The Digital Camera Store

Written on the 2010-12-19

rating of 5.0

Finally a step into the HD world from my much older DSR-PD170 and what a great camera.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-12-01

rating of 5.0

this camera is amazing, this is my first pro camcorder<br />and it looks and feel good, image is wonderful controls easy to use,great on low ligth conditions.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-29

rating of 5.0

Out of all the cameras ive researched, it was the best fit for what i needed. sony is a great product.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-17

rating of 5.0

This camera has everything I need to produce amazing HD video! The colors are really clean and I like the fact that you can use a standard mini DV tape to produce HD video. I have done three videos with it so far and put the videos on the internet as well as websites. I am extremely satisfied with the results of this camera.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-06

rating of 5.0

As a former Z1-U owner I needed the tape back up. The problem now <br />is every thing is ending up on hard drives or time consuming transfers to DVD's for archiving. The beauty of the Z-5 is that it shoots on to CF cards with the optional flash drive. At the same time you can have an economical DV tape back up and an easy way to keep track of all events. I purchased the optional flash memory drive so I feel I have the best of both worlds.<br /><br />This is the 5th Sony camera I have purchased from B&H and the performance of the Z-5 exceeded my expectations. The native 30 p mode has the rich film look I was seeking. The low light capability is second to none. The resolution and clarity of the video fills the screen of my 42" Panasonic LCD TV with incredible clarity.<br /><br />I do feel that the various menu buttons could have been designed to protrude out more for easier access as these controls need to be located quickly for vital adjustments. Outside of that i think Sony hit a home run with this video camera.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-03

rating of 5.0

I love the Z5! this is a big step for me in film making. I started with the A1 (an awesome camera too) which has lots of problems in low light but the Z5 is awesome in those conditions, and very little noise in the rite settings. Being I make lots of low budget short horror videos it is imperative to shoot at night and in low light situations and this is the perfect camera for it.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-10-07

rating of 5.0

NIce camera, has presets you can edit so that the image can achieve the quality I want.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-10-06

rating of 5.0

I have been a PD 170 user since the early 2000s. Time to switch to HDV. At first I tried out a few different cameras. Having experienced digital glitches using the competitors, I purchased a Sony, and have been very happy with it. <br /><br />The optics are great, the camera is stable and comfortable for hand held shots (my 'work': documentaries, non-profit shorts, interviews; being able to shoot in a pinch is needed).<br /><br />Have only been using it for a couple of weeks, no drawbacks so far.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-09-13

rating of 5.0

This camera is very versatile and can be used for an array of diffrent applications. The 20x zoom and G-lens are superior features of this camcorder and does great when shooting in auditoriums and low lighting applications. The battery life when using the 970 battery is amazing and can last through out all of my days diffrent shoots. The XLR inputs also allow for many diffrent micing solutions (works great with ATW-1821-D dual wireless system)other than the supplied shotgun mic. The built in internal Mics came in to be quite handy during some planning shots and preveiws. Everything about this camcorder is top notch and superior quility through and through. I would highly recommend this camcorder over the many others that are availible.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-08-11

