kensington adaptor

With either sandisk extreme 3
sandisk ultra 2
or transcend class 6

I've been using the transcend,8 & 16gb, no problems so far.

Paul.

All you have to do is shut the camera off, then turn it back on.
Having said that, it may error again. The PNY may not be fast enough.

yea they don't work at all.

Remember you guys suggested keeping the card in the adapter, and just pulling/inserting the whole thing, just like SxS card?

Now you can :) Just got a Buy.com promo, Cables Unlimited IOC-9750 adapter is under $8 (after rebate) with free shipping.

So I guess now you can get a couple of them with equal number of Sandisk Ultra II 15Mb/s cards, and each set gets you about 1hr of HQ 1080p recording time in EX1. For $68 instead of $800. (It won't do overkranking over 40fps, of course, but everything else is the same as SxS card.)

I own it, and in all my tests, this IOC-9750 adapter never produced any errors, so seems like it's as good as Kensington (which is $36.)

Enjoy :)

So which, if any, of these functional adapter combos allow the EX1's card door to close?

none so far.
The AFT will allow the door to close, but is not fast enough. It errors in HQ modes, it probably will even error in SP modes.

Is it critical to have the door closed?

If both adapters are inserted, aren't they already protecting contacts from any possible dust etc.?

Plus, I do not see the open door blocking anything vital, nor does it seem to rattle at all.

And, if Kingston or Cables Unlimited are listening, they may be able to come up with an adapter that lets the card sit in about 3mm deeper to let EX1's door close...

Alex
Probably not, I'm just worried about the boor breaking off if used in a run and gun situation.

I mailed AFT and got a huge nothing from them - mass produced in China and badged, so they probably have zero leverage, although I must say the build quality ( physical ) is far better with the fully inserted click shut feel of the card, shame they're not reliable,

Paul

Wow, I just found this post and my heart is racing. I was about to buy the PHU-60K and now I just got some IOC-9750 readers and four sandisk 16gb Ultra II cards for a fraction of the price. And the cost will only continue to decline!

64gb < $300 , HA!

I cant wait until everything comes in!

One question, do you format the cards on your PC or do you format them on the camera?
Is it the same procedure after the first time they are used? (Do I still need to delete things using clip browser, shotput, or the camera itself?) Or can I delet on the PC by formatting, etc..

Ethan, camera formats the cards.

Then, my workflow is to offload/backup the footage using Shotput, and let Shotput format the card in the end (this obviously empties the card and makes it ready for the next recording in camera.)

Ethan, just treat the sdhc card and adaptor the same way as you'd treat the sxs card.
Pull the whole lot out of the slot, not just the sd card or the camera gets confused, thinks you've removed card from slot (b) when when you've removed card from slot (a).

So, remove whole card and adaptor, change sd card in adaptor, put adaptor and empty card back in.

Paul.

I have not been able to get the transcend 8Gb SSD card to work in my EX3. Initialy it appeared to work but as it filled up it started throwing up media errors, eventually asking to restore the card, which I have not been able to do. So if others are really getting transcend SSD cards to work I'de love to know the part number as I would like to get a few for my EX1.

Alistair.
The supplier where i get my cards has the ssd cards, i think they're transcend.
They definitley stock them because i tried one in my EX1 when i was there.
They also have in stock some faster transcend sdhc cards, (150 x speed).
The shop is called "shop4usb", they're an ebay shop, usually i wouldn't buy memory from an ebay shop but they're only 1 mile from my house and will sell over the counter, so that's what i did.

eBay UK Shop - shop4usb: Memory Card, USB Flash Drive, MP3 Player

Here's the link. Chris has gave me the "ok" to post it.

Paul.

Someone on the "other" forum made "one" post that the Transcend SSD 8GB and 32GB worked in the EX.

Well, I responded asking if it works in HQ mode and how high can you overcrank before it errors. He never posted back. I have a feeling he posted to soon without more testing.

I tried the transcend SSD, i got errors at 38fps.
Didn't try it with HQ mode.
I was happy to buy the tried and tested transcend sdhc so didn't pursue the ssd any further.

Paul.

Alex,

Were you the one who took the camera to Teaneck for the firmware upgrade? If so, did they charge you for it and how were they for the other warranty upgrades? Did you actually have to have something wrong with the camera for them to do the upgrades for free?



John

Taking Camera to Teaneck
 

Hi John, I took my EX1 to Teaneck Sony Service and picked it up three weeks later. I only paid $100 for the firmware update. I also got my battery problem fixed and some other stuff was replaced that I am not aware of.

