Any specifics for the newer SxS cards yet? Would love to see some kind of specs comparison between the old and the new.

Me too, thanks :)

In a speech a while ago, the head of BBC HD specifically mentioned the EX1 as desirable when more run of the mill programming starts to go HD, and budgets simply won't run to the most expensive cameras. At the moment, for the BBC, HD=top quality and by and large that channel only screens high budget programming such as drama and studio/OB material which is recorded straight to HDCAM-SR. (Dramas more likely to be something like an Arri D20.)

There's no question that to currently tick all the desirable boxes a camera in this range needs to have 1920x1080 chips of 1/2" or above and be 50Mbs MPEG2. (Or AVC-Intra 100.) Unfortunately, there's only really the HPX3000 series from Panasonic and the Sony PDW700/800 which fully do that.

As others have already said, it's perfectly easy to put such as a nanoFlash on this new camera, record XDCAM 422, and tick all the boxes that way. You can't hang 1/2" chips on an HPX300.

My suspicion is that it's not an isolated camera, but more likely the start of a range, and I fully expect to see a more expensive version in due course with further goodies, including XDCAM422. But for the lower end of the HD broadcast market (news, sport etc) the camera as it stands may be just what's needed. The more I look at the spec, the more impressive it gets.

dear Alister
You said that the 350 is about 1 stop more sensitive than the 700. Does that mean it can be rated over 1000ASA?

Nice that they are offering new memory cards too.

I noticed the audio is listed as 16bit for the PMW-350.

I wonder if using a Nanoflash, if the audio signal would be uncompressed out of the HDSDI to get true 24bit recording?

Thanks

EX1R looks cool nice ergo changes and some cool new features.... I can only hope Sony does not leave its current base of EX1 custoemrs in the cold.... A firmware update to the EX1 could could easily add record cache (minus the little light) to the menu along with the ability to assign single button S&Q to one of the preset buttons...(minus dedicated S&Q button and light) controlled in the menu... I think it would be wrong of Sony not to add these two features by way of Firmware to the the current EX1. Last and obviously allow the Firmware updates by the end user which again could be implemented the same way as the new EX1R if they write a new Firmware version for the EX1. One can only hope.... If not this EX1R realease should upset more EX1 owners... The above statements are not out of the question nor would they be of any real expense to Sony...It would just make for more lifetime customer loyalty.

BTW, I do understand new cameras with new features will come out... and eventually yes I will upgrade but these are very easy requests to make happen for a very large base of current customers.

The PMW-350 was shown in Paris this morning, here are some pictures:
http://www.cameravideo.net/forum/new...html#post81290

Jason,

Completely agreed!.. (with addition of SD recording via firmware...)

New XDCAM-EX family product brochure with EX1R and 350:

http://www.sony.ca/xdcamex/files/new_xdcamex_fam.pdf

I'm assuming this new "flash band fix" in Clip Browser version 2.6 is for addressing rolling shutter issues?

Nice review from resident expert Alister Chapman, very informative.

Part of me would like the new EX1, but not really. My 1 still has low hours, and is still pristine. The 350 looks sexy, too big for my needs.

The thing I keep thinking is that if this were Jannard & RED, they'd be offering a full refund on the EX1 with the R & 350 upgrade. But no, we're dealing with Sony and expected to shelf a camera and pay full shot for a new model. How very Apple of them, only this is a $6500 bit of kit rather than a $199 iPod.

Sure I'm a tiny bit envious of some refined ergonomics, buttons and HDMI that should have been in the original, but I'll pocket my money until the Scarlett is released.

VCT-SP2BP Camcorder Support is a nice addition

Release date of the PMW-350 is january 2010. The PMW-EX1R is earlier. December 2009.

I was lucky enough to use the 350 when Alister had the unit, we used it on an airshow shoot, similar to many others that I've done before using pretty most of the Sony HD Cameras in the past like the 790, 750 and 700. I have to say this camera impressed me more than the others - Why?

Form factor - it's a nice looking camera, it's very lightweight but very well balanced. We mostly use a 700 at the moment and it's VERY heavy to carry around all day, no such issues with the 350 though, It felt very good on the shoulder.

The Viewfinder - we currently use a colour C35W viewfinder on our 700, I actually prefer the viewfinder on the 350. I think once they see it 700 and 800 owners may be pestering Sony to release it to buy separately.

