FX1 / Z1 It was better to wait ! at DVinfo.net

Pedro Paiva · September 12th, 2006, 10:39 PM

Well guys some of you might remember the thread a few days ago discussing if it would be better to wait for new models or to buy a Z1/FX1 at that time.
Some said that it would take ages for some to release a new model and other believed that they would respond to Canon's new models. The thread even had to me moderated as it got a bit "out of focus"...
Anyway, they've just announced the new versions:
http://nct.digitalriver.com/fulfill/...f96467dd63a5-3
Seems that it was good to wait, then!

Mark Utley · September 12th, 2006, 11:04 PM

I think you posted the wrong link but yep, it was good to wait. There's a forum for the FX7/V1 cameras here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=140

Douglas R. Bruce · September 12th, 2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro Paiva

Well guys some of you might remember the thread a few days ago discussing if it would be better to wait for new models or to buy a Z1/FX1 at that time.
Some said that it would take ages for some to release a new modelSeems that it was good to wait, then!

I have on numerous occassions pointed out that Sony have no plans for A REPLACEMENT for the Z1 at the moment.
That is still true.
The new cameras that you are referring to are NEW cameras in their own "slot". Neither of them is a "REPLACEMENT" for the Z1.

Sony releases consumer models quite often. Sometimes they are to fill a gap, sometimes they are just to test the market.
But on the Pro side they have a very definite workflow - and that does not include "replacing" existing models on a daily basis (slight exaggeration....smile)
Pro cameras have a production line that is reckoned on turning out cameras for AT LEAST 4 years at a time.

There is a big difference in "replacing" camera models and introducing new models.

Pedro Paiva · September 13th, 2006, 03:52 AM

Douglas.

Do you really think the new fx7 camera is not intended to replace the FX1?
Why wouldn't i t be? 3 CMOS sounds like a natural "evolution"...

I went to have a look on your website gaijin-eyes.com but unfortunately couldn't open any of the movie files as they are only available in (argh) .wmv format. I don't know about (argh again!) windows but WMP for Mac really sucks. Besides the bad video quality it's just impossible to control playback.
Hope you consider providing Quicktime files in the future as I'm sure your videos are really good and many mac users would love to see them.
Cheers.
PP

Douglas R. Bruce · September 13th, 2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro Paiva

Douglas.

Do you really think the new fx7 camera is not intended to replace the FX1?
PP

Hello Pedro,
Did I mention the FX1 in my post above?
Nope...I mentioned the Z1.

But with all the Z's, X's, H's, V's etc. flying around these days.....it is easy to misread camera model abbreviations.

regards,
Douglas

Benjamin Hill · September 13th, 2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro Paiva

Douglas.
I went to have a look on your website gaijin-eyes.com but unfortunately couldn't open any of the movie files as they are only available in (argh) .wmv format. I don't know about (argh again!) windows but WMP for Mac really sucks. Besides the bad video quality it's just impossible to control playback.
Hope you consider providing Quicktime files in the future as I'm sure your videos are really good and many mac users would love to see them.
Cheers.
PP

There's a good plug-in for QT so you can play .wmv's on the Mac, can't remember what it's called (on my other machine) but you can get it at the Apple website.

FYI, bad video quality doesn't mean Windows Media is bad, it means that video is bad; you can actually get some surprisingly nice web video compression in windows media.

My preferred method is Flash (.flv) however.

Douglas R. Bruce · September 13th, 2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hill

There's a good plug-in for QT so you can play .wmv's on the Mac, can't remember what it's called (on my other machine) but you can get it at the Apple website.

FYI, bad video quality doesn't mean Windows Media is bad, it means that video is bad; you can actually get some surprisingly nice web video compression in windows media.

My preferred method is Flash (.flv) however.

Thanks for the feedback, Benjamin.
QT, Media Player, Flash etc. They all have their pluses and minuses. Most people find one that works for them and then stick to it. But that is not always the best way - as the software companies are always leapfrogging each other.......

Here is a link to the MAC version of MediaPlayer. It will co-exist with QT...

If you want to watch .wmv files on Mac and do not already have the
Windows Media player for Mac, you can download it for free at

English:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win.../download.aspx

Japanese:
http://www.microsoft.com/japan/windo...d/default.aspx

Douglas R. Bruce · September 13th, 2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro Paiva

Douglas.

I went to have a look on your website gaijin-eyes.com but unfortunately couldn't open any of the movie files as they are only available in (argh) .wmv format. I don't know about (argh again!) windows but WMP for Mac really sucks. Besides the bad video quality it's just impossible to control playback.
Hope you consider providing Quicktime files in the future as I'm sure your videos are really good and many mac users would love to see them.
Cheers.
PP

Sorry I just posted a link to the WMP for MAC download. I hadn't noticed you had already tried it.
I have also encoded some QT files and even Flash movies, but at the moment I find that I am getting the best results with WMP.
I do intend having a QT alternative available later........ but as you know "later" can usually mean in 6 months or more.............. smile

Richard Hunter · September 13th, 2006, 06:34 PM

Hi Douglas. My past results with encoding to QT on PC were pretty dire, but recently I downloaded the Avid QT codec set for windows. Much much better. You can get them at the link below (the zip file at the bottom of the page).

Richard

http://www.avid.com/onlineSupport/su...contentID=3555

Douglas R. Bruce · September 13th, 2006, 09:06 PM

Thanks for the link, Richard.

I will give it a try at a later date.

Stu Holmes · September 14th, 2006, 10:09 AM

FX1 is, apparently, going to be allowed to die, Z1 continues on.
This info is from the Sony guys at IBC show. It may well still be available for some time, perhaps well into 2007 (a guess) due to unsold stock. My firm guess is production of FX1 actually ceased sometime ago.

