When I sent my EX1 to Sony for firmware upgrade last year, they also replaced a circuit board that was responsible for the battery drain. This was done under warranty at that time. I have no clue what it would cost otherwise- but it is a "known defect", so maybe you could make a good case for it even if out of warrenty
The new board dramatically improved the drain problem, but didn't eliminate it completely.
I've noticed with the EX1r that the situation is even more improved, but battery will still drain over a peroid of several weeks. Seems like with my prior Sony cams (PD-170, etc.), you could leave it for months and the battery was still good.

Hidden USB port - frustrating
 

The set up procedures on the Sony Sony | Micro Site - XDCAM EX
site failed to mention the USB connection on the EX-1 is not the USB port you use for file downloads. There is a hidden USB port next to the normal USB port. It is hidden by a tiny black panel. You need high quality precision Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw.

I spent over an hour trying to connect by the normal USB. I finally stumbled on video that revealed the hidden port
Once I had the correct USB port connected the update using my Vista 64 machine went smooth and took about 20 minutes.
Rob

I'm going to bust you on this one Rob. Page 2 of the installation instructions have a drawing that shows removal of the little cover plate and connection to the upgrade USB connector. Sony does a great job of detailing the upgrade process.

For anyone who wants to do the upgrade yourself, be sure to carefully read the instructions.


Pete

Blog post about bricked EX3 due to firmware update
 

Posted a new blog about my bricked EX3 due to correct use of their firmware upgrade tool - and their denial to pay for the repair:

Beware of Sony EX3 firmware update ? camera bricked due to software malfunction, Sony ?Prime?Support denies to pay for repair | Nino Film - Blog - Nino Leitner

Sorry to say, but something that works faultlessly when instructions are followed for everyone else but fails on your computer, indicates it highly likely your computer that failed, not the software.

That's probably the Sony default position, and a fair one. You need to prove otherwise.

I concluded I'm going to pass on the upgrade, for now. Seems like most people aren't having an issue; but I've always been the exception, so I'll wait.

Beside: I hear Sony's got a new camera coming out at NAB that's between the EX3 and the PMW 350. I'm definitely interested. And I don't want to be stuck trying to sell a brick.

I don't know how anyone can stand to look at COW. All those flashing ads gave me a headache. They're very distracting. The stuff here is more subtle, and does draw me in from time to time.

Several people out of tens of thousand perhaps may have poor quality or failing motherboards which don't have properly working USB ports. Some older VIA based board are notorious for this. I'm not arguing with you, I'm highlighting the logic applied to computer problems.

When most work, and a small percentage don't, that's the way the problem solving flow chart works.

Third-party USB-based ExpressCards
 

Does anyone know if third party cards such as this work with the firmware upgrade. I'm assuming that if SXS-1 cards works perfectly with the 1.20 firmware, then other USB based cards should have no problems.

Or maybe Sony's software will fail in certain unanticipated configurations that Sony did not test for. While Sony may have made a best effort it's ultimately their responsibility.

If during a shoot my camera fails due to a mechanical malfunction I'm still liable to give the client a positive outcome.

If Sony's software fails during an install they should still be liable for a positive outcome.

If the failure rate is so small, Sony should be able to make good with little cost to keep a customer happy who may spend many thousands of dollars or euros on future Sony products. It's not like he dropped the camera on the floor or committed some act overtly warned against in the instructions.

One uses Sony's software with the belief they have made a reliable program and will back that with a warranty agains failure during a normal upgrade process.

I can PERSONALLY attest that when Sony did my EX1 upgrade to 1.11, it was botched (and I do not blame the technician) and I had to bring the camera back for the upgrade to be redone. Their software is fallible and they should take responsibility.

The are literally billions of hardware combinations out there, and not every PC component manufacturer makes their parts fully up to spec. What you are asking Sony to do is totally impossible. There are so many variables. Every single piece of software ever written will have some issue with some combination. That's just the way it is, and likely the reason Sony were reluctant to allow user firmware flashing.

