyshot on and off

I have a Z5 and I get good results from SteadyShot. About half of my shooting is personal family stuff which is often HandHeld. We hike quite a bit at our cabin leaving me winded. With a few minutes rest I can usually get good captures using SS. I really noticed the difference when I spent an entire day shooting without the SS, I got great scenery but it looked like a random family vacation you might see on YouTube. I had a hard time isolating 60frame (30p) segments of usable footage. I ended up with ~4-5 short clips out of ~10min and some of that I took advantage of the movement.

When I'm rested I can get steady shots using SS. I've been carrying my http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571257-REG/CineBags_CB_25_DIGITAL_CAMO_CB_25_Revolution_Backpack_Digital.html on week-end trying to get into better shape. I'd like to be able to scoot-n-shoot for several hours straight and keep my composure.

Steadyshot Update
 

Well I received the camera back from Sony and it still has terrible steadyshot. I cannot tell if its on or off.

In comparison with the EX1, Z1, FX7 cameras the difference is terrible. I am used to zooming in almost all the way handheld and getting great close up shots at weddings. I really cannot do this with this camera - I think must be my actual camera however since no one else has had issues apparently?

And its apparent at 70-100% zoom level - at a total wide shot you cannot see much even on a steadyshot that works.