Sony HVR-Z5U Cassette & Focus Repair

David Barnett · May 11th, 2015, 07:51 PM

Well, screw me. I think I had the gain on auto mostly. I got it back with alot of factory resets & that was one I hadn't changed. I rarely touch it anyway, and its been a while so I just thought not seeing any gain displayed meant it was 0. Before the LCD would display the gain (-12, -18 etc) when in Auto mode but it doesn't seem to do that now. Not even when the camera is in Complete Auto. Had I seen -12 displayed or whatever I would have known to change the gain to Manual but i didn't see it.

Upsetting as I reviewed over the camera. I suppose it could have been worse.

Adam Gold · May 11th, 2015, 11:11 PM

You don't have to change it to manual -- you can set the upper limit so it helps but doesn't produce any grain.

I'm good with an AGC limit of 9, but fussier folks prefer 6.

Also note you can save your settings to a stick as a Camera Profile and just restore them when the cam comes back from the shop -- sort of like a Win SysRestore.

IIRC when a value isn't displayed, that usually means the cam is in auto mode for at least that value. It usually lights up when you go Manual, at least with most recent Sonys. I could be wrong -- I set my default preferences years ago and haven't changed them much since then. I'm pretty sure you can specify this behavior in the DISPLAY SET menu. Page 82. An "A" appears when in auto next to the data. You tell it whether to display cam data. Don't confuse this with DATA CODE, p. 54, which is for playback only, or DATE REC (p. 94) which burns the date and time permanently into the picture.

David Barnett · May 12th, 2015, 08:41 AM

Thanks for your feedback Adam. I really thought the prev settings did show gain, as sometimes I saw some awkward settings, even like -3 outdoors in daylights?! with it having ND filters on 1/16 or 1/64 etc.

Anyway it was a short ceremony, although being at a venue the backdrop was black:( which really shows the gain. The dance floor was pretty well lit so that footage is ok. Not the end of the world, plus I think computer monitors don't show black as well as TVs tend to, and with Neatvideo & adjusting black levels it's passable.

Live & learn.

Adam Gold · May 13th, 2015, 12:12 AM

Yes, you aren't remembering wrong -- it *did* likely show gain, and it will again if you tell it to.

Page 82. Really.

May 11th, 2015, 07:51 PM	#16
David Barnett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 951	Re: Sony HVR-Z5U Cassette & Focus Repair Well, screw me. I think I had the gain on auto mostly. I got it back with alot of factory resets & that was one I hadn't changed. I rarely touch it anyway, and its been a while so I just thought not seeing any gain displayed meant it was 0. Before the LCD would display the gain (-12, -18 etc) when in Auto mode but it doesn't seem to do that now. Not even when the camera is in Complete Auto. Had I seen -12 displayed or whatever I would have known to change the gain to Manual but i didn't see it. Upsetting as I reviewed over the camera. I suppose it could have been worse.

May 11th, 2015, 11:11 PM	#17
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Sony HVR-Z5U Cassette & Focus Repair You don't have to change it to manual -- you can set the upper limit so it helps but doesn't produce any grain. I'm good with an AGC limit of 9, but fussier folks prefer 6. Also note you can save your settings to a stick as a Camera Profile and just restore them when the cam comes back from the shop -- sort of like a Win SysRestore. IIRC when a value isn't displayed, that usually means the cam is in auto mode for at least that value. It usually lights up when you go Manual, at least with most recent Sonys. I could be wrong -- I set my default preferences years ago and haven't changed them much since then. I'm pretty sure you can specify this behavior in the DISPLAY SET menu. Page 82. An "A" appears when in auto next to the data. You tell it whether to display cam data. Don't confuse this with DATA CODE, p. 54, which is for playback only, or DATE REC (p. 94) which burns the date and time permanently into the picture. __________________ "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."

May 12th, 2015, 08:41 AM	#18
David Barnett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 951	Re: Sony HVR-Z5U Cassette & Focus Repair Thanks for your feedback Adam. I really thought the prev settings did show gain, as sometimes I saw some awkward settings, even like -3 outdoors in daylights?! with it having ND filters on 1/16 or 1/64 etc. Anyway it was a short ceremony, although being at a venue the backdrop was black:( which really shows the gain. The dance floor was pretty well lit so that footage is ok. Not the end of the world, plus I think computer monitors don't show black as well as TVs tend to, and with Neatvideo & adjusting black levels it's passable. Live & learn.

May 13th, 2015, 12:12 AM	#19
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Sony HVR-Z5U Cassette & Focus Repair Yes, you aren't remembering wrong -- it did likely show gain, and it will again if you tell it to. Page 82. Really. __________________ "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."