And Sony's massive savings by releasing the firmware to the public would more than offset fixing the few cameras that get bricked in the process.

When any company releases any hardware or software to the public they take on the responsibility of fixing those issues they missed.

There may be no way you can anticipate equipment failure in a shoot, for example, you still do your best to keep the client satisfied.

It's called Customer Service. It's also called good PR. If those with bricked cameras spread the word widely, Panasonic, JVC, Canon will benefit.

I believed this update is an option so the older cameras can use the alternative medias better. Those who are using the Sony SxS Pro card don't need this update.

Besides when run the update firmware, an user accepted the "End User License Agreement". We should be extra careful to follow the instruction line by line or good chance it will failed. (same as we update any bios on your computer - firmware) Or ask someone in your area to help you out.

However, I hope Sony can offer a solution for the failed update.

Why quote my post? A total non-sequitur. You can generate random reason why Sony should do this, or Sony should do that, ad infinitum. These are not arguments, it's your wish list, I'm just telling you that is how it works.

should not upgrade EX1 unless have at least v1.13
 

Being nervous about upgrading firmware (although I've never wrecked anything), and noting the above posts about bricks, I checked with our local ASC (authorised Sony Centre) about the costs of them doing it for me (and resulting cost if I failed).
Although the upgrade has been released for user implementation, it seems that a bit of crucial information has been omitted from the documentation:

"The EX1 must at least be at V1,13. – preferably at V1,14 prior to the V1,20 upgrade.
If upgrade to V1,20 is done from earlier software versions, the camera operation becomes erratic. Therefore, the EX1 should be upgraded to V1,20 by ASC’s. Hence, should a camera fail after a DIY upgrade, costs to recover the camera will be for the customer."

Now I know many people have reported success upgrading from versions earlier than 1.13, but mine is v1.11 so I'll be getting it done by my ASC.

EDIT: I haven't checked, but I presume that in my case the ASC will need to first upgrade the firmware to v1.14.

Many thanks for pointing this out Serena.

When Sony insisted on cameras going back to then for updates they got a lot of flack and a lot of people moaning about not being able to do it themselves. Now they have given users the option to do it themselves they are getting flack because a few people are having issues.

Sony are not forcing anyone to do the update themselves, you can still get it done by Sony or you can have it done by a dealer. Us end users now have a choice. It's no different to servicing a car. You can save money and do it yourself or take it to a dealer or to a local service center. If you mess up doing it yourself, say with a wrench that's not quite right and damages a bolt so it cant be removed, you have no recourse, if you get it done by a dealer and they mess it up then they would need to sort it.

It's up to you. The vast majority should have no problem with the update, but there will inevitably some failures, lets face it the EX1/EX3 was never designed to be updated by end users. A reputable dealer can do the update for you and it shouldn't cost much. If they mess it up, then they would have to fix it.

Lexar Express 8 GB SSD card work in HQ with update NO OVER CRANKING

Hey guys. This is my first post to the sony boards because I don't currently own one. However, I ran across this on a blog that I subscribe to earlier today. Hope this helps.

Looks like Sony has dropped the ball a little here.

Beware of Sony XDCAM EX firmware update ? EX3 bricked due to software malfunction, Sony “Prime”Support denies to repair damage | Nino Film - Blog - Nino Leitner

My Lexar Express 16Gb SSD card still doesn't work in my EX3 after the Update. After about two seconds of recording I get the media error.

But, my CL10 Sandisk 16GB SDHC cards are ready to record again after only 2.5 seconds. That's almost a 5 second improvement from before the update. Also, full 60fps over cranking without a problem. I shot a bunch of flashing colored lights with a lot of intentional movement, panning, tilting and general crazy moves. No media errors.


The update went very smoothly. No problems. The only thing that tripped me up was whether to put the camera in VCR mode or Camera mode when it said to turn the device on. After my computer couldn't find it in camera mode I tried VCR and no problems from that point on. Did I miss that in the instructions?

