Hey all,

I was all gung ho to upgrade when I first read about the EX1, but now with the vignetting and backfocus issues, I'm pretty leery. I'd hate to order one and have to send it back, perhaps more than once.

I know we hear all about problems on a forum, but does anyone have any sense of how widespread the problems are? I figured Sony would have fixed the problem but people are still posting about receiving brand new cameras that show the vignetting.

I think my Z1 might have more life in it than I anticipated...

If you tally everyone here in the "problem" threads you will get a few hand-fulls. A lot of the initial problems seem to have been handled by QA, although some still seem to seep through.

However, serial numbers are in the thousends. So if that is anything to go by, serious problems should be rare indeed.

George/

Just received mine yesterday. It was SN 1789, a very low number for this late after the release. It has the vignetting problem in two corners, however the back focus is fine. I just spoke to someone at sony and I'm going to try to swap it with another one from the dealer rather than send it to them. Once this gets sorted out, I'll have very few complaints about this camera, especially considering what you get.

-Sean

Mine has neither back focus or vignetting problems.
I would buy another one in a heart beat.

My camera had a back focus issue which I fixed using the camera's internal software...no problem. Also, no problem with vignetting. I would purchase another because it produces a better picture than any other camera that I could hope to afford.
Best, Craig

no brainer....YES!

Most reassuring, you guys. I guess I got overwhelmed by all the attention on the vignetting and back focus.

Thanks for the feedback.

Most reassuring, you guys. I guess I got overwhelmed by all the attention on the vignetting and back focus.

Thanks for the feedback.

I would buy it 3 more times. :)

Absolutely yes. Will probably get another. I feel for the guys who have bad ones but I am sure Sony will sort them out. The fact that we have good ones means that Sony must come up with the goods for all.

No only would, but most probably will - as soon as the dust settles...

I wouldn't jump in again until I was SURE all of the issues had been resolved. I took a chance getting in early and I got burned. Mine has horrible back focusing probs (SN# 101581) and it will drain a full batt. in 24 hrs with power off.
It cost me $170 to ship this thing to San Jose CA because (according to Sony) that is the nearest service center that can fix it. :(

I'm hoping to have better luck with the HVR-Z7U that I just purchased.

Mine is for the second time in 4weeks (since I own it) back to San Jose for a faulty auto white balance and they told me, is not only my camera, but a problem with EX1 nobody seems to care. Well, excuse moi, I do expect that a 7k camera will do at least what my 2k PDX10 does perfectly.

Thank you,
Mike

My EX1, delivered mid-december, is working perfectly. It's a great camera.
Maybe the besti thing to do is go to your reseller and ask to try it before you buy it, then you can check for white, backfocus or vignetting issues.

I love this cam and would'nt wait for another model, which may be far more buggy :)

I'm exchanging mine today for a higher SN so the dealer can handle returning this one for vignetting. It's annoying, but there are plenty of cameras without this problem. There are some bugs with this camera, but it seems all of these are slowly being worked out. Other than the few issues we've been talking about here, it's a fantastic camera. I seriously doubt that sony would have a replacement at NAB. It seems panasonic will have a new camcorder next month, but that's more of a DVX replacement than an HVX replacement (AVCHD, $2500 roughly).

-Sean

I would not buy it again! Not now before all the problems are settled.
See my post here:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=846122&postcount=644

Hi Everyone,

For what it's worth, if you're on the bleeding edge of a revolutionary camera introduction, you're going to have to expect some glitches. Please enter this process with your eyes open.

I had to send my first EX-1 back to the reseller to get a replacement because of a bad back focus issue. Now I couldn't be happier.

I admit that I'm a camera snob. I've shot well over 100 projects with the Sony F900. Using a camera like that every day you get spoiled. But I'm here to say that the EX-1 offers superb picture quality. Absolutely comparable to the F900!

Sure there are functionality issues compared to a professional camera. I wish it was full-sized with a real viewfinder on the side, BUT this camera costs less than 1/3 of the price of a professional HD LENS!!

How Sony can do all this for a sub $7k price point, I don't know. But I have gladly purchased one and am enjoying the benefits.

Hi Everyone,

For what it's worth, if you're on the bleeding edge of a revolutionary camera introduction, you're going to have to expect some glitches. Please enter this process with your eyes open.

