I started with Canon, moved to JVC for my first step into HDV, BUT...
I gotta say this Sony EX1 is a truly astonishing camera. I've just begun to explore its image quality and fundamental variations. I wish it had a wedge type tripod mount, but, it's light and easily handled, unlike my XL2 or HD110. The auto focus is a wee bit slow, but, almost refreshing in the way it homes in on focus. I feel like I can carry this into a weekend event and not seem out of place. And the quality of what I bring home is jaw dropping. I'm an outdoor photographer. This camera is the closest I've seen in producing great panoramic vistas as anything I've seen. No mosquito noise, no soft images, here. And, so far, dropping an .mxf file into Vegas is as painless as it can get.

I love this camera.

Great to hear it Bill. I'm also coming from the JVC HD100, but I've owned Canon and Sony in the past. I'm really amazed in the image quality too.

Bill, Phil Bloom was showing his setup on his blog and he is using a wedge type tripod setup... on the tripod side he's using a Sony VCt-U14 and on the EX1 side he's mated it with the Protech Press Shooter ST-1... looks to be a nice combination....

Thanx for the heads up. I'm mating a Cavision wedge plate to the same Sony base. The Cavision plate isn't as large as the Protech one, but it works.

Wedge plates are associated with whatever tripod (Sachtler, Vinten, Miller) that you purchase. Manfrotto makes a quick release system that you can put any manufacturers' wedge plate underneath. That system works well for the small cameras.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/241139-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_577_577_Quick_Release_Adapter.html

Bob...

thanks, I use Manfrotto 501 and 503 heads on various sticks. The plates are great for balancing the rig on the head, especially the 501plong. The problem with this slide plate happens when I also use my Cavision rails. The mount plate is stepped above the rails, for the right geometry. The step prevents me from sliding the Manfrotto plate onto the head....;o(...it's a major PITRA for quick change cams.