new ex1 firmware out

Jason Bodnar · September 11th, 2008, 10:48 AM

I think they are probably saying if you brick your camera while trying to upgrade yourself it will not be covered under warranty as you are not suppose to upgrade yourself... Once it has been upgraded to 1.11 there is no way to tell you who actually upgraded it... it may store the date info for when it was updated but not that Jo Blow decided to do this himself and it was not actually done by Sony themselves...

Noah Yuan-Vogel · September 11th, 2008, 11:35 AM

"probably"? im just not sure i want to risk my warranty over it. we dont know for sure if they can tell, right? when it talked to the guy at sony i couldnt tell i he knew i had 1.05 based on my registration info that i gave him or if he just assumed it since i was calling about the upgrade. im not that concerned with bricking my camera since there are a few reports of success and no reports of bricking and it doesnt sound like a complicated process at all. someone on this forum was saying it didnt work the first time but worked the second time so seems like even if you dont do it correctly youll likely just have to try again and it wont leave your camera bricked. of course if you pull the cord in the middle of updating that might be a different issue.

Steven Thomas · September 11th, 2008, 11:40 AM

"I think" that someone who said it did not work the first time forgot to power cycle the camera between versions 1.10 and 1.11... and did so the second time.

Matt Davis · September 11th, 2008, 03:09 PM

I'm waiting for a 'window of opportunity' to get my EX1 sorted before November, but still passionately interested to hear from anyone at 1.11 regarding the Audio level controls.

At 1.03, there appears to be a length of knicker elastic connecting the audio level wheels to the actual level circuits. Twiddle a knob, wait a few seconds, and eventually the audio circuit responds.

You don't ride the levels, you waterski behind them. Or so it seems.

Has this been improved?

... Before I gas on to some poor Sony rep at IBC...

George Kroonder · September 12th, 2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bodnar

Once it has been upgraded to 1.11 there is no way to tell you who actually upgraded it...

...on the camera. But Sony seems to log history on its camera's (the service bulletin for the update mentions all camera's that already have been upgraded). So if it's not on their system, they didn't perform it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bodnar

it may store the date info for when it was updated but not that Jo Blow decided to do this himself and it was not actually done by Sony themselves...

I doubt it would be an issue unless things went wrong during the upgrade (FW upgrades are very reliable however) or on related work that should have been carried out, but wasn't (who knows?).

George/

Steven Thomas · September 12th, 2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Daviss

Has this been improved?

It's a bit of Janglish, but here's the list of improvements and Bugs (v1.1) for the EX1:

[Addition of New Functions and Improvement of Functions]
1) SxS 32GB, PHU-60K is supported.
2) The 24Psf signal output is supported in the Camera Mode.
3) Chinese menu is supported.
4) Clip Number Reset function is changed to the Clip Number Set so that arbitrary number can be
entered.
5) The Clip > Update function is added in the MENU so that the management data inside the
media can be restored manually.
6) Number of the shutter speed choices is increased.
7) It is improved that the REC mark can be displayed even during LCD Display OFF.
8) Audio distortion is decreased. (TRIM level is changed to the 6 dB step when operated from the
menu.)
9) It is improved that the picture does not swing during the REC Review mode.

[Bug Correction]
1) The trouble is corrected that an error occurs when switchover of the media slots takes place
during continuous recording with the i.LINK connected.

Tom Roper · September 14th, 2008, 12:10 PM

#6 - More shutter speed choices.

**************************

If Sony's position is to force me to send in the camera for easy firmware fixes like this, my response will be to see what the next generation from Canon brings, and postpone consideration of all Sony accessories like high capacity storage drives and media until that time.

Edit:

And actually, there already are far more choices of shutter speed within the existing firmware, by choosing the "ECS" shutter mode. You can choose any shutter speed you want in 1 unit increments (or less) from the range of 1/60.02 to 1/2018.

Steven Thomas · September 14th, 2008, 03:48 PM

I hear you Tom.
The number ONE reason for me to upgrade is the possibility of using 32GB memory cards.
This is great for event work.

Adam Reuter · September 14th, 2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Roper

#6 - More shutter speed choices.

**************************

If Sony's position is to force me to send in the camera for easy firmware fixes like this, my response will be to see what the next generation from Canon brings, and postpone consideration of all Sony accessories like high capacity storage drives and media until that time.

