Taking still images with a sony z7 at DVinfo.net

Gregg Houston · April 28th, 2010, 09:52 AM

Hello guys. I know this may be a stupid question but I am about to embark on a music video shoot. The whole video is based around a photography technique where I blend still images together to create movement.

I am using a Sony Z7 and as far as I can tell there is no way to capture a still image with the camera. Does anyone know of any way to do this?

Many thanks,

Gregg

Adam Gold · April 28th, 2010, 10:22 AM

Page 26 of the Z7E/P manual. You assign PHOTO to one of your ASSIGN buttons and use a Mem Stick.

Gary Nattrass · April 28th, 2010, 02:15 PM

Yes it works and I have used it many times.

Gerd Kogler · May 2nd, 2010, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Houston

Hello guys. I know this may be a stupid question but I am about to embark on a music video shoot. The whole video is based around a photography technique where I blend still images together to create movement.

I am using a Sony Z7 and as far as I can tell there is no way to capture a still image with the camera. Does anyone know of any way to do this?

Many thanks,

Gregg

Greg, yes you can take still images (1440x1080) with the Z7, but wouldn't it be a better idea for your purpose, to shoot video and fish the wanted stills out with the little remote controller at the time of playback in slomo on your TV. They will go on the memory stick in the camera and can easily be downloaded with a card reader. The quality is the same, but changing the menu settings of the Z7 for every stills shot done in camera is time consuming.
Cheers, Gerd

Zach Love · May 28th, 2010, 11:11 PM

There are also shutter restrictions & you have to be in interlaced mode. Two things that I don't understand why the camera can't take a still in any setting, but then again it is a video camera & not a still camera, so I just pretty much forget that it can take stills.

B.J. Hjelholt · August 17th, 2010, 12:57 PM

Not sure you'll be able to achieve your desired goal with the Photo function on the Z7..

Sometimes we use the MemoryStick to grab stills/frame grabs from the tape in the camera in VCR mode so the director can have a running storyboard on promo shoots etc.. but other than that, in the 2+ yrs working with Z7U's everyday we rarely use them for stills.

Cheers,
BJ

William J. Wirth · August 22nd, 2010, 08:09 AM

As mentioned, you can assign a button to PHOTO.
But if you are short of buttons, use the Remote Control Photo button to take a photo. Of course, you have to remember to have the remote handy but it works just fine.
Using the remote also makes it easier to take photos while you are recording video since you don't have to touch the camera.
While I don't take photos often, sometimes it is just nice to have a still of a particular scene.

Jayasri Hart · August 23rd, 2010, 12:34 PM

I like the idea of using the remote. One reason I gave up using the Photo function in the middle of a shoot was that when I went back to video mode, the time code was reset. What was I missing?

William J. Wirth · August 24th, 2010, 09:22 AM

I tried some of the variables: photos while recording, photos with recording stopped; using an Assign button while recording and recording stopped; using the Remote while recording and stopped. All seemed to work OK for me.

April 28th, 2010, 09:52 AM	#1
Gregg Houston Tourist Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belfast Posts: 1	Taking still images with a sony z7 Hello guys. I know this may be a stupid question but I am about to embark on a music video shoot. The whole video is based around a photography technique where I blend still images together to create movement. I am using a Sony Z7 and as far as I can tell there is no way to capture a still image with the camera. Does anyone know of any way to do this? Many thanks, Gregg

April 28th, 2010, 10:22 AM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Page 26 of the Z7E/P manual. You assign PHOTO to one of your ASSIGN buttons and use a Mem Stick. __________________ "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."

April 28th, 2010, 02:15 PM	#3
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Yes it works and I have used it many times. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

May 28th, 2010, 11:11 PM	#5
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	There are also shutter restrictions & you have to be in interlaced mode. Two things that I don't understand why the camera can't take a still in any setting, but then again it is a video camera & not a still camera, so I just pretty much forget that it can take stills. __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

August 23rd, 2010, 12:34 PM	#8
Jayasri Hart New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 15	Taking Still Images with a Sony Z7 I like the idea of using the remote. One reason I gave up using the Photo function in the middle of a shoot was that when I went back to video mode, the time code was reset. What was I missing?

August 17th, 2010, 12:57 PM	#6
B.J. Hjelholt New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 19	Not sure you'll be able to achieve your desired goal with the Photo function on the Z7.. Sometimes we use the MemoryStick to grab stills/frame grabs from the tape in the camera in VCR mode so the director can have a running storyboard on promo shoots etc.. but other than that, in the 2+ yrs working with Z7U's everyday we rarely use them for stills. Cheers, BJ

August 22nd, 2010, 08:09 AM	#7
William J. Wirth New Boot Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Thornton Colorado Posts: 9	As mentioned, you can assign a button to PHOTO. But if you are short of buttons, use the Remote Control Photo button to take a photo. Of course, you have to remember to have the remote handy but it works just fine. Using the remote also makes it easier to take photos while you are recording video since you don't have to touch the camera. While I don't take photos often, sometimes it is just nice to have a still of a particular scene.

August 24th, 2010, 09:22 AM	#9
William J. Wirth New Boot Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Thornton Colorado Posts: 9	I tried some of the variables: photos while recording, photos with recording stopped; using an Assign button while recording and recording stopped; using the Remote while recording and stopped. All seemed to work OK for me.