Happy Holidays from Z Systems!!
We put together a little something for the holidays. We hope you like it!

Z FEST - Z Systems Winter Film Festival
Click here for all the details.

For your convenience, Fujinon has decided to make getting your 2010 NAB pass as effortless as possible. You can register Free on the NAB Web site (www.nabshow.com) by entering passport code (NV1395) or by using the link provided.

Professional shooters looking for a reasonably priced hand-held camera have another option with the introduction of Sony's first NXCam. The HXR-NX5U's three "Exmore" CMOS sensors produce full 1920x1080 HD (as well as 1080/24P and 720/60P and MPEG-2 SD) at up to 24 Mbps.

Other Professional features included in the HXR-NX5U are HD/SDI and HDMI outputs, two-channel PCM audio, built-in GPS, SMPTE time code I/O and upgradable 60i/50i recording via the AVCHD Codec.

The 20X optical "G-Lens", the same high-quality lends used on Sony's HVR-Z5U, includes three optical neutral density filters. The NXCam can record on class 4 or higher SD/SDHC memory cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo cards or on the HXR-FMU128 optional 128GB flash memory unit for more than 11 hours of recording time.

The HXR-NX5U camera and the HXR-FMU128 flash memory unit are now available. The NX5U is priced at $4,950 MSRP and the flash memory unit is $800 MSRP. Contact your account manager at Z Systems for more information.

Snow Leopard for Avid Editing Systems
Avid is pleased to announce Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard support for Mac OS-based Media Composer® 4.x and Symphony™ 4.x, as well as Avid Unity ISIS® and Avid Unity MediaNetwork. The new editing software releases are required to take advantage of this operating system.

Click here for all the details.

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XDCAM HD 422 700/1500 and 800/1600 Feature Summary

As Sony continues to improve its XDCAM HD 422 line, it gets a little confusing, so we’ve boiled down some of their collateral into this email as a quick reference to the differences and upgrades with the 700 / 1500 and the 800/1600.   Here goes…

You probably know that Sony has rev’d the software and some of the hardware options for the 700 / 1500. 
The new common features for the PDW-700 (camcorder) and PDW-HD1500 (deck) are:

1. 23.98p format support by Options
2. Mix Format Recording
3. Clip Continuous Recording
4. Upload/Download Clips via FTP
5. Single Clip Playback

New features for PDW-700 only are:

1. Proxy Recording on USB Memory
2. ATW (Auto Tracing White-balance) Hold
3. FAN Motor Slow Down Mode

New features for PDW-HD1500 only are:

1. Manual Frame Sync
2. Closed Caption translation from SD(EIA-608) to HD(EIA-708) while up-conversion recording
3. SNMP

Here is some info on the 24P feature on both cameras…
24P Feature Details (PDWF-800 and PDW-700 w/ option CBKZ-FC02):

1. 23.98p format
1. Available in the recording formats of MPEG HD422 and MPEG HD as a standard feature.
1. Not available in SD formats.
2. There is no 24.00p.
3. For 720, pull-down recording into 59.94p is only available as that of current PDW-700.
2. 2-3 pull-down output:
1. There is no 2-3 pull-down output for 1080 although SD output is available by 2-3 pull-down process for monitoring purpose. 

Onto the PDW-F800 and what it alone can do…
The Features Unique to the PDW-F800 are:

1. Slow & Quick
2. Optical CC filter
3. Image Inverter
4. User Gamma
5. Focus Assist
6. Zebra/Marker output for HD-SDI 2
7. SD format (DVCAM/ IMX) support as a standard feature

Here are some details on these features:
Slow and Quick (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Available in progressive formats of MPEG HD422 1080 mode.
1. For the system frequencies of 23.98p, 25p, and 29.97p
1.  Not in Interlace, 720p, HD420, nor SD
2. Over cranking speed: up to x2.0 (i.e.1/2 slow speed)
1. 1/2 slow speed is the slowest, and it cannot go further even in 24p/25p mode.
2. Shooting speed can be set at every single frame between 1p to 48p/50p/60p.
1.  23.98p:                from 1p to 47.95p            at a frame step　
2.  25p:                      from 1p to 50p at a frame step
3.  29.97p:                from 1p to 59.94p            at a frame step

Optical CC Filter (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Optical CC Filter  (Dual Optical Filters)
1. As well as ND filter, CC filter is optical one unlike that of PDW-700.

