Hi All,

I am interested in purchasing the new xdcam ex1. I just have a few questions before I decide to go ahead with the purchase

- Can anyone tell me how many SxS cards are supplied with the camera? (this way I'd know if I need to purchase an additional card)

- also, does anyone have links where I can view sample clips shot by the XDcam?

Are there any particular drawbacks with the camera that I should consider before making the purchase? Thanks

Just back from a demo. In Uk you get one 8Gb flash the cash card. Gives about 21 minutes at top 35MBps HQ res.

Posted to XDCAM HD -- moved to XDCAM EX.

We have an entire forum dedicated to EX sample clips:

EX Series Sample Clips - The Digital Video Information Network (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/ex-series-sample-clips/)

Hope this helps,

In Uk you get one 8Gb flash the cash card. Gives about 21 minutes at top 35MBps HQ res.

It's 28 mins, not 21.

Buy the EX1 before the 31st and get $500 cash back .
I got one last week. That helped me decide a little faster.
http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/onlineexpo09/OnlineExpo500promotion.html

Hi Akbar,

All of your questions, and more, are answered here.
What's So Great about XDCAM EX? (http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_WHATS_SO_GREAT_ABOUT_XDCAMEX.html)

Please give it a minute to start loading.

this way I'd know if I need to purchase an additional card
don't buy any, MxR SDHC solution makes EX series even better if not the best camera choice.

I would not consider the EX-1 . . . the EX-3 has interchangeable lenses, a great little built in monitor, and so much more. It is much more the professional camera.

I would not consider the EX-1 . . . the EX-3 has interchangeable lenses, a great little built in monitor, and so much more. It is much more the professional camera.

Which makes sense because it's much more the price ;-)

For doing wedding events, i cannot justify the cost of spending 2000 dollars more on EX3 when the end result is going to be the same.....I could buy a couple of SxS cards with that money or better yet buy a stabilizer system.....

Just curious about the 500 dollars cash back Sony is offering...how is that going to work...i am going to buy the camera today from B&H photo and video and I have just registered for the virtual trade show?

The Ex1 is a very fine camera.
Do you really need interchangable lenses.
I only once used them on my betacam.
The ex1 is not that bad to hand hold.
Takes some practice.
Get a few MxR or whatever they are called today.
Some sample clips of handheld:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/ex-series-sample-clips/146139-ex1-auto-racing-sample.html

Even better - instead of buy an EX3, I can buy an EX1 + Sachtler DV6 SL Carbon fiber tripod ... (if you don't need to change the lense)

Hi All,

I am interested in purchasing the new xdcam ex1. I just have a few questions before I decide to go ahead with the purchase

- Can anyone tell me how many SxS cards are supplied with the camera? (this way I'd know if I need to purchase an additional card)

- also, does anyone have links where I can view sample clips shot by the XDcam?

Are there any particular drawbacks with the camera that I should consider before making the purchase? Thanks

it's supplied with 1 8gb card and as far as i know, there is no promotion for a free card at this time with either the PMW-EX1 or PMW-EX3.

there is a $500 rebate if you buy a 32gb card which is about $1450 before the $500 rebate.
so, at $950, that's far better than the $450 for the 8gb or $750 for the 16gb cards at the moment.

since i bought my EX1 a year ago, the 16gb card has dropped about $300 each. a lot but not the 50% many here thought may happen. (including me)

i now have two 16gb cards and two 8gb cards whenever i go anywhere with my EX1
this way, i really don't feel the need to bring my macbook pro along anymore.

i have also used both the EX1 and EX3 extensively and because of the pricing difference, favors the EX1.

at the form factor of the EX1, I can actually use it on the go filming without support or harness, making for really cheap 1080/30p acquisition.

here is one sample where i recorded youngsters at a school trip.
all in 1080/30p and processed with iMovie08
(no external lighting used in the indoors and subway scenes....)

YouTube - PS196 Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty Trip, Filmed with Sony PMW-EX1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvvQ52m-tjY&fmt=22)

for indoor shots, the EX1 can be cropped away for 720p distribution without much problems. certainly better than the 1080 upsampling from HDV footage as broadcasters still do.

here is one stage shot where i cropped heavily for effects.
using iMovie 09 which now handles 1080 material from PMW-EX1 or XDCAM-EX for that matter, very well.

YouTube - PS196 does Rumba and the Waltz - Ball Room Dancing by Larocca 5th Graders in HD 720p (Sony PMW-EX1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRMXsNQO1d8&fmt=22)

for studio work.
i kind of like sachtler's heads but not so much their legs.

here's my EX1 on DV8/100 and Gitzo carbon legs.
this setup allows for a lot of add ons and ease of transport.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachments/sony-xdcam-ex-cinealta/7947d1213723151-sony-pmw-ex1-sachtler-dv6-dv8-photos-dv8-img_0372.jpg


One last point, this is a professional cam serviceable internally without trips to the sony pro labs. once i had to remap the sensor grids as some pixels were not firing properly. all that was needed was about 40 minutes of step by step instructions to fire up the ill functioning cluster and everything was back on line. making for quick recovery and no shelf time. terrific.

paul

Hi Akbar,

All of your questions, and more, are answered here.
What's So Great about XDCAM EX? (http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD_WHATS_SO_GREAT_ABOUT_XDCAMEX.html)

Please give it a minute to start loading.


