• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
Tim Orr, DoP at Nomad Productions, reviews the Sony Z90V 4K HDR camcorder

Tim Orr, DoP at Nomad Productions, reviews the Sony Z90V 4K HDR camcorder

August 1, 2018
Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

March 8, 2021
Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

March 8, 2021
ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

March 8, 2021
Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

March 8, 2021
A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

March 8, 2021
Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

March 8, 2021
United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

March 8, 2021
Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

March 7, 2021
Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

March 7, 2021
Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

March 7, 2021
Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

March 7, 2021
Egyptian film to participate in Arab film festivals in Pune and Malmo

Egyptian film to participate in Arab film festivals in Pune and Malmo

March 7, 2021
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Analyst Reports
    • AV
    • Film partnerships
    • International News
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • New appointments
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • Production
    • Satellite/Broadcasting
    • Satellite/Comms
    • TV/Radio Deals
    Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

    Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

    Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

    Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

    Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

    Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

    A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

    A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

    Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

    Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

    United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

    United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

    Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

    Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

    Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

    Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

    Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

    Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

    Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

    Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • New Media
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    What to expect in 2021 for broadcast industry! The experts speak

    What to expect in 2021 for broadcast industry! The experts speak

    Piracy – Unravelling the maze

    Piracy – Unravelling the maze

    Strategies to win the OTT race

    Strategies to win the OTT race

    The OTT journey – Learning from the experts

    The OTT journey – Learning from the experts

    Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

    Vox Pop Part Two: Visualising the AR roadmap

    Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

    Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

    Premier League scraps pay-per-view model following backlash

    Premier League scraps pay-per-view model following backlash

    Shaping audio for broadcast

    Shaping audio for broadcast

    Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

    Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

    How to establish an 8K Future

    How to establish an 8K Future

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

      EBS presents Love Machine

      Y&C’s presents Back To The Books

      JTBC Studios presents Korean drama ‘The Good Detective’

      JTBC Studios presents Korean drama ‘The Good Detective’

      JTBC Studios Presents the Korean Drama ‘Graceful Friends’

      JTBC Studios Presents the Korean Drama ‘Graceful Friends’

      FormatEast Presents the Korean Entertainment ‘Lotto Singer’

      FormatEast Presents the Korean Entertainment ‘Lotto Singer’

      SBS Contents Hub Presents the Korean Drama ‘Penthouse S1 : War in Life’

      SBS Contents Hub Presents the Korean Drama ‘Penthouse S1 : War in Life’

      beIN Media Group’s exclusive interview with director Guy Ritchie on filming his upcoming film in Doha, Qatar

      beIN Media Group’s exclusive interview with director Guy Ritchie on filming his upcoming film in Doha, Qatar

      Pierre Tabet on what makes 7 Production tick

      Pierre Tabet on what makes 7 Production tick

      VIDEO: Hear it from Francesco Perta and Danny Bates on Dplay’s launch on StarzPlay

      VIDEO: Hear it from Francesco Perta and Danny Bates on Dplay’s launch on StarzPlay

    • Opinion
      AVOD: The best model for OTT success?

      AVOD: The best model for OTT success?

      Mobile LTE is key to simple and reliable live video contribution

      Mobile LTE is key to simple and reliable live video contribution

      How entertainment networks are fighting the pandemic

      How entertainment networks are fighting the pandemic

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Reviewing video content in the wake of Covid-19

      Reviewing video content in the wake of Covid-19

      Made in the UAE – with pride

      Made in the UAE – with pride

      Failing to prepare: Preparing to fail. Again?

      Failing to prepare: Preparing to fail. Again?

      Celebrating growth with BroadcastPro ME’s tenth anniversary

      Celebrating growth with BroadcastPro ME’s tenth anniversary

      Getting to grips with the AV-over-IP stack

      Getting to grips with the AV-over-IP stack

      How are businesses prioritising their expenditures in light of Covid-19?

      How are businesses prioritising their expenditures in light of Covid-19?

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Kaveh Farnam’s reel story

      Kaveh Farnam’s reel story

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part Two: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Will Covid-19 drive broadcasters into adopting IP?

      Will Covid-19 drive broadcasters into adopting IP?

