Z5 or Z7?

Greg Laves · November 12th, 2008, 07:42 PM

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.

Jun Galinato · November 12th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Z7 has Exmor too :)

Jun

Greg Laves · November 12th, 2008, 09:05 PM

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.

Sean Seah · November 13th, 2008, 03:47 AM

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.

Jun Galinato · November 13th, 2008, 12:53 PM

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

Keith Forman · November 13th, 2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jun Galinato

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

Jun Galinato · November 13th, 2008, 06:07 PM

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.

Zach Love · November 14th, 2008, 02:53 PM

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

Stu Holmes · November 14th, 2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach Love

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).

Pedanes Bol · November 14th, 2008, 07:05 PM

4.1-82 mm...

Ilya Spektor · November 21st, 2008, 10:15 AM

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

Greg Laves · January 26th, 2009, 07:43 PM

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.

Zach Love · January 27th, 2009, 11:39 AM

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

Michael Liebergot · January 29th, 2009, 11:52 AM

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.

Greg Laves · January 29th, 2009, 11:58 AM

They are the same.

November 12th, 2008, 07:42 PM	#31
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	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.

November 12th, 2008, 08:43 PM	#32
Jun Galinato Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 231	Z7 has Exmor too :) Jun __________________ Sony Z7U, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 F4L, Canon 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 580 EXII, Zoom H2.

November 13th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#35
Jun Galinato Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 231	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 __________________ Sony Z7U, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 F4L, Canon 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 580 EXII, Zoom H2.

November 13th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#37
Jun Galinato Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 231	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. __________________ Sony Z7U, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 F4L, Canon 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 580 EXII, Zoom H2.

November 21st, 2008, 10:15 AM	#41
Ilya Spektor Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 99	Shoot review of Z5U A very nice review: Shoot Review: Sony HVR-Z5U __________________ Thank you.

November 12th, 2008, 09:05 PM	#33
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	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.

November 13th, 2008, 03:47 AM	#34
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	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.

November 14th, 2008, 02:53 PM	#38
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	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

November 14th, 2008, 07:05 PM	#40
Pedanes Bol Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston MA Posts: 167	4.1-82 mm...

January 26th, 2009, 07:43 PM	#42
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	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.

January 27th, 2009, 11:39 AM	#43
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	welcome to the Z7 family, keep posting as you keep shooting

January 29th, 2009, 11:52 AM	#44
Michael Liebergot Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,505	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. __________________ Michael www.lvpvideo.com

January 29th, 2009, 11:58 AM	#45
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	They are the same.