20+ days is unacceptable....I would lose a ton of money!!! Sony better just recall the cameras and send us new ones... I can not afford to be down for almost a month.

The turnaround time is UNACCEPTABLE for a small business. Given the lost income even at a modest $1200 a week it's almost worth bricking the camera to do the firmware upgrade yourself. My gosh why not the have the ability to use a local service center.

Sony, if you read these boards at all, understand we are BUSINESS people not people video recording our vacations. I'd PAY for the upgrade if I could do it locally!

For my own company I invested in a second camera, in case one gets trashed for whatever reason. We also do two-camera shoots on a routine basis.

We have a very good service center here in Hawaii, so turnaround times are very good for the most part.

In NYC we have a very good authorized service center in Queens NY as well as Teaneck New Jersey which we can NOT use. The service center in Queens will supply a loaner camera if it takes more than 48 hours to service your camera.

Apparently Sony will NOT allow us to use either the Queens or Teaneck service center. These are SONY AUTHORIZED service centers.

Sony will allow the Hawaii center to do the firmware upgrade. If so why the bias against the east cost against using SONY AUTHORIZED PROFESSIONAL service centers local to us.

I think you need to check whether the service center in Hawaii can actually do the firmware upgrade.

Craig...

Are you saying Sony Hawaii can or can't do the firmware upgrade?

My experience has been that ALL USA EX maintenance goes to San Jose, California.

You need to ask how Hawaii is handled but I suspect you'll find you'll have to ship thousands of miles with shipping, insurance, downtime.

Please tell me otherwise. It would make much more financial sense to have it done locally but, so far, Sony has NOT handled maintenance on the EX series that way that I know of or personally experienced.

I'll go check with the service manager here to see what the procedure is.

According to Cokie Roberts Hawaii seems like an exotic and foreign destination. Maybe Sony thinks the same way and gives us the status of a foreign country. :-)

contact prime silver support the usual way if there was fault. tell them you want to update the firmware.

Phil,

Did you send your camera in with the broken external mic holder or did you have it fixed before sending it int?

Sony are refusing to take my camera for firmware upgrade because of this issue (their reasoning: external mic holder missing = "physically damaged" camera = not supported by Sony Prime Support - see separate thread for details).

Ian

I spoke to sony norway (!) and they were sure all service centres had received the firmware..

Have just checked Sony UK. We have till November 30th to get firmware updated without charge. This is under the terms of our Silver Warranty.

SUCCESSFUL 1.11 update!

I just successfully updated the camera to 1.11 with the files from the korean site!
No problems what so ever. My firmware was 1.03, and it updated fine.
It now shows 1.11 in the hidden menu and the added features appear in the menus!

Anything you want me to look for?

Excellent Oyvind! How do you check what firmware version one has again?

Oyvind.
How long did the process take ?

Were the instructions easy to follow ?, i only had a quick look through them.

Paul.

Great news... will need to get me a PC first... Mac user.... ;p

The first process (updating camera engine) took about 3 minutes.
Then the software update to 1.11 took about 15 minutes.

The instructions were easy to follow.

To check firmware version you just push menu, cancel and the select wheel all at the same time.

As I said. I had 1.0.3. Would surely work with 1.0.5 also.

Good luck to all.

make sure your battery got enough power to last through the entire upgrade

It's recommended to use AC power. It says "do not attempt to update with battery power"

Sure use AC power, but with battery attached as a backup. You cannot be sure what happens when there's a blackout, and the camera switches from AC to the battery - has anyone experienced this while shooting? Any TC discontinuity?

Of course use a battery as backup.. Of course, if you're not using a laptop, you're screwed either way if you have the battery on the camera. But again.. what are the odds?

just don't try out your 4 new 4kW tungsten lights while updating ;)

oops the link is gone from the Korean site alr!

oops the link is gone from the Korean site alr!
I've already posted this to a similar thread, but it's worth repeating here:

Just a quick forum policy note: the firmware is Sony's own intellectual property and as such they are the only entity that can rightfully distribute it. I know that some of you have offered to share the firmware with others via email, bypassing the rightful IP holder in the process.