rating of 5.0

The 20X "G" zoom lens is the heart of this HDV cam. Its wide end (29mm in 35mm terms) grabs a whole room without needing to screw on a wide-angle converter lens. On the long end, compression effects are nicely achieved without having to change lenses and adjusting for back-focus making the unit a great cam for covering events.<br /><br />I use the camera for corporate video, interviews, event coverage, ENG and other mobile applications where speed is vital. I use a mounted Focus Enhancements FS-5 DTE recorder so I have file-based workflow with the tape used as backup and quick archiving.<br /><br />Plenty of directly accessible camera controls are where you expect them to be with plenty of programmable buttons for personal customization. Light sensitivity is better than average for a 1/3" chipset and the lens is fast enough to grab low light scenes without resorting to obscene gain levels and noise. I especially like the execution of the live histogram which also shows a level where I've set for zebras. This gives me a lot of confidence in exposure control. The three rings for focus, zoom and iris turn smoothly with sufficient drag. I am not concerned about ring markings as others are. Despite the moderate specs on the 2.7" monitor, it is bright and the resolution is sufficient for fine focusing and composing. I use the AF feature rarely but when I do, it focuses quickly and focus stays on subject. Audio controls are comprehensive and resulting sound is top rate. Both internal mic and included shotgun mic are nicely spec'd and results are impressive. Indeed, HDV generally handles audio without compromise.<br /><br />The default Sony picture profile is somewhat flat and needs a bit of tweaking to provide a high quality, sharp and contrasty image. Fortunately, that is easily done. The lens filter threads are stingy so my polarizer tends to fall off on occasion. The camera has a full sized HDMI output port but, unfortunately, no HD-SDI out.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-08-09

rating of 5.0

I haven't had the camera too long, but so far it is a great buy. Good clarity, color, and you can achieve a very narrow depth of field which I love.<br /><br />The only warning, I found out the hard way, is that apple does not currently support HDV video outside of FCP and imovie. I use istopmotion for animating and only SD from the camera works. I'm not saying it reflects poorly on the camera, but I wish I had known before buying.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-07-18

rating of 5.0

Great camera for the prosumer, but you need to spend a lot of time to get used to all the bells and whistles. This is NOT a point and shoot camera by any means. Good product for the money.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-07-09

rating of 5.0

This camera is easy to use and the picture quality is crisp.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-06-28

rating of 4.0

I use the camera for shooting social events like weddings and others.<br />This camera is light weight and well balanced, so I don't have that back pain I used to have after shooting with my old camera PD170.<br />Great picture during the day!<br />It is better than Z7 in low light conditions but not as good as EX1. Sometimes it needs high gain use in low light conditions and noise appears. <br />But no big deal for my business.<br />I like the peaking function, so I am very sure where I am focusing when using it this function.<br />Sometimes it takes a while to start recording after you push rec button, so you might miss a scene on a social event.<br />But anyway... I like the camera!<br />It is perfect for my business in the moment!
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-06-14

rating of 5.0

I am a beginner and this camera is great. I'm in the process of opening my own Videography company and I will be using two of these as my main cameras. Picture quality is great. Still have a lot to learn about the fine tuning you can do, but I'll get there.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-05-31

rating of 5.0

I just bought the Z5 so I can use the Z1 for my 3rd camera.....The Z5 is easy to use when you use the presets...I enjoyed filming an outdoor wedding recently because I also bought an HD polarization filter with the camera(a must)....I also was able to take photos with the camera throughout the day(Memory Stick PRO duo).The photos <br />are to be used for the DVD cover and case, and for displaying on my FB fan page, too. Careful with the close-ups with this as you will get every detail of the subject(s)...best to take wide shots and they will come out fine.....<br />I really enjoyed the low lux capability of the Z5 during the evening and didn't have to turn my MicroBeam flolight up too high either...
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-05-28

rating of 5.0

The SONY HVR Z5 camcorder is great. for videoclips and outdoors and indoors scenes.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-05-13

