...press release dated 29th Feb 2008!
http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?site=biz_en_GB&contentId=1207064695140&sectiontype=BC+News+XDCAM

Hmmm.

So really Sony broke their own embargo .. but we were all asleep!

Mixed feelings I have...

Anyway, if we could say we've been Beta-testers, that wouldn't sound bad (even though we did it for free; free for Sony that is). Unfortunately, with Sony pretending they weren't admitting our reports on the EX1 inherent flaws or wishes for improvements, I can't consider myself a proud Beta-tester; just a guinea-pig.

Why? well, here it goes:

Scenario 1: the EX3 continues the saga of bad BF, vignetting, ND filter sticking, IR colours inaccuracy, paint peeling off... No, forget it - impossible!

Scenario 2: all of the above has been rectified in the EX3... I believe all of us deserve an offer from Sony to replace our EX1's with the EX3, free o charge. Or at least for the nominal price difference.

So really Sony broke their own embargo .. but we were all asleep!

No, we were not. This is back-dated; never actually accessible before the NAB announcement.

New XDCAM EX booklet

http://www.sony.co.uk/res/attachment/file/33/1207064694533.pdf

Saw that this morning too, when looking for press releases from yesterday via the search option...

And for us away from NAB, PVC has the first Sony booth pictures by Adam Wilt (http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/awilt/story/sony_snapshots_nab_2008_day_0/).

George/

That's just what I need. - I was thinking of getting the EX1 for my next project, but noticed a price drop on CVP a week ago. Which was odd for such a good camera. But with NAB just the round the corner, it got me thinking about an upgrade may due. wasn't expecting a whole new camera.

Just been to CVP and it's there

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/view_item_cat.php?catalogue_number=sony_pmw-ex3

Expected 1st of July and a hint at UK pricing..

The Offical Sony NAB 2008 Press Kit (http://news.sel.sony.com/assets/NAB_2008/) is located here, although some links don't work (yet?).

George/

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/view_item_cat.php?catalogue_number=sony_pmw-ex3


Nice, at the same discount from LIST as the EX1, that would be just over €6000 (ex tax). I do expect it to start selling for a little more initally though.

George/

There is now a video sequence presented by Philip Bloom.

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/view_item_cat.php?catalogue_number=sony_pmw-ex3

I believe this is the first part of his review video, available here (http://www.philipbloom.co.uk/Philip_Bloom/XDCAMEX3.html).

George/

Alister Chapman's review now up on the Sony UK site...

http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=PMW-EX3&site=biz_en_GB&category=XDCAMCamcorders&contentId=1207064688863&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true

It's time to think through the options (been holding off the EX1 since day one because the 'step-up' from a Z1 has just not quite seemed worth it IMO).

Now I'll wait for the EX3 release and will either go for a proper 'step-up' or pick up a new or used EX1 at a decent price (slight price drop on the cards too?).

Of course, there is RED's 'Scarlet' to make things more complicated. For now atleast, I'll try to think of too much choice as a good thing, but I'm sure things will become even more 'interesting' towards July as Panasonic/JVC/Canon announce their respective 'counter-punches'.

There is also my review:

http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=PMW-EX3&site=biz_en_GB&category=XDCAMCamcorders&contentId=1207064688863&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true

They didn't break the embargo. The Press launch was yesterday.

I had to chuckle at this line Sony press release:

"The PMW-EX3 semi-shoulder camcorder . . ."

Loosely translated do you suppose this means "We have no idea how to hand hold this thing, but good luck . . ."

Or perhaps the target users are semi-shouldered camera operators.

What happened to our gurus' "About the Sony XDCAM EX Introduction DVD", as announced long time ago here:

It changed into something different and became an official Sony Europe promotional DVD, which is more of a run down and examples of the camera features than a tutorial. There simply wasn't enough guaranteed interest to make a third party tutorial DVD worthwhile, especially when Doug Jensen and VASST were also working on DVD's.

