DVDude
01-28-2005, 02:54 PM
First Thoughts on the HVR-Z1U
Have had the very fortunate opportunity to play with one of the first official shipping Z1s into Canada, and here are my preliminary thoughts/notes after spending 2 hours with the camera:
- This is very much like the PD150/VX2000 scenario - these are the same camera, with just a few features making them different, such as PAL support, built-in XLR, etc. You will get the same picture quality from both.
- Just like the DVX100, the Z1 does NOT come with the shotgun mic that is in every picture of the camera
- Cineframe 24 is the exact same as the Cineframe 24 on the FX1 that I can determine. I had the FX1 and Z1 side-by-side.
- Cineframe 25 loses all the stuttering ugliness that CF24 has, and is smoother. However, it doesn't look particularly "film like", but that may change with filters/software and spending more than 10 minutes playing with that feature.
- CinemaTone Type 2 is more contrasty and has deeper blacks than Type 1. A bit too much deeper black personally (I was shooting Manfrotto tripods and Pelican black cases amongst other things under fluorescent lights, and they just went black with very little detail).
- Enhanced Focus does not work while recording, just like the FX1.
- You turn on Phantom Power for the XLR through the menus, not a switch on the outside of the camera
- The 4:3 and TV Safe markers are nice
- It is really cool to switch between PAL and NTSC. The camera has to do a re-boot, which takes about 30 seconds
- HyperGain (+36dB) works, but adds a lot of noise. Believe it or not, the Night Shot features on the $500 cameras work better - they can at least shoot in total darkness, whereas HyperGain needs some light
- All Scan feature (everyone else would call it UnderScan) is a nice touch
I liked the FX1, and like the Z1 too. It's up to you to decide whether the built-in XLR, PAL support and a few other features is worth the extra money. If not, get a BeachTek and put the money towards a HiDef monitor. I'm using the JVC DT-V1910, and can recommend it highly.
As for the CF24 vs CF25 vs 24p debate, I think more testing is needed with CF25, once you convert to NTSC and downconvert it to SD before one can make a final judgement on it. Let the rendering begin!
Terry Steyn
The DV Shop
Toronto, Canada
www.dvshop.ca
Have had the very fortunate opportunity to play with one of the first official shipping Z1s into Canada, and here are my preliminary thoughts/notes after spending 2 hours with the camera:
- This is very much like the PD150/VX2000 scenario - these are the same camera, with just a few features making them different, such as PAL support, built-in XLR, etc. You will get the same picture quality from both.
- Just like the DVX100, the Z1 does NOT come with the shotgun mic that is in every picture of the camera
- Cineframe 24 is the exact same as the Cineframe 24 on the FX1 that I can determine. I had the FX1 and Z1 side-by-side.
- Cineframe 25 loses all the stuttering ugliness that CF24 has, and is smoother. However, it doesn't look particularly "film like", but that may change with filters/software and spending more than 10 minutes playing with that feature.
- CinemaTone Type 2 is more contrasty and has deeper blacks than Type 1. A bit too much deeper black personally (I was shooting Manfrotto tripods and Pelican black cases amongst other things under fluorescent lights, and they just went black with very little detail).
- Enhanced Focus does not work while recording, just like the FX1.
- You turn on Phantom Power for the XLR through the menus, not a switch on the outside of the camera
- The 4:3 and TV Safe markers are nice
- It is really cool to switch between PAL and NTSC. The camera has to do a re-boot, which takes about 30 seconds
- HyperGain (+36dB) works, but adds a lot of noise. Believe it or not, the Night Shot features on the $500 cameras work better - they can at least shoot in total darkness, whereas HyperGain needs some light
- All Scan feature (everyone else would call it UnderScan) is a nice touch
I liked the FX1, and like the Z1 too. It's up to you to decide whether the built-in XLR, PAL support and a few other features is worth the extra money. If not, get a BeachTek and put the money towards a HiDef monitor. I'm using the JVC DT-V1910, and can recommend it highly.
As for the CF24 vs CF25 vs 24p debate, I think more testing is needed with CF25, once you convert to NTSC and downconvert it to SD before one can make a final judgement on it. Let the rendering begin!
Terry Steyn
The DV Shop
Toronto, Canada
www.dvshop.ca