Express Card to CF-adapter works in EX1?
 

I have a Sony HVR-Z7, working woth compact flash cards. I'm thinking of buying an EX1, but I would like to use CF-cards in that cam as well. I know there are several adapters on the market to put CF-cards in a Express Card slot, but do these work in the EX1? I mean mostly mechanically: doesn't the whole set-up protrude too much out of the camera's body, making it too vulnerable?

The adaptors are not for cf cards, they're for sdhc cards, and no the combination does not stick out of the EX1 slot if you use the mxr adaptor, if you use the kensington adaptor the combination does stick out. Both adaptors are very reliable, especially if used with the transcend sdhc class 6 cards.

Paul.

I don't think anyone has tried the CF/Express card setup. I have seen them out there, but have no idea if they would work.

Having something that large sticking out of my camera would make me concerned too.

The only way I know of is to use the Convergent Design nanoFlash or Flash XDR recorders.

HDV To HD-SDI Video Converters Professional Video Equipment HDMI To HD-SDI Television Studio Equipment

They bypass the onboard compressor and allow you to record 4:2:2 via SDI to their CF recording boxes. Not cheap, but the quality bump is worth it in my opinion.

Thanks Paul & James, I'll look into these two possibilities. Still, it would be nice if I could have the same workflow as with the Z7's CF-cards. If anyone has tried it, please let me know.

I just checked the MXR adaptor, and that looks great. A CF-card will always stick out and prevent the door from closing. So I guess the MXR adaptor is the way to go, even if it means buying a few SDHC-cards. Taking the price into account, that's not a disaster.

Luc, what would be the benefit to conform the two workflows?
Are you dissatisfied with MPEG2-Long-GOP material from two varying cameras?
I think it is a very satisfying situation to capture, edit and cut these source materials
on one and the same computer.

Best. P.

Yes, I realise that now, as long as I can use the 'log & transfer' workflow, it doesn't really matter if I have to load a CF-card or a SDHC-card in my reader.

The next important question is then: is at feasible - qualitywise - to mix clips of the two cameras in one project? Or is the gap between the quality of 1/3-inch and 1/2-inch sensors that wide that mixed editing is out of the question?

HMMMMMM. The cost of this type of acquisition system is very close to the cost of the entire camera. Wow.

Depends on which camera you use when ;-)

Yeah, I prefer a second camera then. It's just a hobby, so there are limits to what I want to invest...

Well, I like shooting concerts, so I would use the Z7 for dynamic camera work from a low angle (for which it find it very good), and the EX3 as a shoulder-cam for more steady shots. Plus the Canon HV30 with the Merlin steadycam to move on stage.What do you think?

I have the Sonnet Express34 CF adapter.

It does not fit in either my EX-1 or EX-3 so it is kind of moot whether it would work.

Ned Soltz

Thanks Ned. I'd go for the adapter with SDHC-cards, then. And probably spend some extra cash to get the EX3 instead of the EX1, as I prefer a shoulder-mounted camera. Since you have the two: is the EX3 really as stable as a 'conventional' shoulder-camera, say the S270?

Dear Barry,

The advantage to using the Flash XDR or the nanoFlash is in being able to record very high quality 4:2:2 images, using the full raster (1920 x 1080) that an EX1/EX3 produces but is not able to record.

The Sony EX1/EX3 record 4:2:0 images at 35 Mbps.

The difference between 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 can be dramatic, especially for film-out and other situations where the highest quality output is expected.

Another advantage is that with 100 Mbps Long-GOP, the codec can handle extremely detailed images and even lots of motion in the image or the camera. At 35 Mbps, there are cases where image artifacts can occur.

The Flash XDR and nanoFlash record 4:2:2 at your choice of 50 or 100 Mbps (Long-GOP), and 100, 140 and 160 Mbps (I-Frame Only - Intraframe Compression). We also offer 4:2:0 at 35 Mbps.

And we record to very low-cost CompactFlash Cards. A Kingston 32 GB Elite Pro CompactFlash card is currently under $60 at B&H.

(Disclaimer: I am the Director of Sales and Marketing for Convergent Design.)

Dear Dan,

I'm still waiting for the long promised MXF samples from the FlashXDR, recorded with an EX camera :)

Best Regards

Piotr