I have nothing to do with the EX intro DVD. That's really Nigel's baby. He has had some serious health problems which has led to it's delay. Phil's, Nigel's and my reviews of the EX3 are all completely independent, that should be a good thing as we have no idea what the other likes or dislikes and our views are not biased by the others. Isn't that the beauty of a forum such as this?

As for semi-shoulder what else would you call it? It isn't an on-the-shoulder camera like the F350 or HPX500. It's not a hand-held camera like the EX1 but somewhere between the two. I loved it, because it's so much lighter than my F350 even though only a small proportion of the weight is transferred to your shoulder I found it less fatiguing to hold steady for long periods. Now if you put a bigger heavier lens such as my KH20 or even a 2/3" HD lens that may well tip the balance and make it too front heavy to hold without moving the battery further back with some kind of extension.

The new viewfinder arrangement won't win any awards for looks but it was almost as good as some of the colour VF's available for the HDCAM cameras.

I have the ultimate solution to camera balance and fatique problems that people keep going on about. In my neck of the woods we call it a tripod. ;-)

Completely agree Simon, when I'm storm chasing however there often just isn't time to get a tripod out. Actually it's more of a case that with a tornado bearing down on you, you don't want to have to waste time packing a tripod away before you can run away!!

I can't consider myself a proud Beta-tester; just a guinea-pig.

Well I have to say if you expect the first run of a first generation camera to be completely fault free then I think you may not have considered your buying decision carefully enough.

Scenario 1: the EX3 continues the saga of bad BF, vignetting, ND filter sticking, IR colours inaccuracy, paint peeling off...

Scenario 1 is the correct one. Why would you think otherwise, certain 'features' we've already come to live with have already been mentioned in reviews of the EX3.

Well I have to say if you expect the first run of a first generation camera to be completely fault free then I think you may not have considered your buying decision carefully enough.

I think the point is the EX-1 came out just before Xmas although most people were left waiting until january. By february, Sony already had a newer better model prepared. BUT kept secret. The speed this happened makes you question Sonys marketing which has released the lessor camera first. Pulling in those indie makers with low budgets to buy it. Then waited until most have bought into it before declaring the better version with tools the indie filmmaker has cried out for for years. IE interchangeable lenses. Leaving those people wanting people to buy the later version all over again. And leaving those who cant feeling resentful and let down.

Piotr has obviously devoted so much enthusiasm on his camera and explored every part of it only to find Sony had a better version that he would have bought if he had known about it. And guess what Same here too. Although I am happy with My camera I would have chosen the EX-3 when I had the money in my pocket.
Yes we know products improve we know things move on Thats business But now are we talking product replacement within months? Not a replacement you may say? WELL why then wasnt we all informed WHY the big secret?

Some may say thats business. I say Business cant survive without customers and you peeve them off enough and your likely to find you have none.

It's not a replacement and Sony made it very clear the EX series was a range not just one camera.

Would you rather they had waited to release the EX3? No manufacturers telegraph their camera releases in advance especially in an area where the competition is so aggressive.

Now you have a better choice, you can stick with the camera you have or you can sell it and trade up to the EX3, hopefully in the intervening period you've earned enough revenue from the camera to justify the loss you'll take when selling it.

As for the other arguments about pricing, well can you imagine just how annoyed EX1 owners would be if Sony had released this camera at a couple of hundred dollars above the EX1?

I clearly remember Sony saying that the EX was going to be a SERIES of cameras. What was unclear was how FAST that series was to develop. It makes sense that it's fast given SxS has to compete with P2.

The EX3 is not a replacement, it's a next model up. I would expect there will be an EX5 in short order . . . full shoulder mount, more than 2 SxS slots, maybe 2/3" and/or MPEG2 4:2:2. I wouldn't be surprised if this happens and is either announced or shipping by NAB 2009.

I understand the dilemma people faced who really wanted and were willing to pay for interchangeable lenses though.

I also understand that people who bought early have spent a good deal of time sending the camera back and forth to Sony and now feel they finally have a working camera and then the EX3 is announced (for July which is more likely August in any meaningful way).