I had to send my first EX-1 back to the reseller to get a replacement because of a bad back focus issue. Now I couldn't be happier.

I admit that I'm a camera snob. I've shot well over 100 projects with the Sony F900. Using a camera like that every day you get spoiled. But I'm here to say that the EX-1 offers superb picture quality. Absolutely comparable to the F900!

Sure there are functionality issues compared to a professional camera. I wish it was full-sized with a real viewfinder on the side, BUT this camera costs less than 1/3 of the price of a professional HD LENS!!

How Sony can do all this for a sub $7k price point, I don't know. But I have gladly purchased one and am enjoying the benefits.

it is always comforting to hear this coming from someone who has shot with the F900.

It cost me $170 to ship this thing to San Jose CA because (according to Sony) that is the nearest service center that can fix it. :(


Something is wrong here. I had the vignette problem with my EX1. I phoned Sony and they sent me a prepaid FedEx label to send the camera to San Jose Ca, from Florida. The FedEx label even arrived overnight!

As for the vignette problem, fixed 100%.

Not only would I buy another Ex1, I am planning on buying another in a few months.

John,
consider yourself lucky! There are some who have sent it in only to come back the same or worse, including me.

Would absolutely but it again, and would buy a second one if I had the budget.

- Ray

I'm not sure- thankfully my company paid for mine. My current camera seems to have several odd problems, shot transition doesn't work, I definitely have the vignetting issue, and my sound is messed up (see my previous postings) to the point where I have to send it back to San Jose for them to look at it. Hopefully, they'll be able to fix all these issues, and if they do, I will definitely think the camera is worth having. Mine's a fairly early production (serial number starts with 101) so I guess later models don't have any of these issues, I would hope not at least.

Mine is one month old and ready to go back to service a third time. Not only but the unbalanced grip and the weight of it, makes it impossible to use it without a tripod.
No way, I would not buy it again.


Thank you,
Mike

Mike, check out the Anton Bauer Egripz which was recommended to EX1 users somewhere else on this forum. I got one and it makes a big, big difference with regards to hand holding the EX1. Granted, it doesn't make it balance perfectly, but it goes a long way towards making it manageable. My camera was sent off today to San Jose for various repairs, hopefully they will fix everything I listed in my note to them.

Mike, what did they not fix after they got your camera and sent it back to you twice already??

I've had a 90% positive experience with the EX1 now that the workflow is figured out.

The first EX1 (serial in the 500s) I had fell off a dolly and really messed up the iris mechanics. I sent it to Sony for repair and after 2 harrowing weeks of back and forth with those guys, I get the call that they can't repair it and were sending me a brand new camera (serial in the 2000s) with brand new accessories!!!

Got it back, shot several projects with it and I am very happy with it (with the exception of the rolling shutter issue when shooting in strobby environments like strip clubs - which I did an ad for)

I recently did a 2 camera shoot with the Z1u and the EX1. Set the camera on the 60i CBR mode and I'm telling you the EX1 still outperforms the Z1u - even in similiar bitrates. And I really love my Z1u...

Not only but the unbalanced grip and the weight of it, makes it impossible to use it without a tripod.

I don't know if it deserves a separate thread, but what about Mike's comment? I do a lot of hand held work. Is that enough of an issue to actually make the camera unsuitable?

I don't know if it deserves a separate thread, but what about Mike's comment? I do a lot of hand held work. Is that enough of an issue to actually make the camera unsuitable?

I'll be quite honest... I do okay when shooting handheld- actually about as good as the Z1u. The rotating grip actually makes it easier to cradle.

But if you do a lot of handheld (which I don't) then I would buy a shoulder mount setup for it.

Just buy a $50 dollar shoulder mount off ebay for it. They work great. Other than that, the camera is easily the best available under $17,500 for me.

It's really not that bad to handhold. It's no HV20, but then again it's a much different camera. I don't think that the grip is that far off of the center of gravity, I love the rotation feature, and I very rarely use it for more than a minute or so without two hands.

-Sean`

Would I buy it again? Yes. Absolutely.

But that's not to say it doesn't have its flaws.