      Vox Pop: The Road To IP

      Vox Pop: The Road To IP

      Let’s Tok Business: How TikTok is navigating the Middle East market

      Let’s Tok Business: How TikTok is navigating the Middle East market

      COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part II

      COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part II

      COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part I

      COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part I

      OSN: Back with a Bang

      OSN: Back with a Bang

      With Heba Korayem on how Ramadan programming has fared in the face of Covid-19

      With Heba Korayem on how Ramadan programming has fared in the face of Covid-19

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
    • Events
      • News from Events
      • Upcoming Events
      The industry’s success stories

      The industry’s success stories

      Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit

      Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit

      Cabsat

      IBC

      Cabsat

      NABSHOW

      Cabsat

      ConnecTechAsia

    • LIVE
    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Analyst Reports
      • AV
      • Film partnerships
      • International News
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • New appointments
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • Production
      • Satellite/Broadcasting
      • Satellite/Comms
      • TV/Radio Deals
      Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

      Fatafeat bolsters broadcast sector with commitment to local content production

      Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

      Vincent Loré joins Ross as second Regional Sales Manager for France

      Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

      Bahrain F1 races to make Netflix debut

      A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

      A new reality show on private collections of super cars to be produced soon

      Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

      Priyanka Chopra teams up with chef behind popular Dubai restaurant

      United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

      United Media Services releases official poster of ‘El Nemr’

      Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

      Dhafer L’Abidine marks his directorial debut with ‘Ghodwa’

      Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

      Perseverance drives on Mars’ terrain for first time

      Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

      Netflix picks up ‘The Pale Blue Eyes’ in whooping $55m worldwide deal

      Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

      Egyptian actor Yasser Galal to star in ‘Del Ragel’

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • New Media
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      What to expect in 2021 for broadcast industry! The experts speak

      What to expect in 2021 for broadcast industry! The experts speak

      Piracy – Unravelling the maze

      Piracy – Unravelling the maze

      Strategies to win the OTT race

      Strategies to win the OTT race

      The OTT journey – Learning from the experts

      The OTT journey – Learning from the experts

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part Two: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

      Premier League scraps pay-per-view model following backlash

      Premier League scraps pay-per-view model following backlash

      Shaping audio for broadcast

      Shaping audio for broadcast

      Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

      Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

      How to establish an 8K Future

      How to establish an 8K Future

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Summit & Awards 2020

        EBS presents Love Machine

        Y&C’s presents Back To The Books

        JTBC Studios presents Korean drama ‘The Good Detective’

        JTBC Studios presents Korean drama ‘The Good Detective’

        JTBC Studios Presents the Korean Drama ‘Graceful Friends’

        JTBC Studios Presents the Korean Drama ‘Graceful Friends’

        FormatEast Presents the Korean Entertainment ‘Lotto Singer’

        FormatEast Presents the Korean Entertainment ‘Lotto Singer’

        SBS Contents Hub Presents the Korean Drama ‘Penthouse S1 : War in Life’

        SBS Contents Hub Presents the Korean Drama ‘Penthouse S1 : War in Life’

        beIN Media Group’s exclusive interview with director Guy Ritchie on filming his upcoming film in Doha, Qatar

        beIN Media Group’s exclusive interview with director Guy Ritchie on filming his upcoming film in Doha, Qatar

        Pierre Tabet on what makes 7 Production tick

        Pierre Tabet on what makes 7 Production tick

        VIDEO: Hear it from Francesco Perta and Danny Bates on Dplay’s launch on StarzPlay

        VIDEO: Hear it from Francesco Perta and Danny Bates on Dplay’s launch on StarzPlay

      • Opinion
        AVOD: The best model for OTT success?

        AVOD: The best model for OTT success?

        Mobile LTE is key to simple and reliable live video contribution

        Mobile LTE is key to simple and reliable live video contribution

        How entertainment networks are fighting the pandemic

        How entertainment networks are fighting the pandemic

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Reviewing video content in the wake of Covid-19

        Reviewing video content in the wake of Covid-19

        Made in the UAE – with pride

        Made in the UAE – with pride

        Failing to prepare: Preparing to fail. Again?

        Failing to prepare: Preparing to fail. Again?

        Celebrating growth with BroadcastPro ME’s tenth anniversary

        Celebrating growth with BroadcastPro ME’s tenth anniversary

        Getting to grips with the AV-over-IP stack

        Getting to grips with the AV-over-IP stack

        How are businesses prioritising their expenditures in light of Covid-19?

        How are businesses prioritising their expenditures in light of Covid-19?

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Kaveh Farnam’s reel story

        Kaveh Farnam’s reel story

        Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

        Vox Pop Part Two: Visualising the AR roadmap

        Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

        Vox Pop Part One: Visualising the AR roadmap

        Will Covid-19 drive broadcasters into adopting IP?

        Will Covid-19 drive broadcasters into adopting IP?