The lens - amazing! no breathing at all, couldn't see any CA at all, I'll be very interested to see how it tests out when people get hold of it.

The pictures - sharp, clean , rich colours. It seemed to handle the extreme contrast of shooting aircraft in the sky better than any of the other cameras I've used.

I'd agree with Alister it's probably got a stop on the 700 and maybe a little more.

If you don't need the disc workflow and you can afford a Nano Flash as well, then for me I'd take the 350 over the 700 and even the 800!

If this were Jannard and Red, they would be announcing the camera today, saying that it will be ready at some point in the future, and that the specs are subject to change.

This is an incremental upgrade to a camera that's been on the market for two years- not sure how you could expect a refund on the camera you already own. There's no reason to shelf your EX1, and I doubt many people will.

I completely agree with the above post: yes, the EX1-R has some nice additional features, but it has the same sensors/lens/codec, etc. You do not need to lament buying the older model. There is no job the "R" model can do that the old model can't, except maybe image flip and even then most new 35mm adapters have workarounds that don't require them anyway.

Yes it records a cleaner SD video, and that occasionally still comes up, but who is going to upgrade cameras to get SD recording in this day and age?

Now if the new "R" had 50 mgbit recording or an SDHC card slot for directly recording to, I'd be mad...

I believe the street price of the new SxS-1 32gb card will be in the region of £300. UK dealers have been given the pricing so should be able to give you a quote.
The Pmw-350 should be available from mid January. Apparently the lens we had for testing did not meet the final specifications and there is a new lens for me to look at when I get a chance.

Indeed. I've not been missing SD shooting at all despite the fact most of my delivery is SD.

In fact I was just admiring how good my latest production looked downconverted to SD played from DVD on a 37" screen.

The only advantage of SD shooting is if you are in an environment where your workflow dictates it and there is no time for conversion, eg local news.

The EX1R addresses a number of issues, but its rather like Apples recent Iphone upgrade. Lots of fairly cool features but nothing killer that makes me want to buy one.

The biggest thing for us EX1 users is the advent of the cheaper SxS media. As I understand it the cards have a limited life, but would still be good for filling up every day for 5 years! Since most of us don't fill up our cards 365 days a year the reality is the cards we buy will probably outlast the format!

Gary,

I was in a meeting with Sony last week. They told us the kit with lens is right at $20k and $18.5K without.


Something else that hasn't gotten much mention yet... the new 350 has TWO viewfinder ports. One supports the new style included viewfinder and the other supports the older monochrome CRT finders.

-gb-

No update to the EX3, interesting.

Personally the EX3 never made a lot of sense to me. The ability to change lenses was an option exercised by very few, this makes more sense with a camera at the 350's pricepoint. On the downside the ergonomics of the EX3 never sat right with me, those buttons on the back of the viewfinder were a pain to use.

As a long time EX1 owner the upgrade is great. There's nothing in it that saddens me about my original purchase. Those that don't really need the new features should be able to buy the original EX1 from those that do want to upgrade at a sensible discount as well. If the market behaves sensibly it's should be a win/win for everyone.

glad I have the EX3... no update because it was a very updated concept from the original EX1 ... many of the EX1r updates are already on the EX3... just the ergonomics, excelent viewfinder, s/q button AND for me the use of my AB dionic battery on its back, makes it the best choice for me .... and 10K more for the 350 maybe it-s too much right now... by the way... WHY is the 350 SO BIG .... it is a tapeless and diskless camera.... WHY the same old BIG FORM FACTOR from the past ... I was expecting something more different, maybe JVC 110/700 style..... well, I have to test it maybe closer...

kind regards

As far as I know there are no plans to change or replace the EX3.

I was wondering about the EX3. Slightly strange that it didn't get a similar upgrade to the EX1 at the same time. As it is it leaves it with some advantages over the new EX1R, but in other ways it's at a disadvantage. (Cache record, no native SD etc etc)

The more I look, the more I come across. "Copy all clips" mode, for instance. This now makes it feasible to shoot on SxS, then dump to SDHC in camera for a medium term backup for an extra degree of safety (or as a copy to give to a third party).