And the cost of the camera is just a small part of the cost. People talk about the cheap shoulder mount (my dealer added a large mark up :(), but omit to mention the cost of getting a good mounting plate solution that enables speedy switching from tripod to shoulder mount. My tripod maker (Miller) is currently quoting close to £200 for a shoulder mounting plate solution that might be available in a couple of weeks time (fortunately there are cheaper solutions!). The non-standard external microphone mount ring size, and the positioning that means an adapter (not cheap!) needs to be bought just so the mic doesn't show up in frame when you zoom out, and the extra SxS cards needed it's worked out a LOT more expensive than I'd originally planned.

Having to remember to take batteries off the camera because they drain even when it's off is a pain.

The lettering on the camera shouldn't flake off after just a few weeks.

Oh and tonight, on its fourth outing, the plastic external microphone mount snapped off.

But there's so many pluses I forgive it its flaws, and yes, I'd buy it again!

[QUOTE=Ian Smith;853183] The non-standard external microphone mount ring size, and the positioning that means an adapter (not cheap!) needs to be bought just so the mic doesn't show up in frame when you zoom out, QUOTE]

The external microphone mount is not the same as say the Sony Z1 of V1?? I didn't know that. I was thinking of using this microphone if and when I finally buy the camera: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/9087c643d6d7530f/index.html
It is 21mm (.83") but states it comes with a threaded adaptor. I am using this same microphone on the V1 with no adaptor.

[QUOTE=Ian Smith;853183] The non-standard external microphone mount ring size, and the positioning that means an adapter (not cheap!) needs to be bought just so the mic doesn't show up in frame when you zoom out, QUOTE]

The external microphone mount is not the same as say the Sony Z1 of V1?? I didn't know that. I was thinking of using this microphone if and when I finally buy the camera: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/9087c643d6d7530f/index.html
It is 21mm (.83") but states it comes with a threaded adaptor. I am using this same microphone on the V1 with no adaptor.

Can't comment on the Z1 - this is my first video camera. But before I bought it I read a lot of people complaining about the "Non-standard" mic holder ring size. My supplier sold me the camera with a Sennheiser K6/ME66 mic combination which just rolled around loosely until they found a plastic ring adapter I could add to "fill out" the mic to the PMW-EX1 size.

With the problems with that K6/ME66 showing up when I zoom out, the cost of the adapters to fix that problem (can't get hold of mkemml here but supplier is saying look at Rode), and now the original mount having snapped off (the plastic "baseplate" is so flimsy it's a joke) I'm not sure what to do next re having an on-board mic that's better than the camera's own mic.

I think my Z1 might have more life in it than I anticipated...

I have 2x Z1s, and they do what they do. For 2.5 years, they have done what they do.

The EX1 is a big hairy chested camera in a pint sized format, and it doesn't like auto anything, and it makes many demands. My Metaphor du Jour is that, if you're a Z1 user moving to an EX1, it's like a cat owner getting a dog.

Remeber this: you've never heard of a guard cat, or a guide-cat for the blind, or a sniffer cat. In this case, the EX1 is a DOG. Technically, physically and metaphorically, it's a bitch. And I love her.

I'm sold on 720p50 as a Corporate/Infomercial format. I'll buy another when 32 GB cards become cheaper. The SxS format is such a peach for Candids (especially compared to my experience with P2, where I'd not shoot enough because of the fear of filling a card too quickly). There are some serious wrinkles in the technicalities, but because my clients - and even my wife - can tell the difference between Z1 and EX1 rushes, I'm sticking with EX1.

The Z7 and the HVX200 is where a real scrap exists.

Great descriptions, Matt!

I have 2x Z1s, and they do what they do. For 2.5 years, they have done what they do.

It sure does do what it does, and does it well. It's been a great camera for me. But it's a whole new world out there...

Chiming in here from Canada. Long time follower of the site, first time poster, Thanks to all who take the time to share their findings! Spent far too many hours here!

Just picked up an EX1 in Toronto. Ran tests for vignetting and backfocus found here and came up clean as a whistle. Was told that all Canadian EX1's are opened by Sony Canada and inspected before being passed along to dealers. Serial number high 4800's.

Taking it up to the Canadian High Arctic this summer for a month as I paint and film one of the most incredible places on earth (OK, so I'm biast). Excited about having a camera that will give the freedom to capture such incredible images, and that I can still backpack for weeks.

