Ist there really an issue getting SV out of this camera?

What is "SV"? Do you mean "SD" as in "Standard Definition"?

The Z1 can shoot in 3 modes: HDV, DV SP and DVCAM. Additionally, it can shoot in NTSC mode (60i) and PAL mode (50i), so you have more options than just about any other camcorder on the market. I have used all of these, and everything worked fine.

Did you have a specific concern about something?