Liam Leahy Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted June 24, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 How do you like the camera in general? I had an HVR-Z1U and liked it a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Leahy Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) 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). Edited June 25, 2008 by Liam Leahy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Leahy Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 ...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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted June 25, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 what do you think about the interchangable lense? does the wide end get wide enough? do they even make any other lenses for it yet? i always have a mini dv hd camera on hand as i seem to end up with reasons to use them every now and again and they make great home movies! i just got rid of my last camera (xl-h1) which i loved. i was thinking of the ex1 or the z7u. i was leaning towards the z7u specifically because of the interchangeable lenses but the better image quality of the ex1 is also a factor......... actually, one of the cameras they use on Dexter for second unit is an ex1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Leahy Posted June 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 (edited) 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! Edited June 26, 2008 by Liam Leahy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted June 27, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 actually, one of the cameras they use on Dexter for second unit is an ex1. Maybe season one but not Season two or three Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted June 27, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 And not season 1 either I guess, since the EX1 only hit the streets at the end of last year (I shot this as a promo for the EX1 in December and the camera was not yet in stores). There have been some complaints out there, mostly about rolling shutter issues that are common with the CMOS single chippers in general, but overall the EX1/3 are pretty amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members mark morgan Posted June 27, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 the "scarlet" by RED has a nice price point when it comes out 3k for 3k sounds good to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted June 27, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 actually, one of the cameras they use on Dexter for second unit is an ex1. Maybe season one but not Season two or three Yea, this was for season three, about a month ago, when they were here in Miami. And no for season one (as it didn't even exist at the time)..... I did some 'B' camera on the pilot and shot some second unit for season one. The second unit was all 35mm (at least the stuf I worked on). mm. Oh, yes, I've been looking at the Scarlet, that little thing looks bad to the bone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Hoxsie Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 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 That's a cool feature! I just put together my Pilot last night...how do you get the level to display on the remote monitor? I'm sure it's a setting somewhere in the camera, right? Thx! Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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