        Vox Pop: The Road To IP

        Vox Pop: The Road To IP

        Let’s Tok Business: How TikTok is navigating the Middle East market

        Let’s Tok Business: How TikTok is navigating the Middle East market

        COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part II

        COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part II

        COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part I

        COVID-19: Its impact on the media world – Part I

        OSN: Back with a Bang

        OSN: Back with a Bang

        With Heba Korayem on how Ramadan programming has fared in the face of Covid-19

        With Heba Korayem on how Ramadan programming has fared in the face of Covid-19

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
      • Events
        • News from Events
        • Upcoming Events
        The industry’s success stories

        The industry’s success stories

        Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit

        Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit

        Cabsat

        IBC

        Cabsat

        NABSHOW

        Cabsat

        ConnecTechAsia

      • LIVE
      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Reviews

      Tim Orr, DoP at Nomad Productions, reviews the Sony Z90V 4K HDR camcorder

      Guest Columnist by Guest Columnist
      August 1, 2018
      in Reviews
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      For on-the-move reporting or television production, or both, Tim Orr, DoP at Dubai-based Nomad Productions, offers his verdict on the Sony Z90V 4K HDR camcorder.

      For on-the-move reporting or television production, or both, Tim Orr, DoP at Dubai-based Nomad Productions, offers his verdict on the Sony Z90V 4K HDR camcorder.

      Sony has released a potentially game-changing compact 4K camcorder that is equally suitable for broadcast news, corporate events and even television production. The PXW-Z90V 4K HDR camcorder boasts many of the features found on more advanced models in the Sony XDCAM range, including the PXW-FS5 and PXWFS7, but at a fraction of the cost.

      I recently had the pleasure of testing this little powerhouse of a camcorder here in Dubai, and was more than pleasantly surprised. On the outside, it looks almost identical to its popular predecessor, the PXW-X70, but on the inside, and straight out of the box, the PXW-Z90V is a major improvement.

      “For the price and quality, there are plenty of professional camera operators who wouldn’t think twice about using this as an A or B camera on a variety of jobs” Tim Orr, DoP, Nomad Productions

      The PXW-Z90V is the first camcorder to feature a one-inch EXMOR RS CMOS stacked sensor with improved autofocus performance and 4K HDR recording. The ‘stacked’ element of the sensor is designed to minimise rolling shutter and can also help reduce noise levels. The sensor is not as big as the super 35mm sensor found on the FS7 and FS5, but for a camera of this size, it works well and allows you to achieve a reasonably shallow depth of field using a large aperture, combined with the very useful three-stage built-in ND filters.

      The Zeiss T* lens with 12x optical zoom runs from the equivalent of 29mm to 348mm with a maximum aperture of f2.8, closing to f4.0 towards the telephoto end. It’s an impressively versatile ENG-style lens that’s great for run-and-gun shooting, particularly in news and documentary filmmaking. On top of that, it also incorporates Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF autofocus system, which gives the camera, quick and accurate focusing and tracking. This is specially useful when filming moving subjects.

      In fact, the PXW-Z90’s autofocus abilities go way beyond that, with multiple modes including the useful Flexible Spot. This mode automatically identifies human faces and moving objects, and can even be set by touching the specific point of interest on the screen. A green box will appear around the selected area and will then track the person or object as it, or the camera, moves. You can also use this mode to do automated focus pulls by selecting the two points on the screen that you want to pull focus from and to. It actually works incredibly well, to the point that the user will be able to produce very steady focus pulls, especially when zoomed in for tighter shots.

      For the professional user, the camera also features multiple gamma settings, including Rec.709, Slog2 and Slog3, with various colour spaces making it easier to match with other cameras during post-production. It also features a Gamma Display Assist option so that the user or client can see roughly what the final shot will look like on the screen. This also means the PXW-Z90 could very easily be used with a variety of other cameras on a single shoot without having to worry about the images not matching well in the final edit.

      “The Z90 can simultaneously record 4K footage and a 720p proxy in-camera, which means the user doesn’t have to spend time down sampling the 4K files” Tim Orr, DoP, Nomad Productions

      Slow motion is definitely in vogue and has been for some time, not least because it can make almost any image look awesome. The PXW-Z90 is no exception, with the capability of shooting up to that contains two XLR inputs with audio control buttons for both channels. The handle connects via a hot-shoe and can be removed at any time to make it easier to pack, or when you need to use any other top-mounted device. One of the other useful features of the Z90 is the connectivity. The WiFi connection is complemented by the Sony XDCam viewing and control app. The app was very easy to download onto my iPhone and then fairly straightforward to connect to the Z90.

      Once connected, you can use your phone as a remote monitor with simple camera controls such as gain and record. This is actually incredibly useful for keeping an eye on a second camera from afar, or for video journalists using one camera and doing an interview themselves. You can even use the app to synchronise multiple cameras’ time codes over WiFi.

      Even more useful for ENG crew journalists, the Z90 also has the ability to send live images for viewing at remote locations via 120 frames per second (fps) in full HD (1080p) at XAVC 10-bit 4:2:2, placing it on a par with far more expensive cameras. However, this little box of tricks goes even further, recording up to 1000fps, albeit with a reduction in image quality and batch recording. 1000fps is more of a gimmick than anything else, as it’s very rare that you would use it unless you were filming something very fast-moving, like a falcon or a Formula 1 race. Having said that, the quality of the slo-mo up to around 250fps is impressive.