That's illegal, but if you want you to do that, it's happily none of my business. However... you will not use my site to advertise your willingness to violate copyright law. Therefore I will withdraw from public view any post that offers to redistribute this material outside of Sony. I've just withdrawn one such post. As the forum owner, I have no choice but to look at this as a liability issue: if you want to redistribute a major corporation's intellectual property and risk the associated legal repercussions, by all means use your *own* web site for that purpose. I'll have absolutely no part of it whatsoever.

Thread stays open for now... take care,

when reading through the 1.11 bug fix list, it refers to a fix of an audio distortion issue. Anyone know if this was an issue that shipped with the first rev of the firmware and not fixed until now, or was the problem introduced in an earlier firmware update? This issue above any would cause me to consider updating to 1.11

I am surprised to hear the negative response people have received from Sony. I sent my camera in due to the ND switch falling into the camera 29 July. On my list of items to repair I also asked for the newest version of the firmware. Once the camera was with the tech he called and said it would be a few day delay since he wanted to upload version 1.11 and was I willing to wait. Sure if it is only a few days. Two days later the camera was at my house and to my surprise they installed a new mic holders. I always remove the mic holder since it is just in the way. So my experience with Sony in New Jersey was great. No charge all covered under warranty.

Sony in New Jersey did your repair and installed the 1.11 firmware?
Oh happy day if that's the case. That's a relatively short trip for me.

I am surprised to hear the negative response people have received from Sony. I sent my camera in due to the ND switch falling into the camera 29 July. On my list of items to repair I also asked for the newest version of the firmware. Once the camera was with the tech he called and said it would be a few day delay since he wanted to upload version 1.11 and was I willing to wait. Sure if it is only a few days. Two days later the camera was at my house and to my surprise they installed a new mic holders. I always remove the mic holder since it is just in the way. So my experience with Sony in New Jersey was great. No charge all covered under warranty.

First of all, I think the firmware update should be free!

But, if Sony wants us to pay for new firmware, why wouldn't they create a site where we could pay with a credit card and download the update? We all do it with other software. I update firmware on my other equipment as needed, and am fully aware not to interrupt the process so I don't damage the hardware.

As others have mentioned, sending your revenue generating camera in for up to weeks is crazy, and it can be devastating to small companies like mine. My kids like to eat!

Forrest

OK I have just risked it and installed version 1.11 on my EX1. It went on very easily from version 1.02.

OK I unzipped the files into two folders, 1.10 and 1.11. Unscrewed the secret usb port ( had to go and buy a jewellers screwdriver set for a few pounds) connected the camera. The camera is recognised and your just follow the instructions in the PDF file.

Now first of all I installed version 1.10. At the back of the camera below the eye piece the red light flashes whilst the install takes place. Once I had installed 1.10 and closed the executable, the red light at the back of the camera continued to flash. I left it a few minutes then disconnected the camera and turned it off. I then turned the camera back on and went to the maintanance menu ( hold down menu, the select wheel and cancel at the same time. I checked the version. It still said 1.02. So it didn't install.

OK I thought, I will do it again, and this time continue straight on after installing 1.10 with 1.11.

1.10 took about 5 minutes. It said installation complete, so I then went and installed 1.11 whist the camera was still connected and red light at the back of the camera flashing. It took over ten minutes this time (a bigger file). Again it said installation complete, so I waited a few mins just to be safe, disconnected the usb, turned off the camera. Waited a few seconds then turned it on again.

I went into the maintanance menu, scrolled to the bottom and there it said........ (drumroll)..........1.11!

So it was easy really and takes from start to finish less than 30 mins, as long as you have a very fine philips screwdriver.

Job done, no hassle with finding out where to send it, no hassle with getting the relevant insurance, no hassle with not having the camera for a while.

Why on earth Sony want us to send our cameras in is crazy. For the times when the installation gets corrupted ( of which I should imagine there would be very few) then send the cameras in, but for 99% of us we could do this job very easily with the minimum of hassle.

Thanks goes to Oyvind for being the Guinea Pig and risking it, and also to Sony Korea for making the error of putting the software online in the first place.

Tonight one happy chappy.

Now, what exactly have I updated which will be of any use to me?

Good Job!

So now you're calling me "The Oyvind". Thanks! Sounds cool.

