Any news on the Sony PMW 500 at DVinfo.net

Simon Denny · October 19th, 2010, 02:13 AM

Has anyone bought or tried out the Sony PMW 500. I would love to hear some feed back on this camera.

Cheers

Tom Bostick · October 22nd, 2010, 09:02 PM

Alister got his hands on one
XDCAM-USER.com Sony PMW-500 Review.

Simon Denny · October 22nd, 2010, 11:52 PM

Thanks Tom,

I have already checked Alister's blog along with some other reviews on line. I was hoping that the 500 has been released and someone was using this on a daily basis to get some feed back on.

Cheers

Ned Soltz · November 12th, 2010, 09:07 PM

I'm in line to get one for review from Sony hopefully the week of 11/15

I'll post when I've had the chance to take it for a spin.

Simon Denny · November 17th, 2010, 10:08 PM

I'm trying to find info on the PMW500 with it's over & under cranking abilities.
Does the 500 achieve this in 1280x720? or is this full HD 1920x 1080i

Thanks

Ned Soltz · November 24th, 2010, 08:16 PM

Just got the 500 but have not yet unpacked.

More over the next week...

Simon Denny · November 25th, 2010, 04:18 AM

Hi Ned,

Unpack that camera now please.... he,he,he
Man I'm so close to getting this and I await your review of this new little beast.

Cheers

Oh I forgot,

What lens are you going to use with this Ned?

Uli Mors · November 25th, 2010, 08:39 AM

its similar to ex cameras:

1920x1080 25/30p can be UNDERCRANKED (set to 1-30fps)

1280x720 25p can be under & overcranked (set 1-60fps)

Regards

Uli

Ned Soltz · November 25th, 2010, 01:03 PM

All unpacked and getting started with set up.

Sony shipped me the Fujinon HA18x lens with manual focus/servo zoom.

First impression can definitely confirm Alister's excellent video review.

The camera is amazingly light-weight with menus/controls that are much more like PMW series (great for me since I have an EX1 and EX3).

The monochrome viewfinder is sharp and the LCD screen is the same as the EX-1.

I have not used any of my own SxS cards since Sony sent me 1x 64gb and 2 x 8gb. Note that to record HD 422 50 Mbps, cards must be formatted UDF. I inserted one of Sony's 8 gb cards and got an incompatible format msg. So, I would presume it was formatted Fat32 for XDCAM EX. When I tried to reformat card in camera, got a msg that could not complete operation. I'll read the manual and see what I can figure out.

I'll do some shooting with it over the week and then alas either have to return it to Sony or disappear to a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

Paul Cronin · December 1st, 2010, 04:02 PM

Ned,

Any more info on the PMW-500 you are testing?

Simon Denny · December 1st, 2010, 08:38 PM

Hi Ned,
Now that you have had the PMW 500 for the weekend how did it go?

Cheers

Ned Soltz · December 2nd, 2010, 08:10 PM

I have enjoyed evaluating the 500. It is lightweight and balanced. Monochrome viewfinder is sharp and focusing is a snap. Of course, with CCDs, not a trace of jello-vision or flash banding. The one thing I was not able to do owing both to schedule and weather was take it to Times Square at night to check for CCD smearing.

I find it somewhat peculiar that it does not have histogram, WFM or any other kinds of scopes. Yes, zebras.

It only draws 29 watts, so that's 3 hrs from the smallest info lithium battery.

The 64gb SxS card holds about 2 hrs of XDCAM HD 50 mbps 422. Writes to a UDF format. No problem with FCP importing the MXF files using most recent version of Sony XDCAM Transfer. Remember on the Mac side to install the UDF drivers after installing the SxS drivers.

In response to another question on the thread, I can confirm that it does Slow & Quick motion in oth 720 and 1080 modes.

It just feels to me like a nice, solid conservative choice. Nothing really bleeding edge. Just solid with a nice image and will be an excellent top of the line choice for those who shoot XDCAM. Suitable for ENG EFP uses or commercials, reality TV.

Finishing the full review now.

Ned

Simon Denny · December 3rd, 2010, 05:11 AM

Thanks ned,
Look forward to the rest of the review.
Cheers

Paul Cronin · December 3rd, 2010, 08:27 AM

I did not know it did over-cranking in 720p and 1080p or am I reading Ned's post wrong?