rating of 4.0

I made the purchase of the Sony Z5U about two months ago. I did a good deal of research and came to the conclusion, it probably was the best bang for the buck. I also purchased the Sony HVR MRC-1 to compliment the camera to give me a tape-less option. The Z5u is truly a professional camera. Although it isn't perfect, I like it better each time I use it. The light sensitivity is equal or in my opinion, better than the Cannon XL's I've been using and sill use in multi-cam situations. I wouldn't hesitate to suggest the Sony Z5u to anyone looking for a good pro HD cam in that $4k range. I'd also suggest purchasing the MRC-1. The unit is about $740 at B&H. I also purchased two 32gig cards (Kingston 266x about $140 ea) which have performed flawlessly. I'm telling you, this tapless thing is GREAT!!. Those who shoot and edit HD know there is no 'scene detect' and therefore, you get a single HUGE file from which you have to manually split your scenes. Using the Sony MRC-1 unit, I get a separate HD file (.m2t) each time I start/stop the camera. The camera has a lot of pro features that I've come to really enjoy and use. The LCD screen, although smaller than would be my preference, is large enough for my "bi-focal" eyes to easily see and is very sharp. I can use the Z5u LCD to get and maintain focus, not just to frame a shot. The biggest con is trying to hold the camera for handheld shots. As with other HD cams in the Z5u arena, it's size makes it very difficult to hold for long periods of time. I purchased a shoulder rest from B&H but sent it back because, even a shoulder rest without a front brace to your mid-section isn't usable. The weight of the camera is so far forward, using a un-braced shoulder support is no better than going purely handheld. A monopod is a better solution for support over a standard shoulder support. So I just make sure I use a tripod, monopod or use it for short 'edgy' type handheld shots.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-05-01

rating of 5.0

I have 2 HVR-Z7U cameras and this Z5U completes my 3 camera package. I love my Z7U's (a little better in low light due to Ziess 12X Zoom). This camera has longer zoom lens (20X), which is perfect when for dance recitals or sports. If you zoom in too far you will lose light level (which doesn't happen on Z7U), so you have to know limitation of this camera when shooting under low light conditions.<br /><br />The menu's are more updated than Z7U. One feature it has that is missing on Z7U, is that I can use Expanded Focus while the Compact Flash recorder is on back of camera. This feature does not work on Z7U. You have to turn off or remove CF recorder to use Expanded Focus on Z7U.<br /><br />It does not record true 1920X1080 on tape or CF card (you will have to get Sony's new NXCAM for that which is based on Z5U) but the footage matches perfectly with my Z7U's and to me the HDV format looks just as awesome. I have heard issues with NXCAM that it may freeze up during recording and you could lose all your footage. With Z5U, you have tape backup, with gives me more peace of mind, knowing that I can put tape on shelf and not worry about losing footage on flash memory card or hard drive.<br /><br />Once you see edited footage on Blu-ray, I doubt that you would be able to tell difference between NXCAM or this camera, plus it's a lot easier to edit HDV than AVCHD. Also, the Z7U is better in low light on tight lens and as yet, NXCAM format has no similar camera to Z7U. The Z5U and Z7U are a perfect pair of cameras to use for weddings, events, or just about anything you shoot. I'm glad I own them.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-04-29

rating of 5.0

I use this video camera in beach weddings and has been great has good brightness
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-04-14

rating of 5.0

I use this camera to film for outdoor shows and the ease of use and low light capability is second to none. We also have the HVR-MRC1 memory unit on it and love it, so we also have the tape as backup.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-04-14

rating of 5.0

I use this camera to film for hunting shows and the use and low light capability of this camera is second to none. We use the HVR-MRC1 memory unit with it and it is Incredible. Would recomend this camera over all the rest.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-04-14

rating of 5.0

As a Professional News Photographer using very heavy and expensive gear(Panasonic P2),the Sony Z5u is a welcome pleasure. The video looks great under low light conditions and even better with normal lighting conditions.So much easier when your "shooting from the hip".My back thanks you.The custom menus are easy to understand and I still prefer shooting with tape.The optional hard drive that docks to the back of camera is my next purchase. Allows shooting hard drive & tape at the same time.B&H is a great place to purchase equipment from [...]Take a trip to their store. Its like "Disney World "for adults looking for photo & video gear.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-03-21

rating of 4.0

Weddings, films, concerts, interviews and other events.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-03-09

rating of 5.0

I use the product for professional videography and so far it has been great. The picture is great. The only issue I have had which i eventually fixed was an XLR cable got stuck in the input. It was a brand new XLR Cable too. I eventually worked it out.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)