Sony VTK-Z280 Remote Production Package with PXW-Z280 & Network RX Station

I have had a Z280 for over two years now and I like it a lot. But one thing lets it down badly. The zoom servo. It's clunky and at slow speed the zoom stutters and is useless. It also exhibits gear lash at start and end (which I could forgive if that was all because many zooms show this to some degree.) I also still have an old Z7 - no good now because it was only HDV - but the zoom on that old camera was silky smooth with ease in, ease out and zero lash. How I wish the Z280 zoom was even close to that old camera. The zoom on the Z280 is really only useful for reframing between shots.

I use this camera for graduations, dance recitals and more. It's even used for some wedding work. Love the zoom and low light capabilities. I feel like I can walk into most any situation and get a great image with this camera. I've got 2 of these and love them!

I used to spend a lot of time in post trying to remove noise from a 2-hr video shoot in venues where video lighting is not even an after thought. Conference rooms, hotel ballrooms, industrial sites and stage productions are not designed to make video production easy, so fix it in post has been a way of life. But, enter the Z280 and life has never been so easy. This may not be the best low-light performer, but when a camcorder advantages are needed this is simply a jewel. From wide angle to full 17x zoom, the image barely darkens - maybe a half stop. I rarely use any gain, but when I do the images have an almost negligible amount of noise - certainly much easier to clean up than in my past. And, night shots are marvelous! My favorite feature is Sony's continuously variable ND filter! No more sacrificing DOF or other aspects of desired image quality to get the perfect exposure. Just dial in the ND level until the Zebras begin to show and you are perfectly exposed. Just about fool proof. I have found two down-sides: one, this is not a open the box and shoot that day. There are no preset scene paint settings, but you can create your own and save them to use later. This is certainly a professional camera with just about everything adjustable from operating controls to image quality. And it can take some time to decide how you want to configure it so it is easy to use for each type of job. The second bummer is that slow-motion is only 60 FPS and just does not get those creamy-smooth slo-mo shots that are popular today. I was reluctant to move to the Z280 because I read a number of bad reviews about picture quality. Then watched videos (both free and paid) on how to get the most from the Z280 and I have never experienced the image problems that stand out in some reviews. I carefully followed the specified steps to set up the camera for back-focus adjustment and it is crystal clear! I took several weeks to familiarize myself with the multitude of customization that make it fit into any shooting style and image demands and it's well worth it. This camera saves me time in the editing studio and broadens the range of jobs I can shoot and get paid for. Less editing time means more paid camera time! It's a winner for me.

Used this camera in a video class at my university. Every video we shot with it was noticeably grainy. This was without any gain or ISO. The camera also has a feature where you slide the focus ring back or forward to swap from manual to auto-focus. This is incredibly easy to do by accident. The dynamic range of the camera is pitiful as well. For the price, this camera isn't worth it. Buy a DLSR with decent lenses instead.

To be honest, I have not used every single camera or camcorder that has ever existed; but I have used cameras from every brand and almost every type since the early 2000's and this one is my favorite. It combines such a wide array of features into a single package that make it one of the most versatile cameras available. My favorite features include: fast lens with an excellent zoom range form factor that balances well, not to heavy for me, with lots of assign buttons and everything in easy reach awesome accessories available from Sony like the wireless audio adapter that can send audio through the MI shoes for additional balanced audio inputs. great controls for focus, zoom and iris excellent image stabilization for doing hand held work. I personally find the menus easy to use, but maybe I'm weird. But I like that I can use Direct Menus with this camera as well as customizing the User Menu to suit my needs Also, when you press the menu button it returns you to the menu item that you were previously using which I think is great. And many, many other features that work extremely well . . . Excellent battery life, turns on super fast, doesn't require a lot of fiddling with once you have it set up how you like it, and on and on. Available recording formats on this camera are great . . . And with firmware 5 you can shoot 120fps in HD which may not currently be listed in the specs. I personally have started to use it for all kinds of videography work like corporate videos, commercial videos, stock footage production and I am planning on using it for my own narrative productions as well. Two caveats, though. One is that you must know what you are doing and take some time to get to know the camera. If you do not do this than you may end up with disappointing results; as some other people have discovered. However, if you take some time to learn this camera and use it properly than the results should be fantastic. The second caveat is nothing to do with this camera but just the truth which is this: it is impossible for any camera to be everything for everyone. This is as true for this camera as it is for any camera. You need to do a lot of research to make sure that a camera like this is what you need. If it is, and you take the time to get to know it, set it up and use it properly, than you may just love it like I do. P.S. I don't love it cause its perfect but because its great! Best of luck!