Again, thanks fro this site Chris!, and all who contribute to it.
_______________________
http://www.intothearctic.com

"With the problems with that K6/ME66 showing up when I zoom out"

Ian,

The Rodes mic holder SM5 forces the mic up and back if you slide the holder slotfrom the back (reversed). The you can keep a wind sock on the senheiser
at it will never be in shot.

Works well, although my mic holder has also broken from rubbing on its bag with the windsock on!

EX? despite paint coming off, broken holders etc, just bought a second one for all our 2 camera work. The pictures are stunning.

Cheers Vaughan

I would.
picture quality, low light, tapeless flow - I don't miss my A1

Yep! Definitely

"With the problems with that K6/ME66 showing up when I zoom out"

Ian,

The Rodes mic holder SM5 forces the mic up and back if you slide the holder slotfrom the back (reversed). The you can keep a wind sock on the senheiser
at it will never be in shot.

Works well, although my mic holder has also broken from rubbing on its bag with the windsock on!

EX? despite paint coming off, broken holders etc, just bought a second one for all our 2 camera work. The pictures are stunning.

Cheers Vaughan

The SM5 is way too heavy for the mic mount.
If you take the shock mount off the heavy aluminimium tube you can then attach it to the camera directly. Only takes a small piece of aluminium with 4 holes and a couple of 3mm screws.

Some details here:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=801780&postcount=6

The ME66 is probably just way too long for a camera like this and it frankly has pretty crappy sound. You are much better off with an Octava as it is much high quality and small & light.

I just love the images that come out of this camera. I would buy it again in a NY second.

SN 1386
no vignetting
no back focus problem
image beats the pants off a Z1

i have two of the things so I would say yes, but don't think I will buy another one!!!

yes, but don't think I will buy another one!!!

Because NAB is almost upon us and EX3 might offer better ergonomics?

Or is the EX1 the PD-10 and you're waiting for the PD-150 rather than the PDX-10?

Because NAB is almost upon us and EX3 might offer better ergonomics?

Or is the EX1 the PD-10 and you're waiting for the PD-150 rather than the PDX-10?

because 2 is enough! Dont understand the PD10 stuff etc as never had those cameras! NAB will be interesting, am expecting Panasonic to bring out something new and JVC

And Red will unveil the Scarlett whatever it will turn out to be.

So yes, exciting times ahead.

The one thing that turned me away from the EX-1 (and basically other handheld cameras before it) is the handling/ergonomics. I have a XL-H1 (which is not too great either in that department) but much better then all those handheld cameras (and the EX-1 is the worst of all handhelds).

yeah handheld is a mare without the shoulder mount I have. hate holding the ex1 without it

yeah handheld is a mare without the shoulder mount I have. hate holding the ex1 without it

My former camera was a handcrank Bolex that weighed exactly the same amount as my EX1+Letus Extreme combo weighs now so nothing changed for me in that department :) I would still buy the EX1.

yeah handheld is a mare without the shoulder mount I have. hate holding the ex1 without it

Which shoulder mount do you recommend? I'm hoping to continue using the same DVTec DVMultiRig that I use for my Z1U.

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Blooms_Blog/Blooms_Blog/Entries/2008/2/14_Shoulder_mounts...which_one.html

Works well, although my mic holder has also broken from rubbing on its bag with the windsock on!

Cheers Vaughan

Have you been able to get the mic holder replaced/fixed?

I don't fancy the "aluminium strip" fix posted elsewhere because I'm lethal with any kind of DIY, but I tried ringing Premiere Support this afternoon just to see if I could take it somewhere to get it fixed and they had absolutely zero interest in knowing about the problem or suggesting somewhere I could take the camera to fix it (and of course the original dealer just says "You need to call Premier Support" whenever any problem is mentioned).

Ian,

Just been too busy to worry about that.

I've got 8 days left of my wedding season (4 weddings) and finished all corporate shooting for awhile, so after I get a studio wall knocked out this week to set up a green screen area!!!!!!, and having a run at editing 30 weddings and 17 X 10 minute 2 camera cooking segments for my corporate client I'll see if I can get my mic holder/paint peeling fixed.

In the meantime the rock promotion footage I shot last night looks pretty good, although I must admit the picture profiles can't handle "stage" lighting flashing red LED's into performer's faces from 6 feet away!!!

Fast learning curve there!

Cheers Vaughan