can i ask why u went for that model as opposed to the EX1?

Im yet to be able to justify those similar prices when there is a 1/2' on offer at such a similar price... aside from the cheaper CF option of course...

There were a couple of reasons I went with the Z1 over the EX-1.

1: The price of memory cards. A $79 Transcend 16GB card works just fine in this camera. I have one in right now so I;m sure of it. With the EX1, I'd be basically looking at an hour between laptop footage dumps with the two 8 gig cards. I wouldn't be able to afford more at the incredibly high cost of the Sony SxS cards.

2: Dual record to memory card and tape. You can shoot to both tape and card simultaneously. You can transfer footage from the card really fast and stick the tapes on a shelf for backup. Backing up footage on an EX1 would be a pain.

3: Replaceable lens. I almost always use a .8 wide angle lens which works really well for the run and gun stuff I typically do. Around June there is supposed to be a wide angle lens available that I will be able to use in place of the existing lens. I have really grown to hate the add on wide angle adapters. They are big, make your camera front heavy, and always have at least a little distortion.

4: Standard lanc controller. I know you can use a fancy lens controller with an EX, but why spend three times as much when a regular lanc does the same thing a lot cheaper.

5: Records to tape: Being hired as a videographer is really impractical when you just can't hand over tapes at the end of the day.

6: It feels like a mature camera. IMHO, the Z7 is sort of a final evolution of the HDV camera whereas the EX1 is the first generation of a cool new format. The EX1 has all sorts of little quirks like you find in a first generation product: it's left heavy, the battery drains when not in use, the rotating handgrip makes it almost impossible to handhold, etc. The Z7 has all the little improvements that users have been asking for since the Z1: 24p and 30p, replaceable lens, audio limiter, etc.

7: Audio limiter: This is just so important to a one person shoot. They did a nice job of it as well.

8: Good low light: maybe not quite as good as the EX1, but darned close. I have been thrilled with my HDV image quality except for in low light. This should fix my worst problem.

9: You can back up footage on compact flash to tape: boy is that cool!

10: At some point I want to start working with a cinematic lens, but I don't want an add-on monstrocity.

I know that for many people the EX1 is the better choice, but for me it just wasn't that good a match. When I go off on a shoot, I travel light and like to be able to go to remote places. I went to the Amazon and the Galapagos this past summer. Transferring footage to computer after each hour of shooting is just not something I can do on a trip like that.

By the way, the picture quality I am seeing is really quite stunning. Maybe not quite as stunning as it would be shot with an EX1, but stunning none the less.

whats the Z7 cost right now? any good deals in specific places?

I paid around six thousand including a five year warranty and a case.

Where did you buy yours? TapeWorks Texas, by any chance?

My extreme low light tests show that the Z7 is no more sensitive than the Z1 the images in low light are very similar even as you gain up to 18 & 21db

thanks for that laurence, im bout to step out, but ill go over ur resposne in detail

as for the solid state recorder, i beleive sony will be selling it on its own soon enough...

I've never seen many good interchangeable lens cameras in the sub 10 K range so I'm leary but curious about the quality from the stock lens. I don't suppose you could be pressured into shooting a few charts at various focal lengths and posting :). (a guys gotta ask :) )

Dave

I absolutely love the Z7. Does the EX1 do the full native 1920x1080 and the Z7 1440x1080?

Yes, the EX1 does the 1920x1080 thing, that's too much for the HDV cameras.
Bob.

1: The price of memory cards. A $79 Transcend 16GB card works just fine in this camera. I have one in right now so I;m sure of it. With the EX1, I'd be basically looking at an hour between laptop footage dumps with the two 8 gig cards. I wouldn't be able to afford more at the incredibly high cost of the Sony SxS cards.

((Ya... the price is a BIIIIG thing.. considering now CF cards are so damn cheap.. im just a lil concerned about the USB throughput... SxS runs through PCIe bus, which is dead fast, but for USB, i would say youd need at least 3 16gb cards for long form work
Im not knockign it, we needed something like this to puke on the firestores. Im looking forward to these units beign made available on their own. Would love to run this with my A1.. LOL ))

2: Dual record to memory card and tape. You can shoot to both tape and card simultaneously. You can transfer footage from the card really fast and stick the tapes on a shelf for backup. Backing up footage on an EX1 would be a pain.

((Dont have to convince me mate.. lol IM jsut looking for dropout free HDV recording... ))

3: Replaceable lens. I almost always use a .8 wide angle lens which works really well for the run and gun stuff I typically do. Around June there is supposed to be a wide angle lens available that I will be able to use in place of the existing lens. I have really grown to hate the add on wide angle adapters. They are big, make your camera front heavy, and always have at least a little distortion.

