Z5 or Z7, the question continues
 

As posted elsewhere, B&H now has the Z5 listed on their web site for $4299. They have the Z7 currently listed at $5299. They list the MRC1 at $845. So the Z7 winds up being $155.00 more than the Z5 with the MRC1. But the Z7 has the interchangeable lens capability. The Z5 has Exmor technology which should be a plus according to Sony's propaganda and it has a 20x zoom compared to the Z7's 12x lens. On the other hand, the Z7's lens has better controls and that is a plus. Tough choice.

Z7 has Exmor too :)

Jun

Your right. My bad. Sony suckered me in with some of their literature saying this was the first 1/3" CMOS camcorder with Exmor Technology. But I should have known better. When they introduced the V1 is was the first to offer progressive scan. When they introduced the Z7 and S270 they made a similar claim. And they said something similar when the Z5 was introduced as well. Sneaky ad people.

its a tough choice but i think the Z5 will handle better given its smaller size? I wouldnt be changing lens if i'm a wedding videographer. The 20x zoom would be nice.

The Z7 has 1.5 digital extender to make it 18x, close to 20x. I have shot a concert with the digital extender on. No artifacts or blocks.

Jun

I have not had the same results. I find it awful and useless. Personal preference I guess.

Keithdbf

I have owned a VX2100 with 20x digital zoom but it's useless but the Z7 digital extender is very useful if you can't get closer.

does anyone know what the 20x "mm" range is on the Z5 is?

Z1 is 4.5mm to 54mm
Z7 is 4.4mm to 52.8mm

I'm guessing that the Z5 would be something like 4.4mm to 88mm, but it could go wider and be like 3.5mm to 70mm which would almost negate the need of wide angle adapter

Well in 35mm terms, the range will be 29.5mm (max.wide) to 590mm (max.tele).

(Personally i always think of focal length ranges in 35mm-equiv terms as otherwise you always need to consider the real focal lenght of the lens together with the size of the sensor).

4.1-82 mm...

Shoot review of Z5U
 

A very nice review:
Shoot Review: Sony HVR-Z5U

Reviving an old thread here but I made my choice and I chose the Z7. I got to play with a FX1000 before I got the Z7. I really liked the Z5/FX1000 lens and somewhere down the line, I will probably wish the standard lens on the Z7 went wider and longer like the Z5. That hasn't happened yet but there is no doubt that the Z5 lens offers some advantages. But I am extremely happy with the Z7. After playing with both, I would choose the Z7 again. There are very subtle reasons I like the Z7. I prefer the buttons and the ND filter control of the Z7. Plus, I think the Z7 winds up being a camcorder that is easier to build on for professioanl applications. For example, the Mike Tapia mount for Nikon lenses. I can't fully explain why, but for some reason, the Z7 just seems to fit me better than the FX1000 I played with. No buyers remorse at all. On the contrary, I find that I am more enthusiastic about shooting than I have been in a long time. I haven't been this excited since I got my first Betacam. This is a really neat toy.

welcome to the Z7 family, keep posting as you keep shooting

This may seem trivial, but how does the LCD viewfinder compare between the two?
I haven't seen the Z7's, but the Z5's is fantastically sharp.

They are the same.