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Review Summary
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
Sony G Lens, 20x (optical), f = 4.1 to 82mm, f = 29.5 to 590 mm at 16:9 mode, f = 36.1 to 722 mm at 4:3 mode, filter diameter: 72mm
Clear, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64
1/3 inch-type, progressive 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor system with technology of Exmor
Approx. 1,037,000 pixels (effective), approx. 1,120,000 pixels (total)
Auto, manual (focus ring/one push auto/infinity/AF assist/focus macro)
Auto, one-push auto (A/B positions), indoor (3200 K), outdoor (selectable level -7 to +7, approx. 500K/step), manual WB Temp (selectable 2300K to 15000K, 100K/step)
1/60 - 1/2000
60i/30p: 1/4 - 1/10000 24p: 1/3 - 1/10000
-6, -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 dB
1.5 lux (auto gain, auto iris, 1/30 shutter)
HDV1080/60i/30p/24p, DVCAM, DV SP 480/60i (NTSC)
HDV1080/60i/30p/24p, DVCAM, DV SP 480/60i (NTSC)
Max. 63 min with PHDVM-63DM cassette
Max. 41 min with PHDVM-63DM cassette
10-pin connector A/V OUT jack (component, composite and unbalanced audio x2ch with the supplied cables)
i.LINK interface (IEEE 1394, 4-pin)
XLR 3-pin female x 2ch
Stereo mini jack (°3.5 mm)
Stereo mini-mini jack (°2.5 mm)
HDMI connector
0.45 inch-type (Viewable area measured diagonally), approx. 1,226,880 dots (852 x 3[RGB] x 480), 16:9 aspect ratio
3.2 inch-type (Viewable area measured diagonally), XtraFine LCD, approx. 921,600 dots, hybrid type, 16:9 aspect ratio
DC 7.2 V (battery pack), DC 8.4 V (AC adaptor)
Approx. 7.1 W (with ECM-XM1 / LCD viewfinder ON)
Approx. 6.8 W (with ECM-XM1 / LCD viewfinder ON)
395min (NP-F970)
415min (NP-F970)
32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C)
-4 to 140 °F (-20 to 60 °C)
Approx.6-3/4 x 7-1/2 x 17-7/8 inch (169 x 188 x 451mm) (with lens hood, microphone and large eye cup)
Approx. 5 lbs 1 oz (2.2 kg) (w/o tape, battery)
Sony warranty
Great images--a little hard to get used
By Peteelew
The camera has wonderful capabilities, many features, but as with anything with a lot of features, it is hard to master.
Great Camera!
By Dave
Very nice camera! It uses memory cards and tapes. Great for backing up material. The image quality is awsome!
The HVR-Z5U camcorder is designed to enhance creativity and deliver the highest standard of optical and audio quality. Sony's newly designed "G Lens" is incorporated into the camcorder, boasting excellent resolution, color and contrast for breathtaking images that rival expensive interchangeable lenses. This new compact camcorder boasts Sony's 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor system, utilizing the technology of Exmor, to provide excellent low-light sensitivity and making it ideal when high performance in limited light conditions is a requirement.
The ergonomically designed body allows flexible shooting under any conditions, while maintaining Sony's worldwide reputation for quality and high performance. The standard features of the HVR-Z5U include 1080/24p/30p HDV native progressive recording modes. Sony's new cutting-edge hybrid recording system incorporates an optional HVR-DR60 or HVR-MRC1K Memory Recording Unit, which allows simultaneous recording on tape and non-tape media for improve NLE workflow efficiency. The hybrid recording system is also capable of simultaneous HD and SD recording.