He also reported buying five 16GB Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC cards for his EX1. As expected, he said they all work fine with no errors.

Paul -

I went back and played with my files again and found that what I got using clip browser 2.0 and what i got using premiere cs3 was identical and, in both instances they were what you guessed they would be - 10 files with identical names - with 01, 02, etc appended.

So, I am sticking with my original premise - now confirmed by others, that you can use windows - and probably any other operating system - my n800 is linux based - to make nearly simultaneous transfers from multiple sdhc cards at the same time and then use either clip browser, premiere, or any other tool you normally use to re-wrap the files for actual use. It also means that many file backup devices used by still photographers in the field will likely be usable as a temporary storage devices for the brav folders - and could also be used to copy the files to another sdhc card - so that we could have three or more copies in the field if so desired - some could even be mailed home as further protection. (At $32 US for 16gb transcend sdhc cards - with a usb reader included (I know it is not the "preferred card, but many have had complete success with it), one could have 26 cards for the price of one 16gb sxs card - so multiple copies would still be relatively inexpensive.)

As a bit of follow-up to a side comment in my very first post - I read another recent comment from someone at Convergent Design which stated that the ex 1/3 uses the same chip for transcoding as is used in the new Sony 50-422 camera (but it uses 2 of the chips for faster processing), which they have previously stated is also the chip used by convergent design in the flash xdr and nano. Since convergent design uses only 1 chip, I still am speculating that, with the proper code, the ex 1 and 3 could be made to save to express cards at 50-422 - but this is all my speculation - based on convergent design personnel comments.

(At $32 US for 16gb transcend sdhc cards - with a usb reader included (I know it is not the "preferred card, but many have had complete success with it), one could have 26 cards for the price of one 16gb sxs card - so multiple copies would still be relatively inexpensive.)

I'm using the transcend 16gb and 8gb cards.
No problems so far, plenty of testing, timelapse, interval record, clips spanning cards etc.
As far as i can tell, at the moment, they're the best bang for your buck.

Paul.

When i got my transcend cards (133x) i looked at the paperwork which came with it, there is listed on that piece of paper a faster sdhc, at 150x, different model/part number.
My supplier has now got 1 in stock for me to try so i'll be trying the overcrank test today or tomorrow, i'll post results and price here.

Paul.

As a bit of follow-up to a side comment in my very first post - I read another recent comment from someone at Convergent Design which stated that the ex 1/3 uses the same chip for transcoding as is used in the new Sony 50-422 camera (but it uses 2 of the chips for faster processing), which they have previously stated is also the chip used by convergent design in the flash xdr and nano. Since convergent design uses only 1 chip, I still am speculating that, with the proper code, the ex 1 and 3 could be made to save to express cards at 50-422 - but this is all my speculation - based on convergent design personnel comments.

Wow I wonder if convergent designs or similar could modify the cameras for this!

As a bit of follow-up to a side comment in my very first post - I read another recent comment from someone at Convergent Design which stated that the ex 1/3 uses the same chip for transcoding as is used in the new Sony 50-422 camera (but it uses 2 of the chips for faster processing), which they have previously stated is also the chip used by convergent design in the flash xdr and nano. Since convergent design uses only 1 chip, I still am speculating that, with the proper code, the ex 1 and 3 could be made to save to express cards at 50-422 - but this is all my speculation - based on convergent design personnel comments.

Hi Eli-
Just for clarification, MPEG2 4:2:2 requires two CODEC chips. The Sony PDW-700 and our Flash XDR / nanoFlash have 2 of these CODECs to support the 4:2:2 profile. The EX1/EX3 only has one CODEC and therefore will always be limited to 4:2:0 color space.

But, of course, when you add the Flash XDR or nanoFlash to the EX1/EX3 you can get datarates up to 4:2:2 100 Mbps (Long-GOP) or 160 Mbps (I-Frame).

Can anyone see why not this would not work in a EX 30 Record deck?
Anyone got one that they could try?

Thanks
Martin

Hi
Got the Sony MSAC-EX1 Memory stick duo expresscard adapter and if fits perfectly into the compartment and the door can be closed on the EX3. Now I am only waiting for a memory stick duo pro that is fast enough. I'll let you know if it works.
----Bo Skelmose

Hi
Got the Sony MSAC-EX1 Memory stick duo expresscard adapter and if fits perfectly into the compartment and the door can be closed on the EX3. Now I am only waiting for a memory stick duo pro that is fast enough. I'll let you know if it works.
----Bo Skelmose



This combo will not work take a look at the first page.

