EX1R and PMW350 First Details
 

Sony's offical site on the new EX350 and EX1R
http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/Show...=1166605171707

Very interesting. No pricing as yet today?

The new SxS cards sound the same thing as the cheaper P2 cards. Work the same but limited lifespan. Hopefully they won't have a built in timer to automatically "turn off" after 5 years regardless of how much they have been used.

Steve,

The Sony meeting I was a part of said the new cards will have about 1/10 the read/write life of the regular SxS cards.

The pricing I got was about 20K USD for the body with the newly designed Fujinon lens and right at 18.5K USD for a kit without lens. In either case, the unit is supplied with viewfinder and microphone. It's the same stereo mic that came with the other 3xx disc based cameras.

-gb-

$20,000 with lens and viewfinder, ready to go, is a bargain. Factor in street pricing and we could take another $2000 off that price.

Agreed Steve, it is the 'mid-priced' camera many users have been asking for.

-gb-

2/3rd inch chips. Will be superb in low light. Shame it's not 4:2.2 50Mbs but a Nano can sort that one.

You are right its designed to fill a large hole in the market.

Like to know two things:
when will it be available to buy and will it be the same price as the EX1 on release with a reduction in the price of "old" ex1's.

Looks quite good, but CMOS and 4:2:0. If it's a HD "replacement" or HD companion for the DSR450/570, how will it perform in news shooting....when about all the stills guys fires of their flashes?

Ofcourse 4:2:0 can be solved with a nano flash at the back, but that's one more thing to go wrong in the field...to be a bit picky.

What's also interesting now is how Panasonic see the cmos use, will they respond with CMOS in any higher priced camera than the Hpx300?

You can't seriously think they would put the 50mb 4:2:2 codec on this camera? That's reserved for the higher end XDCAM line. I think the Nanoflash or equivalent is a good way around that problem.

As for news gathering, I don't think this is the market the PMW-350 is aimed at. Not that it won't be used for that purpose by someone. It would have the benefit of reaching into the darkness with those 2/3 CMOS chips and pulling out a decent image.

-gb-

No, not from Sony! Excluding the 4:2:2 codec is clearly a business decision rather than a technical limitation. I can see why they've done it but I think it is a real shame. I think it means they will just sell a load of these cameras and give away potential market to the Nano Flash. If they added 4:2:2 as a £500 add on, they could squeeze a fair bit more in profit from this camera.

Well, we just have to wait and see what Panasonic does...if the Avc-i on a 8 grand 1/3" is any direction they aim for I suspect 4:2:2 10bit all over their P2 range at some point.

Actually I was a bit surprised that the PMW-350 futured 2/3" chips, not 1/2". Very nice to get the performance needed in low light over 1/2" and 1/3". And even more surprised they included a lens with autofocus...

Sony Product Detail Page - PMWEX1R
I love it when people hide things on websites :)

I read somewhere that the new clipbrowser will have a tool to take care of those half screen flashes. Can someone confirm this?

Warren Kawamoto:

Taken from XDCAM-USER.com

"Talking of lightning and flashes, there will be a new version of the Clip Browser software with the ability to automatically correct partial frame exposure or “flash bands” caused by strobe lights."

Yes, that is true. Sony have elected to address the problem outside the camera at this point.

-gb-

The EX1R 'replaces' the EX1 which is now discontinued. Any current orders in the pipeline for an EX1 will get the newer camera instead.

-gb-

The EX1R addresses issues I've had with the EX1, which I am a big fan, and seems to incorporate features I was used to in older models (V1u, Z1u). The PMW350 seems to be the ultimate camera!

I can't wait to learn more. Watching the video now with Bob Ott and Mel Medina.

Heath

Sounds Awesome but I just wish the EX1-R...
 

I wish this camera was not over about 4.5 lbs, had a built-in hard drive option or used standard, inexpensive SD cards(the memory stick adapter is lame). For goodness sake, when the heck is someone going to make an SXS->SD card adapter for the EX-1?
Other than those items it looks great. Just need to see what the price is going to be I guess..

The EX1R is a professional level camera. Most pro users don't won't to risk valuable material buy using fragile hard drives in the field or uncertain consumer grade media.

SD card adapters do exist and many people on these forums are using them. I was one of the people that discovered the original Kensington adapter/SD card combo. However I still shoot on SxS as I know that it will work, without any issue, in any mode. I do have adapters and SD cards in my kit, but these are for emergencies only as they just don't give me the confidence that SxS does.

Where have you been ?

E-Films product range

Paul.

Hard to believe. See http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...-shipping.html

There are 2 companies making such an adaptor specifically for the EX1. In fact using SD cards is one of the favourite topics on this very interweb forum.

