Thank you Sony for the EX1R!
 

Well it is time to say my thank you's.

Thank you, Sony, for upgrading the EX1 VF!

Thank you for improving the jacks placement and HDMI! Excellent job!!

Thank you for shortening the switchover from Media/Camera mode!

Thanks for the rear IR remote receiver and zoom ramping (although I'd like to try it first it shows you are trying to answer the need for this).

I have to say I believe Sony has hit the bulls eye by upgrading the EX1 rather than the EX3 and introducing a full shoulder mount EX. The EX3 form factor was in a grey area. In my opinion it was a poor man's full shoulder mount camera. If I wanted a form factor that's trying to be a shoulder mount but not quite, I would just buy an F800 and be done with it. Now I may go for a 350 instead. There is a better established niche for EX1 size cameras in mainstream production than EX3 size because of just that, size. The 350 is what the EX3 should have been from the beginning. 2/3" is what the HPX300 should have had and exactly what a full size EX needs. 2/3" is a spot on design decision for this 350 camera. Finally someone is doing something right. And the EX3 VF was always a dubious proposition to me. I once detached it and accidentally dropped it from about 4 feet onto tiled floor. It broke into 4 or 5 pieces flying in every direction. This does make me curious about the same apparent design concept in the 350. If you love your EX3 more power to you my friend. Just my opinions.

I'd say don't expect Sony to officially answer the Far Red question for the new EX's. To do this would be to admit the problem in the EX1, and that won't be done for the same reason it never was. The possibility of a very expensive situation and the need to avoid it. That would be servicing all the old EX1s for free. I am amazed and impressed that they even said EX1R has "improved filters" in this regard.

More opinion...

Both are overpriced. I would place the EX1R no more than 7450k and the 350 at 14k. Nanoflash aside, 350 is still 4.2.0, 35mbps. The market has changed and the age of 40k-50k broadcast betacams is long gone.

The Memory Stick adapter is a nice acknowledgment of the need for alternative media and "Emergency Recording" is exactly the right purposing! But Sony you should have bit the bullet and made this SDHC. Emergencies will be served much better with the wider global availability of SD cards than Memory Sticks. Let's face it, it's more likely I'll find SD cards to buy in a jam than Memory Sticks. If a superior reliability of Memory Sticks vs. SD cards using EX1 can be proven with hard results I'll take this back.

In a business sense is it logical to expect an EX1 firmware upgrade giving you almost everything an EX1R has and hurting EX1R sales? As an EX1 owner I'd still rather have exactly what Sony is offering along with the hardware enhancements.

Sony, thanks for listening to us! I will be buying an EX1R! Thank you!!!

Well put Max.

I think Sony should include 2 adaptors in the price, this would almost guarantee that new buyers buy thier memory sticks, more money for sony.

I also agree with you that the adaptors should've been sdhc, would sony make another adaptor for sdhc cards , I don't think so but if they did then i'd be buying a few.

Paul.

The EX1R's filters have been improved to reduce far red contamination. That's what I have been told. I did not have time to test, but if they say they have done it, I think they will have done a good job.

Have they listened to what people had to say about the undefeatable audio limiters on the old EX1/EX3?

Strange contradictions in your post Max. From the camera's performance, competition and sales success so far, I'd say Sony are good as under-pricing the EX1. In any age market forces determine the price.

tom.

There have been improvements to the response of the audio limiters, but I did not have time to test this out. Whether this was just for the auto audio levels or limiter I'm not sure. One weekend to test 2 cameras, shoot a review and film an airshow just wasn't long enough!

I hope to get hold of the cameras again soon. Apparently there is a new lens for the 350.

