SONY HVR-Z7

A personal review by Derek Yeo Aka VideoCobra/ March 2008

 

Introduction

 

Videolifestyle today attended the HDV Evolution launch at the Hilton Singapore. It was indeed a refreshing change with the venue at the top floor right by the poolside. With some very nice sexy models present, many were able to test the camcorders High Definition imagery as well a High Definition Curvature of the pretty models as well.

 

The cameras showcased today were of course the HVR-S270 as well as the HVR-Z7. However, there was also the HVR-V1P, HVR-A1P and also the lower prices HVR-HD1000P onsite for those to have hands on as well. Not to forget was also Sony's new digital HD Videocassette recorder the HVR-M35P.

Both these cams (HVR-Z7 / HVR-S270) equipped with interchangeable lenses as well as solid state recording via Sony’s very own memory recording module and also 1/3^rd inch X 3 clear Vid CMOS sensors and Sony's very own Exmor Technology. Rotating the pixels at a 45-degree layout this enhances the signal sensitivity while maintaining a sufficient surface area.

The Exmor ™ technology on the other hand features a unique column-parallel analog-to-digital conversion technique with dual noise canceling, resulting in higher quality digital signals with lower noise.  Both these new technologies combine together allow the HVR-Z7 as well as the HVRS270 to perform significantly better supposedly in low light environments. Sony claims as low as 1.5 LUX*

Difference at a Glance of the HVR- S270 & HVR-Z7

 

The very first thing you will notice between these two camcorders is that the HVR-S270 is a shoulder mount camcorder and the HVR-Z7 a handheld one. This reminded me very much of the era of the DSR-PD170 and the DSR - PD250P semblance in market positioning. Clearly you can see that Sony is targeting also a different group of users with this approach.

 

The other distinct difference is the ability to output HD-SDI  on the HVR-S270 but not with the HVR-Z7. However the HVR-Z7 does provide a HDMI output. HVR-Z7 also has two channels of audio input whilst the HVR-S270 has four channels of audio inputs.

Still Features

 

Yes, the HVR-Z7P allows you to insert a Pro Duo memory stick into a mini slot just situated next to the handle near the tape compartment. And you can actually take a snap shot onto the memory card while shooting simultaneously. Do remember that you have to enable the photo feature via the menu settings under the assign menu under the lens setting as the expanded focus feature also shares the same button.

Comparison with the HVR-Z1P

 

Inevitably it seems most of the future camcorders like the HVR-Z7 will be CMOS chip sensors. Unlike its predecessor the HVR-Z1, which uses the CCD sensors instead? The size and number of the sensors are identical (1/3^rd X 3) although the natures of these chips are different. Which is why as a personal rule, I will never retire any of my CCD sensor cameras even though I may acquire most of the newer CMOS cameras. With that being said, I think it is only fair to say that CCD has its advantages over CMOS and vise versa. \

 

Sony claims their Exmor™ Sensors with their dual noise cancelling advance digital converters enable a a significant in video noice reduction. ( See the diagram on the right )

Connectivity

 

Smack to the back of the cam just where the battery compartment is situated, you will find the HDMI to the left of the cam and to the right is a six pin IEEE1394 connector, composite, component as well as the LANC connector and headphone jack. The good thing with this fire wire port is that it uses the six pin connection port instead of the normal 4 pin which is found in almost all other camcorders. The only bad thing I think was that Sony engineers forgot, was the size of 6 pin connector. Therefore you can access all the sockets mentioned above except the IEEE1394 if you have the memory module attached as the swing plastic door is hampered by the memory module. (I guess it’s no big deal as one will say. you only just have to remove the memory recording unit.)

Design & Handling

 

There is one thing for sure and that is the HVR-Z7 is a better camcorder handheld any day compared to the PMW-EX1. By a mile, I must stress! It is well balanced even though it may be an interchangeable lens camcorder. With enough practice you can even shoot single handed which you can’t in the case of the EX1.

 

Weighing in at about 2.4kg without batteries and tape it feels so much lighter than the EX1 although the both are supposed to share identical mass. So, I guess it is a wonder of Ergonomics that reigns here. The handle has very much the same feel as the HVR-Z1.

