Anyone going to the IOV show to see Sony's EX in the flesh, mid October, I am traveling down from Glasgow with Ali and his stunning camera women daughter to see all the new kit, we could have a DVi get together at an arranged time. I can only make day one which is Wednesday 17th October 07...
The venue is probably best known for hosting the Royal Show, Stoneleigh Park is situated on the B4113 Stoneleigh Road between Coventry and Leamington Spa.

Sony SxSPro Spec Sheet

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/markets/10014/docs/SxS_PRO_specsheet.pdf

http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/New_Contracts_24/MITCORP_Places_Order_For_100_Sony_XDCAM_EX_Camcorders_13449.shtml

Hi all,
would like to know from who already had the hands on the camera if the lens is showing breathing in focus racks, and if so in what amount (compared for example, with a fujinon stock lens on a jvc hd 100, wich in my opinion does breath a lot)
Thanks
Fabrizio

Just ordered the EX1 and the delivery might be in november.
Now, how do I ingest this file into my NLE? I'm using SpeedEdit v1.2 on a notebook with ExpressCard slot.
Can I just play the MP4 wrapper in Media Player? Does it use DirectShow or should I install some other codec?

SpeedEdit doesn't allow me to create some MP4-wrapper testfile with mpeg2 settings for the video stream. Only mpeg4/aac. Is there another way to test this?
Some mp4 file with h264 codec that I've found on the internet played ok in SpeedEdit.

I need to know in advance because they let me check the camera first (rolling shutter vs SynthEyes) before actually buying.
Thank you for your help.

Just in case you have not seen these:

http://ieba.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/sonys-xdcam-ex-hd1000u-more/

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.cameravideo.net/forum/haute-definition-hdv-dvcprohd-xdcam/7204-camescope-sony-pwm-ex1-xdcam-ex-premier-contact-a-libc.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSony%2BXDCAM%2BEX%2BMP4%2Bto%2BMXF%2Bconversion%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

I've taken the plunge and ordered one of these things. I've never used overcranking before as it's not a feature on my XH-A1, so I have a few questions for those of you who have shot XDCAM material in the past.

1. How does the workflow work in FCP? For instance, If I'm shooting 1080p/25 material and decide I need some slowmo footage, overcranking would change the res to 720p/50. How does this come in to the FCP sequence? I assume it will upscale, but will it come in at half speed or at normal speed with twice the framerate?

2. If I decided to shoot everything at 720p/50 so that I could use good quality slow-mo footage at any time, how much work is envolved in post to conform everything back to 720/25p? Does this result in FCP having to render everything for transitions etc or can framerate be changed during the transfer process?

3. If the camera is recording at 720p/25, does it fit more footage on the cards than 1080p or does it use the additional available bandwidth to compress the footage less?

Thanks for any input.

regards

Paul.

Hi Guys, i live in Toronto, do you know an estimate Canadian release date and price info of the XDcam EX?

Thanks
H

The EX1 manual clearly show an AV outlet.

The camera comes with an AV lead.

I presume if you wanted standard definition to edit with and were happy to capture from this lead as one continuous clip this would work?

I ask this because a friend of mine who wants to buy the camera would like to be able to continue using his existing SD edit suite.

Or would the fact that the S X S cards recording to FAT32 files mean that playing back the clip/ clips in the camera mean they are not continuous?

If I got the EX I would want to take alot of wildlife shots and I'm worried the 14X lens won't cut it. Are there any tele lens available for the EX now or in the future? Or should I look to 35mm adapters? Any thoughts or opinions would be helpful. I know the XH1 is the king of wild life photography but I'd like to stick to tapeless.

I know that sony clip viewer software runs only on Intel based machine.

I own a G5 Quad + FCP 5.0. Does anyone know if and how can I manage and import xd cam ex files, without ugrading to intel and/or ugrading to FCP 6 (FCstudio 2) ?

Franco

I know that sony clip viewer software runs only on Intel based machine.

I own a G5 Quad + FCP 5.0. Does anyone know if and how can I manage and import xd cam ex files, without ugrading to intel and/or ugrading to FCP 6 (FCstudio 2) ?

Franco

P.S. sorry I oreviously misplaced this post on xdcam hd tread

http://redrockmicro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4521

At the moment there is no way of getting the EX1 HQ files to play nice with Avid Media Composer (Thats the only Avid I have tried on) when using the Sony Clip Browser and unwrap to .mxf.

But there is a way, I have posted somewhere about it before but I think it needs its own tread.

I sent some test footage to Olivier Amato who is involved in the ffmpeg development and he sent it to Baptiste Coudurier who is working on DNxHD for ffmpeg.

