Does anybody else find it peculiar that whilst SDHC, Compact Flash, and a few other varities of solid state memory come in a variety of speed specs, all that's available in an ExpressCard form (excluding true SxS) is something that well underperforms even Sandisks Ultra II range? Especially as high data speeds were a big reason for ExpressCard superceding Cardbus?

It's possible to construct conspiracy theories, but I feel it's just that these cards pre-date the introduction of SxS, and are maybe seen by Transcend as a very minor line - most solid state users will just use the popular sizes, CF and SDHC.

In which case, it needs bringing to the attention of somebody senior in a company like Transcend that devices like the EX1/3 now represent a potentially large market for an ExpressCard memory of the performance of ExtremeIII, with a price tag to match.

Whilst SDHC is the answer for a huge number of people, I suspect that in the broadcast world it may just be seen as too small and flimsy, not to say easily lost. But bring out an Extreme III version of Express Card, and it is effectively "solid state tape". All the solid state advantages of P2/SxS, with the consumable pricing of tape or disc.

Everything in this thread PROVES that the high performance (and price!) of P2/SxS aren't necessary for recording broadcast quality video. But wouldn't it be nice to have that lower (but adequate) price/performance in a form factor native to the EX.........?

Ex-30
 

Just a note in thanks to those that have gone before.

The Kensington/Sandisk combo works in the Sony EX-30. We use the the EX-30 deck as a video assist for Red work. The Red outputs 720/50p over HD-SDI (25p time base for PAL production) and we have had zero problems in record and playback using the combination.

*Puts on tinfoil hat and listens for black helicopters*
Our regional dealer based in Australia has had these on backorder for over a month. I called to chase up the order. The dealer said there is some negotiation going on with Sony and Kensington over the product which was delaying the shipping of the Kensington 7-1. I was the 3rd call he had received that morning on order status.

I placed an order through Amazon for 5 Kensington 7-1 adapters, just in case ;)

The dealer said there is some negotiation going on with Sony and Kensington over the product
================
That doesn't sound good.

John

I'm not believing that. In fact, I'm willing to bet 99.99% of the people at Kensington never heard of a Sony EX1. Also, Kensington is not the only card that works. There's been reports some of the cheapies on ebay also work.

Steven, I would assume that Kensington is very much aware of the EX-1. Amazon is out of stock, B&H out of stock, 0 listings on ebay for 'Kensington 33407'.

I would think the dealer I dealt with is just feeling the effects of worldwide demand and supply rather than any conspiracy theories in play. And the 3 previous calls he had were from EX owners!

About three weeks ago I sent Kensington an email regarding designing an SDHC Expresscard media adaptor that would allow the Sony PMW-EX1 memory door to close. Well, after several emails back and forth it certainly was clear to me they have NO idea about the EX1.
I certainly did not expect them to know about a particular Sony video camera.

Also, I'm not surprised the stock kensingtons in online stores were bought up. Heck, two months ago I bought four myself from Amazon and at that time they only showed 22 in stock. We've all been buying these. Also, someone mentioned even before this became a hot subject that they heard these cards are being discontinued. This particluar expresscard has been out since 2006. It's not a new product.

Glad I stocked up! :) The sales chart on the product must have an interesting spike!

BTW, Kensington web site has the 7-in-1 card "in stock" right now to order.

I contacted our distributor here in Australia back in Sept when all this was starting up, and they told me that the 33047 was now obsolete, and would not be produced again. They told me that it was originally designed to work in a MacBook Pro but it wouldn't allow the laptop to go into sleep mode, and was quietly removed from the market. They told me uncategorically that it would not be made again.

But then you see it in stock.

Who knows?

I have heard a whisper that there is an upcoming expresscard that will allow the SDHC card to be enclosed completely inside it, ie will allow the EX1 door to close, so the Kensington card may become redundant.

Could you give a hint which other supplier/manufacturer you are talking about?
Amazon.de have sent me one Kensington card but are already out of stock again :-(

Initially, maybe, but I suspect that for the last couple of years sales of these adaptors have been pretty low and static. Then a big jump in the last couple of months. I can't believe that hasn't led the Kensington sales people at least to wonder "what the.....?"

As for Kensington/Sony talks, well, who knows? If true, there's two ways of looking at it: Sony want to squash it, or are looking at making it official!? Maybe a Sony badged version, certified for EX use, and designed to allow the door to close...... and maybe costing 50-100% more?

Hi Peter,

I'm not allowed to say much more than that at the moment. I just wanted to let everyone know that not being able to source a Kensington cards is not the end of the world.

On another matter, has anyone had any success in sourcing the 32G Sandisk Ultra II?

Hi Ross,
Nice japanese answer ;-) Hope we will have an opportunity to discuss that over a stubby of whichever brand you prefer in the not so distant future :-) P.

Hi Peter,

A stubby sounds great, and as any Aussie knows there's only two types of beer.... Aussie beer and everything else. So I guess I'm buying!

Just got some imported cards that I think Ross also got (Phillipines post back a bit) and they work fine although the EX3's door doesn't close but easily fixed with a velcroe tab! Thanks Ross!

I can get 50 FPS overcranked too and both formatted straight away using Sandisk 16gb 11's...excellent!