I wonder how F330/5 owners (recent purchasers) feel. Heck I wouldn't even be surprised if a few F350/5 owners feel encroached upon.

I think I'd have a reason to be unhappy if Sony came out with an EX1A with the all the fixes we beta tested for but that's not what happened.

ADDENDUM: My gosh Steve. We were thinking about the same thing at about the same time!

Great minds think alike Craig :)

Then waited until most have bought into it before declaring the better version with tools the indie filmmaker has cried out for for years. IE interchangeable lenses.

Madness. If they HAD to have interchangable lenses they should wait, or have bought a Canon XLH1. And I don't want to hear anything about lack of true progressive scan etc etc on that camera. People have been making amazing things with it, and it produces a really good picture. Its the chump behind the camera that makes the magic, not the camera itself, and don't forget it.

I don't own an HD camera because I'm waiting until the camera with the spec I need comes out. At the moment that looks like the PDW-700, but I'm also going to make a bet that there will be a sister camera to that model. ALL XDCAM full size cameras so far have come out in twos. I don't care what the Sony reps currently say! :-)

Unless there is absolute pressing business, you don't HAVE to buy a camera immediately, and nobody HAD to buy the EX1. They should know what Sony are like for camera releases. The EX3 was entirely predictable too. The EX1 was always a first in the EX series. Note that word 'series'. What other camera could they release after the EX1 given that the EX line is semi-pro to pro?

I couldn't be a palmcorder, or a competitor to the Z7, so it would have to be a model higher up. And the only real thing they could do is make it an interchangeable lens model. Like I say, entirely predictable for people who have patience.

It's not a replacement and Sony made it very clear the EX series was a range not just one camera.

Would you rather they had waited to release the EX3? No manufacturers telegraph their camera releases in advance especially in an area where the competition is so aggressive.

Now you have a better choice, you can stick with the camera you have or you can sell it and trade up to the EX3, hopefully in the intervening period you've earned enough revenue from the camera to justify the loss you'll take when selling it.

As for the other arguments about pricing, well can you imagine just how annoyed EX1 owners would be if Sony had released this camera at a couple of hundred dollars above the EX1?

Thats your opinion Steve and I dont buy it. As far as Im concerned it was about Money and probably fear from the Red camera too that got these cameras released you can vouch for them if you want as far as Im concerned I love the camera and am happy But the way its been done has for me left a bad taste in the mouth.

The EX3 is not a replacement, it's a next model up.

Absolutely spot on Craig.

Heck I wouldn't even be surprised if a few F350/5 owners feel encroached upon.

I doubt it in many respects. I wouldn't because I prefer the disc workflow to the SxS one. Although the writable U1 with the new data format mode would change that. Even still working straight from disc eliminates a post stage to have to back up to the U1.

Besides, my prediction now is that either by IBC, or NAB next year the successor or another update to the 300 series will be announced. In fact I'd bet my life on it. And once again I don't care what the guys at Sony currently say. :-) The 300 series has to stay ahead of the EX series, especially in light of the U1 developments. With the EX3 able to take the same lenses as the shoulder mount cameras the picture quality will be the same, actually better IMO.

T as far as Im concerned I love the camera and am happy

Then what's the problem?

I doubt it in many respects. I wouldn't because I prefer the disc workflow to the SxS one. Although the writable U1 with the new data format mode would change that. Even still working straight from disc eliminates a post stage to have to back up to the U1.


Maybe not you specifically Simon but there may well be some people who prefer SxS card to XDCAM disc. In other words some who like the "P2" concept but bought F300 series for other reasons. I'm not saying that those are the majority of F300 series owners . . . just as I don't think the majority of EX1 owner would have preferred interchangeable lenses. I'm just saying that "some" F300 series owners really want a smaller camera with interchangeable lenses matching the picture quality and also want faster transfers that SxS facilitates.