In my SONY EX3 the 8GB and 32GB transcend SSD card are working fine !

Volker, what exactly are the make/models of the adapter and cards that you use?

Links to online product info would be appreciated, thanks...

In my SONY EX3 the 8GB and 32GB transcend SSD card are working fine !

Are they working in HQ also? How much can you overcrank to?

In my SONY EX3 the 8GB and 32GB transcend SSD card are working fine !

Please let us know the exact model number for these cards?

Can you run all HQ modes without any errors?

Also, can you find out the highest overcrank FPS at 24P without an error?

The Kensington/Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC combo can overcrank to 40FPS at 24P without an error.

Volker is talking about an sxs card made by transcend, not an sd/adaptor combo.
I've also tried the transcend sxs card in my EX1, it works ok as long as not overcranking.
I can get them from the same supplier as my sdhc cards.
The sdhc cards work out cheaper though.

Paul.

Volker is talking about an sxs card made by transcend, not an sd/adaptor combo.
I've also tried the transcend sxs card in my EX1, it works ok as long as not overcranking.
I can get them from the same supplier as my sdhc cards.
The sdhc cards work out cheaper though.

Paul.

Actually, Transcend do NOT make SxS cards (yet). They do make SSD cards like the cheap Lexar SSD cards that work in the SP mode only.
I imagine these are the cards mentioned:
http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?LangNo=0&ModNo=162

So I'm really interested in if these SSD cards (especially the 32GB) will overcrank 24P higher than 40FPS without errors.

Actually, Transcend do NOT make SxS cards. They do make SSD cards like the cheap Lexar SSD cards that work in the SP mode only.

So I'm really interested in if these SSD cards (especially the 32GB) will overcrank 24P higher the 40FPS without errors.

Yes you're correct, sorry, i know they're ssd (solid state drive) cards but some people do not know what that is, so i just refer to them as sxs cards so as to avoid confusion, ie we're not talking about the combo but one physical card, similar to sony's.

Paul.

I actually think that calling SSD cards SxS creates MORE confusion. :-)

I couldn't even get the PNY cards to format.. it says it needs to be restored but I don't see how to restore a card. :)

Can somebody briefly sum up now what works best?

Can somebody briefly sum up now what works best?


kensington adaptor

With either sandisk extreme 3
sandisk ultra 2
or transcend class 6

I've been using the transcend,8 & 16gb, no problems so far.

Paul.

I couldn't even get the PNY cards to format.. it says it needs to be restored but I don't see how to restore a card. :)

All you have to do is shut the camera off, then turn it back on.
Having said that, it may error again. The PNY may not be fast enough.

All you have to do is shut the camera off, then turn it back on.
Having said that, it may error again. The PNY may not be fast enough.

yea they don't work at all.

Remember you guys suggested keeping the card in the adapter, and just pulling/inserting the whole thing, just like SxS card?

Now you can :) Just got a Buy.com promo, Cables Unlimited IOC-9750 adapter (http://affiliate.buy.com/gateway.aspx?adid=17662&aid=10578140&pid=2971847&sURL=http%3A//www.buy.com/prod/Cables_Unlimited_Card_Reader_ExpressCard_34mm_RS_MMC_microSD_MMCplus_MMCmobile_miniSD_Card_Memory_St ick_xD_Pictu/q/loc/273/205073826.html) is under $8 (after rebate) with free shipping.

So I guess now you can get a couple of them with equal number of Sandisk Ultra II 15Mb/s (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=sandisk%20ultra%20II%2016gb&tag=mo7iescom-20&index=electronics&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) cards, and each set gets you about 1hr of HQ 1080p recording time in EX1. For $68 instead of $800. (It won't do overkranking over 40fps, of course, but everything else is the same as SxS card.)

I own it, and in all my tests, this IOC-9750 adapter never produced any errors, so seems like it's as good as Kensington (which is $36.)

Enjoy :)

So which, if any, of these functional adapter combos allow the EX1's card door to close?

none so far.
The AFT will allow the door to close, but is not fast enough. It errors in HQ modes, it probably will even error in SP modes.

Is it critical to have the door closed?

If both adapters are inserted, aren't they already protecting contacts from any possible dust etc.?