Garrett

Where is this expressed on Sony's site?
What is the cost to have Sony service centers do this?
What is their responsibility for repair if they brick the camera?
What is the cost to the user if they do it on their own and brick the camera?

If you've seen any of the above on any Sony site please do point the way.

Just upgraded EX1's
 

I have always been one of those daredevil types when it comes to hardware and software upgrades. I found the 1.20 firmware on the US Sony Pro site, downloaded and installed on two EX1's with no issues. One of my cameras was still on 1.03, and I had to reboot twice. But now it appears to be all caught up.

You need a very small Phillips head screwdriver to open the hidden USB port, and I highly recommend using a pair of needle-nose pliers or tweezers to lift and replace the cover. The instructions say to use the USB cable supplied with the camera, but I had no problems with a generic one.

It's very clear on the Sony UK web site:

"IMPORTANT! Before attempting to upgrade your firmware please read the installation instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in damage to your camcorder. If you don’t feel confident to upgrade the firmware yourself, contact either PrimeSupport, your Sony Accredited Dealer or Authorised Service Centre*

*There may be a charge incurred."

If Sony brick it or someone else bricks it then it should be thier responsibility, again just like a car dealer, if they break your car they would have to return it to the state it was in when you left it with them.

If you got your camera from a reputable dealer that would be where I would start. I don't know what the charges are, but it shouldn't be much for a dealer to do it for you, especially if they want to keep you as a loyal customer.

Just performed the update with no problems with mac OS 10.6.2. My EX3 is a happy camper and over cranks on my sandisk cards now : ) I updated from firmware 1.02.
Thanks for all the "dvinfo" people.

Updated firmware on a Windows 7 based HP dv2-1110us from version 1.05 without a hitch. However, I don't have generic SSD or adapters to test with; just that the SXS Pro 8 & 16GB still works fine.

Just out of curiosity, I wonder if the people having problems have inadvertently tried do the update on your EX3 via the "normal" usb port rather than hidden port under the shoulder pad? Is that possible?

On the contrary, the massive savings goes to the end user. I don't have to spend $125 plus shipping for something I can do myself.

Agreed on good PR. Customer service is huge and with the internet word spreads fast.

Agreed, said perfectly Alister. And if you were planning on purchasing alternative media or want to benefit from the increased capabilities of the new firmware then it's a safer bet to have an authorized service center perform the upgrade for you. Despite the bricked cameras I am glad they gave us a choice this time around instead of forcing us to download firmware that was on a foreign Sony site for a day and could only be found on an end-user's web server.

Did you use a laptop or a desktop computer?

Well said. I am happy to have the choice.
Furthermore, it looks to me that the EX1r has been designed for easy, bulletproof firmware upgrade from the SxS card rather than a tricky computer interface. It looks like the major problems are occuring with the EX1 & 3, where Sony has had to improvise a bit to develop the user upgrade procedure.

I've been following this thread right from the start (I posted at No 2) but from what I've read I don't need the risk of upgrading my fully functioning EX3 right now - it's on the July 2008 launch firmware and has basically been problem free - I only ever experienced the loss of focus thing twice and a simple reboot fixed that on both occassions.

I use Kensington adapters with 16GB SDHC cards (I have 4 "combos" of these) infrequently - and never for overcranking - and three 8GB SxS cards all the time. So all this update will do for me is knock 3 x 2 minutes off my SxS card space (I'd rather have the extra 6 minutes of recording space!) and possibly make the KxS/KxT combos a little more reliable, especially for overcranking (that bit is more tempting, for sure). I can't see me buying any other media soon (of the SxS or cheaper kind) so all in all it's not really worth the risk of bricking my main business tool.

I'll sit it out a while longer I think and maybe review this again in a month. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

I have came to the same conclusion, that is not to upgrade. When I purchased my EX3 I felt that the cost of the SxS card was high but the quality was worth it. I shoot lots of wildlife so I needed the ability for long takes. I solved my issue with the 120GB hard drive and have been pleased with that choice. No over cranking issues with that. Battery life is just fine also. I will sit on the sidelines on this until things sort out.