This is Baptiste's solution on how to use ffmpeg for EX1 .mp4 files and turn them into DNxHD .mov files that Avid Media Composer can import.

For 1080p25
ffmpeg -i inputfile.mp4 -vcodec dnxhd -b 185Mb -acodec pcm_s16le outputfile.mov

For 1080i50
ffmpeg -i inputfile.mp4 -vcodec dnxhd -b 185Mb -flags +ildct -acodec pcm_s16le outputfile.mov

You can use bitrates (the -b switch) 36, 120 and 185Mbit. 36Mbit is for progressive only.

And ffmpeg cant do DNxHD from 720p files yet.

This is a good place to look at DNxHD and ffmpeg.
http://www.itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com/ffmpeg_howto.html#Encoding_VC-3

To all PMW-EX1 (or soon-to-be) owners...

I am interested/curious to see just how much the in-camera settings can be used to 'push' the image in terms of lattitude / gamma / knee / saturation (etc).

Essentially, although most (all?) of us will tend or prefer to CC in the NLE (shoot flat and push in post) I can think that there may be some advantage (colour depth wise) to making use of the in-camera DSP to do most of the work for us.

TBO, I am also partly asking for the kicks of it - I'd love to see some extreme examples of the palette that the EX1 can throw out for a given scene.

For example, is there anything close to a bleach-bypass effect, Kodachrome or even reversal-stock (hi-grain) 'look' that can be acheived in-camera?

These aren't scientific tests I'm looking for, just any clips that show off the DSP functions - both at the subtle and extreme ends.

Please post relevant settings along with any clips/grabs.


BTW - No prizes for the best footage, other than a slightly smug feeling ! ;0)


Cheers,
Dave.

I saw a question about this but couldn't find it by searching the forum.

Unlike the Z1U, the built-in mike channels of the EX1 can be paired with the two external input channels for recording. The Right internal mike can be paired with External input 1 and the Left internal mike can be paired with External input 2.

This is described on page 90 of the EX1 manual.

Carroll Lam

Please keep in mind that we refer all "where to buy" questions to our trusted site sponsors EXCLUSIVELY.

I'm not interested in topics concerning pre-orders, pre-order cancellations, availability, lack of availability, "shipment audits" or any sort of rumor regarding whether cameras are shipping or not. They ship when they ship. Such topics serve absolutely NO constructive purpose whatsoever, and I will remove them from public view as fast as they appear.

Our list of dealers is here: http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors

It is a very short list and it shouldn't take thirty minutes of your time to do your own research by calling them to inquire about availability. If you can't find what you're looking for through our sponsors, then by all means go outside this site by using a search engine such as Google (http://www.google.com) or something similar.

If one or more of our trusted site sponsors wants to announce availability of this camcorder, they will post it here on their own and I'll make it a "sticky" thread so that it appears at the top of the forum index page.

Of course those folks who have already taken delivery are more than welcome to post their first impressions here regardless of where they bought it, but out of fairness to our sponsors I will typically remove references to other dealers.

Meanwhile let's keep these discussions focused on TECHNICAL and CREATIVE issues please...

Thanks in advance,

Dear all,

I am wondering if it is possible to jam sync the EX1 with an external TC - either a sound recording device (such as a sound device 744T) or a slate?

From reading the reviews, it looks like the EX1 does not have TC in/out ports. But can jam sync be done through the SDI port, since TC is present, or any other method?

Thank you.

Yours, MK

---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

Is there a way to take 24p out of 60p without turning into slow motion to gain access to the higher bit rate.

We know the ClipBrowser is Intel only.

And, the FCP XDCAM Import software is PPC and Intel.

Both the ClipBrowser and the FCP Import software make use of the SxS driver.

So is the Mac SxS driver PPC and Intel or only Intel?

Is anyone editing from SxS cards plugged into a G4 or G5 using FCP 6.0.2 with the FCP plug-in?

I wonder if any of the "pioneers" have mixed 1920x1080 EX1 with 1440x1080 F330/350 video in the same timeline of various NLEs and what where their experiences?

Anybody do this in FCP 6.0.2 or Vegas for example?
Any other NLEs?

I decided to test my Firestore FS4 with the EX1 set to SP 1080i mode and FS4 in HD mode, and that worked fine. I wasn't able to play the recorded video back on the EX1 but was able to do so on an FX1.

Has any heard when the firmware update will be available that will allow the use of 3rd party cards?