I'm the kind of person that has got to have the newest version of everything.. So I figured I had to be the first :) Glad I could help.

I was hoping the S&Q motion would stay as it was set when the camera went off or to media mode.. and then stay that way when rebooting.. But it didn't..

Could you change speed with the select wheel in S&Q mode before? If not, you can now..

Other than that.. I didn't see much difference.. The main thing I found was that they changed "return" to an arrow.. Wooh! :D That was my #1 firmware wish.

oops the link is gone from the Korean site alr!

Sean I got my upgrade done at Sony Singapore free of charge. You can call them they will do the same.

I remember hearing something about the firmware 1.05 fixing back focus issus BUT after upgrading the optics needed realignement. Could this not be the reason Sony wants to do the upgrades? The actual flashing is easy but after that you need to recalibrate stuff? I would not want to gamle and do it myself.

Delete this if you disagree, Chris.

If you still haven't got the firmware. It's still available from Sony's website. It cannot be illegal to download a previously published document, can it?

Delete this if you disagree, Chris.

If you still haven't got the firmware. It's still available from Sony's website. It cannot be illegal to download a previously published document, can it?

i think its semantics. posting a link isn't bad per se, but posting a link to a file that the general public's access is in question... that's the sticky point. You can't blame him/them for not wanting Sony of Korea coming after this site for leading people to a download they might not want people accessing.

Just my $0.02 cents

It cannot be illegal to download a previously published document, can it?My previous point related to the illegality of *uploading* or otherwise *redistributing* a corporation's intellectual property.

As far as downloading from their own server, that depends on whether or not they want it to be publicly accessible. It may be there for internal use only, I don't know. But certainly you'll understand my wanting to play it safe by removing the link from this site (at least until I'm told by Sony that it's okay to link to the file).

The web is a big place, and there are plenty of other sites out there which are less scrupulous and / or not as well looked after as this one is... so I have no doubt that if you look hard enough, you'll find it elsewhere. My concern for liability issues goes no farther than the boundaries of my own domain.

1.11 upgrade summary

http://www.sony.ca/xdcamex/files/XDCAM%20EX%20Firmware%20Upgrades.pdf

Sent my cam to Sony repair center to fix battery drain issue and to replace the panels (letters rubbing off) I also put a note on the repair order to upgrade cam firmware to 1.11 Got a call yesterday from the repair rep he said the panels are back ordered and did not know when my cam would be returned. on the plus side he did do the update on the cam. Bought another Ex1 last week from Tape Works do any of you guys have problem with the letters rubbing off on the B stock cams. Also I see the battery drain issue as been fixed.

Sent my cam to Sony repair center to fix battery drain issue and to replace the panels (letters rubbing off) I also put a note on the repair order to upgrade cam firmware to 1.11 Got a call yesterday from the repair rep he said the panels are back ordered and did not know when my cam would be returned. on the plus side he did do the update on the cam. Bought another Ex1 last week from Tape Works do any of you guys have problem with the letters rubbing off on the B stock cams. Also I see the battery drain issue as been fixed.

When I was at Sony HQ in June, I had raised a bunch of the issues that EX1 owners were having with their cameras. At that time, they indicated that all of the problems had been ironed out in the production line such that newer cameras should not have the battery drain, letters coming off, ND back focus shift, etc.

Don't know when your recent purchase went through the line, but hope it was June or later and you should be ok.

-gb-

One word...."Success" 1.11

Lucky Guys. Wish I could get my hands on it :)

Lucky Guys. Wish I could get my hands on it :)

Sony Canada is just waiting to liberate more money from you to do the firmware upgrade. The 64 dollar question -- are these Canucks even qualified or skilled enough to successfully upgrade firmware. Perhaps like the poster from Hawaii, Canadians may discover that their EX1 was sent to the Mainland USA ... for the procedure.

No news yet from Canadian EX1 owners and I suppose that should be encouraging??

I upgraded mine to 1.11 and it went as smooth as butter. I had 1.03 The process is very simple and almost easier than upgrading my PS3. Also the voided warranty stuff may have been an issue if the firmware was different for each country but this is not the case... 1.11 is worldwide and for all cameras. Remember this is not just an NTSC camera and the reason the PDF in the download is in english is because this zip is meant for all the service centers not just Korea. The install is very straight forward and like someone else said it performs checksums and is pretty bulletproof unless you lose power mid install. I have performed much more difficult firmware upgrades on other devices.