In other words, some may want: interchangeable lens, smaller camera, faster transfer of data, matching picture quality . . . but bought F335 (especially) which doesn't even have some of the features (frame rate ability) of the EX3 because they didn't know when an EX3 was coming.

Thats just the way the world works. No company with any degree of sanity would announce forthcoming products at the same time as the launch of another. They'd never sell anything!

Besides, there is a huge price difference between a 335 and the EX series, and there were other options out there if they really wanted tapeless right now and couldn't wait.

Like I say, I'm not HD equipped right now because I'm waiting because I learnt a long time ago not to jump in feet first and buy equipment on impulse.

F335 is $12,999.95 at B&H. Seems about the same price an EX3 would be (although EX3 might end up being around $11,000 "street").

BTW it was months back on a thread or two I said that Sony's next EX would really be in the F330 price range and feature set.

Although it almost seems the EX3 sits between F335 and F355.

In fact it's coming down to the difference between the two lines as EX series smaller camera and faster transfer speed vs big camera stability and no archival step needed. There are other differences but those seem to be the big ones.

I think the point is the EX-1 came out just before Xmas although most people were left waiting until january. By february, Sony already had a newer better model prepared. BUT kept secret. The speed this happened makes you question Sonys marketing which has released the lessor camera first. Pulling in those indie makers with low budgets to buy it. Then waited until most have bought into it before declaring the better version with tools the indie filmmaker has cried out for for years. IE interchangeable lenses. Leaving those people wanting people to buy the later version all over again. And leaving those who cant feeling resentful and let down.

Piotr has obviously devoted so much enthusiasm on his camera and explored every part of it only to find Sony had a better version that he would have bought if he had known about it. And guess what Same here too. Although I am happy with My camera I would have chosen the EX-3 when I had the money in my pocket.
Yes we know products improve we know things move on Thats business But now are we talking product replacement within months? Not a replacement you may say? WELL why then wasnt we all informed WHY the big secret?

Some may say thats business. I say Business cant survive without customers and you peeve them off enough and your likely to find you have none.

Excellent points, Mark. Expecially about us, the customers...

I ordered and paid for the EX1 in October. Got it in February. My money was working for the dealer (another story), but also for Sony to secretly develop the EX3.

In March, I bought the Letus Extreme (plagued with flaws), only to learn about the other possibiliies with the EX3 / Ultimate now.

Having owned Sony stuff exclusively for over 30 years now (from my first hi-fi, through all my TV sets, home theathe systems, cameras, and even laptops), all I can say is that the EX1 (as marvellous as it is), is probably the last Sony product I ever bought.

I think everyone by now gets that you're annoyed with Sony, how many more times are you going to have to make the point before you move on

Then sell your EX1 and buy an EX3 when it comes out - your EX1 still has a value on the second hand market and any loss you make should be offset by the money you may have made from it.

Hi guys,

I understand that you are upset, and I am not trying to further aggrevate, but in fairness, you were aware (regardless of any new introductions) that you would never be able to change lenses on the cam that you bought. If this was important to you...

Hi guys,

I understand that you are upset, and I am not trying to further aggrevate, but in fairness, you were aware (regardless of any new introductions) that you would never be able to change lenses on the cam that you bought. If this was important to you...

Thats right and thats why some of us bought the letus adapters to fix lenses onto it. A compromise. I think those who bought the adapters were clearly looking at how to use interchangeable lenses on this camera.

Then sell your EX1 and buy an EX3 when it comes out - your EX1 still has a value on the second hand market and any loss you make should be offset by the money you may have made from it.

Yes that would be the ideal solution and one that has crossed my mind and that same thought has annoyed me because I cant afford to do it now because I bought the EX-1.

OK, isn't the EX3 several thousand $$ more than the EX1??? That's an entirely different price point/market.

SO the argument that you wanted to buy the "better" camera and Sony denied you that option sounds a little strange to me (hey, I can't afford either one...) to say the least.

