I just stumbled onto this thingy on the B&H-site:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/517468-REG/Sony_MSAC_EX1_MSAC_EX1_Memory_Stick_Duo.html

It's model name MSAC-EX1 suggests it might act friendly with an EX1. In the details it is suggested that it has a read speed of 300 Mbit/s using memory stick pro-hg.

The HG-sticks are supposed to be able to have continous writespeeds of up to 60 MB/sec!

Wouldn't it be great if this thing works with the Ex1?!! This could be the Sony P2-killer!!! How do we find out?

Call Sony. After all, they would have to put out a firmware update with a better codec in order for this to mean anything. Also, if a memory stick can reach 60MB/s via the expresscard interface why wouldn't a native expresscard costing significantly more be able to do the same? SxS cards are already much faster than P2. I think the EX1 suffix relates to the expresscard interface, not specifically the PMW-EX1.

-Sean

Call Sony. After all, they would have to put out a firmware update with a better codec in order for this to mean anything. Also, if a memory stick can reach 60MB/s via the expresscard interface why wouldn't a native expresscard costing significantly more be able to do the same? SxS cards are already much faster than P2. I think the EX1 suffix relates to the expresscard interface, not specifically the PMW-EX1.

-Sean

Why would you need a better codec? The 35 mbit/s stream fits easily within a write speed of 60 MB/s (600 mbit/s).
Also - the SxS card can also reach those speeds in theory...can it not?

That's interesting. So who's going to be the first to open up their SxS card with a can opener and see if it contains a normal Duo card ;)

Paul.

I think it is just an expresscard/34 adapter for memorysticks. I am not sure it actually has anything to do with the PMW-EX1. Read the B&H description.

Guys, I saw that several months ago too

I'd suspect you have the same problem as other cards (Firmware)

EX (i think is more related to "ex"press card
For example:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469380-REG/CalDigit_FASTA_1E_FASTA_1ex_1_Port_ExpressCard_34_eSATA.html

Yes, but even if it is not intended for the EX1 specifically (which I doubt) it is a product that combined with the right Memory stick results in a card that is fast enough AND concists of Sony only hardware. That + a firm ware update could be the solution we are waiting for!

Do you think Sony will do that?
How are they going to be able to sell their 8gb SxS cards at $500?

Well, They need to come down on the cards anyway.

If anything, this would really push the EX1. Sales would definately go up.

Well, if and when they do a firmware upgrade that relieves us of the Sony SxS enforcement, then (hopefully) we could use something like the Transcend Expresscard/34 memory cards. And THAT would make things a lot more interesting. A Transcend 32GB card is less than $250.

If you're all so eager to get rid of the approved Express Card, get some hacker/nerd friend to write a special firmware and hack your EX1 to work with non-approved Sony media. They do things like that with phones all the time ( while different, I'm sure it's doable ). Then even if you void your warranty, you can still use your cheap memory.

Dave