Three weeks! Please don't tell me it took that long for the firmware upgrade and the circuit board replacement for the battery drain! That's what I need done.

Taking Camera to Teaneck
 

Yes Three Weeks!!! A boy did it stink! I had a very busy September and ended up using and abusing my Canon XH-A1. If you have a backup camera to use then I suggest you drive you EX1 into Teaneck (that's if you're in Brooklyn) and be ready for a three week wait.

whoa that was scary.. couldn't get the ultra II to work, it wouldn't even format.. ran a test on the computer, all the read write speeds are way high... very good. over 17mbs on the first series of tests. Numbers were stable during the test.

Tried to format several times, powered down, switched slots... nothing.

Then I tried my 2nd kensington reader... worked first time. Tried record in HQ and SP both worked.

Guess I got a bum 7 in 1 reader. :(

Erik - did you try IOC-9750? I posted a link (prob prev page now) for $8 cost + free shipping on it.

Just to add that Transcend and Lexar SSD 8GB cards tested here, only suitable for SP recording, and sometimes not even that. Tread carefully with these, they may let you down when you least expect it. These two were tested with my EX1.

I've also finished testing Patriot 16Gb SDHC class 6 card - this is too slow and throws errors, even with HQ - avoid. Tested with Kensington adapter in my EX1

Paul

Yea I guess I need too. I am going to see if I can return the bad kensington first.

I have no backup HD camera although the place I bought the camera from might give me a loaner. I'm planing on driving to Teaneck but 3 weeks is ABSURD! BTW I'm not speaking from "the abstract." I'm a former Video Engineer at a big facility and used to deal with Teaneck regularly. They never took anything close to that long on anything.

I kind of resent having to pay $100 for a firmware upgrade. Do you recommend against a DIY approach if one can get the leaked firmware from some anonymous place? And I don't mean from an "ethical" standpoint. I mean from a "practical" standpoint. I have never in my life heard of paying for firmware upgrades for anything. What if there are several more firmware upgrades? Does that mean we have to pay $100 each time they update the firmware? It's gouging. I feel like someone who has had an SxS card shoved up their .........and can't get it out.

John

Right now, the Kensington adapter is the best working solution for using SDHC cards in the EX1 and EX3.
At least until we find a working solution equal or better than the SDHC that allows the EX1 door to close.

The Kensignton with SDHC is capable of overcranking 40FPS at 24P without an error in the EX.
This overcrank is an equivalent of approx 8.3MB/s.

We know the Kensington specs should offer the full SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s data rate, but for "some reason", we are limited to 8.3MB/s.

It would be nice to know if this bottleneck is the way Sony is using the USB Protocol (or they possibly intentionally crippled the USB datarate).? Or, is it a problem with the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard adaptor?

We can learn the answer to these questions with a USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard reader.
The Sony expresscard reader is PCIe based and will not work with our USB based adaptor.

Here's one USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard that would be nice to try:
MicroU2E-MV USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard 34|54 Multi-Voltage Host Adapter, Synchrotech

We could run the Crystal Disk Mark PC utility datarate memory tester on our SDHC.
If we are able to get the 15MB/s sustained R/W datarates, we will know that the problem is with the way Sony is using the USB, or they intentionally crippled the USB datarate.

This certainly will explain why their own USB PHU-60K drive barely works in HQ mode. It has lots of "restore media" errors and also explains why it's not fast enough to run S&Q modes.

Let's chip in and send it to Steven for testing. $60 should cover the part plus shipping. I'll commit to $10 - anyone else?

Once we get the money committed, we can PayPal Steven and he can order it and the research can continue.

Thank Ted, but I think you just closed down the thread. LOL ;)

I appreciate, but no need. I'm just wondering if someone might have a USB based expresscard reader in their laptop or PC that might want to run the Crystal Disk Mark datarate tests on the Kensington plus SDHC combo.

Give me 30 mins. I have a laptop with both Express card slot and SD card slot. I'll do some tests.

Thanks Alister!
Here's a link to the free datarate tester:

http://crystalmark.info/software/Cry...k/index-e.html

That equates to a data rate of just over 65Mbs, which raises an interesting question. There's due to be an SxS adaptor for the PDW700, when the normal data rate is 50Mbs. Will SDHC reliably record at this rate?

Since the 65Mbs is an actual working speed, not a nominal manufacturers spec, I think there's grounds for optimism, but it should be an interesting test.