I buy and sell gear regularly in order to "upgrade" IF I can afford the difference. That would seem to be the logical solution rather than getting mad at a big company that is just releasing cameras as they can (with all the teething problems with the EX1 and Z7, I'd imaging product delays are making sense to someone at the company right now). Be happy for the technology you have, and if you can afford the upgrade, just get on with it.

There's always going to be something "newer and better", that's life in the age of technology. Go make timeless video - maybe it will make you feel better.

Thats right and thats why some of us bought the letus adapters to fix lenses onto it. A compromise. I think those who bought the adapters were clearly looking at how to use interchangeable lenses on this camera.

A letus or similar adapter is VERY different than a EX-3 with interchangeable lenses. If I went for the EX-3 I'd still need my adapter (a Brevis) to achieve the shallow DOF of 35mm lenses. Secondary lenses on the the EX mount will not allow you to achieve that type of look.

A letus or similar adapter is VERY different than a EX-3 with interchangeable lenses. If I went for the EX-3 I'd still need my adapter (a Brevis) to achieve the shallow DOF of 35mm lenses. Secondary lenses on the the EX mount will not allow you to achieve that type of look.

Yes I know. However Letus have already designed an adapter to go directly on to the EX-3 Meaning you can do away with the stock lens. I for example have some Zeiss primes I can use with my letus and EX-1. I WOULD rather be using them with the EX-3 though. Many people who have bought the EX-1 will now upgrade or want to upgrade at extra cost to the EX-3. Some though won't be able to afford to. Whereas if they had been given a choice they might have. That choice was kept secret.

Personally I don't think it's that big a deal. Back in November if the EX3 had been available when I got my EX1 I probably would have gone for that instead, but it wasn't and I needed a camera there and then.

When the EX3 comes out I'll definitely look forward to getting my hands on one, at that point I'll decide if I want to invest another £2.5k - £3k in one (after selling the EX1). If they prove to be free from the lens issues that my EX1 still suffers from then I might change, if not then I probably wont.

Yes, it is a bitch when upgrades are announced after you purchase, but it's just the way things go, In November all the 1 yr old EX1 users will be rushing to change to an EX5 and the Ex3 owners will be the ones wishing they'd waited.... it's just the way technology is.

Paul.

Personally I don't think it's that big a deal. Back in November if the EX3 had been available when I got my EX1 I probably would have gone for that instead, but it wasn't and I needed a camera there and then.

When the EX3 comes out I'll definitely look forward to getting my hands on one, at that point I'll decide if I want to invest another £2.5k - £3k in one (after selling the EX1). If they prove to be free from the lens issues that my EX1 still suffers from then I might change, if not then I probably wont.

Yes, it is a bitch when upgrades are announced after you purchase, but it's just the way things go, In November all the EX1 users will be rushing to change to an EX5 and the Ex3 owners will be the ones wishing they'd waited.... it's just the way technology is.

Paul.

I would agree with that if it were the case However Sony knew about the EX-3 in February and obviously well before that date. So why keep it secret?

Was it
A) To be a nice surprise for nab?
B) Because they wanted as many as possible to buy the EX-1 and wouldnt have a chance to wait for the EX-3 Which most will consider an improvement on the EX-1. Therefore an upgrade and the upshot is some people would buy twice?
c) Technology was not available and the february article showing the EX-3 Hard drive etc was not real.
d) Sony works in mysterious ways and whatever it is they are right?
e)Its the start of their financial year?

The EX-3 is not by any means a replacement for the EX1. Different form factors, different lens options, considerably different price points. It's like saying the the old XL1 was a replacement for the GL1. Two completely different cameras with different target markets.

The only difference here is that Sony released the fixed lens version first. So when the EX5 comes out and costs $20,000, will you still be angry that you bought an EX1 when a "better" camera was "just around the corner"?

I would agree with that if it were the case However Sony knew about the EX-3 in February and obviously well before that date. So why keep it secret?

I think you'll find that most manufacturers think carefully about when they announce new products, I'd imagine there are many factors that effected the decision about announcing the EX3. Sony are probably already working on it's replacement, they are not obliged to announce anything to anyone until they feel the time is right.