I tried this and the upgrade timed out. I tried to update it again and it won't let me redo it because it thinks its already upgraded to 1.20. Is there anyway to force it to re-run the update?

The camera still works, but it displays the message "insufficient voltage".

So I bit the bullet and did the upgrade.
Everything is working fine.
I used a macbook Pro with Leopard.
I have an ex3.
So I followed the install instructions step by step.
Maybe people who are getting error messages are just not being patient enough?
I plugged my camera (Which was off) to my MBP.
then I started the update soft.
I got through the agreement part then I turned on the camera. Nothing shows up in the lcd.
so dont worry about it.
It will display in the computer that the camera is connected.
Then I started the upgrade process.
YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT.
You will see the progress bar in the bottom slowly going up. Let the software do its thing.
There was a camera disconnected message, but I just hit ok and let it go through.
Once the top bar got to 50% it asked me to turn off the camera.
I turned it off and left it off for 15 seconds... Just to be safe.
Then I turned on the camera and it started the bottom bar again. FROM 0%.
The top bar was still at 50%.
This time it took a longer time and I think that it gave me the usb disconnection error once again. if not mistaken. But anyways I hit ok and let it continue.
Then it asked me to turn off the camera for 10 seconds and turn it on again and press ok.
I did 15s again.
The bottom progress bar kept going up and it got stuck at 99.99%. That is when I started to get worried, but I left it alone. After a while it completed and it told me to click exit, then it asked if I was sure I pressed yes and turn off the camera. but I did notice that the light in the back of the camera was blinking so I waited for it to stop before turning the camera off...
So after the upgrade I went to power on the camera. and nothing was happening. I checked my power source disconnected the power and battery plugged it in and switched to camera and media. then the xdcam logo came up! What a relief.
I have a e-lcr with transcend 16gb class 6 black stripe by the way.
I left the camera recording for 50 minutes and got no media error. Then I started recording on and off really fast and no error.
Then I overcranked the camera to 60 fps and now error also.
Does anybody have a surefire formula to get the media error so I can try it out on my camera??
I only had the media error occur once after I recorded for about 30 minutes.(THIS WAS BEFORE THE UPDATE) So I wasn't able to reproduce that.
Well to those of you that will try remember BE PATIENT. Also have a fully charged battery and both the laptop and Camera plugged in!
:)

Hi Leo,

Since doing the update to my EX3 I haven't been able to reproduce the error with my Class 10 or Class 6 media. I do have some Patriot Class 4 SDHC cards taht I was able to get them to error on when overcranking.

Before the update one way I could guarantee and error was to overcrank while shooting flashing colored lights and get crazy with camera moves, quick pans and tilts together. After the update I can now do that at full 60 fps with no errors on my Class 10 cards. Haven't tried it on my Class 6 cards yet.

Garrett

Thanks Garrett!
I will try doing that later.

Leo and Garret, very useful information. Thanks for posting to this community.

Firmware 1.03
 

I've updated one camera that was firmware version 1.05 with no problems. I have another one that is version 1.03. I read through this whole thread and saw only one other post talking about successfully updating from 1.03.

Sony says if you have 1.04 or lower to contact them prior to updating on your own.

Has anyone else tried updating from 1.03 or 1.04 on your own with success?

I updated from 1.03 without incident using a MacBook Pro with Leopard.

I haven't upgraded the firmware in my EX3 yet, I don't know if would benefit from it or not.
I don't overcrank and I don't like loosing the 2 mins recording time from the cards and post 63 is a bit worrying.

I use the MxM ATP combo and haven't had any problems there also.

It really is painless and I do recommend it. The firmware removes the chance of starting recording while the red light is still on. This was never a problem for me personally but I now don't have to lecture my other operators who may be using the EX1.

As long as you follow the instructions you should be fine.