Liam Leahy

I was initially ecstatic about interchangeable lenses...until I saw my options at the moment (like I can afford anything else). You can toss on any $10k Fujinon lenses you have sitting around, or the first wave of ghetto rig prime lens mount adapters are rolling out...offering a minimum default of 7x optical zoom due to an optics relationship problem. Does the wide get wide enough, I´d say not particularly for my taste. My first buy will be a .66 wide angle the second it gets worked out by the potential manufacturers. Sony, in all its ¨messin with you¨glory, decided to short us a few mm depth on the 72mm lens mount...hence, all Z1 screw on adapters are useless (even the ones listed on the B&H add-ons drop down menu) and manufacturers need to commit and produce Z7 only group (still holding my breath). I primarily went Z7 because of cost point, including CF cards. As a recent MA in Documentary Filmmaking grad...$$$ was the defining factor. Mike, if you are gunna go big and do ex-1 (SxS card workflow only), why mess around...grab the EX-3! You can see an awsome first look video review on Philip Bloom´s blog (if you don´t know the brother, check out his videos...sick!). Since the review he has been crying about missing his EX-1, but whatever (you´ll have to read what all thats about). By the way...your IMDB credit listing is retarded (as in amazing). REEEEESPECT!

In what will undoubtedly be forever known as my most embarrassing Steadicam ¨boy who cried wolf¨moment... I guess in all my reassembly panic of not leaving myself enough time in the field to set up mindfully I did not figure out I was screwing the bolt into the nut side of the post. The bottom post adjustment clamp was of course not clenching...because there is a female nut to catch the screw on one side only. Once I properly sat down in the living room, without the anxiety of having a subject waiting to roll tape, a lump formed in my throat as I realized I had failed the stupid test. The solution being...pull out the bolt and put it in from the reverse side. If it is any concession to my destroyed ego, since Tiffen was out of cases when my unit shipped I had to strip the unit down to pole and parts for transport...as opposed to rolling out with it intact in my brand new, super slick Pilot carrying case. I will appreciate not having to build the sled every day (yes, I just received my case last week). On another note, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE LIGHTNING response. I have been bombarded with helpful wise elders trying to provide a solution. This is truly a great community, and I am happy to be a SERIOUS NEWBIE in it. I promise next time I will slow down and really employ some pragmatic reasoning before I go posting away on the forum. My apologies, and thank you again!

...and because I am insecure about appearing like a total noob in general: Although I have only owned the one, I have shot on a lot more cameras than a DVX-100b before this. Amongst others, I have also primarily been shooting on a Panasonic AJ-SDC615 for a while (but can´t afford to own it or it´s kit), and a few other DVCPro units.

Hey Mike! I am assuming you are asking for a casual response, and not a review of the technical order. There are some really intense ones linked from the HVR-Z7U section of DVinfo. Check them out if you want shootouts and tech reviews. So... I am really happy with it so far. I like being able to reassign so many of the buttons. The color is really good. Optical steadyshot is nice, as opposed to loss in res from the digital versions. Can´t say enough about the digital level! Deals with low-light well. I am using a LANC controller from my Steadicam Pilot...and it integrates well. I am happy to have a total tapless workflow for peanuts (using 300x transcend compact flash memory). The Sony FCP plug-in is hot, and speeds up my post-production life beyond words. I have only had the Z7U for a few weeks so I will let you know when I find her flaws. I am also happy with how it handles reasonably fast movement. Considering I am shooting primarily HDV at 30p...unwanted artifacts have been minimal. I held out on buying a cam (post DVX-100b) for a while, and would have rocked out the EX1 if I was rolling in the dough (the price of the cards are a deal breaker)...but I am totally satisfied with this machine. yada, yada...it´s JUST HDV, but the output to DVD looks really good (and that is really all I am producing for now).

Thank you very, very much, folks. I will get in touch.

I know folks have their qualms with levels or whatever...but I discovered a cool feature on my new camera. The HVR-Z7U has a built-in digital level that can broadcast out on my Pilot´s sled monitor. I just thought I would announce that...since I had reserved the digital level dream for thoughts of what I will do AFTER I make my fortune. Now I have one while I am still flat broke! Woohoo! :P

I´m ripping out my hair with this huge problem. Any help would be appreciated. Problem: My Pilot´s bottom post adjustment clamp will not hold at all. The hex screw is tightened all the way...but there seems to be no internal clench onto the bottom post at all. I am sure this is a matter of a a small missing washer or something. How should I troubleshoot this? Thanks... :unsure: