Sony HVR-Z5U HDV High Definition Handheld Professional Camcorder with 1080/24p/30p Recording Modes, Formats; HDV, DVCAM & DV

2014-08-12T21:00:00

I've been a professional Wedding Videographer since 1987 both in NY and south Florida. I have easily done over 4000 weddings. I told Paul Armato over a year ago that I needed an HD version of the PD170. Z5U was it. PD170 lux was 1.0, Z5U is 1.5, but picture quality is better. You can tweek the AE from -7 to +7 WHILE SHOOTING. You can also adjust the color temperature over a wide range WHILE YOU ARE ACTUALLY RECORDING. Comes in very handy while shooting in twilight and in environments with many color temperatures like sunlight coming into room or the wide variety of uplighting used these days. If you are used to shooting on a Sony Camcorder, the learning curve is ZERO. I have purchased over 20 professional camcorders from Paul Armato over the years and would not think of going to anyone else.

Dale S.

2012-04-15T21:00:00

Amazing camcorder with great professional features. Excellent image and fantastic in low light situations. Lens with great coverage. Another great product from Sony.

JAIRO C.

2011-01-14T19:00:00

Very nice camera! It uses memory cards and tapes. Great for backing up material. The image quality is awsome!

Dave

2010-08-05T21:00:00

Z5U Better than Cannon but Wider lens cuts down the 20X to about 15X they should have made it a 25x. Smith slow mode suffers picture Quality fast. Menue wheel poor position and function bad as well.Mrc unit limits you to batttery size. Construction seams good but not great.And the new Avchd Model same problems except Battery size.But more recording time.

William K.

2009-04-07T21:00:00

Beautiful pictures. Small, so it is unobtrusive for wedding and event videography. Comfortable to hold, easy to switch tapes fast with the transport on the left side.

Peteelew

2009-03-29T21:00:00

The camera has wonderful capabilities, many features, but as with anything with a lot of features, it is hard to master.

Peteelew