Sony PXW-X160 or PXW-Z150

I'm still loving the camera so far and feel like I have an even better profile now than the one I used in the video above. Still working on it though.

I do wish it had a lot of the missing features and functions that are standard on the higher end XDCAM handycams (X200, EX1, EX3, etc.), but for the price I cannot complain too much.
The camera looks great if there is enough light, but it is not a "low light" camera by any means. At 0dB I've measured the sensitivity as being ISO 320. Combine that with an f/4 lens and it's a dog in low light. Kicking in some gain helps, but who wants to be adding gain in anything other than the most extreme situations?
 
Very nice footage. Reminds me of my favorite book, 'Princess' by Joe Richards, about a Maine Sloop. He was a writer and painter.

prin.jpg
 
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Thank you for the ISO info. Yes, it definitely needs a lot more light than I had hoped with the new stacked 1" sensor. One would think it would be more sensitive than the 1/2" sensors of the EX1&3. For less than half their price and HD422, and 4K 420, I am not complaining either. Just enjoying it. I would also think it's a great step up from a DSLR for some people, or in addition to (for easy sound and second angle). Will look forward to your course and hopefully some profile sharing.
 
Doug I expected beautiful footage from you.....I am not disappointed! What editing program do you use? Also, have you experienced the reported lens problem?
I need another camera and this camera is in my sights but I am worried about a failure. Maybe later units fixed it? What is the date of manufacture of yours?

Yeah, too many questions.
 
Thank you for the compliment.
I use Adobe Premiere CC for editing.
It looks like my camera was manufactured in April 2016 but I bought it from B&H in June.
I haven't heard about any lens problems and my camera certainly doesn't have any problems. What are other people reporting?
 
Doug Jensen said:
Thank you for the compliment.
I use Adobe Premiere CC for editing.
It looks like my camera was manufactured in April 2016 but I bought it from B&H in June.
I haven't heard about any lens problems and my camera certainly doesn't have any problems. What are other people reporting?
Click to expand...

Check out http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-4k-ultra-hd-handhelds/532489-my-z150-just-died.htm I hope I am not breaking any rules here. The author is a great guy and has been an incredible asset to the forum. Take a look at his PPs. on that forum.
 
Page not found. BTW, is this some guy's blog about a lemon? If so, one bad camera does not damn them all. :)
In addition to my own Z150, I know several other owners and nobody is reporting problems to me.
 
No, it's Paul Anderegg on the dvinfo forum. He's a news shooter in San Diego. His Z150 was having some lens issues, but he's now posted that it's cleared up somehow. He's using the camera daily again.
 
Doug,
Another excellent video course as all of your past ones I am sure. I will be picking up a Z150 in the coming weeks and as a matter of habit now, ordering your course. Started with you on my FS100 and then my PMW-300.
One question: I am safe to assume the SDI out on the Z150 will not provide 4K at 4:2:2, just 4:2:0 or does it just provide HD-1080 and no UHD?
Update: I was able to find the answer to my questions in a post by Alister Chapman. I will paste it here for those who might also wonder:
When RECORDING QFHD you only have 2 video streams. One is recorded, the other is available to feed only one of the VF, LCD, HDMI or HDSDI.

When set to QFHD but NOT recording the record video stream becomes free to feed another output. As soon as you press record this is diverted to be recorded which is why the one of the outputs goes black.
When RECORDING HD you have 3 video streams. One is recorded leaving 2 streams, one feeds the VF or LCD, the other HD stream can be sent to either the HDMI or HDSDI.


Brian
 
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BrianMurphy said:
One question: I am safe to assume the SDI out on the Z150 will not provide 4K at 4:2:2, just 4:2:0 or does it just provide HD-1080 and no UHD?
Click to expand...

Brian, thanks for the nice comments. Sorry for the slow reply but I seemed to have missed your post over the last couple of weeks.

SDI on almost every Sony camera that I am aware of is always 10-bit 4:2:2 with a maximum resolution of 1080P or 2K. There are no Sony cameras that I am aware of that can pass 4K over a single SDI cable except for the FS5 with the RAW license upgrade and the FS7 with the optional XDCA back. But most of the cameras do offer 4K UHD output via HDMI. It is not always made clear by Sony if the HDMI output is 8-bit, or 10-bit, or 8-bit padded to look like 10-bit. I've heard contradictory things by normally reputable sources about various cameras, so I don't go out on a limb and say either way.

On the Z150 SDI is 10-bit 4:2:2 1080P (or lower) and HDMI is 8-bit 4K UHD (or lower) depending how you configure the menus. But you can't have both at the same time.

Ultimately my advice is to ignore the outputs and just record internally. You'd be hard pressed to see any difference whatsoever in head-to-head A vs. B testing of the same subject matter. That last thing I'd want to do is clutter up the camera with a bunch of bulky accessories unless I could see a clear advantage.
 