You can quickly flip the Velcro backwards and pull on the strap to fit your hand comfortably. Tada! You are back in business!  In the case of the EX1 you would need to first push the loose end of the strap out before you can adjust the size to fit and then clumsily try slipping it back into place. This is just so annoying I am finding ways to change the grip strap on my EX1.

 

The HVR has also two accessory shoes. A removable one situated at the front portion and a fixed screw hole towards the rear of the handle.  The front shoe is removable if you to make room for a matte box and the rear one which you can change to a cold shoe if required. I cannot confirm if they provide this cold shoe adapter to you as a standard accessory as the one I have on loan does not have that supplied part.

 

In addition, there are 2 standard tripod screw mounts on the base of the camcorder. This is useful in the event that you mount a longer set of lens. The different positions of the screw mounts allow you to better balance the weight of the camcorder on your tripod.

Shot Transition Function

 

The shot transition feature has some improvements, notably the increase in the time for shot transition. The Z1 previously had 15 secs maximum, but the Z7 allows up to 60 secs.

What I found strange was that while the Z1 had controls such as “Soft Stop” & “Soft Trans”, which allows the user to taper the speed of the shot transition, the Z7 does not include such speed controls. This is rather disappointing to Z1 users who are very familiar with the mechanics of this function.

Lens

 

Equipped with a 12 times optical zoom Vario Sonar™ Carl Zeiss T* lens with a focal length of 32mm – 384mm, with the largest opening of F1.6 and smallest of F11. The standard lens feels great to hold in your hands. Naturally you are also able to change lenses on the Z7 which utilizes 1.3-inch universal bayonet mounts

Focus

 

With a slide focus ring to the front, a zoom ring and an iris ring. The rubberized rings of the focus and zoom rings are large enough and easy to locate when you are shooting handheld. As a matter of fact wrapping your hand around the lens and with some practice you will soon find that you will be able to quickly control focus as well as zoom and iris effectively.

Like the EX1 the slide focus ring is something I especially like as it serves two methods of focusing. Pop the ring to the front position and what you have is manual focus as well as auto focus and if you snap it to the rear position, what you have is a physical stop at infinity. This works very much like a professional interchangeable lens with fixed position which essentially means that the ring will not turn around continuously.

Zooming

 

There are three places to perform zoom on the HVR-Z7 and that is the Zoom Rocker on the grip area, the handle and the zoom ring. Oh! as a matter of fact, there are four if you include the shot transitions buttons to perform zoom function as well. The big zoom rocker allows variable zoom control although I must admit I did not find it as responsive compared to the HVR-Z1P. Performing a slow zoom was not so much of a problem but an extreme slow crawl seemed a little harder to achieve compared with the Z1P. Fast end of the zoom was also not fast enough in my opinion. (I think this is due to the servo restricting the zoom)

 

However, Sony had now added an additional feature on the handle zoom and that is the ability to perform variable zoom with the handle rocker. I was excited at first but then due to the nature of the rocker and its size I could not vary my zoom speed as effectively and effortlessly as I would have liked. It was much easier however with the bigger rocker at the grip. The truth is that it’s still a great attempt by Sony, and only can mean there are more great things to look out for in the near future. The handle zoom naturally still had the constant zoom switch which still found on left of the handle. Different constant speeds can be set via the handle zoom speed setting via the menu. There is also a zoom indicator on the LCD that provides you indication of how much you are zoomed in or out. This can both be displayed in the form of numbers or a bar and decided through the camera’s display menu as well. There is however one little thing I felt could have improve and that was the friction and feel of the zoom ring on the Z7, when servo was turned off. Comparing this with the PMW-EX1 and HVR-Z1 this is how I felt.

 

HVR-Z1P- a really nice gradual more fluid feeling as you turn the zoom ring

PMW-EX1 – smooth but way to loose for my liking with totally no friction.

HVR-Z7 – slightly better then the EX1 but still nothing in comparison to the Sony Z1P

 

With that being said, the deal here is that if you like performing fast whips you can do this more effectively with the HVR-Z7 and PMW-EX1 zoom rings.