Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Like I said, I was just at the local dealer that had a PMW-300 and the latest SWIT worked on the machine. It showed a fully charged SWIT battery at 300mins in the battery remaining indicator.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Sorry I wasnt clear which battery you had tested


thanks for the info

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

OK here comes another question. I am trying to copy the XDCAM 422 MXF files into the hard drive and progress it using Final Cut Pro X, but it does not support it natively. Installing the sony xdcam codec plugin doesn't help either, looks like they did not update it to the latest XDCAM 422 version. The filenames are always gray in the browser.

So I did it another way. I used iSkysoft Video Converter trying to convert it to Apple Prores 422, the pictures are fine but the audio turns to be silent after some certain time, and keeps silent afterward. Apparently there are some problems converting the audio. It is hard to pick one from all 8 audio channels listed in the Video Converter, I haven't tried everything yet but don't have a big hope to convert the entire piece in a whole.

So anyone have any nice tools that can support this mxf file natively or convert it flawlessly to Prores? Thanks. By the way, I am using Mac, so Sony Vegas is not really an option there. Quicktime doesn't have the codec for it and can't play it, but VLC player can.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Ok after a long time of searching I got something useful. Basically, the plugin on pro.sony.com doesn't work as it was not up to date. The one should be downloaded is here:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...keycode=731500

It's the 3rd item. The steps are quite easy. Install and restart FCPX, then it's all done. When the SxS or XQD card is plugged onto the computer, it will automatically recognize this card as a camera and display all the files in the folder named Clips. All the files become readable and playable, though the speed of USB 3 may not be able to catch up the playing bit rate.

It sounds intelligent, and looks like really is, but this aggressive behaviour can cause a lot of problems. Most of video editors tend to use external drives as scratch disks. So as the playback on card sometimes lags, I copied one of the MXF files onto my other scratch disk, in the root directory. After I have restarted FCPX, the plugin immediately recognized that file and also my scratch disk as a camera, and hence restricted all the other accesses on the disk. All the events and projects are not operable at all. Events and projects which have links to movies on this disk all showed as "Source Missing" and is not relinkable. When I tried to shut down FCPX, it crashed and said "FCPX crashed due to malfunction of Flamingo XDCAM RAD plugin", which I have found later in the system ProApps folder. By checking back the scratch disk for MXF files I have found that there's a folder named XDROOT which was automatically built, and a copy of that MXF file is located inside. Deleting the folder and MXF files solved the problem, and FCPX does not pop any weird stuff after restarting, but it should be advised to be cautious for this aggressive bug. Do not copy any MXF files on the scratch disk by your own, I guess.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

To your earlier point about VLC, it has never been able to play XDCAM 422 audio without it skipping like a CD and eventually silencing itself. It's a weird thing with 30p drop-frame video that VLC hates. No problems on 24p.

The converter likely is having the same problem VLC had, in which the audio skipped a ton and then silenced itself.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Plus, I have written this bug report to their website, and after all of this lengthy description and suggestion, what comes out after I click submit button is a 404 error --- the web page doesn't exist. I tried multiple times and got the same results. I take it as that they are too hesitate to take any suggestions or accept any bug requests. The products are real, but the customer services looks like pure scum.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Converters are basically a skin on top of the FFmpeg backend. FFmpeg can't handle professional codecs well, but there is a professional codec driven of FFmpeg called FFmbc.

https://code.google.com/p/ffmbc/

It actually is amazing what FFmpeg can do, but it can't do everything.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

At least I can directly read those files in with that sometimes malfunctioning plugin now. Though I have not tried it yet, previously I used Sony Content Browser to convert one to mov and imported it in, it appears to have 8 audio tracks, all mono, with the 5th-8th silent. I currently saw no use of them, but they do exist. Maybe they are for some better cameras, I presume.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

So ... is anyone with a PMW300 game to start answering our myriad of questions? Even just your thoughts on how this camera performs in real world usage will be of help.

Andrew

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

sure make a list, Ill do the best I can to answer.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Thanks.

Firstly, when playing back a video clip that you have shot with the camera, does it output thorough the SDI connection? This doesn't happen on the EX3 which appears to only have a live SDI connection when it is in 'camera' mode.