I did not do this to avoid paying Sony.... I do not even plan to use 32GB cards or the hard drive unit... I just wanted my buggy menu fixed with no loss of work by not having a camera. My downtime without the Camera (well actually camera was on my desk in front of me) was about 20 minutes instead of 20+ days..... No shipping or insurance and the fear of it being actually damaged or lost in shipping.


Wake up Sony!

I upgraded mine to 1.11 and it went as smooth as butter.


DITTO
smooth as butter ...just finished the update on my new Cam.. Still waiting for my other one to come back from service.

for those that have upgraded themselves, when you installed the 1.10 update first, did you notice whether the install program indicated that 1.10 was the new version, or did it show your previous version number? the 1.11 install does come back from the camera as 1.11, but am curious about the interrim update...

for those that have upgraded themselves, when you installed the 1.10 update first, did you notice whether the install program indicated that 1.10 was the new version, or did it show your previous version number? the 1.11 install does come back from the camera as 1.11, but am curious about the interrim update...

BRENT

When I checked after doing the 1.10 upgrade the cam showed the previous version number.

Thanks Brian! it showed that way as well for me - since the instructions made no note of this (probably should have), I wanted to double-check.

I think Sony need to address this issue urgently. It is becoming a big deal. A piece of cake USB update being charged for in some places. You have to get it picked up and dropped off and also flown somewhere. Waste of money, waste of fuel, bad carbon footprint wise!

Getting in done on Prime Support is fine but it means being with livelihood for a few days. But again waste of energy and every little bit helps.

Why do Sony not let people update the EX1 themselves? It seems crazy to me when the procedure has been proven to be really easy. If a small percentage get it wrong then get them fixed at a charge or on prime support. It seems a lot of resources are being wasted on something my mother could almost do.

No phil if mother could read english she could do it. It was that simple.

Like you said, let the EX1 owners do it, and if they get it wrong, then send off to Prime support.

But it really was that easy to do. I have don far more complex firmware updates in the past which have seemed mind boggling when compare to this.

In the words of our American friends, Sony have "dropped the ball" on this one.

if they start getting shirty with people saying they have invalidated their warranties there will be open revolt!

It does seem as though Sony (having bribed us with a free 8 gig card) feels that it owes us nothing, even though we have put up with their lax production expertise. Paint rubbing off, back focus faults and all the rest should mean they are extra helpful. Having said that no manufacturer likes to acknowledge that when kit has to go back to them operators may have no income.

Reading the paper this morning has lead me to think that Sony is like Gordon Brown - in denial on obvious issues. Having said that of course we are owners of the best low end HD camera around.

Maybe we should look at this as Sony's way to get their complete installed base "up to par".

When you send in the camera they will fix flaking body shells, battery draining circuit boards, adjust the backfocus, give it a "once over" AND they will do the FW upgrade.

A costly move indeed but one that would ensure that everyone gets up to spec in one "swift" move...

George/

P.S. All of this should be covered by warranty, IMHO, and if you already had all the work done previously I'd say Sony owes you an easy way to upgrade to 1.11. How about a booth at IBC?

Maybe we should look at this as Sony's way to get their complete installed base "up to par".

When you send in the camera they will fix flaking body shells, battery draining circuit boards, adjust the backfocus, give it a "once over" AND they will do the FW upgrade.

A costly move indeed but one that would ensure that everyone gets up to spec in one "swift" move...


Some people here on the list reported after they get their camera back from sony :
- no backfocus correction but FW upgrade
- backfocus OK but FW not the latest
...

In fact, Sony only check for what you tell - they will not repair the battery drain if you don't tell them to do so - and even, some said they still have the backfocus problem after "repair".

I've asked for all this (backfocus, FW, battery drain) and my camera will go back to sony on the 8th (after a shoot on the 7th). Then, I'll be able to give my experience :)

I'll try talking to the sony guys at IBC. If we all do this at different times during the convension, they have to listen.