FX7 and V1 are the new HDV machines as we know.
So it's reasonable to say that Sony are viewing the FX7 as the replacement model for the FX1 but NOT the Z1. V1 and Z1 will run alongside each other. V1 is essentially an HDV 'equivalent' of the excellent PD170.

FX7's price is broadly similar to FX1, neatly filling a gap there between the A1 and the Z1. (A1 and Z1 are from the pro division of Sony, FX1 and FX7 from the consumer division etc).

Dave Lammey · September 14th, 2006, 06:42 PM

"FX7 and V1 are the new HDV machines as we know.
So it's reasonable to say that Sony are viewing the FX7 as the replacement model for the FX1 but NOT the Z1. V1 and Z1 will run alongside each other. V1 is essentially an HDV 'equivalent' of the excellent PD170."

Except, apparently, the great lowlight performance has been left behind. Which was the main selling point of the PD170 for many customers.

Craig Seeman · September 15th, 2006, 05:44 AM

Flip4Mac Plays WMV in Quicktime On MAC

Here's link
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_download.htm
Version 2.1 works on both PPC and Intel Macs and gives you full frame by frame control over the WMV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hill

There's a good plug-in for QT so you can play .wmv's on the Mac, can't remember what it's called (on my other machine) but you can get it at the Apple website.

FYI, bad video quality doesn't mean Windows Media is bad, it means that video is bad; you can actually get some surprisingly nice web video compression in windows media.

My preferred method is Flash (.flv) however.

Stu Holmes · September 15th, 2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lammey

Except, apparently, the great lowlight performance has been left behind. Which was the main selling point of the PD170 for many customers.

Totally agree the PD170 & Vx2100 are in a class of their own on lowlight. I think it's doubtful whether we'll ever see an HDV camcorder (at reasonable money) from any manufacturer with lowlight performance like the PD170/VX2100. Bit of a shame but HDV is different.

I agree for sure it would have been nice to see lowlight closer to PD170, but the specs only tell part of the story, so i think really we'll just have to wait for the full reviews to see how it manages.

Bill Pryor · September 18th, 2006, 09:11 AM

This new camera only has 1/4" chips. I don't see how it could be considered a replacement for the FX1. Unless...it's cheaper to manufacture, which it probably is. Newer doesn't always mean better--it often only means more profitable for the manufacturer.

September 12th, 2006, 10:39 PM	#1
Pedro Paiva Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phuket, Thailand Posts: 30	FX1 / Z1 It was better to wait ! Well guys some of you might remember the thread a few days ago discussing if it would be better to wait for new models or to buy a Z1/FX1 at that time. Some said that it would take ages for some to release a new model and other believed that they would respond to Canon's new models. The thread even had to me moderated as it got a bit "out of focus"... Anyway, they've just announced the new versions: http://nct.digitalriver.com/fulfill/...f96467dd63a5-3 Seems that it was good to wait, then!

September 12th, 2006, 11:04 PM	#2
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	I think you posted the wrong link but yep, it was good to wait. There's a forum for the FX7/V1 cameras here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=140 __________________ Mark Utley

September 13th, 2006, 09:06 PM	#10
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	Thanks for the link, Richard. I will give it a try at a later date. __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

September 13th, 2006, 03:52 AM	#4
Pedro Paiva Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phuket, Thailand Posts: 30	Douglas. Do you really think the new fx7 camera is not intended to replace the FX1? Why wouldn't i t be? 3 CMOS sounds like a natural "evolution"... I went to have a look on your website gaijin-eyes.com but unfortunately couldn't open any of the movie files as they are only available in (argh) .wmv format. I don't know about (argh again!) windows but WMP for Mac really sucks. Besides the bad video quality it's just impossible to control playback. Hope you consider providing Quicktime files in the future as I'm sure your videos are really good and many mac users would love to see them. Cheers. PP

September 13th, 2006, 06:34 PM	#9
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Douglas. My past results with encoding to QT on PC were pretty dire, but recently I downloaded the Avid QT codec set for windows. Much much better. You can get them at the link below (the zip file at the bottom of the page). Richard http://www.avid.com/onlineSupport/su...contentID=3555

September 14th, 2006, 10:09 AM	#11
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	FX1 is, apparently, going to be allowed to die, Z1 continues on. This info is from the Sony guys at IBC show. It may well still be available for some time, perhaps well into 2007 (a guess) due to unsold stock. My firm guess is production of FX1 actually ceased sometime ago. FX7 and V1 are the new HDV machines as we know. So it's reasonable to say that Sony are viewing the FX7 as the replacement model for the FX1 but NOT the Z1. V1 and Z1 will run alongside each other. V1 is essentially an HDV 'equivalent' of the excellent PD170. FX7's price is broadly similar to FX1, neatly filling a gap there between the A1 and the Z1. (A1 and Z1 are from the pro division of Sony, FX1 and FX7 from the consumer division etc).

September 14th, 2006, 06:42 PM	#12
Dave Lammey Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Simsbury, CT Posts: 247	"FX7 and V1 are the new HDV machines as we know. So it's reasonable to say that Sony are viewing the FX7 as the replacement model for the FX1 but NOT the Z1. V1 and Z1 will run alongside each other. V1 is essentially an HDV 'equivalent' of the excellent PD170." Except, apparently, the great lowlight performance has been left behind. Which was the main selling point of the PD170 for many customers.

September 18th, 2006, 09:11 AM	#15
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	This new camera only has 1/4" chips. I don't see how it could be considered a replacement for the FX1. Unless...it's cheaper to manufacture, which it probably is. Newer doesn't always mean better--it often only means more profitable for the manufacturer.