Small discovery
 

If you flip the LCD screen around so the screen is now on top and lock it closed, both screen and viewfinder operate at the sme time.
It may help to know this for some shooting positions.

Chris refers to the FX1.

The Z1 already allows for the LCD & EVF to be on at the same time.

Thanks Chris,

does the Z1U do interval recording/time lapse???
 

Does anyone know whether the Z1U does interval recording or time lapse recording???

Strangely enough I didn't notice this feature in HDV mode or in DV mode. Am I missing something? All Sony video camera I know of have this feature including low end consumer models.

My VX2000 had it. I'm sure I'm missing something. Perhaps it's tucked away in some menu???

Thanks in advance,

- Nicholas

It only does it in DV mode. Check out the menu settings while the camera is in DV recording mode.

Z1U "Use real LithiumInfo Batteries" warning...
 

YES, the Z1U says the same thing.

Remember those batteries I bought that were LithInfo ready?

Well, I bought 2 more just so I could have 4 total (just in case I am shooting in the desert, lol)

The two new bateries came on Saturday and all four are IDENTICAL in design, size, labeling, color, plastic molding, etc...

Well, 1 of the 2 new ones was defective or someting because the charger wouldn't give any information on the battery.

So I popped it on the camera, and low&behold...that warning came up immediately. Needless to say, I returned to the company for a replacement.

So the moral of the story is....for the FX1 AND the Z1, you may use any battery type other then Sony, so long as it is LithiumInfo compatible. To test this, just pop it on your charger and if the charger gives you battery details in a few moments, you are all good. Or, pop it on the camera and hit the Battery Info button while the camera is off. if it gives you battery info, you're all good.

otherwise...sorry.

- ShannonRawls.com

I know this issue also came up with the PD-170. People reported that third party batteries which worked fine on the PD-150 generated an error message on the 170. However, I also read that the message was only displayed the first time you put the battery on the camera. Evidently if you shut the camera off after the error message, and left the battery in place, then the next time you powered up everything worked.

This is all anecdotal, I don't have personal experience....

HELP dub timecode with downconvert?
 

Trying to do a dvcam downconvert to a PD150 via ilink and retain the timecode - without success. Has anyone tried this?

Tested: HZ1 vs F900 and Varicam!
 

Hello,

I'm not going to steal Mike Curtis' thunder, but I don't know how many of you follow his excellent blog site www.hdforindies.com.

In a few days (or maybe even a week or more), Mike will be unveiling the results of our HD/SD shootout we had today at 501 Studios in Austin.

Basically, we shot a variety of sound-stage shots with a male and female cast, and then some outdoor stuff. This was all very controlled conditions, and each shooter set his camera to what he/she considered optimal for the conditions.

The cameras present were my Z1U, the Varicam, the HDW-F900, a Canon XL2, and a DVX100A. We all grouped tightly together, and each shot was slated so that we can do relatively frame-accurate comparisons. (I shot 50i for most of it...better compression, and better for 24p conversion.)

I had an indirect comparison with the F900 a week or so ago, and I was astonished at how close it actually did get, though Mike's eyes were apparently a bit more discerning than mine. :-) Or maybe it was just my zeal. (There's already a write-up about it on Mike's blog.)

Anyway, it looked really really good, and I think all you Z1/FX1 shooters will have your purchase decisions even further vindicated when Mike is finished putting it all together.

Just a heads-up...keep watching his site for the results to be posted.

-John

Sounds difficult to achieve with a PD150. I suppose you can't set it to EXT timecode for recording?
One way would propably be taking the material to a non-linear editor, and "black-out" your tape with the correct timecode with some tape recorder or camera that is capable of doing that, and then edit to tape from the right timecode.

Thanks John,

Mike's most excellent blog is permalinked (gotta love that blogospeak) from my Resources page at www.hdvinfo.net. See you at SXSW hopefully!

New HDV Handle Bracket For Sony HVR-Z1U
 

Pretty expensive for such a little piece! But, I thought I'd post the product here anyway:

http://www.vfgadgets.com/HDV-HDHandle.html

To me it looks like it's priced right. Thanks for sharing this Murph,

Will fx-1 wide angle adapter work with lens shade?
 

I'm just wondering if adding the Century Optics .6 adapter to the fx-1 means you can't use the lens shade with the camera. I'm planning to do some serious outdoor shooting and would like to have the lens shade and wide angle adapter if possible. Any thoughts would be helpful.

JD

With the wide-angle adapter attached, you could either add a clamp-on matte box or add a matte box with rails. Then you put an eyebrow on the matte box and you're all set. Another solution is to take the adapter to a photo retailer; they might have a hood that will fit.

