"A Complete Guide to Shooting with the Sony HVR-Z1U & FX1" is the easiest way to learn both the fundamentals and advanced features of these camcorders.

This 100-minute DVD workshop includes tutorials, step-by-step examples, and detailed instructions covering the most important aspects of camera setup, menus, shooting techniques, exposure, picture profiles, time-code, assign buttons, shutter speed, special effects, color correction, camera profiles, audio, white balance, and more. This DVD will pay for itself many times over by saving you hours of time figuring out things on your own.

This is a completely independent production with no participation, sponsorship, input, or approval from Sony -- so it delivers unbiased information and professional advice that can't be found in the owner's manual.

Like all Vortex Media training DVDs, this workshop has been carefully researched, planned and scripted (not presented as"live" or ad lib). This DVD was produced by professionals with years of broadcast-level experience who have the knowledge to recognize what's important about the Z1U and how to teach it without getting bogged down in jargon or unnecessary technical details.

This DVD is a "must-see" for any HDV owner who wants detailed explanations, examples, tutorials, tips, advice, and features explained to them in simple no-nonsense terms.

100 minutes
DVD-Video
NTSC *
English
$45

* NTSC DVDs will play on most
PAL DVD players

"A Complete Guide to the Z1U & FX1 Camcorders" was shot entirely in HDV with Z1 and FX1 camcorders, edited with FCP, and output in 16x9 SD for the DVD. Throughout the video, a variety of video shooting modes are demonstrated and explained, including Cineframe 24, CinemaTone, and customized Picture Profiles.

This is not a bench-top demonstration or in-studio camera review. It is an in-depth training video with shooting done by professionals with years of ENG/EFP broadcast shooting experience. Shooting took place over a four week period in many locations of the country, under different conditions, indoors, outdoors, lit, natural light, sports, b-roll, interview setups, and in-studio, to give as much variety as possible to the demonstrations and examples.

An EXTRAS folder is included on the DVD with several exclusive documents, including: A detailed reference chart that outlines every customizable setting of all six of the default Picture Profiles so you can compare them and see the differences. Also included is a comparison chart of the major differences between the Z1 and the FX1. Some features discussed in the video only apply to the Z1 and this chart helps identify those differences.

This 100 minute DVD will tell you everything you'll need to know to get up and running quickly with either of the Sony HDV pro camcorders. All of the essential features and functions are covered in detail.

Reviews for Vortex Media's Hands-On series of training videos:

"Great work! I think it's really well-done and a great tool. Great production, slick, professional look, easy to navigate and easy to understand, and full of great tips every user should know. Very thorough. You'd have to be pretty dumb to have seen this video and be confused about the Z1U! You obviously put a lot of effort into it, and it shows."
- Jody Eldred, Director and Cameraman - JAG, N.C.I.S., ABC News

"Spending 90 minutes or so with this DVD will burn it into your head and amaze you with the depth of features that are available. Just the chapter on Color Correction/Extraction was worth the price of admission . . . . too bad I didn't get this sooner. I learned more in the hour and a half of watching this DVD that I did in the two weeks I’ve owned the camera. That’s value."
Jim Harvey, Creative Cow (read the full review)

"There are so many features in the Sony HC1 that anyone, beginner or advanced shooter, may find themselves confused as to how each one works and when to use it or not. Unsure of how to properly use the Histogram? This tutorial will clear that up through it's easy to understand lesson. How about this setting for Status Check, Spot Focus, or the wonderful Expanded Focus feature? It's all covered exceptionally well and was a breeze to go through. Not only does Hands On HDV for the Sony HDR-HC1 explain it all but provides a fine demonstration that dissipates any cloudiness caused by the Sony manual."
Steve Douglas, KenStone.com (read the full review)

"A novice shooter will gain all the essentials and much more, very easily, from this training tool. So will any experienced ENG operator. Yes, it is that good. An excellent investment, following which you could pretty well throw away the maker's manual. That's all here - and Vortex has given you so much more. There's a lot to master, particularly when so many settings are inter-related. One adjustment can affect several other functions, so it really is vital to know correct procedure to get the results you want. The enormous advantage of putting an operator's manual on DVD like this one can be seen at once. The delivery is clear, unambiguous and logical. You see not only before- and after- results on screen, but every menu change can be followed on the flip-out monitor."
- James MacGregor, ShootingPeople.org (read the full review)

"This is certainly the best looking training DVD I have ever seen. Shot in studio, great lighting, superb talent, and high quality examples, make this a disc that sets the bar for other training DVDs. And why shouldn’t it look great? Hands on HDV was shot entirely with the FX1 and Z1U cameras."
- Stephen Schleicher, HDTVbuyer .com (read the full review)

" There is nothing more annoying than a poorly produced "training" DVD. If you've been around for more than a couple of years you know that there are enough of them floating around out there. Thankfully, the production value on this DVD is of the highest quality and a pleasure to watch."
Creative Cow (read the full review)

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