OK ran some tests, pretty inconclusive, but here are my results, the last one is interesting:

Transcend 16Gb Class 6 card (also ran the tests with a 8Gb Extreme III, almost exactly the same results). 500Mb sequential file.

In Kensington adapter via express card slot.

Seq R19.37/W14.37
512k 19.22/2.54
4k 4.68/0.021

Via Sandisk USB adapter

Seq 19.38/14.53
512k 19.22/1.92
4k 4.677/0.018

Via built-in SD card slot... This is the interesting one..

Seq 7.76/6.80
512k 7.65/1.69
4k 4.32/0.018

This was with a Sony NV11M laptop.

Maybe they are using the same controller in the laptop as in the as the EX! From this test I would suggest that the Kensington card is not the bottleneck.

By the way PHU-60 users have found that with a USB sex changer (sony use an odd USB connector on the express card adapter) they have been able to use generic USB hard drives. No matter how big the drive no one can get them to format above 80Gb. But still opens up the possibility of recording to cheap USB drives.

Thank you Alister!

This is good and bad news!

This now concludes that the issue is with Sony's EX camera implementation of USB data control.
OR, worst yet, they intentionally crippled the USB data rate!

Sony, PLEASE fix the USB datarate problem.

This may allow your own PHU-60K to not have "restore media" errors.
Which we know are directly tied to datarate. We determined this by using slow SDHC cards in the Kensington reader. They also were infected with "restore media" errors.

IMO, and many will agree, the ability to use SDHC cards is a breakthrough for Sony.
This itself, will increase camera sales. Also, it will allow you to manufacture a better working
SDHC card reader that will allow the EX1 memory door to close with the SDHC card inserted.

I also agree that Sony should support SD cards, they have everything to gain, after all, they will sell lots more EX's

Well for what it's worth, I became a new owner of an EX3 this week. It did indeed come down to the $2000.00 CAN difference between two 16GB SxS and two 16GB SDHC. I also managed to snap up the EX3 before this weeks $900 Canadian price increase and the huge drop in the Canadian dollar. Otherwise in this economy, it just would not have been possible on my fringe income.

So far I am very pleased with the EX3, it works as advertised. I will receive two 16GB SDHC cards and reader this week. Thanks to Steven Thomas and all who discovered this awesome break through. I am compensating for the IR shortcoming with a Schneider 486 filter and I am waiting for Ted to manufacture a safer Tripod plate.

Thanks Barry, but the real thanks goes to Alister Chapman.
He's the first to report about the Kensington and Transcend SDHC.

Myself and a few others were the ones who made many trips in and out of Fry's Electronics trying to find the best working combo for the EX1. I started to get looks in the return line. lol ;)

Do you guys have a printer at home?
 

I find the enthusiasm which suggests Sony's increasing sales due to the discovery of the quasi-compatibility of SD cards a little amusing.
I see this matter as the inkjet printer vs ink cartridge relationship in terms of profit source for the maker.
Using the same analogy, do you guys think Canon would love to hear you saying "Hey, we have found a syringe and ink, pumped the ink into the cartridge. Although its not as good as the original - but it works and dirt cheap. Canon, we just created huge revenues for ya on the printer sales! Nice, eh?.... Heck, why these printers are so cheap...?"

What do you think gives Sony more profits, a 6000-7000$ complicated electromechanical device with all the warranty and support or a close-to-thousand bucks card that pops out from a robot's "mouth" by the second?

I don't want to be pretentious, I have ordered my Kensingtons and Ultras. I just think its better to keep our mouth shut - Sony may twist the design or update the firmware to avoid our practices. Then maybe our poor fellow EX3 users of 2009 wont be able to enjoy the SD fiesta :o)

Zsolt,
I'd be surprised if Sony did not already know about this.

Juan Martinez who is a Senior Manager for Sony Electronics has helped clear up several issues with the EX series mentioned on this forum.

I hear your reasoning, but I certainly believe this is ONE HECK of a selling point on these cameras. This is a great marketing tool and would shine in advertisements.

"The Crystal Ball"
 

"The Crystal Ball"
Sony sees the writing on the wall and thinks about monetization.

The call to Kensington
"We'll give you certification of compatibility and we get $5 or 20% on each unit sold, whichever is higher. Think about the marketing benefit to you."

The call to Sandisk
"We'll give you certification of compatibility and we get $25 or 20% on each unit sold, whichever is higher. We know you make SxS cards too but you'll see the cost benefit on increased volume."

The call to Lexar
"By joining our certification program we'll share the technology needed to ensure your cards meet the certification standard."

. . . .