FX1 sighting - on SPEED channel
 

I'm a racing freak and the F1 season started this weekend. After Juan Pablo Montoya finished his qualifying lap Friday night (Sat in Austrailia) Speed cut to a shot of the team in his garage. Walking in was a guy shooting with an FX1 (no shotgun clamp).

Damn, I wish I had that kind of access!

HVR-Z1 testimonial
 

This is a very interesting testimonial.
http://www.cyndigreening.com/more/SonyHVRZ1-LG.mov

that is a recut of the BBC interview that DSE posted a while back, but it includes a PIP of the JAG episode. Thanks!

Here's another version of the interview:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=38555

Chrosziels matte box from PD150 fits Z1
 

I bought a PD150 long before Sony came out with a wide-angle adaptor (without a lens shade!!!) and so purchased a Canon. I'm very pleased to now find that the Croziel matte box with the adaptor to fit this Canon lens now also fits my new Z1. It locks on to the bayonet section at the front of the Z1 lens (not further on as would be ideal) but seems reasonably secure. I have to insert the filters from the bottom as from the top the handles bang against the bottom of the mic.

HDV to film
 

On this URL you will find very interesting comments from one of the more active labs transferring video to film.

These are some first findings over tests they made using HDV:

http://www.swisseffects.ch/HDVto35mm_1.pdf

Quite enlightening and objective.

Puzzling when they say that the image has a "more videoish character" than pro HD formats.





Carlos

Individual Picture Profile Settings
 

Sorry, these are newbie type questions but it is so easy to pass over the technical capabilities of a good tool instead of learning how to use it well.

What is the CineFrame setting actually doing and are there reasons for a preference of CF25 versus CF30 (the question is more directed to a visual preference rather than the technical)?

My eventual delivery will generally be by projector and HD DVD. How do these CineFrame settings fit for future HD DVD delivery? (Does the DVD player adjust to any given frame rate).

Similarly, are people finding the gamma settings 1 and 2 useful (I saw DSE's post on the PP setting thread)?

And then is the AE Shift setting in PP the same as AE Override with ASSIGN or are they doing different things?

Is there are way of doing an AE lock - so you point the camera somewhere, lock the AE and it holds the setting until released (like focus / recompose with a camera).

Andrew

i did some tests - when tested demo Z1 camera. and i cannot say that i agree on everything what is wroted on previously mentioned link.

- i did some transfer WITH CF mode. (i mean HDV-->35mm film)and it looked nice. i do not have waveform or similar instruments to judge somehow- how different two modes are, but to my eye - i do NOT think that CF mode is something difficult to transfer or "not correct". it looked nice, absolutelly no videoish look.

for me - the worst thing was GAIN - when over 3dB it looks very electronic, (not the picture but the noise). something what you will not exept from 35mm - it looks like someone puts electronic noise on normal film material. this is the only "electronic" atrefact visible (at least for me)

it's a pity that i cannot share this footage, but if someone wants to see it in poland - you are wellcome.

filip

changing mic input on HDR-FX1
 

I am still very new to this camera and I am learning it.

How do I properly change the mic input on the camera??

I have a new sennheiser shotgun mic...

I pull up the menu--- go to audio options... and hit external mic... Everything seems fine..

But it's still pulling sound from the on-camera Mic.... and when I do a status check.... the audio input is not External Mic...

Please advise


And thanks again for your time...

I believe you set the menu to Line.
It's not very logical.

Anyone Use a Shure SM89 on their FX1/Z1?
 

Has anyone tried an SM 89 on the Sony HDV cam? I'm curious if it's too long for camera mount.

Thanks.

A couple of things...
 

1) Has anyone heard about a seperate focus and/or zoom controller for this beast of a camera? Looking for something so we can use a steady cam and have all the functions in hand.

2) We are a Vancouver based filmmaking commune and are currently in pre-production of our second feature which is a scifi comedy/interactive project. Which will be shot in a Vancouver studio between April. 6~11 and April.14~19.
We are attempting to do some pretty interesting things with this project and are looking for anyone interested in helping out, while also learning at the same time.

What were looking for is anyone with the new SONY HD Camera. We are planning to have a couple ourselves but are looking for quite a few for atleast one day, when we are going to attempt an atleast 10 camera BulletTime sequence.

So... If you have one of these new cameras and are looking to test it out with a new and innovative project. Please send a general email to shane@1501films.com and in the meantime please check us out at www.1501films.com and 2 of our other cast/roomates pages at www.dustinladd.com and www.aubreytennant.com and then within the next week or so we should have the actual movie website up at www.labcoatunderground.com

Don't be shy about replying were a bunch of funny and interesting Vancouver residents. So if your interested in this project, please ask any questions you like.