I've got as much reason as anyone to feel let down by Sony over some of the EX1's design flaws and the way the support channels have failed to help, but you really can't blame them for saving the announcement of their latest cameras for NAB.

Yes, it is a bitch when upgrades are announced after you purchase, but it's just the way things go, In November all the 1 yr old EX1 users will be rushing to change to an EX5 and the Ex3 owners will be the ones wishing they'd waited.... it's just the way technology is.

Very true. I think that with the current pace of technology going the way it is, it's perfectly understandable for companies to try and take advantage of the now fleeting increments that used to generate income over much longer periods of time. Also, with the EX3 being double the cost, for many it may be considered a separate market. For what it is, the EX1 remains completely amazing.

I would agree with that if it were the case However Sony knew about the EX-3 in February and obviously well before that date. So why keep it secret?

Was it
A) To be a nice surprise for nab?
B) Because they wanted as many as possible to buy the EX-1 and wouldnt have a chance to wait for the EX-3 Which most will consider an improvement on the EX-1. Therefore an upgrade and the upshot is some people would buy twice?
c) Technology was not available and the february article showing the EX-3 Hard drive etc was not real.
d) Sony works in mysterious ways and whatever it is they are right?
e)Its the start of their financial year?

Sony is a business, making money is thier priority, look at the PD 150 / 170 release practically the same stratergy.
It is very very frustrating when u lump £4000 odd hard earned pounds into an invstment only to realise a better model has come out so soon,

Its a large investment and to think cameras are treated like mobile phones or sneakers, basically not as trendy in a few months time.

Maybe thats why NAB is held in Las Vegas, buying gear has become a gamble...

Come on... Do you really think that, Panasonic, Canon, Sony, or whomever, should publish their plans and possible release schedule on DVINFO first? Let's be real.

The EX3 takes nothing away from the EX1. Not one thing. And it delivers the same footage out of the box. Why the commotion?

Everyone that bought the EX1 bought it for a reason, weighed the pro's and (possible) cons and decided to buy it.

If you really needed different or interchangeable lenses or genlock or timecode, or a semi-shoulder mount then you either compromised or bought the wrong camera. My guess is that most EX1 owners did not need these things.

Any piece of glas you mount on the EX3 will set you back a bunch. Good lenses are more then twice the price of an EX1.

Any 35mm adapter that may someday bajonet onto it will be expensive compared to the current lineup. And it may not even diliver better images.

Most of this seems to be about 'feeling' short changed, but your EX1 can't be that old, it is still a desirable camera, so why not trade up? If you need to.

George/

Well I've never been a Sony fan. It really pained me to have to go Sony with the EX1 - I've had far too many bad experiences with far too many of their products in the past. It seems to me that they sell products at a high price based on "style over substance" with the public being used as guinea pigs for their R&D department.

The camera's flaws annoy the hell out of me. Really stupid "mistakes" that would have taken so little to get right go hand-in-hand with some really nice features that show someone somewhere really thought things through. It's almost schizophrenic in nature.

Would I like an EX3 in preference? You betcha (although shoving the Assign 4 button and those other buttons in the same inaccessible place still bugs me). Which, when you think about it, says how happy I am with the EX1 despite my history with Sony and the flaws in the EX1 (because if my experience had been all negative I wouldn't buy another camera from Sony again).

I'm lucky in that I've gone so far over budget with the EX1 and all the bits and pieces needed to support it that "upgrading" to an EX3 just isn't a possibility for me (although this time next year if there's an EX5 I may well be tempted) but even if it were I don't think I could be that mad at Sony about the EX3. It was a risk I took on board when I bought the EX1 and if I wasn't happy taking those risks I shouldn't have bought it.

Yes, I'm having a hard time understanding how anyone could feel short-changed with the EX1. Think about it, it is still the same exact performace straight out of the box as the next newer model up which is double the cost. And it is still comparable to the F350 and even the F900 but with even better low light.