Evan

No doubt about that... My shout's next... *Relax mode on*

just picked up a Kensington 7 in 1 at Yodabashi Camera in Akihabara. Theyre 5000yen ($50) and they had plenty in stock so let me know if you need one.

kubalsky

Just received an additional 2 Kensington 7 in 1 cards today (11/18) from Amazon.

Was in touch with SanDisk press relations to get some info on 32gb SDHC availability. All he said was that "we don't have any here." Was really looking forward to testing them both for the boards and for an article as well as to using 32gb cards for a shoot in early Jan. Hopefully they can deliver by then.

amazon japan ...
 

picked up 2 kensingtons ($46) and 2 16 ultra 11 cards ($90)- had them delivered - came in a day. Good stuff will test them out today.

Memory door not closing with SDHC solved
 

I opened up my sandisk, to discover it's pretty much empty.


SDHC card shaving | Fohdeesha Media

Awesome Jon...your the man!
Can't wait to start chopping!

It's amazing how small these cards "really" are!

Cheers, Evan

odd, I opened an A-data card and it was full all the way to the top.. only 4 gig too.

Why does the door have to close again?

Seems easier to change cards during a shoot if the door stays open. Or am I failing to see the importance of this?

John

Jon,

You are both brave and a genius!

Dan

A lot of users are worried about the door snapping off/getting in the way/letting dust in/sex appeal.

I did a real ghetto job, you should be able to dremel/sand just enough off the card to let the door close, but still be able to pull it easily out of the kensington.


all up to you!

Just upgraded my firmware and picked up a kensington adapter ($34.43 at buy.com) and 16gb sandisk ultra ii sdhc (~$65 at adorama). overall very impressed at how easy it was. im surprised the setup doesnt support 60fps overcranking given the card is rated at 15MBps by sandisk and my computer benchmarks it at 17MBps read and write. maybe i should do a benchmark reading the card through my ex1 to my computer over usb, i bet the camera isnt getting all it can out of the card. oh well. i am debating maybe buying a whole bunch of these cards and a cf-sdhc adapter so i can use the same sdhc media for the ex1 and the 5dmk2 (when it actually ships, i preordered 2 months ago). might be nice to have faster cf media, though, since it could double the speed of offloading footage, but at 3x the price.

Noah, it's buried in these posts. But after a LOT of testing we're fairly certain the datarate limitation for USB over the EX expresscard slot is a Sony issue. Or, Sony intentionally limited this datarate, which is what I believe.

Hi Noah, I don't think it would work with the 5Dmk2 as the door needs to be shut before the camera accesses the card...unless you can bodge up the door's sensor! Plus it would stick out a mile on the 5D!

Evan

I think Noah means putting the SDHC card in another adapter, this time CF-SDHC. Noah, do you know if CF-SDHC are actually available? I have CF to SD, but it does not work with SDHC cards.

Dan

yeah sorry maybe i wasnt clear, i was talking about putting a cf-sdhc adapter in the 5d and putting only the sdhc in it. expresscard adapter for ex1 and cf adapter for 5dmk2, only the sdhc card moves around.

Just paid for my EX1 and am now looking into the Kensington Reader and the Sandisk cards. Sorry if this seems redundant but the thread is so long and developments swift... am I still best off with the Kensington Card Reader number K33407 (EU) and the Sandisk Ultra II 16GB 15 mb/s cards?

Jeroen

Yes, use either Sandisk:

Kensington adapter + Sandisk card

or Transcend (cheaper, works the same):

Kensington adapter (shows in-stock now!) + Transcend card

Jeroen I believe you are correct. Although I have not tested it, but playing close attention to this thread that seems like the best working substitute.

I got my Sandisk Ultra IIs on amazon.. going to Microcenter today to pick up my Kensington readers :D

Thank you everybody for your hard work.

Noah, where did you find a cf-sdhc adapter?
Who ist the manufacturer? Any links you can give? Thx.

You better hurry up! The availability of the Kensington 7-in-1 reader is very, very slim.

The rumor is that Kensington has discontinued the reader. I would suggest looking around pronto and maybe jones around some of the other forums with threads related to this topic you might find out some valuable information on a place to get one.

EDIT:

I see Alex has found some for you on Amazon. Quick!

I can find plenty here in the Netherlands- maybe I should collect them and start a little business on the side... ;-)

I'm getting 2 8 gig S&S cards. Two extra 16 gig SDHC cards should get me thru most shooting situation... or should I get 4 SDHC cards? Really not looking forward to cutting all those cards in half though... (just watched that most interesting demo video of a 'madman' doing a job on a 16 gig card with a pair of scissors.)

Jeroen, I am selling two 16Gb SxS cards at the moment at £400 each. A real bargain as they have hardly been used. Anyone interested message me.

As for the Ultra 32Gb cards, I have just had an email from the supplier in the Uk who says they are not yet in the country. So much for getting my hands on one before the end of the month! Be lucky to see one this side of the New year.

Can you give us a link? I did not think it was possible to cut down the size on them to make it possible to close the door on the EX1.

Ola, here it is:

SDHC card shaving | Fohdeesha Media

Enjoy

Just ordered another adapter and card. Amazons linked to thenerds.com who had 2 left so i got another one, im a little worried that they will be discontinued and not be available anymore. also dell.com has 16gb sandisk ultra ii sdhc for $50 so i grabbed another one of those.

anyone interested in buying 2 lightly used 8GB Sony SxS cards from me? :)