II agree with ur comment re bolt on lenses.. i have to digress though, the A1 WA, although a lil on the chunky side, also allows for macro and full zoom through. I cant say the same for any other lens of its nature, let alone a detachable lens which can do this (cleanly and distortion free) ))

4: Standard lanc controller. I know you can use a fancy lens controller with an EX, but why spend three times as much when a regular lanc does the same thing a lot cheaper.

((Oh wow, i didnt know they stuck with standard... god to hear.. al those sony owner can now use Canon Lancs and ajust their focus too... ;) In all seriousness, Panasonic shoudl have also stuck with teh LANC standard... woudl be nice to have ONE lanc controller for a myriad of cameras and used depending on the type of shoot..))


5: Records to tape: Being hired as a videographer is really impractical when you just can't hand over tapes at the end of the day.

((I hear ya bro... lol
Im slowly moving into the shooting only kinda jobs. I like doing them and its less work for me.. hell its great to earn $1500 a day just to get out of bed and man a couple of cameras for a wedding... no editing, no thinking... no hassles.. no delays... no "wheres my f'ing wedding video... " ))

6: It feels like a mature camera. IMHO, the Z7 is sort of a final evolution of the HDV camera

((You see my fined, it IS the final evolution in HDV cameras... you wotn be seeing anymore HDV cameras from Sony.. ))

whereas the EX1 is the first generation of a cool new format. The EX1 has all sorts of little quirks like you find in a first generation product: it's left heavy, the

((to me it was heavy all round... then again i do most of my shooting handheld so i dont ned a workout ;) ))

battery drains when not in use, the rotating handgrip makes it almost impossible to handhold, etc.

((You think?? Bout the handgrip i mean... ))

The Z7 has all the little improvements that users have been asking for since the Z1: 24p and 30p, replaceable lens, audio limiter, etc.

((I never liekd the Z1 fullstop.. IMO it was rushed. Not saying it didnt do its job, it jsut wastnt the camera for me. Its why i sold both of them and hung onto my cash nutil something better came along.. I cant say i regret it, as the Z1 did nothign for the business (HD wise) as back then, the market for HD was non existant..
Now that BD is king, IM hoping stability in the marketplace settles so we can finally start welling the shit.. ))

7: Audio limiter: This is just so important to a one person shoot. They did a nice job of it as well.

((Should check out the DVX/HVX limiters. IMO the best audio processors on teh market))

8: Good low light: maybe not quite as good as the EX1,
((No doubt... ))

but darned close.
((Interstings.. any chance of throwing the units side by side? If 1/3 can come close to 1/2 then.... hmmmm... ))

I have been thrilled with my HDV image quality except for in low light. This should fix my worst problem.

((That good hey??? ))

9: You can back up footage on compact flash to tape: boy is that cool!

((LOL didnt you already mention that one? Oh hey, does it do overcranking?? Just curious))

10: At some point I want to start working with a cinematic lens, but I don't want an add-on monstrocity.

((I hear ya.. good call with teh removable lens.. one thing though, is that these units are compatible (with an adapter) with teh Sony Alpha/Minolta DSLR lenses.. you shoudlnt need "cinematic" lense as DSLR lenses are designed for 6mp+ Resolving power, which is perfectly fine for HDV... mind you, its a 7.6x crop factor.. ie a 50mm 1.4 prime, will be 380mm on this... thats over 10x optical fixed zoom))

I know that for many people the EX1 is the better choice, but for me it just wasn't that good a match.
((I was jsut curious mate... its a big investment to make, and for me low light and DoF would be a big factor. DoF isnt an issue with THIS camera coz u just swap the lens to a DSLR, but low light is a biggy... hell even the A1 cant cut most situations, and thats supposedly the best lowlight HDV camera on teh market) Maybe the Z7 trumps it.. who knows.. ))

By the way, the picture quality I am seeing is really quite stunning. Maybe not quite as stunning as it would be shot with an EX1, but stunning none the less.

((Would bne nice to see afew shots here or there... ))

Looks cool ... you're lucky lucky lucky!

D.

>Where did you buy yours? TapeWorks Texas, by any chance?

Yes, I bought it from Tapeworks. That was the best price I could find and the service was first rate.

"im just a lil concerned about the USB throughput.."

This seems like this is an issue only if you use a USB card reader. Wouldn't something like this http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06093009delkinexpresscardcf.asp solve that problem?

I want one!

Here's another option that might work better with a desktop setup:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flash-memory-adapters/addonics-sata-to-cf/4505-8898_7-31529884.html?tag=sub