CC Filter =>        A: Cross B: 3200K C: 4300K D: 6300K
ND Filter =>       1: Clear 2: 1/4ND 3: 1/16 ND 4: 1/64 ND

1. This is more flexible for production use.
1. It is possible to replace the optical filter with favorable one by customers.
2. No Electrical CC filter for F800

Image Inverter (PDW-F800 Only):

1. In the attachment with 2/3" cinema lens adaptor for ultra prime lens and anamorphic lens, the shot image can be inversed. (Same function of HKDW-905R for HDW-F900R)
1. Note that the Image Inverter can work only in the system frequencies of 1080 progressive mode, but not in 1080i, 720p, nor SD.

User Gamma (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Camera operator can change the gamma curve by using CVP Editor Ver.4.0 in addition to the current 4 types of Hyper Gamma settings. Same function with HDW-F900R and F23.

Focus Assist (PDW-F800 Only):

An Interesting Article from Avid...
An interesting Avid article:
http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/searchlist/11309.html
It’s about the Ellen DeGeneres Show’s switch from Avid, to Final Cut Pro, and back to Avid in just one season.
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Filmmakers Count On FUJINON Wide Angle Lens in Tight Spaces During "The Interrogation of Harry Wind" Shoot

WAYNE, NEW JERSEY, September 8, 2009 - Acclaimed filmmaker Marek Poray-Heywowski recently traveled to Switzerland to shoot The Interrogation of Harry Wind for Sunvision Filmatelier, with Fujinon's XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle lens mounted on a Sony PMW-EX3 camcorder. The spy thriller recently wrapped principal photography and is scheduled for release in early 2010.

The film, from Swiss director Pascal Verdosci, stars Sebastian Koch (The Lives of Others) and Klaus Maria Brandauer (Mephisto, Out Of Africa). Set in Zurich in the 1950s and based on a true story, Wind follows special agent Rappold (Brandauer), who, shortly before retirement, has to bring down influential Swiss businessman Harry Wind (Koch), accused of spying.

Principal photography was shot with a pair of Panavision cameras. The film's second unit was outfitted with the more lightweight Sony PMW-EX3 camcorder to shoot a sequence from a vintage 1950's helicopter. According to Poray-Heywowski, the wide angle adapter for the original lens caused distortions. The XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle Fujinon lens was selected based on a recommendation found within the camera's instruction manual.

"The distortions we were getting from the other lens due to the wide angle adapter were unacceptable, so we were pleased to see the incredible difference upon using the XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle Fujinon lens," Poray-Heywowski explained. "It is really one of Fujinon's best kept secrets, and I consider it a wonderful treasure. We were able to intercut images shot with this lens with our original Panavision footage in spite of the equipment variation."

Poray-Heywowski said it is unusual to find such a pristine image in a lens designed with zoom construction. "The biggest surprise for everyone on set was how compact the lens was," he added. "The Fujinon lens is much shorter than the camera's original lens, plus wide angle adapter."

With the Fujinon lens, Poray-Heywowski was also able to shoot in an elevator shaft on location in Switzerland, thus avoiding the time and expense of employing a set designer to create one. "The Fujinon lens literally came to the rescue and made these shots possible," Poray said. "We were able to create a beautiful shot in a very small space without any fisheye effect. The lens created a perfect recta-linear image without bow lines that wide angle lenses tend to create."
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0% Financing from Sony
Consider this. No Money Down. And 0% financing on select Sony broadcast and production camcorders, projectors, monitors, decks and more for up to 15 months* when you buy a 3 year Extended Warranty or any SupportNETSM
service agreement. 0% Financing Program is available through Sony Leasing, a program of De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc.

click here for more information or give us a call at 952.974.3140.

*0% financing for 12 months available with Standard Limited warranty.
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To get directions and view a map of our new location, click here.
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Z Systems, inc. Announces the Creation of Paul Henry Pro Audio,
a division of Z Systems, inc.
Z Systems, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of a new professional audio division, Paul Henry Pro Audio. Due to recent changes in the pro audio dealer network in the Twin Cities area, there has emerged somewhat of a void for a true VAR, i.e. Value Added Reseller that is directly addressing the business to business professional audio production and post production community. 

The idea is to leverage Paul’s vast industry knowledge and experience with Z Systems’ ‘beyond the box’ service offerings of design, engineering, installation, repair, and training.  These combined talents will hopefully provide a great benefit to the Midwestern creative community.Paul brings over 20 years of servicing clients in the pro audio / musical instrument industry and will utilize the existing Z Systems network of professional solutions to embolden his existing and growing client base. Having spent 11 years with Guitar Center / GC Pro and 10 years with the former Knut Koupee Music, Paul has an unparalleled national and local network to help fuel the creativity and productivity of the industry professionals he serves.

We look forward to helping Paul continue the highest level of customer service available in the industry. For more information on Paul Henry Pro Audio, please visit www.PaulHenryProAudio.com .