Thanks for the info folks!

I was aware that people had tried SxS work-arounds using SxS/SD card readers but I wasn't aware there were specific models that were tested specifically for the EX1R. This now makes me less afraid of going with the EX1R as the media costs scared me.

My only concern is the weight factor now. I do quite a bit of handheld shots at live events. Are lengthy handheld shots impractical with the EX1/R due to the weight factor?

Thanks,
Rick

It weighs 6 lbs 2 oz with one SXS card and the standard battery and I understand that it still tends to lean to the left. I personally found the original Ex1 to be quite uncomfortable (wrist fatigue) when hand held for any more than ten minutes at a time but that was my experience, your's may be different. In addition, there has been some alleged improvement in the grip position but the only way to realistically address your concern is to try it for yourself. Because I found the camera to be unwieldy when hand held, I actually opted for the EX3, which, when coupled with one of the extended plates is IMO more easily supported but others will take issue with that statement and in the end, it is a personal decision.

The EX1R is much more comfortable to hand hold than the EX1. But it is still quite heavy so fatigue is till an issue. What about a monopod?

As usual, Alistair is right on the money here - I use my EX1 on a monopod most of the time - its a great combo. Allows you to run and gun quite well and do a whole lot of other shots that you can't do hand held (like crane shots).

If you don't like monopods, there are a number of shoulder mount solutions around that others have given favourable commment. I have the "El Cheapo" one that Phil Bloom promoted - and it is quite OK, but I still prefer the monopod.

Hoodman Wristshot
 

Never used one, but it looks promising.

WristShot-Hoodman Corporation

Thanks again for all the great information guys!

Is there a good, reasonably-priced belt mounted support that would work with the EX1 series? Like a poors man's steadicam except a simpler device??

I have found this unit with the telescoping arm and using a belt support very comfortable to use for extended periods. It takes all the weight off your hands. Shape WLB - SPIDER II camera support - SP2200 and the belt is here :Shape WLB - The list of our products

Barry, this may be a dumb question, but how do you focus, zoom, etc, with that SPIDER II support? I mean it has two handles, so I am assuming you are supposed to hold it with both hands for stability. So, is it only meant for autofocus? Or for a high DoF?

Sony are going to release their own "Memory Stick" adaptor, and less expensive SxS cards for use with the EX1r, check it out here. Sony : XDCAM EX, PMW-350, PMW-EX1R Reviewed : Other

Argh! I tried to buy it. It sent me to paypal, which rejected my debit card. I tried three times. Each time paypal claimed my card was rejected. But my bank emailed me that paypal charged it for 0,65 Euro three times and then credited it right back.

I wish companies like this did not use paypal but just accepted credit and debit cards.

Hello,

I'm sending you a picture where you can see one hand resting on the handle and the other hand directly on the camera. The camera support on the picture is an older model with only one handle. But the point remain the same, it's possible to have both hands on the camera.

Charles

Thank you, Charles. That looks good.

Adam - in answer to your previous question about how I focus and also to elaborate on Charles' picture that he posted: With the telescoping arm, all the weight of the camera is transfered to the shoulder support and wherever the arm rests so you do not need a strong grip on the handles at all. I have a Manfrotto remote mounted on the right handle like so: Shape WLB community/barry-j-weckesser-sept-2009-006 and Shape WLB community/barry-j-weckesser-sept-2009-005 so I can zoom and press the record button without touching the camera and on the left side I position the handle straight up, cup it in my left palm and use my first or second finger to reach over and focus - it is very comfortable to do this and you can get some great pan and zoom shots being able to hold the camera well stabilized.

Thanks, Barry, I am going to order that Manfrotto controller as soon as I post this message (I have so much more to learn about this new camera of mine, it is embarrassing!). Meanwhile the Shape people have assured me they are looking into alternatives to PayPal, which claims it could not verify my VISA card despite them charging me $1 on it successfully and then reversing the charge.

Well, I have ordered the Manfrotto controller and it has arrived. Apparently it only works with the EX1 because I sure cannot plug it into my EX3. :)

Edit: Never mind. I was trying to plug it to the remote at the back to the camera. A call to B&H later and I plugged it to the lens remote, and that works. :)

This thread has been hijacked! Can somebody please put it straight? I'd like to discuss the new EX1R and 350.

Chris?

Does anyone know if Sony is planning on coming out with an EX3R soon? I am planning on getting an EX3 soon but I would hate to buy one and then find that they come out with an EX3R soon after.

Thanks,
Garrett

Sorry Ola, not quite an EX1R or 350 question but at least it may get some discussion about the features of the EX1R going again.

I was told that there are no plans for an EX3R at this time.