Edit:

And actually, there already are far more choices of shutter speed within the existing firmware, by choosing the "ECS" shutter mode. You can choose any shutter speed you want in 1 unit increments (or less) from the range of 1/60.02 to 1/2018.

Hey Tom, thanks a lot for this tip! I was wondering how I'd get a proper PAL 1/50 shutter speed and this may be the answer. ECS doesn't do anything except affect shutter speed, correct? It doesn't mess with the signal any other way...I am hoping... Because this will also allow for proper doubled frame rates for slow motion effects as well.

Rick Yeh · September 14th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Is this upgrade also solve the battery problem?

Steven Thomas · September 14th, 2008, 06:27 PM

No, you have to send it in and have a board replaced or two.

Keith Moreau · September 14th, 2008, 11:29 PM

My recent experience with Sony service:

Just got the 1.1.x upgrade. Hand carried it to Sony in San Jose. Strange experience, the Sony service center is housed in their regional warehouse, and you really can't get to a counter or anything and there are no signs or any indication it's Sony building. You have to knock on an unmarked loading dock door, and somebody lets you in, then you wait while somebody from the service part of the building comes to get your camera. Nice enough people who attended to me, but just seemed, well, kind of unprofessional at least for a walk in. In the huge warehouse by the loading doors were stacks and stacks of EX3s (among other things), waiting to be shipped out.

I asked for warranty repairs on the backfocus, the battery drain, and the newest firmware upgrade. I got the person who took my camera and made me fill out paperwork to sign their name that the camera was in perfect condition and just the items mentioned needed to be upgraded (the horror story of somebody else who had their EX1 dropped or something scared me).

There was a kind of unprofessional form I filled out with the serial number, what I needed done, etc. No carbon copied service forms, like you might get at an auto repair place, or anything. They made me a copy of the form.

A couple days later they called me to tell me the 1.1 firmware was going to cost $100. I asked if that was set in stone or if I had other issues if they'd just upgrade it for free. The service manager called me back and said they had received a memo from Sony corporate they needed to charge and they couldn't change that policy, so I agreed to pay for it, so I had to fill out a fax with my credit card number and fax it to them.

I picked it up a couple days later. It took from Monday until Friday to make these repairs. Other than the battery drain issue, which seems to be repaired, the focus and the firmware update isn't really noticeable to me. I haven't shot with it much other than to test that the backfocus was ok, not really better or worse than when I brought it in.

So I guess I'm really glad they didn't destroy my camera, but all in all... not the most professional warranty service experience I've had, especially for a camera that costs as much as a car (ok, a really cheap used car...). But I got the camera back in one piece and the darn battery issue seems to be fixed. I don't have to remember to pop the battery off the camera after each use.

I'm getting the Expresscard adapter thingy, might be fun to try that storage option out.

Bill Ravens · September 15th, 2008, 08:47 AM

I sent my EX1 in to service center in LA, two weeks ago. My emails to LA Service result in a reply by the next day, however, the info provided is simply "the engineer has your camera and is working on it". When I've asked when they expect to have it returned, I'm told "stop asking us, we'll let you know when it's ready".

All in all, I'm not happy with Sony Corp.

Steven Thomas · September 15th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Bill,
What did you send your camera in for?

Bill Ravens · September 15th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Steve...
1-battery drain issue
2-labels wearing off of the switches
3-firmware update to 1.11

Just got an email saying my EX1 was ready and is being returned today, 9-15-08

September 11th, 2008, 03:09 PM	#124
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Does 'minor bug fixes' include audio tweaks? I'm waiting for a 'window of opportunity' to get my EX1 sorted before November, but still passionately interested to hear from anyone at 1.11 regarding the Audio level controls. At 1.03, there appears to be a length of knicker elastic connecting the audio level wheels to the actual level circuits. Twiddle a knob, wait a few seconds, and eventually the audio circuit responds. You don't ride the levels, you waterski behind them. Or so it seems. Has this been improved? ... Before I gas on to some poor Sony rep at IBC... __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

September 15th, 2008, 11:26 AM	#135
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Steve... 1-battery drain issue 2-labels wearing off of the switches 3-firmware update to 1.11 Just got an email saying my EX1 was ready and is being returned today, 9-15-08 Last edited by Bill Ravens; September 15th, 2008 at 02:25 PM.

September 11th, 2008, 10:48 AM	#121
Jason Bodnar Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 376	I think they are probably saying if you brick your camera while trying to upgrade yourself it will not be covered under warranty as you are not suppose to upgrade yourself... Once it has been upgraded to 1.11 there is no way to tell you who actually upgraded it... it may store the date info for when it was updated but not that Jo Blow decided to do this himself and it was not actually done by Sony themselves...

