I'm thinking of buying an EX1R and I'm wondering about using it with SDHC cards to reduce the cost. Can you recommend a good adapter? And what's your experience with it? Does it keep the quality? Is it reliable?

Thank you for your help!

MxR adaptor.
MxR Expresscard Reader & Case (http://e-films.com.au/shoppingcart/products/MxR-Expresscard-Adapter.html)
MxM
MXM Express - MXM Express (http://mxmexpress.com/)
their tested media
Tested media - MXM Express (http://mxmexpress.com/cms.php?id_cms=6)
Sandisk Class 10 cards. There are others though as you can see from both company's lists. Key is getting professional quality fast cards.

I did a write up on this a while back to try and help EX1 users. It dates from last year and now you should really only be looking at Class 10 cards.

SDHC Cards And Adaptors For The Sony EX1 (http://www.media2u.co.uk/index.php/about-media2u/blog/ex1)

Thanks Craig and Marcus, this is great information.

About the actual card, any thought on Lexar? I happen to have 2 of these:
Lexar 32GB Professional 133x SDHC Memory Card LSD32GCRBNA133 B&H

The differences show up to a much greater degree if you frequently shoot video with slow motion. If you don't care for that type of video a lot more cards work very well.

John

John, did you reply about my Lexar question, or about the difference between SxS and SDHC?

In either case, what are the differences? No, I'm not shooting slow-mo, so you're saying I can stick with the lexar?

At the risk of re-treading old ground, you get what you pay for and if your footage is of any value to you then consider a premium card such as those offered by ATP and Sandisk. If you are on a budget (although can oddly still manage to fork out 5 grand for the camera so I can't see why an extra £20 would bother people) then take a look at the Patriot cards. Remember SDHC can be reused hundreds of times unlike tape.

In terms of SxS v SDHC, it is really better that you go and look at the forum archives rather than us having to go over it all again. My experience is that a quality SDHC adaptor (such as those sold by MxM) and a premium SDHC card (ATP or Sandisk) is reliable. I've shot hundreds of hours with this combination without any drama.

John, did you reply about my Lexar question, or about the difference between SxS and SDHC?

In either case, what are the differences? No, I'm not shooting slow-mo, so you're saying I can stick with the lexar?

I was replying to the Lexar question. There are 40 User Reviews in your B&H link to the card. I read them and they are all excellent. I use Patriot 32GB cards, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy that one. All my cards go into the older discontinued Kensington adapter. Firmware 1.20 has increased the compatibility for many more cards.

John

At the risk of re-treading old ground, you get what you pay for and if your footage is of any value to you then consider a premium card such as those offered by ATP and Sandisk. If you are on a budget (although can oddly still manage to fork out 5 grand for the camera so I can't see why an extra £20 would bother people) then take a look at the Patriot cards. Remember SDHC can be reused hundreds of times unlike tape.

In terms of SxS v SDHC, it is really better that you go and look at the forum archives rather than us having to go over it all again. My experience is that a quality SDHC adaptor (such as those sold by MxM) and a premium SDHC card (ATP or Sandisk) is reliable. I've shot hundreds of hours with this combination without any drama.

And you will find if you read through the archives that the entire quest for cheaper alternatives to SxS began in response to the price gouging Sony was engaged in when they first introduced those proprietary SxS cards for the EX1 camera. Had they avoided that corporate temptation many of us would not have sought a "cheaper" alternative.

There were some on this forum that spent as much and even more than the camera cost to "stock up" on SxS cards giving some long forgotten explanation about "getting what you pay for" and "cheaper than tape in the long run". Competition from SDHC alternatives did what competition always does as opposed to monopoly. It drives the prices down to much more fair price levels.

John

Competition from SDHC alternatives did what competition always does as opposed to monopoly. It drives the prices down to much more fair price levels.

John

John, I couldn't agree more!!

Thanks, everyone. You guys saved me over a thousand dollars and that's not a small matter!

Here are the Patriot cards Marcus and I were referring to:

Newegg.com - Patriot LX 32GB Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) Flash Card Model PSF32GSDHC10 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220452)

Given that right now it is $42.99 after a $10 Rebate why not try one as well as the Lexar cards you were interested in. Rebate expires tomorrow. Patriot rebates take about a month to process, but they always pay them.

John

if you want to be on safe side.

shoot your slo mo on Slot b 8gb sxs

and normal 1080p 24p or 25p depending where your from on slot a.

I use mxm adapters class 10 transcend, sandisk are great too,

If anyone is serious about his EX shooting, he/she should only use the original SxS from Sony, or MxM adapters with MxM approved SDHC cards. I guess I agree with Markus on this.

Not saying MxR is unreliable - just have had much better experience with MxM. Also worth to remember that Hoodman is really MxM, which means a lot...


Piotr

if you want to be on safe side.

shoot your slo mo on Slot b 8gb sxs



Just to add to this, I shoot slomo footage on a 8gb SxS card in slot A and then transfer the clips to a 16gb SDHC card in slot B. Now I can wipe the SxS card and start over again, this is the only time I ever use SxS cards. However, I should mention that I don't do a lot of slomo work, if I was doing it n a regular basis then I would invest in 16gb SxS cards. As for SDHC, I have never had any problems with shooting standard frame rate footage.

