Decided on an EX1 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds
Sony PXW-Z280, Z190, X180 etc. (going back to EX3 & EX1) recording to SxS flash memory.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 17th, 2008, 04:44 AM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fidjeland, Norway
Posts: 289
Decided on an EX1

Having gone back and forth between the Z7, the Z1 and the EX1 I have now decided to buy an EX1 as my main camera.

Before I place my order I would like to hear what you all think:

PMW-EX1
BPU-60 battery
UV- filter
6 SxS cards 16 GB
2 SxS cards 8 GB

I am going to Canada for a week, shooting a documentary. I will be shooting in HDV for now, as the rest of this project has been shot in that codec, and to maximise recording time. Main concern is will I have enough cards? Is there any way I could buy a Lacie rugged and dump my footage on to that as my cards fill up? I do not have a laptop so direct dumping from camera to the Lacie is what I am thinking.

Any suggestions?

By the way, I hope I have made the right choice.

Svein Rune
Svein Rune Skilnand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 05:27 AM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 3,841
You won't be able to go directly to Hard Drive. Get a laptop with Express Card port. It'll cost you no more than two 16GB cards and you'll get a lot more storage.

I'd base the choice of codec on the material you're shooting. HDV codec can "break" based on what/how you're shooting. Better to down convert nice footage that have shots with artifacts you can't fix IMHO.

Tripod, monopod, shoulder brace?
Is Audio at all important?
Craig Seeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 06:44 AM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Japan
Posts: 172
I second that opinion. Save your money on some of the 16GB cards and get a laptop and Lacie Rugged. Much better. Manafrotto make a great monopod with a four leg spread at the base that works really well with the EX1, especially if you are in a run and gun situation in a crowded place.
Alexander Kubalsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 06:56 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fidjeland, Norway
Posts: 289
Thanks for the input guys. You got me wondering about buying a laptop now or Macbook as I am FinalCut based. things is I don`t want to drag to much around when I am travelling.

Audio is important to me and I want to buy a Sennheiser MKH416 later on as money permits. I have a decent Manfrotto Tripod today.

Do you think I am wrong to buy 6 cards? Expensive enough, though! I am getting those two 8 GB cards for free.
Svein Rune Skilnand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 07:19 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Japan
Posts: 172
I think 6 16GB cards is excessive. It's better to know you have a place to dump footage so you don't stress about using up cards.
Macbook Pro would be good. SxS card goes straight in the slot. Dump it on the Mac and back it up on the Lacie rugged as well.
3 16GB cards, Macbook Pro and Lacie 200GB Rugged.
Alexander Kubalsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 07:23 AM   #6
New Boot
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denmark
Posts: 15
Honestly 2 x 8Gb and 6 x 16GB cards is overkill. Unless you really, really, really has to shoot uninterrupted for 7 hours or weight is a major factor.

I have 2 x 8Gb and 2 x 16GB and I have decided to sell the two 16Gb cards. I simply don't need them with my shooting style. I have plenty of time to offload a card to my laptop whenever it is full. But it depends on personal style.

If I was you, I would start with 2 x 8 and 2 x 16 and a laptop. That will give you almost 3 hours of HQ footage before you have to worry about backing up your data and the ability to edit/log in the field.
Nils G. Refstrup is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 08:44 AM   #7
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 3,841
I have two 8GB and one 16 GB and a 15" MacBook Pro. Only 2 cards in the camera at any one time so it's always set. It only takes a few minutes to dump a card and you can screen video for the client too. I can also burn backups to DL-DVD although that's on the slow side. That can happen at the end of the day. Client can walk with the DL-DVDs and I have another set on the hard drive. Laptop offers major flexibility.
Craig Seeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 10:24 AM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by Svein Rune Skilnand View Post
I am getting those two 8 GB cards for free.
Remember that Sony sends you the second 8GB rebate card. That takes time.
Gabriel Florit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 11:35 AM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sweden
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabriel Florit View Post
Remember that Sony sends you the second 8GB rebate card. That takes time.
If they do in Norway as they (Sony) does in Sweden, the card is taped to the box, check with the supplier! Also, I have to agree with Craig et al, I have 2x8Gb & 1x16Gb cards & MacBookPro, the 16Gb card does not see much action at all, shooting 6x16Gb cards without transfer to laptop would make me very nervous indeed, but thatīs me...

Hej svejs!

Magnus
Magnus Eklof is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2008, 12:09 PM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: new york
Posts: 231
save yourself a lot of money and go with less SxS cards.
as others have suggested, get the apple macbook pro; either with 15" or 17" screens.
the built in SxS readers work so fast you really need not have so many cards.

with the savings, get

1. portable hard drives. usb2 to the macbook pro should be fast enough. they now go to 320gb for under $150 and some up to 500gb for under $200

2. maybe a steadicam pilot for your sony at about $5000 for your outdoor jobs.

3. indoors, get a sachtler system 0650 or 0862 with the savings from not getting the extra SxS cards

4. shotgun mikes, a good one!

enjoy the ex1,

paul
Paul Chiu is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:31 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network