Well I make the purchasing decisions for our company so I'm not paying for it out of pocket. Still I think perceived overpricing on Sony pro products is a widely held opinion just like many other premium brands. The price you pay for some small plastic accessory piece or a legacy Memory Stick for example for a piece of Sony gear that won't accept any newer Memory Sticks is unearthly. Sony tells me the extent of its engineering man hours and research is among the top in the industry and that's where the cost is. For some of their flagship products this is evident in the performance. I've used more than a fair share of Sony equipment however that breaks down badly and doesn't hold up to this claim. So to me a higher price point never automatically equates to a better product. To raise the bar even more on competing with Panasonic Sony might want to rethink their pricing structure. One area Panny has always hit Sony in has been lower price points for competing products and they've firmly established this perception in user minds. I've put in many hours with Panny gear but still for equipment acquisition my first choice has always been Sony so I want to see them put out the best possible gear in every way.


Just want to point out that the Far Red answer is something I think the community will answer. Considering how far we've come with this issue I think there's nothing wrong with that. Either that or I have given up the will to complain about it!!

Have you checked the latest pricing information? B&H has it listed for $7790.00 and for that price you still have to deal with its wrist breaking weight and poor balance.

I would like to see why is EX1R almost $1600 more then EX1? After all the improvements are basically fixes of design flaws from early EX1's. $500 more gets you EX3, I would predict a drastic drop in sales.

Something that size would be tough to turn into a truly "handy" camera. The lens alone is at least half the camera.

I always use it with a shoulder brace. It stabilzes the camera, keeps it from pitching and rolling, and provides some additional support.

The only time the shoulder brace isn't used is when the camera's used with a teleprompter or on a jib.

I wonder if Sony might offer an option to have an EX1 upgraded with the better IR filter and get the pre-record cache activated?

I can live without the rest. But these two features would be really nice to have. Especially the pre-record cache.

I would imagine that when the camera actually is close to shipping, Sony will have posted a MAP, which will undoubtedly be right around the same price as the current EX-1

Rather, CF. With SanDisk Extreme IV 45 MB/sec Extreme Pro 90 MB/second CF cards, your transfer time is now limited by your harddisk or USB. A PCI-E slot for reading CF cards would be awesome.

shoulder brace
 

Aloha Dean,
what shoulder brace do you use?

Hi Wayne...

I'm using a CAvision shoulder brace. But it's been modified.

The camera platform isn't stock. I built it out of plexiglass and epoxy.

And the rods are solid carbon fiber, not hollow as the original.

BTW, if you get Oceanic Cable there, you can see the show I produce, "Hawaii Goes Fishing". It's shot entirely with the EX1.

Aloha,

I just hope that current ex1 users get the following options via a firmware update:

*toggle S&Q motion (so I can program it programmable button 4 because I use the S&Q Motion funtion a ton and it's a pain to go through the menus to turn it on and off)

*Flip Picture (so I can get a 35mm adapter without purchasing a flip module which is just way too big and clunky IMO, It's the only thing holding me back from such adapters)

What would also be nice:

Not sure if the copy all function in the new EX1R allows you to hook up a USB drive to the USB port and Copy the cards off there but that would be super nice. It's doubtful since Sony is going to be trying to sell the Hard Drive module with express card slot for dumping footage. In otherwords, why spend 2000 on that, when a simple USB Hard Drive would do the trick.

Gee I bought my EX1 4 months ago and it is already out of date. I hope the offer an upgrade with regards to the IR filter.

Also a great decision to eliminate the surface mount design of the switches under the handle. The hand would often switch bars on by mistake in the hustle bustle of ENG by just brushing against this area. Looks like now there are physical switches. Can you confirm Alister?

On the price come to think of it even if it was a personal purchase I've long been used to overpaying for Sony gear so nothing's changed there!

Oh yes I have seen B&H's price. I think $7790 is too close to $8000 and the EX1R is not an $8,000 camera to me. I wonder if this is Sony's program price so it won't be found for less authorized. I forgot... did EX1 price drop when stock became available? I think +$1000 from the old EX1 price of $6450 is more than enough for the R's upgrades.

The balance could be better but all these cameras are wrist breakers. None of them have been easy on the wrist so not that fair a critique. That's what we get for near pro quality in a small size.

Now put an actual mechanical lens in there to get rid of front and back focus problems people have had plus the delay in manual focus and that would be a good improvement.

Yes they are slightly recessed physical switches, big improvement.