September 11th, 2008, 11:35 AM	#122
Noah Yuan-Vogel Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 613	"probably"? im just not sure i want to risk my warranty over it. we dont know for sure if they can tell, right? when it talked to the guy at sony i couldnt tell i he knew i had 1.05 based on my registration info that i gave him or if he just assumed it since i was calling about the upgrade. im not that concerned with bricking my camera since there are a few reports of success and no reports of bricking and it doesnt sound like a complicated process at all. someone on this forum was saying it didnt work the first time but worked the second time so seems like even if you dont do it correctly youll likely just have to try again and it wont leave your camera bricked. of course if you pull the cord in the middle of updating that might be a different issue.

September 11th, 2008, 11:40 AM	#123
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	"I think" that someone who said it did not work the first time forgot to power cycle the camera between versions 1.10 and 1.11... and did so the second time.

September 14th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#127
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	#6 - More shutter speed choices. ************************** If Sony's position is to force me to send in the camera for easy firmware fixes like this, my response will be to see what the next generation from Canon brings, and postpone consideration of all Sony accessories like high capacity storage drives and media until that time. Edit: And actually, there already are far more choices of shutter speed within the existing firmware, by choosing the "ECS" shutter mode. You can choose any shutter speed you want in 1 unit increments (or less) from the range of 1/60.02 to 1/2018.

September 14th, 2008, 03:48 PM	#128
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	I hear you Tom. The number ONE reason for me to upgrade is the possibility of using 32GB memory cards. This is great for event work.

September 14th, 2008, 06:09 PM	#130
Rick Yeh Tourist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA Posts: 2	Is this upgrade also solve the battery problem?

September 14th, 2008, 06:27 PM	#131
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	No, you have to send it in and have a board replaced or two.

September 14th, 2008, 11:29 PM	#132
Keith Moreau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane, California Posts: 530	My recent experience with Sony service: Just got the 1.1.x upgrade. Hand carried it to Sony in San Jose. Strange experience, the Sony service center is housed in their regional warehouse, and you really can't get to a counter or anything and there are no signs or any indication it's Sony building. You have to knock on an unmarked loading dock door, and somebody lets you in, then you wait while somebody from the service part of the building comes to get your camera. Nice enough people who attended to me, but just seemed, well, kind of unprofessional at least for a walk in. In the huge warehouse by the loading doors were stacks and stacks of EX3s (among other things), waiting to be shipped out. I asked for warranty repairs on the backfocus, the battery drain, and the newest firmware upgrade. I got the person who took my camera and made me fill out paperwork to sign their name that the camera was in perfect condition and just the items mentioned needed to be upgraded (the horror story of somebody else who had their EX1 dropped or something scared me). There was a kind of unprofessional form I filled out with the serial number, what I needed done, etc. No carbon copied service forms, like you might get at an auto repair place, or anything. They made me a copy of the form. A couple days later they called me to tell me the 1.1 firmware was going to cost $100. I asked if that was set in stone or if I had other issues if they'd just upgrade it for free. The service manager called me back and said they had received a memo from Sony corporate they needed to charge and they couldn't change that policy, so I agreed to pay for it, so I had to fill out a fax with my credit card number and fax it to them. I picked it up a couple days later. It took from Monday until Friday to make these repairs. Other than the battery drain issue, which seems to be repaired, the focus and the firmware update isn't really noticeable to me. I haven't shot with it much other than to test that the backfocus was ok, not really better or worse than when I brought it in. So I guess I'm really glad they didn't destroy my camera, but all in all... not the most professional warranty service experience I've had, especially for a camera that costs as much as a car (ok, a really cheap used car...). But I got the camera back in one piece and the darn battery issue seems to be fixed. I don't have to remember to pop the battery off the camera after each use. I'm getting the Expresscard adapter thingy, might be fun to try that storage option out.

September 15th, 2008, 08:47 AM	#133
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	I sent my EX1 in to service center in LA, two weeks ago. My emails to LA Service result in a reply by the next day, however, the info provided is simply "the engineer has your camera and is working on it". When I've asked when they expect to have it returned, I'm told "stop asking us, we'll let you know when it's ready". All in all, I'm not happy with Sony Corp.

September 15th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#134
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	Bill, What did you send your camera in for?