SONY Z200
The larger sensor calls for a different focal length and the 3.7- 92.5mm zoom of the Z190 is now replaced by the 7.7-154.2mm on the Z200. This gives the equivalent of a 24-480mm lens when converted to 35mm format, which is a 20x range and slightly smaller than the 25x range of the older camera (28.8mm- 720mm). But the difference at the wider end is much more usable to cram things in and is a major step forward. You’re less likely to need a wide-angle converter. And the digital zoom can boost the longer end of the Z200’s reach to 720mm in 4K or 960mm in HD. That’s simply incredible. You might not be able to fit other lenses, but chances are you’d never need to. The lens has three separate control rings for focusing, zooming and setting the iris. Or you can zoom with the
“The digital zoom can boost the longer end of the Z200’s reach to 720mm in 4K or 960mm in HD”
What the camera now has is a clear button where you select auto or manual. Inexperienced users can stick to auto and the camera does it all in 4K. Experienced operators can go all-manual and change everything. And if you are a manual user but suddenly need a grab shot, flicking the camera to auto means you are up and running in seconds. Chances are that readers of Pro Moviemaker will be using the manual setting, and accessing the menu system which has the same basic look and feel of Sony’s cinema cameras and camcorders.
powered rocker switches on the top of the body and the side handle. The left side of the camera body packs in all the typical Sony controls used on cinema cameras and camcorders. There are menu buttons, lots of user-assignable buttons, push AF and proper audio- control dials. There are two record buttons; one on top and one on the handgrip. When we tried the Z190, we said it was a shame there wasn’t a third on the left side of the body, which would make it more useful when on a tripod. There still isn’t one on the new Z200.
FLIPPING GREAT The fold-out screen is bright, with a trio of control buttons. It also folds in close to the camera body for ease of transport
53
PROMOVIEMAKER.NET
Powered by FlippingBook