And has anyone commented on the PMW-350 power consumption? 15 watts, 18 watts whilst recording. That's astonishingly good!! A lot lower than the HPX301, in spite of the 2/3" chips. With an 11watt LED headlight that's only 29watts recording with a light on.

And the radio mic receiver slot. Will take the old style OR the new Sony digital receivers.

Need answer from experience
 

Is it going to be easier to obtain a smooth, shakeless camera holding from an EX1R with optical image stabilization, or from a large format PMW350 properly balanced on the shoulder?

Hi Alister,
SD is something that I have had great issues with on the EX3. The quality from the down convertor is absolute rubbish. I purchased a NanoFlash recorder to give me a better quality SD image from the EX3. How would you compare the quality of the PMW30 SD DVCAM to that of the NanoFlash recorded from the EX3 via SDI?
Has Sony rectified the IR contamination issue of the EX1 &EX3 with the release PMW30 & EX1R ?

Shoulder mount cameras win hands down. Not only is the weight transferred directly to your skeleton the mass is balanced. Plus the camera comes with a power tap for a light and mounting a wireless mic receiver is a piece of cake.

"Greens on the EX1/3 seem to look mushy, not quite as clean as the 700."

Alister, is this during your comparison of native footage from the EX1 and the 350/700? Does the Nanoflash improve the EX1 in that respect ?

Oh yes, you bet it is 24 bit. Damn fine recorder too!!! Love it.
Cheers

Thanks for your reply.

Just to clarify, if the same event was recorded via SxS and a Nanoflash simultaneously, the Nanoflash audio would sound better?

As it is true 24bit out of the HDSDI?

The Nano audio would not be 16bit audio recorded at 24bit?

Gints: The NanoFlash makes no difference to the mushy greens. I beleive it is down to the sensor or optics. Don't get me wrong, I'm looking for perfection here. The EX1 and EX3 pictures are still very good in my book, it's just the PDW-700 and PMW-350 are better.

Guess I will never be satisfied. The 350 certainly is a great camera - sadly it miss overcranking - the PMW-EX1R update with a buttom that switches the hole camera over to the prefered system setting, when overcranking, is great. I would have loved the 350 camera in DVCam with 300 fps. - or still just 720- 60P variable. Still the PMW-350 will be my next camera, but it will not outdate the PMW-EX3 - yet.

Then I'd say you shouldn't get too excited about the EX1-R's DVCAM mode. The chips are full raster so the down-conversion has to happen somewhere - either from the card to the computer or from the chips to the card.

It's the latter that the EX1-R will be doing in DVCAM mode, and the cheap 'n' cheerful in-built down-converter won't be a match for far more expensive, power hungry and physically bigger and heavier NLE solutions.

tom.

EX1R frame grabs:
XDCAM-USER.com • View topic - PMW-EX1R HD/SD Frame Grabs

and a PMW-350 Grab
XDCAM-USER.com • View topic - PMW-350 Frame grabs

I'll try to add more when I get decent internet access.

Thanks Tom.

Alister,

Did you get to check the PMW-350 for IR contamination?

Question to Alistair or anyone. Can a SDHC Expresscard adapter (such as those supplied by Hoodman RAW SxSxSDHC Memory Adapter-Hoodman Corporation ) work with the PMW-350? I gather they work in EX1/3 hardware but you lose some recording functionality?

I shoot news in the UK with a DSR-450 and the PMW-350 is an open door to walk through into the crossover world between SD and HD for me. The VJ's are shooting on Z-5's and I do minicam stuff with a JVC HM100 so I'm into the tapeless workflow - but I'm not letting a reporter walk off with SxS cards until they're the same price as SDHC....

TIA,

Cotty

One of the improvements of the EX1R is the "copy all clips" new mode. So it becomes feasible to shoot on SxS, then use the camera to dump the entire contents to the card in the second slot - which can obviously be SDHC. I'm assuming it does a verification as it does it?

Can Alister say whether such a mode exists with the 350. (I sincerely hope it does! :-) )

Can you share your thoughts on F900R versus PMW-350, if given the same lens is used on both - in our case a Canon HJ22ex7.6B ?

Are there any chances that Sony eliminated the audio limiters in EX1R which are existing even in manual audio mode? Although I am somehow satisfied with different settings in the audio menus maybe there is deeper sound possible with EX1R...