Sony has announced that they are now shipping the PMWEX3/2
Changes include the following:

1. The lens hand grip has been changed to the same hand grip as that of the PMW-EX1R, with
improved ergonomics for increased user comfort when used hand-held.
2. The handgrip also incorporates a One-Push Auto Iris button, again similar to the PMW-EX1R,
which the camcorder (PMW-EX3) fully supports.
3. The lens focus ring, which is slideable from the AF/MF position to the Full MF postion, now
includes the easily seen orange painted ring like the PMW-EX1R so that the current
operational position of the focus ring can be easily discerned.
4. The PMW-EX3/2 now includes a promotional 16GB SxS card

The model number on the camcorder itself remains PMW-EX3, as well as on all related
literature and documentation.
Contact your local Authorized Sony XDCAM EX Reseller for pricing and availability or TapeWorks Texas Inc toll free in the US 866-827-3489 for a customized quotation!

Best Regards,
Scott Cantrell
TapeWorks Texas Inc - DVinfo Sponser
tapeworksscott@sbcglobal.net

Shame Sony didn't also modify the On/Off switch on the camera body, the times I have put my camera away having moved the switch to playback instead of OFF doesn't bear thinking about.

At this point of the product and market evolution, it is dreadfully sad that Sony didn't provide the EX3/2 with a 50MB/s MPEG option even if it is 4:2:0. It is shameful having to drag around a bunch of barnacles to provide the quality of video and price point that customers are demanding these days.

"Sony has announced that they are now shipping the PMWEX3/2 ... "
Is there an announcement or write-up on this new version of the camera? I wonder if the IR contamination has been reduced?

It looks like ithe EX3-2 just has a new lens and that's it.

Wow - what a lame, ultra low key update.....

I'd love to know if they tweaked the IR response - when people get a chance to test the new and older models side by side I guess we'll find out soon enough on DVinfo.

Vincent, you're not alone with the on/off switch thing I can tell you! I keep meaning to put a little paint in the switches vertical groove so it's a little easier to see it's position (a re-designed switch is what was really needed as many of us EX3 owners know). I was going to use white paint for that - but maybe I'll now use orange and daube it all over the lens ring MF/AF area nice and thick so I can pretend I've got the latest model (this is British humour for those that don't recognise it!) - Actually, I never use autofocus anyway so I always know which position it's in.

Back to reality. EX1/EX1r/EX3 or EX3/2, no matter, they all are still amazing cameras which produce stunning results in the right hands but I'm VERY surprised Sony did not go for a "killer upgrade", especially with Canon's new models about to hit the market.

Good morning Andy, it's nice to know I am not the only one working at 6.50am

I am very happy with my EX3, and yes there is room for improvement on various aspects of the camera, but then most cameras have a minor niggle here and there. I will resist the temptation to open my tin of Dulux, like you I only ever use Manual, with the occasional press of the Auto Focus button when my eyeballs are tired.

I will be getting the new Canon F350 camera in for review in a couple of weeks time, it will be interesting to do a side by side comparison.

Have a good day up there in Cambridge.

Thanks Vincent! Been working ALL WEEKEND (had to get 3 major corporate films to Final Cut this week - just finished!....now the disc making starts).

Back on topic, if they really only changed the lens I guess the body's "rounded bottom/poor/weak tripod mounting area fault" still remains (mine has an aftermarket plate/bracket anyway - forgot which one as I'm so tired!)

After a long session I find having a "Power Nap" for about 20 minutes will set me up for another four hours work.

Make hay while the sun shines.

Am I the only one who breathes a sigh of relief when the next update is so marginal that I don't have to start worrying about the lust factor pushing me to start thinking about trading in an already great product, whatever the niggles?

You certainly aren't the only one, David...

:)

I hope they do deals on the EX3 now as they did with the EX1 when the EX1R came out - I would like an EX3. Seems very low profile introduction as not many (1) I can find so far acknowledging the new model.

I'm glad that it was a marginal update.... no need to upgrade my EX3 just yet.

The on/off switch and the ND switch are the only problems I have with the EX3... Making those two functions easier to use would have been a good addition to the Ex3/2.

The power-on switch is imo easy to modify by Sony, but the ND-filter switch is a different boy.
If you have seen the mechanical construction of the filters than you will understand.
There are three rond glass filters attached to a very dedicated so called filterwheel.
By moving the selector on side of the lens, a handle is turning the wheel via plastic geared quarter wheel.
The turning is not so typical, it is the way the wheel stops imo.
It has a lot of play and I wonder how long it can last without faillure.
To add a fourth filter to the wheel, will be a hell of a job imo.
I have taken my EX3 apart, so I know.