Plus, I do not see the open door blocking anything vital, nor does it seem to rattle at all.

And, if Kingston or Cables Unlimited are listening, they may be able to come up with an adapter that lets the card sit in about 3mm deeper to let EX1's door close...

Alex
Probably not, I'm just worried about the boor breaking off if used in a run and gun situation.

I mailed AFT and got a huge nothing from them - mass produced in China and badged, so they probably have zero leverage, although I must say the build quality ( physical ) is far better with the fully inserted click shut feel of the card, shame they're not reliable,

Paul

Wow, I just found this post and my heart is racing. I was about to buy the PHU-60K and now I just got some IOC-9750 readers and four sandisk 16gb Ultra II cards for a fraction of the price. And the cost will only continue to decline!

64gb < $300 , HA!

I cant wait until everything comes in!

One question, do you format the cards on your PC or do you format them on the camera?
Is it the same procedure after the first time they are used? (Do I still need to delete things using clip browser, shotput, or the camera itself?) Or can I delet on the PC by formatting, etc..

Ethan, camera formats the cards.

Then, my workflow is to offload/backup the footage using Shotput, and let Shotput format the card in the end (this obviously empties the card and makes it ready for the next recording in camera.)

Ethan, just treat the sdhc card and adaptor the same way as you'd treat the sxs card.
Pull the whole lot out of the slot, not just the sd card or the camera gets confused, thinks you've removed card from slot (b) when when you've removed card from slot (a).

So, remove whole card and adaptor, change sd card in adaptor, put adaptor and empty card back in.

Paul.

I have not been able to get the transcend 8Gb SSD card to work in my EX3. Initialy it appeared to work but as it filled up it started throwing up media errors, eventually asking to restore the card, which I have not been able to do. So if others are really getting transcend SSD cards to work I'de love to know the part number as I would like to get a few for my EX1.

Alistair.
The supplier where i get my cards has the ssd cards, i think they're transcend.
They definitley stock them because i tried one in my EX1 when i was there.
They also have in stock some faster transcend sdhc cards, (150 x speed).
The shop is called "shop4usb", they're an ebay shop, usually i wouldn't buy memory from an ebay shop but they're only 1 mile from my house and will sell over the counter, so that's what i did.

eBay UK Shop - shop4usb: Memory Card, USB Flash Drive, MP3 Player (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/shop4usb)

Here's the link. Chris has gave me the "ok" to post it.

Paul.

I have not been able to get the transcend 8Gb SSD card to work in my EX3. Initialy it appeared to work but as it filled up it started throwing up media errors, eventually asking to restore the card, which I have not been able to do. So if others are really getting transcend SSD cards to work I'de love to know the part number as I would like to get a few for my EX1.

Someone on the "other" forum made "one" post that the Transcend SSD 8GB and 32GB worked in the EX.

Well, I responded asking if it works in HQ mode and how high can you overcrank before it errors. He never posted back. I have a feeling he posted to soon without more testing.

I tried the transcend SSD, i got errors at 38fps.
Didn't try it with HQ mode.
I was happy to buy the tried and tested transcend sdhc so didn't pursue the ssd any further.

Paul.

Ethan, camera formats the cards.

Then, my workflow is to offload/backup the footage using Shotput, and let Shotput format the card in the end (this obviously empties the card and makes it ready for the next recording in camera.)


Alex,

Were you the one who took the camera to Teaneck for the firmware upgrade? If so, did they charge you for it and how were they for the other warranty upgrades? Did you actually have to have something wrong with the camera for them to do the upgrades for free?



John

Hi John, I took my EX1 to Teaneck Sony Service and picked it up three weeks later. I only paid $100 for the firmware update. I also got my battery problem fixed and some other stuff was replaced that I am not aware of.

Three weeks! Please don't tell me it took that long for the firmware upgrade and the circuit board replacement for the battery drain! That's what I need done.

Hi John, I took my EX1 to Teaneck Sony Service and picked it up three weeks later. I only paid $100 for the firmware update. I also got my battery problem fixed and some other stuff was replaced that I am not aware of.

Yes Three Weeks!!! A boy did it stink! I had a very busy September and ended up using and abusing my Canon XH-A1. If you have a backup camera to use then I suggest you drive you EX1 into Teaneck (that's if you're in Brooklyn) and be ready for a three week wait.

whoa that was scary.. couldn't get the ultra II to work, it wouldn't even format.. ran a test on the computer, all the read write speeds are way high... very good. over 17mbs on the first series of tests. Numbers were stable during the test.