Andrew

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

That doesn't seem right. The EX3 should be able to do that with the i.link output off. Make sure your i.link output is off in order to use the SDI.

All cameras require the i.link output to be disabled to use HDMI or SDI.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Could well be the case. Admittedly, it was a borrowed camera (the EX3 is not my usual cam) and it was an unexpected need at the time. Seemed weird that it would not output through the SDI.

Many thanks.

Andrew

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

So, it looks like BH has someone who's collecting the serial numbers of PMW-300's they have sold out to customers to fulfill their *reseller's rebate* to prevent their potential loss. Anyone who has received it other than me?

Well I have to point out that the guy who's in charge of this has kind of a mechanical mind... He forwarded several of other users' emails to my email address trying to let me understand where the serial number is... Brent Kaplan is among them.

It appears that someone else also thinks that the rebate is for *himself*... and happily submitted the number with that consent. lol.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

yes I got that email and a phone messgae fromm a Isaac DAvis

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

So what happens if you choose not to supply them with the serial number?

Andrew

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Could be that they lose Sony's rebate, which could be around 5% or 10% of the price per item. That's why this guy is constantly bugging people with machines everyday. If he can't get enough response, he will be fired. That's the way New Yorkers do it.

What makes me a bit of passive to the response is that I also have asked something else. I have mentioned before that when I have received mine I have a small dust in the VF lens, which I want to contact them to seek easy ways to repair or exchange this part. So I talked to this guy by the way, but he did not respond it at all. He just let me contact their Customer Services. Well, You want something from me and you don't provide any courtesy to your customers? I should have jacked them with the serial number for the part, but I did not. I contacted Customer Services instead yesterday, but got no response so far.

DSM U83 Works OK
 

I'm in the process of finishing off my review of the PMW-300 and I have tested my DSM U83 on it. I have no issues it appears to work correctly without the need for fly leads or anything else.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Looking forward to the review, Alister. I really got a lot out of your review of the PMW-200, even watching it a few times.

Are you able to check for IR bleed issues? (The sort of thing where black fabric looks warm/brownish because the infra-red isn't being filtered out properly.)

Thanks for all that you do.

Andrew

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Thats great about the DSM batteries but what about a battery with a DTAP that works.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

ONLY one is the SWIT S-8U63. That's it.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

I've been enjoying all the 4K discussions the last few days and weeks on DVinfo (AX100, GH4, Z100 etc….) but they have not changed my focus on what my immediate business needs are, and specifically those over the next 12-18-24 months for my main corporate clients. After that, who knows!

Anyway, after 5 and a half years of fantastic, rock solid performance with the lovely XDCAM workflow my much beloved EX3 is being retired (actually already sold). Today I ordered my PMW-300 :-)

It'll complement my Canon C100 well for my particular needs, just as the EX3 has.

My thanks to Alister Chapman and one or two others around the world for providing recent written and/or video reviews of the PMW-300 which helped me cement my decision, initially formulated back in June of 2013 immediately after the Sony press release on the PMW-300 (see my post #31 in this thread).

I get it on Tuesday - can't wait! I will be shooting my first commercial job with it starting next Friday (for a global medical name - on a film that will be used in Africa at the end of this month). I'm sure it'll be pretty familiar in menu and general operation/set-up - so no worries. No doubt I'll just need to rapidly re-learn some critical button positions!

Note to Chris and/or Mods: Now that the PMW-300 is shipping I guess discussions on it would be best incorporated into a 'Sony XDCAM or PMW' section - rather than in this 'News' section of the forum???

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Congrats on the new camera. I really like the specs. If I didn't need two, I would probably get one.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

I'm sure you'll like it Andy. If you liked the EX3 I think you'll really like the 300. It's much better put together and a great viewfinder.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

and most awesome rotating grip from the EX1r.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Just got a Fujinon XS17x5.5BRM and attached it on my unit. It's totally different from the stock lens regarding the pic quality, a direct 1 level above. I am very happy with it and expect to take it somewhere soon to have some landscape tests, though it's been totally desolate in Vancouver with wind and rain nowadays.