Yup agree,

looking to get an 8gb sxs so i have two i already have three mxm adapters and class 10.

Piotr -- thanks for pointing out the OEM of the Hoodman cards, I didn't know that. I've been using Hoodman 16GB RAW + their adapters at all settings + S&Q with no problems. They were sold at the pro shop where I got my camera. One thing about the last Hoodman adapter I received -- they have updated the design a bit, now looks more like the Sony SxS. Seems to have less chance of the little SDHC card getting ejected from the adapter when you push on it.

Like Marcus, I find the whole idea of shelling out for a superb camera and then economising on the media puzzling.

To me it's like buying a Leica film camera, a spanking Summicron and then buying cheap bulk-wind film and a Dixon's enlarger. We'd never have done that then so why do we think it's a good idea now?

And incidentally Sony's new cards are much less expensive than the early ones.

One thing about the last Hoodman adapter I received -- they have updated the design a bit, now looks more like the Sony SxS. Seems to have less chance of the little SDHC card getting ejected from the adapter when you push on it.

They're MxM's with a different label on them. Makes no odds though as the price is broadly the same.

To me it's like buying a Leica film camera, a spanking Summicron and then buying cheap bulk-wind film and a Dixon's enlarger. We'd never have done that then so why do we think it's a good idea now?


Poor analogy as there is no picture quality difference between the cheapest media and the most expensive SxS.

The real issue is data retention. Broadly speaking SxS and the best quality SDHC* perform evenly.


* Using the specification sheet published by ATP. Sadly other SDHC manufacturers don't seem to want to publish detailed specs.

You took the words from my keyboard Marcus. I didn't know that Dixons ever made any enlargers.

The problem is that Sony charge a ridiculous price for their SxS cards, so no surprises that users invest in SDHC cards, I don't have a problem with using SDHC cards, in the same way that I don't have a problem using CF cards in my DSLR or Canon XF305.

Not to be persnickity, but the quote attributed to me two messages ago (#19 re: Leica) are not my words and not anything I posted.

If I am reading this correctly, Sony is endorsing it's adapter.

Sony MEAD-MS01 Memory Stick Adapter MEAD-MS01 B&H Photo Video


"The Sony MEAD-MS01 Memory Stick Adapter allows you to use Memory Stick Media with Sony XDCAM EX camcorders and other ExpressCard compatible hardware. The MEAD-MS01 adapter is the same shape as SxS memory cards, so it will fit in the media slot of all XDCAM EX camcorders. Since there aren't any protrusions the media cover can be closed during shooting.

The Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX series cards are recommended for use in the adapter. These cards are available from retail outlets, unlike SxS media. So in situations in the field where additional media is required, or for cost-conscious users, the MEAD-MS01 Memory Stick Adapter is the perfect solution."

It no longer specifies "Emergency Only" it states "So in situations in the field where additional media is required, or for cost-conscious users."

This sounds like a desperate attempt to shift a mountain of Memory sticks, as far as I know even Sony has stopped using these in their digital cameras in favour of SDHC cards.

ps anyone want to buy some 8 track stereo cartridges, or some Betamax tapes or maybe some quad track stereo LPs.

Having said that, I still love my EX3, my Sony LCD screen, BluRay player and Walkman.

@ John Eithcowich OP:
I'd consider the entire workflow before buying your cards. For example, how will you handle extremely long shoots — if that's something you will ever be doing? What if someone asks you to record a full day conference of say 8 full hours of speakers? If you were just recording to cards and not offloading in the field, you would need 10 x 16GB cards. Ka-CHING!

I've learned from reading on this forum that there are a variety of ways of doing this without investing in a dozen cards — and it doesn't necessarily have to be a Sony SxS solution. But I would figure this out and have a plan before investing in any cards. For example, if you want to eventually buy the Sony MS-240 mobile storage unit, you'd want to be sure your cards will be compatible with it.

Not to be persnickity, but the quote attributed to me two messages ago (#19 re: Leica) are not my words and not anything I posted.

Apologies. Not sure how that happened. Sometimes the attribution on here is easy to screw up without knowing how you did it!

It no longer specifies "Emergency Only" it states "So in situations in the field where additional media is required, or for cost-conscious users."

Can't help but think they've missed the boat with their adaptors let alone the fact they were asking approx £90 for the SDHC version with no discernible benefits over the products already on the market that retail for a third less.

Has anyone compared the Sony Mead adapters to the MXM adapters?

I need to correct something I wrote,

The Sony MEAD-SD01 SDHC Card Adapter, is for emergency use only, and it still states that. The MS01 did not state that.

The Sony Mead adapters aren't approved for use with overclocked speeds, correct?

I'm hearing not to shoot slo-mo with the SXS alternatives...Exactly why is that? It's not reliable? or it just doesn't work? or it messes up the sandisc cards? any additional details are appreciated.

They don't transfer data fast enough

Current firmware with a good Class 10 like Sandisk is reliable for overcrank based on every report I've read.