7 thoughts on “PXW-Z280 and Z190 Firmware Version 4 Adds RTMP Streaming.”

1. Thanks Alister. Do you know if the FX9 has similar “no OBS required” workflow?

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2. Just updated my Z280 – works a treat and the utility to set the streaming parameters really simplifies the setup process!

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   1. Quick question for you guys using the Z280. I’ve been an Ex1 user since 2009x then I moved into the EX1r, then the X200. All amazing cameras. I got the Z280 about a month ago and have noticed the power zoom to be really twitchy compared to the older cameras to the point that I’ve been blowing shots because the zoom speed ramps up too quickly.

      Does anyone here have a similar problem and/or is there a reasonable solution to it? I’m running v3.2 abscess curious to know if the new firmware addressed this issue.

      Thanks

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      1. Apparently everybody has this problem. The zoom is not as smooth as even EX1/EX3. (I have both). It is not variable zoom. It seems to have just two zoom speeds. But Sony is not forthcoming with this shortcoming. And the lens is sharp only at about 2.8! At any other setting the image will not be sharp.

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         1. It is a variable speed zoom. But this lens + camera cost nowhere near what most professional ENG zooms on their own cost, so to expect it to perform the same is wishful thinking. Also the EX1 was only a 14x zoom, this is a 20x so the speed becomes more exaggerated.

            When you have very small pixels as happens when you cram 4K of pixels on to such a small sensor you will be “diffraction limited” at small apertures. So when you stop down past f5.6 the image will go soft. This is just the way optics work and not much can be done about this unless you reduce the resolution.

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            1. Thank you for your reply sir. But, with due respect, I find it difficult to agree. I mostly use this camera in HD and the picture is not comparable to my EX3 or EX1 in sharpness, in most situations. May be you mean because the sensor has 4K pixels crammed into small area, but then that means this model fails in what it claims to be.
               If memory serves the EX3 did not cost more than the Z280 .
               I have tried three or four remote zoom controls with this camera and could never get variable zoom, it just gives two speeds. I had to return two previous buys and this is the third one I am talking about so I am sure it is not a malfunction of my piece.

3. Diffraction will soften both the HD and 4K. It is an optical limitation and affects ALL digital cameras. The smaller the pixel, the larger the aperture where it becomes apparent. The EX1 suffers from it too, but because of the significantly larger pixels you won’t see it until f11. It’s why most high resolution phone cameras have a large fixed aperture as any smaller aperture would make the image soft. It’s why small handycams like the Z90 now include ND filters as it is essential that the aperture is kept large to stay out of diffraction softening. It does mean the Z280 only has a very narrow range of apertures where it will remain sharp.

   Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done about it other than using a much larger sensor which would then limit the zoom range. Or using bigger pixels combined with reducing the resolution to HD only. It’s one of the main drivers behind the use of large sensor cameras for 4K and above. The Z280 is designed as a 4K camera with a large zoom range. To achieve both at a sensible price, reasonable size and weight requires compromises to be made within the limitations of current sensor optical technologies.

   Further to this the z280 uses a lot less sharpening than the EX1 etc. Because the sensor resolution is much greater, less sharpening via edge contrast boosting can be used to achieve full resolution. This results in a more true to life image with fewer artefacts, however it may look softer when the scene contrast is lower or less detailed. Sharpness is primarily a function of contrast. The EX1 series with their lower resolution sensors relied heavily on edge contrast enhancement to make the image look sharp and as a result the images would appear crisp even when actually low resolution or lower contrast.

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