Steve Phillipps · December 3rd, 2010, 09:15 AM

Yes it does it just like the EXs, 1-30 in 1080 and 1-60 in 720. Presumably requires a power down to change though. I'd be very interested to know which gives better overall results - the half vertical res 60fps in the F800 or the 720/60P in the 500. I wonder how the missing lines of the 800 will react when put through grading and the transmission chain.
Steve

October 19th, 2010, 02:13 AM	#1
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Any news on the Sony PMW 500 Has anyone bought or tried out the Sony PMW 500. I would love to hear some feed back on this camera. Cheers

December 1st, 2010, 04:02 PM	#10
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Ned, Any more info on the PMW-500 you are testing? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

December 3rd, 2010, 08:27 AM	#14
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	I did not know it did over-cranking in 720p and 1080p or am I reading Ned's post wrong? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

October 22nd, 2010, 09:02 PM	#2
Tom Bostick Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Austin TX Posts: 292	Alister got his hands on one XDCAM-USER.com Sony PMW-500 Review.

October 22nd, 2010, 11:52 PM	#3
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Thanks Tom, I have already checked Alister's blog along with some other reviews on line. I was hoping that the 500 has been released and someone was using this on a daily basis to get some feed back on. Cheers

November 12th, 2010, 09:07 PM	#4
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	I'm in line to get one for review from Sony hopefully the week of 11/15 I'll post when I've had the chance to take it for a spin.

November 17th, 2010, 10:08 PM	#5
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	I'm trying to find info on the PMW500 with it's over & under cranking abilities. Does the 500 achieve this in 1280x720? or is this full HD 1920x 1080i Thanks

November 24th, 2010, 08:16 PM	#6
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Just got the 500 but have not yet unpacked. More over the next week...

November 25th, 2010, 04:18 AM	#7
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Hi Ned, Unpack that camera now please.... he,he,he Man I'm so close to getting this and I await your review of this new little beast. Cheers Oh I forgot, What lens are you going to use with this Ned?

November 25th, 2010, 08:39 AM	#8
Uli Mors Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 565	its similar to ex cameras: 1920x1080 25/30p can be UNDERCRANKED (set to 1-30fps) 1280x720 25p can be under & overcranked (set 1-60fps) Regards Uli

November 25th, 2010, 01:03 PM	#9
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	All unpacked and getting started with set up. Sony shipped me the Fujinon HA18x lens with manual focus/servo zoom. First impression can definitely confirm Alister's excellent video review. The camera is amazingly light-weight with menus/controls that are much more like PMW series (great for me since I have an EX1 and EX3). The monochrome viewfinder is sharp and the LCD screen is the same as the EX-1. I have not used any of my own SxS cards since Sony sent me 1x 64gb and 2 x 8gb. Note that to record HD 422 50 Mbps, cards must be formatted UDF. I inserted one of Sony's 8 gb cards and got an incompatible format msg. So, I would presume it was formatted Fat32 for XDCAM EX. When I tried to reformat card in camera, got a msg that could not complete operation. I'll read the manual and see what I can figure out. I'll do some shooting with it over the week and then alas either have to return it to Sony or disappear to a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

December 1st, 2010, 08:38 PM	#11
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Hi Ned, Now that you have had the PMW 500 for the weekend how did it go? Cheers

December 2nd, 2010, 08:10 PM	#12
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	I have enjoyed evaluating the 500. It is lightweight and balanced. Monochrome viewfinder is sharp and focusing is a snap. Of course, with CCDs, not a trace of jello-vision or flash banding. The one thing I was not able to do owing both to schedule and weather was take it to Times Square at night to check for CCD smearing. I find it somewhat peculiar that it does not have histogram, WFM or any other kinds of scopes. Yes, zebras. It only draws 29 watts, so that's 3 hrs from the smallest info lithium battery. The 64gb SxS card holds about 2 hrs of XDCAM HD 50 mbps 422. Writes to a UDF format. No problem with FCP importing the MXF files using most recent version of Sony XDCAM Transfer. Remember on the Mac side to install the UDF drivers after installing the SxS drivers. In response to another question on the thread, I can confirm that it does Slow & Quick motion in oth 720 and 1080 modes. It just feels to me like a nice, solid conservative choice. Nothing really bleeding edge. Just solid with a nice image and will be an excellent top of the line choice for those who shoot XDCAM. Suitable for ENG EFP uses or commercials, reality TV. Finishing the full review now. Ned

December 3rd, 2010, 05:11 AM	#13
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Thanks ned, Look forward to the rest of the review. Cheers

December 3rd, 2010, 09:15 AM	#15
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Yes it does it just like the EXs, 1-30 in 1080 and 1-60 in 720. Presumably requires a power down to change though. I'd be very interested to know which gives better overall results - the half vertical res 60fps in the F800 or the 720/60P in the 500. I wonder how the missing lines of the 800 will react when put through grading and the transmission chain. Steve