The list starts with the single CMOS chipped A1, moves to the three chip V1, the King Pin Z1, the new Z7 and HD1000, and of course the pinnacle in this game, the EX1. Each one costs more than the other. The A1 has a 10x zoom, the V1 has a 20x zoom and the others are in-between. The V1 has 1"/4 chips, the EX1 1"/2 chips, the rest have 1"/3.

All are HDV recording onto MiniDV tape except for the EX1, which uses SxS cards and won't record in SD at all. The Z7 has an interchangeable lens and is new this month.

Quite a choice. If money's no object then buy the dearest EX1, but you'll need backup, so you may need two of them. This, and a new workstation to handle the files, will take many jobs before you break even.

The solid workhorse has got to be the Z1. Over three years old now, tough as nails like the PD170 before it, it's proven in the field and does a sound, reliable job. Some of its 'failings' have been addressed by the Z7, as you'd expect any new kid on the block to do.

'Failings'? Of course any of these camcorders are as near perfect as they can be for the price - it's the hands they find themselves clasped by that have infinitely more failings.

tom.

what wide lens?

bump bump bump

The standard lens of the Z7U will be able to be removed and replaced with a wider lens called the VCL-308BWH. It is mentioned in this brochure:

http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/pdf/S...E_Brochure.pdf

The wide angle lens option for the EX1 is an add-on lens:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ide_Angle.html

ok... so that lens takes it down to 24mm ( in 35mm terms ) vs the 31mm for the ex1...... fair enough.

Not fair enough for me. A camera of this class needs a 17 mm (equiv) for some dramatic PoVs.

IMO 24mm is probably wide-enough for most people, but of course you can never keep 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. Different people have different requirements and thats what makes the world a fun and varied place.

- Tom there are other lenses you can attach too. 1/3in mount, 1/2in mount, and even 2/3in mount. (with adaptor). You're not restricted to the Sony ones. You can even attach SLR lenses to it like the Sony Alpha series.

Listen to Toshitaka Ikumo (Sony Product Planner) talk about it in this clip :
http://movie.diginfo.tv/2007/11/30/07-0575-r.php

Thanks Stu, but when the silly voice-over informs me the Z7 comes fitted with a lens that has a focal length of 32-384mm, I know that the clip can be ignored. OK, you and I know what she means, but to talk about a CAMERA yet give wrong focal length information is quite unforgivable.

And fitting Alpha mount lenses is fine for wildlife types. But I don't want a 50 mm lens, I want a 2.5 mm lens.

tom.

How would these two lenses compare in wideness?

http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/pdf/S...E_Brochure.pdf
vs
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ide_Angle.html

Hi Laurence

that first link you posted (the PDF link) doesnt work for me..

Go to http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/ and click on the "Documentation Index" link.

There you'll find a collection of (currently) 1465 PDF files, including brochures and manuals for most all HDV, AVCHD, and XDCAM EX products from Canon, JVC, Panasonic, and Sony.

The majority of the PDFs are in the English language but there are a number of Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional) and Japanese language files as well as a few other languages. All are clearly indicated in the filename.

Aside from HDV, AVCHD, and XDCAM EX, there are also some brochures and manuals for XDCAM HD, XDCAM HD422, HDCAM SR, AVCCAM and AVC-Intra, along with some DVCAM and HDCAM products. Panasonic's P2 HD products are also fairly well covered.

There are also some standards documents for ISO/IEC MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC, MPEG-4 AAC, ITU-T Rec. H.264, various whitepapers, etc.

Thank you.

Frank.

Check out this site: HD camcorder tests and comparison of Sony PMW-EX3 (PMWEX3) and Sony HVR-Z7 (HVR-Z7E/ HVR-Z7U) Best values highlighted sorted by sco

I used it to compare the XDCAM EX to the HVR-Z1U