I also have noticed that 4K talks on the forum and other places are significantly more than before recently. But I guess I won't have my next move until maybe PXW-Z700 comes out or maybe I can afford an F55 some day. Although there are also a lot of 4K monitors rolling out this year, which makes me a bit of thirsty to have some 4K shooting kits, but it seems not happening anytime soon. It's simple way too expensive... man.

That being said, still I want to ask, that does this HD lens support up to 4K resolution, or will there be there any specific 4K lenses coming out later? DSLR lenses can be a simpler option but may not permanently.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Meng, what is the complete manufacturer part number for your Fujinon XS17x5.5BRM lens? I am confused by a variety of digits tacked onto the end of the part numbers. Thanks.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

I'm sure the AX100 will get a pro model. It happened with the HDR-HC1 and the HVR-A1U. Would make a good B-cam.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

To check model numbers, there are 2 pics here telling everything:
B4 ENG Lens model# decoder charts! (Canon/Fujinon))

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Thanks, Meng.

I contacted Fujinon. They said the suffix digits are a manufacturing code that can change during production. I am just not accustomed to seeing a manufacturing code so prominently labeled on the lens.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Spot on, as always Alister! Actually, you're slightly wrong, I love it!

Went to get it from H Preston in Malvern yesterday (who were a pleasure to deal with and who now have my treasured EX3 - in absolutely beautiful condition if anyone wants a second-hand one, BTW).

I have just set it up this morning - very easy and intuitive to set-up when you've used EX cams (shame about the rainy weather here though).

There are so many little (and some big) things that they have improved on and the sum total is a much bigger step up than I was expecting from just looking at specs on websites. One thing I did take note of though was the signal to noise quoted spec on the PMW-300 is now 60dB (was 54 on the EX3).

Build quality is really good (so good to have a metal body again, reminds me of the old trusty Sony PD150 I used a few years back).

The viewfinder is just blummin fantastic!!!

Not shot anything with it yet - but that will come soon enough.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

So Yesterday finally the sun came out in my area, I went to shoot something in the park using the machine and lens, edited it overnight, then posted it online. For the original clip it really works well, however here on Youtube I don't know how they compress it, the sea turns to be splotchy and also affected other objects like boulders and beach. Those scenes look terrible on Youtube only.


Everyone is welcomed to comment. Considering that this is a 1-day project, please don't be that skeptical, I guess this clip really does indicate some attributes of the lens and camera, like when it's shooting the sun, the shaft and flare of the lens certainly are not as good as those production cameras, but it may add some different flavor to it.

Another question I want to ask is regarding that splotches of waves of sea. It's really disturbing to see it on Youtube. I changed various ways to upload for multiple times, but none of them seem to give me better quality than that. Meanwhile it hurts my fragile heart by looking at promotion videos for consumer level 4K cameras (FDR-AX1) having better quality than mine. :\ Any ideas of that?

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Try uploading to Vimeo (Vimeo Plus gets you 2 pass encoding) - I've noticed YouTube is particularly bad at complex motion. Don't get me wrong - Vimeo is not faultless, and IMHO I think it's using 601 encoding on 709 material which puts your picture slightly out of line. But I digress.

(FWIW - , and )

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Looks like you are right, it does look much better on Vimeo.


Still, it's not perfect since there are 1-2 scenes still having those splotches, if looking in detail. But I guess that's just how it works.

Again, for those 4k videos, they have a much higher bit rate supported by those sites. Given the significant improvement of the quality, why can't they offer more bit rate for 1080P videos too? If the master file is played out on it lossless, it will be still much better than what's on Vimeo.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

Thanks for offering the original file for download Vimeo . It's only 1 GByte . Judging video quality critically on YouTube or Vimeo doesn't make sense due to the additional and inadequate re-compression.

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

The original master file is 7G in total. I comment on the video quality since I know some pro directors who also uses Vimeo to post some of their scenes. Of course they are using RED machines so the original file looks way better than mine. But given the quality after their compression, I don't want to feel like that 'this is what I can get from online sites for others to see', with much better file in hand. So I wonder is there any other ways to maximize the quality of delivery?

Re: Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300
 

De-noising to take the grain out of the finished file and give you better treatment from the Vimeo (or any other) encoder.

The battle for video encoding bits to be spent in the right places happens at all stages.

Andrew