      When it comes to audio, the camera comes with an in-built stereo microphone, but more importantly, a detachable top handle a stream, or to send proxy files to an FTP server or to the cloud via XDCAM Air. I didn’t have the chance to test these functions, and I assume you would need a decent internet connection, but if it works well then it could be a game changer for news crews in the field by allowing much faster turnaround from camera to edit.

      Speaking of editing, I want to quickly touch upon the best workflow when using 4K footage. It’s relevant because this is a 4K camera, and while people jump at the chance to shoot in 4K, a lot of them don’t realise how it will affect post-production time. In simple terms, 4K is four times the resolution of HD or 1080p. This means that when you shoot in 4K, you are recording four times the amount of data. So when you import this footage into your editing platform, you may run into problems with processing speeds.

      Fortunately, there is a solution to this – using proxy files. A proxy file is essentially an identical copy of your original footage file but in a lower resolution. Brilliantly, the Z90 can simultaneously record full-res footage and a 720p proxy in-camera, which means the user doesn’t have to spend time down sampling the 4K files. At Nomad, we use Adobe’s Premier Pro editing software, which allows us to use the lower resolution proxy files to undergo what used to be known as an offline edit first, to save time. Once the client has signed off on the film which has been edited at 720p resolution, you can then automatically use Premier Pro to re-link the edit to the original 4K media. The client is happy, and you’ve avoided pulling your hair out over a computer that won’t play back properly.

      In conclusion, I have to say I enjoyed using the Sony PXW-Z90. There are a few minor quibbles regarding ergonomics, but overall the camera is a joy to use. As far as camcorders go, I don’t think there is anything on the market to rival it, and for the price and quality, there are plenty of professional camera operators who wouldn’t think twice about using this as an A or B camera on a variety of jobs. Although I haven’t done any technical tests, the picture quality on the Z90 is superb, largely thanks to the impressive one-inch CMOS sensor.

      If you want a reasonably priced professional camera with the option of interchangeable lenses and a Super 35mm look, then you might want to opt for something like the Sony FS5. But if interchangeable lenses are not a sticking point and you want an almost identical performer at half the price, then go for the PXW-Z90. It’s a pocket rocket that will be hard to match.

       

      Tags: camera reviewNomad ProductionsreviewSonySony camcorderTim Orr

      Related Posts

      AT&T to sell Crunchyroll to Sony’s Funimation for $1.1bn

      AT&T to sell Crunchyroll to Sony’s Funimation for $1.1bn

      December 10, 2020
      Sony expands its cinema line with FX6 full-frame professional camera

      Sony expands its cinema line with FX6 full-frame professional camera

      November 18, 2020
      Advanced Media and Sony to showcase Sony A7S III at IN5 Media in Dubai

      Advanced Media and Sony to showcase Sony A7S III at IN5 Media in Dubai

      October 5, 2020
      Sony acquires Nevion

      Sony acquires Nevion

      September 30, 2020
      Sony launches new camera series for digital cinema production

      Sony launches new camera series for digital cinema production

      September 2, 2020
      MBC’s Shahid now available across all mainstream smart TV brands

      MBC’s Shahid now available across all mainstream smart TV brands

      August 31, 2020

      Related News

      Emirates collaborates with ESPN on documentary series on UAE athletes

      Emirates collaborates with ESPN on documentary series on UAE athletes

      November 29, 2017
      Limonero Films secures disti rights for Fighting Fit Dubai

      Limonero Films secures disti rights for Fighting Fit Dubai

      October 10, 2017
      Delivering the perfect punch

      Delivering the perfect punch

      February 6, 2016
      Nomad Productions signs MENA deal with Omnisport

      Nomad Productions signs MENA deal with Omnisport

      October 8, 2013
      More Related News

      Popular Stories

      • WarnerMedia and OSN launch Adult Swim pop-up channel

        WarnerMedia and OSN launch Adult Swim pop-up channel

        964 shares
        Share 386 Tweet 241
      • Manga Production releases trailer of Saudi-Japanese anime ‘The Journey’

        956 shares
        Share 382 Tweet 239
      • BeIN Sports to broadcast Qatar Total Open in MENA exclusively

        896 shares
        Share 358 Tweet 224
      • Disney+ acquires all five seasons of ‘Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’

        835 shares
        Share 334 Tweet 209
      • Arabic Originals on MENA OTT services grew by 383% in 2020: VYND

        800 shares
        Share 320 Tweet 200

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
      • Events
      • LIVE

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In