And does anyone know of there being a zoom/focus controller for the SONY DV camera?

Cheers

Shane,
there are a number of options for focus and zoom.
They range from $150 for a Varizoom to much more (anyone remember the price) for a Chrosziel puller.

Do a search here for focus and you'll find lots of info.

FX-1 / Z1 Owner in Atlanta?
 

I have an green screen effects shot I'm doing in our studio in the next month or so, and am wondering if anyone in Atlanta now owns a Fx-1 or Z-1?

I'd like to shoot in HDV, but will do the shot in BetaSP otherwise. I know you can rent from Showcase Video, but seeking a private owner.

Let me know...

Jeff Patnaude

zooms into HD footage
 

If you watch during the interviews after practice/qualify they do digital zooms into the HD footage. It's so cool to use that extra resolution for something!

Z1: DV Capture to PPro
 

If you have the Z1 camera set to output (downconvert) standard DV from an HDV recorded tape, and you are capturing to a standard preset DV project in Premiere Pro, do the capture window, device control, transport buttons, scene detect, etc., etc. all work normally?
In other words, is the workflow just the same as capturing clips from a standard DV tape in a PD 150, DSR-11 deck, etc.
Bob

new frameserving method - HDV into Vegas as "avi" - a way to get cf24 to be 24p?
 

Hi folks...

read DSE's posts and if you look in editing forum, you'll see my link to frameserving to Vegas/Premiere Pro...

just wondering now if you can frameserve HDV into Vegas as an "avi" and then import it into 24p timeline to handle it the way you would a DVX100 24p - ie. apply 3:2 pulldown to the cf24 footage that's frameserved in...

would this work?

I won't be able to try till I get home in about 12 hrs...

Mark

identical.

If you're talking about standard-def material, you can import that directly and use the "file format properties" option to remove the pulldown, leaving 24 distinct frames. Still doesn't look like 24p, it has the odd jerky 1/3 - 2/3 motion signature of CF24, but you can edit it as 24 distinct frames.

Your frameserving idea would probably allow doing so for the high-def material (Vegas currently doesn't allow removing pulldown from HD material as far as I know). The motion signature will still be off, but I think it would indeed let you access the individual frames.

Z1 Rental in Maryland?
 

Looking for probable 3-day to 1-week rental in Maryland, June 6-10.

Anyone have one around here?

Thanks in advance.

Actually I found a place now -

FWIW:
Video Equipment Rentals

CF30 or SS30
 

I posted this in another thread and it got burried in other issues so I decided to make my own thread.

Quick Question for those in the know. I've been messing around with just about eveything inside and outside this camera and I have also grown to love CF30. Here's my question:

Is there a drawback to using the cam without CF30 but with the shutter speed set to 30?

To me it looks even better(motion wise) and it looks the same (image qual wise) but the huge advantage gained is that you get twice as much light. For me this is great because the only thing I don't like about my FX1 is how much light it needs. I know that using CF30 can end up costing you vertical resolution so I assume the same is true with a shuttle speed of 30, can anyone verify this?

Thanks in advance,
Eric James

As I understand it, a 1/30th shutter speed reduces resolution by 1/2. I do not know whether that means half of the CCD (520 as CF 30 supposedly provides) or half of the resolving power (I've been told that the Z1 only resolves 750-800 lines due to "twitter" and odd things I don't understand about the interlaced format)

It LOOKS to me like it provides one clean field (520 lines, thus giving 520x1440 progressive and twice the light with a nice motion blur) but that just my opinion from looking at it in the store ( I don't own one) I tried just about every option though, and the 1/30th shutter was by far the best.

I just wonder how it transfers to film at 24 frames? Seems like the 1/25th shutter would be better suited... but does that give too much motion blur? (They didn't have a Z1 in the store)

Jeff

Z1 SD comparison
 

Has anyone compared the HDV -> SD 4:3 center-cut output and native 4:3 DV recording? Is this setting only on the analog outputs or does it apply to the HDV>DV 1394 output as well?

"istabilize" - software to help with motion sickness on FX1/Z1?
 

Hey all,

Do you think this software would help with our motion sickness?

http://www.istabilize.de/index.html

It "stabilizes" crappy footage and we only need to to stabilize a little. Maybe it'll help with our problem of shooting high motion and getting strobbing?

Will this work on HDV footage ? It is cheap . I posted about 2 months ago if anyone had used it on dv but got no response - I'd love to hear some feedback also. thanks Kurth

Shotgun bracket for FX1
 

Does anyone add a shotgun mic on FX1? What kind of bracket will fit? I do still need the "show adapter" for lights.

Thank you in advanced.

Eric