I finally got it!!!....I actually bought the camera EX1 and your DVD from B&H and I have to tell you that I watched the entire 3 hours in one sitting....Good Job with the DVD...definitely worth the $99+$4 shipping from B&H instead of $125+shipping via USPS....hehe j/k =)....btw since Sony wasn't sponsoring it then you could have mentioned alternatives to the SxS cards....will watch it again and get my hands dirty on the camera at the same time now.......

the only thing I don't like about the camera is the fact that it's too heavy to be a hand-held unit...my wrist started to hurt after 10 minutes of continuous holding.....must get stabilizer soon =)...any suggestions would be much appreciated

If you're looking for extra cards, I would HIGHLY recommend the MxR alternative (with SanDisk or Transcend SD cards) to SxS. They work great and are so much cheaper. The only limitation is that they can only overcrank to 48fps. If you need to do 60fps, then just use the free 8gig SxS in the B slot and after you record the clip, you can transfer the 60fps clip from the SxS card to the MxR card in camera. Also, the price will drop on these SD cards (currently $30-$35) and they can be used as your hard copy backup. You can get about 58 minutes of HQ 1080 24P on a 16 gig SD card.

Rotate the handle 90 degrees and cradle the body of the camera with your left hand underneath.

Works best this way with the flip-out monitor.

kj

I use a CAVision shoulder mount and made a plexiglas holder for my wireless receiver as well as the battery for the camera light. While you're still supporting the weight of the camera with your arms, it takes the torsion off the wrist and helps stabilize the camera.

Also, having the wireless receiver on the back of the shoulder mount means that weight isn't being added to the camera.

I saw a photo of JVC's HD camera and that design seems to be ergonomically nicer than either the EX1 or the EX3. However, I don't know what the performance is like.

Man, that EX1 is serious! I'm considering buying one but I need to get a reality check on the costs I'm going to be confronted with other than the camera itself. Any input? Also, I have a barely used XL2 with many accessories. Are the batteries compatible with the EX1?

If you read a lot of posts on this forum, the most frequent problem with the EX1 and the EX3 seems to be trying to get quality SD DVDs from footage shot with them.

To date, no good consensus appears to have been established. Many are ending up with SD DVDs that look worse than footage shot with SD cameras. You might want to search and read all those posts. Factor in the software you will be using as well to accomplish the task. NO single software seems to have an advantage over another in terms of trying to get decent SD DVD out of EX1 / EX3 footage. All have their advantages and drawbacks in this regard apparently.

John

Just for the record, I've had absolutely no problems getting great looking DVDs produced from XDCAM EX footage using nothing more than FCP and Compressor. No complaints at all. I guess it all depends on your workflow.

For longer handheld requirements I've found an easy handheld solution for me has been a monopod, a stout fannypack, and a camera strap. Monopod needs to have a fairly decent head that will tilt back with a little friction. I place the bottom of the monopod in a fannypack ( or belly, waist, hip pack for you britts) with a small piece of foam or towel ( so the bottom of pod doesn't eventually wear through the pack). I place the camera strap either around my neck or under my opposite arm. For safety, my right hand never leaves the lens/grip.

Will probably upgrade to flag holder belt attachment someday.

It is much more the professional camera.

IMHO we can do with slightly less of that kind of statement here. Professionals choose their tools carefully. Judging things by physical size is as silly as judging the camera operator by their codpiece.

Better to say that the EX3 allows more options for lenses and offers a more traditional set of ergonomics, at the expense of physical bulk and 'presence'.

You can just about get away with filming with an EX1, or carrying an EX1 kit aboard a plane, where you can't get away with with an EX3. Where you can go with a Z1, you can go with an EX1 yet still get exactly the same results as an EX3 with the standard lens.

The EX3 is more flexible, not more 'professional'. Sigh.

Another newish EX1 user here. Using Compressor to down convert to SD and I'm very happy with it.

I've shot several UK commercials with it and a few corporates all edited in SD. No jaggies, field issues or compression problems.

Another newish EX1 user here. Using Compressor to down convert to SD and I'm very happy with it.

I've shot several UK commercials with it and a few corporates all edited in SD. No jaggies, field issues or compression problems.

I couldn't agree with you more...I shot a few clips with my new ex1 (1080p24) and compressed it into a SD-DVD via Final Cut Pro...I was blown away with the quality!!...I shot outdoors so it was easier getting that so called "film" look, but shooting indoor was just as good!!