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Doug Jensen said:
Brian, thanks for the nice comments. Sorry for the slow reply but I seemed to have missed your post over the last couple of weeks.

SDI on almost every Sony camera that I am aware of is always 10-bit 4:2:2 with a maximum resolution of 1080P or 2K. There are no Sony cameras that I am aware of that can pass 4K over a single SDI cable except for the FS5 with the RAW license upgrade and the FS7 with the optional XDCA back. But most of the cameras do offer 4K UHD output via HDMI. It is not always made clear by Sony if the HDMI output is 8-bit, or 10-bit, or 8-bit padded to look like 10-bit. I've heard contradictory things by normally reputable sources about various cameras, so I don't go out on a limb and say either way.

On the Z150 SDI is 10-bit 4:2:2 1080P (or lower) and HDMI is 8-bit 4K UHD (or lower) depending how you configure the menus. But you can't have both at the same time.

Ultimately my advice is to ignore the outputs and just record internally. You'd be hard pressed to see any difference whatsoever in head-to-head A vs. B testing of the same subject matter. That last thing I'd want to do is clutter up the camera with a bunch of bulky accessories unless I could see a clear advantage.
Click to expand...

Doug, when I read anything you have written it is always detailed, precise and full of common sense ("bulky accessories"). Keep it up!
 
Doug Jensen said:
Brian, thanks for the nice comments. Sorry for the slow reply but I seemed to have missed your post over the last couple of weeks.

SDI on almost every Sony camera that I am aware of is always 10-bit 4:2:2 with a maximum resolution of 1080P or 2K. There are no Sony cameras that I am aware of that can pass 4K over a single SDI cable except for the FS5 with the RAW license upgrade and the FS7 with the optional XDCA back. But most of the cameras do offer 4K UHD output via HDMI. It is not always made clear by Sony if the HDMI output is 8-bit, or 10-bit, or 8-bit padded to look like 10-bit. I've heard contradictory things by normally reputable sources about various cameras, so I don't go out on a limb and say either way.

On the Z150 SDI is 10-bit 4:2:2 1080P (or lower) and HDMI is 8-bit 4K UHD (or lower) depending how you configure the menus. But you can't have both at the same time.

Ultimately my advice is to ignore the outputs and just record internally. You'd be hard pressed to see any difference whatsoever in head-to-head A vs. B testing of the same subject matter. That last thing I'd want to do is clutter up the camera with a bunch of bulky accessories unless I could see a clear advantage.
Click to expand...


Does this mean that there is not any advantage in using an Atomos Shogun via the HDMI connector to record UHD Prores 4.2.2 from a Z150?
 
Hi all,

Just picked up a Z150 to be used as a BTS cam with a couple FS7s and also as a possible "C" camera.

I have detected what I would describe as a "Grrrr" type sound within 1 sec of the camera being powered off.
After further investigation I believe the "sound" emanates from the lens area.

Has anyone else experienced the same? and if so, any ideas what this is?

@Doug I subscribed to the Z150 Master Class recently, after doing the FS7 Classes a few months back.
Stupendous offerings. Appreciate your work.

Tony.....
 
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Doug Jensen said:
Brian, thanks for the nice comments. Sorry for the slow reply but I seemed to have missed your post over the last couple of weeks.

SDI on almost every Sony camera that I am aware of is always 10-bit 4:2:2 with a maximum resolution of 1080P or 2K. There are no Sony cameras that I am aware of that can pass 4K over a single SDI cable except for the FS5 with the RAW license upgrade and the FS7 with the optional XDCA back. But most of the cameras do offer 4K UHD output via HDMI. It is not always made clear by Sony if the HDMI output is 8-bit, or 10-bit, or 8-bit padded to look like 10-bit. I've heard contradictory things by normally reputable sources about various cameras, so I don't go out on a limb and say either way.

On the Z150 SDI is 10-bit 4:2:2 1080P (or lower) and HDMI is 8-bit 4K UHD (or lower) depending how you configure the menus. But you can't have both at the same time.

Ultimately my advice is to ignore the outputs and just record internally. You'd be hard pressed to see any difference whatsoever in head-to-head A vs. B testing of the same subject matter. That last thing I'd want to do is clutter up the camera with a bunch of bulky accessories unless I could see a clear advantage.
Click to expand...


Doug,
Thanks for posting and as mentioned your always detailed info. I will take your advice and go with the internal recording. And like others order your course for sure.
Cheers
Brian
 
tonben said:
Does this mean that there is not any advantage in using an Atomos Shogun via the HDMI connector to record UHD Prores 4.2.2 from a Z150?
Click to expand...

I would be very surprised if someone could show me footage that showed there was any noticable advantage, let alone one that would make it worth the hassle of using an external recorder.
 
Doug, you forget Sony FS700 output 4K over a single SDI - 12 bit (?) to Odyssey 7Q, I'm using it everyday.
 
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