Tried to format several times, powered down, switched slots... nothing.

Then I tried my 2nd kensington reader... worked first time. Tried record in HQ and SP both worked.

Guess I got a bum 7 in 1 reader. :(

Erik - did you try IOC-9750? I posted a link (prob prev page now) for $8 cost + free shipping on it.

Just to add that Transcend and Lexar SSD 8GB cards tested here, only suitable for SP recording, and sometimes not even that. Tread carefully with these, they may let you down when you least expect it. These two were tested with my EX1.

I've also finished testing Patriot 16Gb SDHC class 6 card - this is too slow and throws errors, even with HQ - avoid. Tested with Kensington adapter in my EX1

Paul

Erik - did you try IOC-9750? I posted a link (prob prev page now) for $8 cost + free shipping on it.

Yea I guess I need too. I am going to see if I can return the bad kensington first.

I have no backup HD camera although the place I bought the camera from might give me a loaner. I'm planing on driving to Teaneck but 3 weeks is ABSURD! BTW I'm not speaking from "the abstract." I'm a former Video Engineer at a big facility and used to deal with Teaneck regularly. They never took anything close to that long on anything.

Yes Three Weeks!!! A boy did it stink! I had a very busy September and ended up using and abusing my Canon XH-A1. If you have a backup camera to use then I suggest you drive you EX1 into Teaneck (that's if you're in Brooklyn) and be ready for a three week wait.

I have no backup HD camera although the place I bought the camera from might give me a loaner. I'm planing on driving to Teaneck but 3 weeks is ABSURD! BTW I'm not speaking from "the abstract." I'm a former Video Engineer at a big facility and used to deal with Teaneck regularly. They never took anything close to that long on anything.

I kind of resent having to pay $100 for a firmware upgrade. Do you recommend against a DIY approach if one can get the leaked firmware from some anonymous place? And I don't mean from an "ethical" standpoint. I mean from a "practical" standpoint. I have never in my life heard of paying for firmware upgrades for anything. What if there are several more firmware upgrades? Does that mean we have to pay $100 each time they update the firmware? It's gouging. I feel like someone who has had an SxS card shoved up their .........and can't get it out.

John

Right now, the Kensington adapter is the best working solution for using SDHC cards in the EX1 and EX3.
At least until we find a working solution equal or better than the SDHC that allows the EX1 door to close.

The Kensignton with SDHC is capable of overcranking 40FPS at 24P without an error in the EX.
This overcrank is an equivalent of approx 8.3MB/s.

We know the Kensington specs should offer the full SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s data rate, but for "some reason", we are limited to 8.3MB/s.

It would be nice to know if this bottleneck is the way Sony is using the USB Protocol (or they possibly intentionally crippled the USB datarate).? Or, is it a problem with the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard adaptor?

We can learn the answer to these questions with a USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard reader.
The Sony expresscard reader is PCIe based and will not work with our USB based adaptor.

Here's one USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard that would be nice to try:
MicroU2E-MV USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard 34|54 Multi-Voltage Host Adapter, Synchrotech (http://www.synchrotech.com/product-usb/usb20_to_usb20_expresscards_host_adapter_microu2e-mv.html)

We could run the Crystal Disk Mark PC utility datarate memory tester on our SDHC.
If we are able to get the 15MB/s sustained R/W datarates, we will know that the problem is with the way Sony is using the USB, or they intentionally crippled the USB datarate.

This certainly will explain why their own USB PHU-60K drive barely works in HQ mode. It has lots of "restore media" errors and also explains why it's not fast enough to run S&Q modes.

Let's chip in and send it to Steven for testing. $60 should cover the part plus shipping. I'll commit to $10 - anyone else?

Once we get the money committed, we can PayPal Steven and he can order it and the research can continue.

Let's chip in and send it to Steven for testing. $60 should cover the part plus shipping. I'll commit to $10 - anyone else?


Thank Ted, but I think you just closed down the thread. LOL ;)

I appreciate, but no need. I'm just wondering if someone might have a USB based expresscard reader in their laptop or PC that might want to run the Crystal Disk Mark datarate tests on the Kensington plus SDHC combo.

Give me 30 mins. I have a laptop with both Express card slot and SD card slot. I'll do some tests.