I figure that I need at least 8 16GB cards to use between the two cameras that I have on order. At the current prices, this would be around $7000

If I were able to use 3rd party cards, then that cost would come down to $1050

For the majority of my shooting, I won't be using the overcranking mode, so that is not an issue. If I need to overcrank, then I will use the supplied Sony card.

Does anyone have contact with Juan Martinez of Sony that can ask this question to him?

Concerning the audio input on the EX I have a question:

What do you all generally use as a setting in the AUDIO SET > AUDIO INPUT > TRIM CH-1 and TRIM CH-2 ?

Factory setting was -41 dBu but I find this results in a quite low signal.
I use -62 dBu now when attaching an external 48Volt powered condenser microphone (shotgun).

What is your experience with this?

regards,
Erwin

I'm curious if anyone has taken the EX through airport security ... I assume there won't be any issues caused by the scanners but I'd rather not find out the hard way.

I've had my EX for a couple of days now and unfortunately have had little time to play with it - but the little I've seen has looked excellent. I wish I'd bought two of them...

Thanks in advance,
John

Can someone post how to import and convert ex1 clips ( for FCP ) on a mac using the sony software? I've tried using the manual but I just don't get it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Aldo

I think Gates is working on one, probably will be pricey.

Anyone else use UW enclosures, and if so for what camera?

You all might want to contact Greg @ Abel CineTech 212 462.0143

Hello owners of the ex1. Ist the wievfinder in the camera a extrafine wievfinder or not?

Hi,

I will be shooting a lot of music videos next year and using a lot of 60fps. I was wondering is there advantage in latitude or colors when shooting 1080 over 720. I will deliver to web, dvd and/or tv so I dont need the full resolution for these jobs but I do want the full latitude, colors and film look.

While Im waiting for my EX1 and compulsively reading every thread in every forum... :D

Sami

How would you rate your EX1 at full wide for barrel distortion?

I'm curious, mine seems to be a bit higher than expected.

Please post a frame grab at full wide that will show the distortion. I will do the same.

Hi,

I think this is not related to the EX1, but I just would like to have a feedback from you.
I just got the camera and plugged it to the HD-Link then to my Samsung 244T monitor (24" full HD)

If I'm in "NTSC" formats 1080i or P (60Hz), the screen is set to 1920x1080.
But if I switch to PAL formats (50Hz)(I live in France), the display menu only say 1600x1080 at 62Hz.
I checked the settings in the HD-link, and it seems the HDlink do a 5:2 multiplication on the frequency, going from 50Hz to 62.

My monitor's manual say it can goes up to 1920x1200 at 59.950 Hz.

The question is, do I see a 1600 width image enlarged to 1920 or do I see a 1920 image whatever the display's menu tell me ?
the fact is I can't see any quality difference between NTSC or PAL settings :)

Thanks.

The one thing I loved about RED and its RAW codec was to add the contrast after you shoot. Would anyone recommend settings that would MAXIMIZE the latitude of the Sony with minimum noise, and then in post, dial in the look?

What settings would that be?

Also - is it best to shoot with the lowest DB for the best picture?

(Again assuming you want the best picture over content... no noise in blacks rather than detail with noise like a news channel would want to get the story.) I rather loose the detail and know its time to quite shooting after sunset than be shooting noisy footage. Thanks.

I tried the Cine setting after sunset - noisy as heck. I'd rather just add that look in post.

Okay, I'm ashamed to admit it but my EX1 and tripod fell off a dolly and landed on some ground. No damage per se except a slightly stickier iris (not a big deal).

But one thing I did notice that was a bit unusual.

When in a 60i format (or 60p) the motor running the auto iris is perfectly smooth - but throw it into 24p and the motor studders as if the motor is running in 24p.

Not a problem in the field, just an interesting observation.

I recorded a sunset in 1080 30p 1 frame per sec. I notice that you can capture more than one fram at a time. What is the purpose of this? If you set it for 1 sec and 3 frames, does it take a frame every 1/3 sec or every sec does it take 3 frames in a row? What is the purpose of this? A frame every 1/3 sec makes sense, but what would be the purpose of waiting 27/30 of a sec, getting three frames and then waiting 27/30 of a sec and doing it again?

Mark Miner

users can save their camera preset files as backups or to share/copy to another camera for multicam shoots using the store camera data to you SxS card. These can be copied to another backup source < like when you do a card format >

Maybe a sticky for custom tweaked user presets could be set up for these?

They are small files.
Would be cool if we could save multiple versions on a card and load into presets at will, but we can currently only load 1 default version at a time on a card.
<Possible to overwrite the file on a card for multi setup files>
The file is buried 5 folders deep and called SETUP.SUF