B&H is now accepting pre-orders for the Z7
 

Here's the link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...&O=&sku=532558

I'm really disappointed in the price, however: $6500 MSRP, $6300 retail (shown after you add it to the cart). It seems likes this camera really needs to be quite a bit cheaper than the PMW-EX1 to sell well. I sure hope this comes down considerably, or it will probably be out of my price range.

I am vary disappointed too I paid $6495 for my EX If the price dose not drop. I will pick up another XDCAM-EX.

In my opinion the Z7 is way overpriced. For that money I would also go for an EX or a JVC HD 200. I expected to be in the mid 5k range. But the Brians are right, too close to the EX1. Oh well, Sony, the one and only.

Cheers.

That is quite strange. It's as if the two sony divisions are not aware of each other.

Yep, it seems to cost too much 1/3" chips. Maybe some reviews will justify the price somehow....if anyone buys it to make a review.

I believe that is actually the case.

I am very close to ordering one of these. The price seems steep compared to other HDV cams, but not steep compared to a combination of an HDV camera and Sony HVR-DR60 recording unit.

For me personally, there are a number of reasons to go this route instead of with an EX1:

1/ I usually go through stacks of tapes in a typical documentary style shoot.
2/ Ability to go tapeless on smaller projects.
3/ Ability to replace stock lens with wide angle model.
4/ lanc controller input
5/ Exposure presets that expose for area below the horizon.
6/ low light that is supposed to be comperable to PD150 and EX1.
7/ Built in audio limiter (boy is this important on a one man shoot).
8/ HDMI output.
9/ Memory cards are orders of magnitude cheaper.
10/ My projects all end up Blu-ray compatible AVCHD discs (burned onto standard DVD+-Rs at 1440 x 1080) anyway.

Are there any wide angle lenses available that fit it?

The VCL-308BWH is mentioned on page six of this brochure:

http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/pdf/S...E_Brochure.pdf

It will have focal lengths between 24mm-192mm (vs 32mm-384mm for the stock lens).

It is supposed to be released around June of this year.

That's the one I want.

now accepting pre-orders for the S270 too
 

Here's the link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...HDV_1080i.html

FWIW, my info is that "list" price for the HVRZ7U 1080i HDV is 6850.00.

Ah... I guess I meant the "advertised" price. Believe me, my beef is not with B&H's pricing structure -- I know you guys always offer a fair price.

It's just astonishing to me that Sony would start out with a list price for an HDV camera that was equal to or higher that of the PMW-EX1. I don't understand that marketing strategy at all.

I need a better camera and have been going back and forth between the Z7 and the EX1. I've pretty much decided on the Z7 though in spite of the obvious image quality difference.

Why? I just can't work the EX1 way yet. I am a sort of semi-pro at this whole video thing, but I do have a number of projects lined up. I just can't be shuttling cards in and out between a camera and a laptop. I'm doing a South American trip this summer to a pretty poor area and plan on going with about 20 tapes. I simply can't be trudging along in taxis and hired pickup trucks with a laptop and external hard disc looking for reliable AC power. It just won't work.

On smaller jobs I'll use compact flash I'm sure, but these big jobs are my favorites.

As far as the image quality goes, HDV is still pretty amazing IMHO. My only complaint so far has been image deterioration in low light, but the Z7 should do that almost as well as the EX1.

Other things aren't so important, but most of them seem to line up on the side of the Z7: Lanc controller, limiter, included shotgun mic, replaceable lens, PD150 style batteries and chargers. I'm sure I'll be extremely with this camera.

Well, differents cameras for differents needs. I welcome those new cams from Sony as a great expansion of possibilities for the shooter. I will stick to my Canon A1 but I am very happy to see HDV alive and kicking. The next two years are going to be very exciting.

Those are all the reasons I was drooling over the Z7. But at almost $1200 more expensive than I had hoped, unfortunately, it's out of my price range.

Once I get my tax return, I may be looking at a used V1u instead. Oh, well.

Although I was seriously considering a Z7, I agree that they've priced it too high. I'll probably look at a Canon A1 instead.