John, were you able to put the ex3 back together after taking it apart? ;)

I had to take it apart before sending it to the repair centre of Sony in Teaneck
to see for myself what the damage was. I took all kinds of pictures from the parts.
It is not so difficult to take apart if you are used to repairing laptop computers.
The only thing I did wrong, was opening the compartment with the ND-filters.
When I did, the filters got out of their fixture and I had to touch them and glue
them back in. I did a terrible job (350us$ to replace them)
I had heard so many bad stories about Sony repairs you know, but the guys there
are great. they know their business.
Someone who borrowed the cam made a short cicuit with an external powersupply unit.
The ground of the plug of the external monitor extension cable was on the plus pole of the external battery,
so when they inserted the component plug in to the camera, everything went dark in the cam.
Repair costs: about 5000us$

Ouch! They (the borrower) paid, right?

Back on topic - well I guess I'm starting to see the merits of such a minor EX3 upgrade - as mentioned by others above, i.e. I've no burning need to upgrade the cam at all (just as well as I've had to replace my Windows/Vegas box as the last one dies last week - albeit after 6 years hard labour!). At least the new i7 Win 7 box is a heck of a lot cheaper than my Apple hardware! Zippy fast too.

I guess if they did not improve the tripod mount design on the EX3/2 over the original EX3 (can anyone confirm this yet?), then all the (essential, IMHO!) bolt on aftermarket supports/brackets will still work just fine too.

The merit of no incremental upgrades are that the development staff is not burdened with spending so much time in the testing/release phase. Imagine chopping out a month of development just to retest that little changes do not affect the stability of the product. Incremental upgrades also mean that the larger upgrade will include less development \ testing or fewer features.

Well i have just bought a EX3/2 today and as far as i can see externaly theres no difference to the EX3,
Every thing looks the same as my friends 1 year old EX3 the lens is the same and so is the hand grip, I have been waiting 3wks for it to arrive seems Sony are having problems fullfilling there orders on all models

it says EX3/2 on the box but could i have got the old EX3???

Ian what about the supposed orange ring indicator on the lens mentioned in the original post. If you don't have that, then I would check into it. You may have got the original EX3 as a "packaging error".

-Andrew

Forgive me but how do I go about checking which one it is, there is no orange ring indicater and the handgrip is the same as the EX3 even the manual was printed in 2008!!

That all of the changes to the EX3 were cancelled. And that the original EX3 is now being packaged with a promotional 16GB SxS card. (Dated July 27, 2010)

Ian, did your newest EX3 come with a card?

I don't know if that information is reliable.

I don't have an EX3 and never used one, but that kind of upgrade that was announced in retrospect is a little strange. Not to say that the upgrades weren't a good idea, I don't know. But most of them, focus ring and handle, are actually part of the lens unit.

Maybe those upgrades some how make the optional lens, the XS8X4ASXB8, somewhat undesirable. Unless the same upgrade is made for that unit too.

Ian, I hope the upgrade you were promised (by the box, too) has happened, and an original EX3 was sent to you by mistake.

Good luck in sorting it out.

P.S. Happy to name the forum and post link if not against the rules.

Two places selling specifically the EX3/2, list only the 16GB SxS card and compare the features to the EX1.

I found a PDF listing the new features plus 16GB SxS card included and states that the name will not change after upgrade and will remain the EX-3. Included documentation will not change from the original. Unit will be sold for the same price.

B&H lists only the EX-3 and in the description makes no mention of any upgrades. But, doesn't list the 16GB SxS card either.

??????????

Two more places selling the EX3/2 only stating firmware upgrade and 16GB SxS card included.

Thankyou for your help I investigated more and here in the uk the EX3/2 comes with a 16gb card + a firmware upgrade thats about it

So many thanks
Ian

There is in fact, the EX3/2. Call Abel Cine Tech in NY or email Andy Shipsides here on DVInfo. I think there is even a video posted on Abel Cine's blog about the EX3/2.

Its true.. The EX3/2 lens upgrade was never actually done. Sony released a press release a few months ago with the changes listed at the top of this thread, but last month they let us know it never actually shipped with a new lens, just the 16gb card and new firmware. We pulled our blog down because of this. Steve, thanks for the mention. I wish it wasn't so.

Whew. Now I don't have to sweat buying another one just to get an orange lens barrel.

I do wish they'd upgrade the firmware to allow for cache recording, however. I'd definitely pay for that firmware upgrade.

So what does the new firmware do??