Firmware for the PMW-EX3 at DVinfo.net

Paul Inglis · November 10th, 2009, 05:30 AM

I have been looking to upgrade my firmware for the PMW-EX3 by can’t seem to find them. I know that some firmware versions have been available for a while now if you send your camera to Sony but can you upgrade it yourself? I’ve done a search but no avail.

Thanks in advance!

Olof Ekbergh · November 10th, 2009, 07:17 AM

I have seen some links to the FW.

However Sony does at this point not consider it an enduser upgrade. They want you to take the camera to a Sony service center.

There is always a risk when you do a firmware upgrade, you can probably find the file somewhere on the WEB, but be careful.

I have read a rumor that future FW upgrades will be published for user upgrade at least for the EX1, hopefully for the EX3 as well.

Paul Inglis · November 10th, 2009, 08:40 AM

Thanks for that Olof! Explains why I can't find any for the EX-3. Hope that they make it, so that end users can update their own firmware as it's not always possible to be without a cam for the time it takes Sony to do it!

Alastair Traill · November 11th, 2009, 04:51 AM

I recently had my EX3 firmware upgraded by the local service center. It was considered to be part of the warranty so there was no charge. They kept the camera for a couple of days.

Paul Inglis · November 11th, 2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

I recently had my EX3 firmware upgraded by the local service center. It was considered to be part of the warranty so there was no charge. They kept the camera for a couple of days.

That cool! Unfortunately for me I live on a small Island so I have to ship overseas to the UK to get my firmware upgraded. Turn around was quoted at three weeks. I can't live that long without the cam.

Barry J. Anwender · November 11th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Firmware upgrades in Canada is precarious to say the lest, unless you live in Vancouver or Toronto. I live serveral thousand Km from both of these Sony depots. I spent an entire day on the telephone trying to find the right phone number and person to talk to. I lost count of the number of times that I was literally transferred from one side of the country to the other. Even the Canadian dealer who sold me the EX3 transferred me to a dead Sony telephone number, claiming it would connect me with a manger who get the ball rolling. The Sony Canada web sites are also useless as the "Contact Us" phone numbers are out of date, their e-mail address are not answered.

Now if you live in Vancouver or Toronto it is a matter of driving over to the depot and hand delivering the camera. It seems Sony Canada has no concept of service outside of these two cities or their respective provinces.

Given the above, there is no way I am going to risk taking my EX3 out of service. I will not send it by courier because neither depot is willing to take responsibility for firmware upgrades out side of their province. This situation is intolerable!

Brian Cassar · November 11th, 2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Inglis

That cool! Unfortunately for me I live on a small Island so I have to ship overseas to the UK to get my firmware upgraded. Turn around was quoted at three weeks. I can't live that long without the cam.

Paul I know the feeling - I'm in the same situation as yours. However when and if there would be an important and needed upgrade for the EX3 I'm thinking of flying over to London and having the upgrade done on the same day while I wait for it. This means a 3 hour flight either way but at least it would travel as hand luggage and not tossed about by some courier. I'm willing to pay for the flight as long as I know that the camera was not man handled and that I would not have to wait for some 3-week long waiting period.

John Wallace · November 13th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Um, how can I find out what FW version my camera is running?

JW

Barry J. Anwender · November 13th, 2009, 02:14 PM

John, select, cancel, and menu buttons all at once--but not the ones on the handle (they won't work),the ones next to the menu button.

John Wallace · November 13th, 2009, 03:53 PM

Thanks Mr. Anwender!

[wonders how much damage can be done in these menus]

Next dumb question: Anyone know what's the latest version available?

Machine I have runs 05_0094.

JW

Alastair Traill · November 13th, 2009, 07:05 PM

Hi John,

As I stated in my post above I had my firmware updated a few weeks ago and the version is called V1.05_0094. The updating was delayed for a few days as I was advised that that this new version was coming. No one could tell me what the updates were, however I can still use my MXM and MXR adapters. I was advised that the updating was probably irreversible which is something to consider.

John Wallace · November 14th, 2009, 05:09 AM

Hi Alastair,

Interesting you mention using MXM and MXR adaptors.

Reason I asked is I've been following a thread about media error / restore woes.

I seem to be having a lot fewer problems than other folks.

Firmware may be an issue.

Maybe you could chuck in your own experience?

JW

Paul Inglis · November 14th, 2009, 06:25 AM

I was reading another thread and I believe it was Alister Chapman who said, that Sony might be allowing end-users to update their own firmware so that they could use the latest orange cards and their own version of the MxR.

However, I am wondering if this move will include a complete update for those who haven’t had any firmware updates from the original version (the one that was in the cam at the release last year)?

Paul Inglis · November 14th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Cassar

Paul I know the feeling - I'm in the same situation as yours. However when and if there would be an important and needed upgrade for the EX3 I'm thinking of flying over to London and having the upgrade done on the same day while I wait for it. This means a 3 hour flight either way but at least it would travel as hand luggage and not tossed about by some courier. I'm willing to pay for the flight as long as I know that the camera was not man handled and that I would not have to wait for some 3-week long waiting period.

I was thinking of flying over too. An expensive firmware update that would be though.

Ed Kukla · November 14th, 2009, 02:39 PM

I have 1.04

What do I get by updating?

Thanks all

November 10th, 2009, 05:30 AM	#1
Paul Inglis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: British Isles Posts: 415	Firmware for the PMW-EX3 I have been looking to upgrade my firmware for the PMW-EX3 by can’t seem to find them. I know that some firmware versions have been available for a while now if you send your camera to Sony but can you upgrade it yourself? I’ve done a search but no avail. Thanks in advance!

November 10th, 2009, 07:17 AM	#2
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	I have seen some links to the FW. However Sony does at this point not consider it an enduser upgrade. They want you to take the camera to a Sony service center. There is always a risk when you do a firmware upgrade, you can probably find the file somewhere on the WEB, but be careful. I have read a rumor that future FW upgrades will be published for user upgrade at least for the EX1, hopefully for the EX3 as well.

November 10th, 2009, 08:40 AM	#3
Paul Inglis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: British Isles Posts: 415	Thanks for that Olof! Explains why I can't find any for the EX-3. Hope that they make it, so that end users can update their own firmware as it's not always possible to be without a cam for the time it takes Sony to do it!

November 11th, 2009, 04:51 AM	#4
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	I recently had my EX3 firmware upgraded by the local service center. It was considered to be part of the warranty so there was no charge. They kept the camera for a couple of days.

November 11th, 2009, 07:33 AM	#6
Barry J. Anwender Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 382	Firmware upgrades in Canada is precarious to say the lest, unless you live in Vancouver or Toronto. I live serveral thousand Km from both of these Sony depots. I spent an entire day on the telephone trying to find the right phone number and person to talk to. I lost count of the number of times that I was literally transferred from one side of the country to the other. Even the Canadian dealer who sold me the EX3 transferred me to a dead Sony telephone number, claiming it would connect me with a manger who get the ball rolling. The Sony Canada web sites are also useless as the "Contact Us" phone numbers are out of date, their e-mail address are not answered. Now if you live in Vancouver or Toronto it is a matter of driving over to the depot and hand delivering the camera. It seems Sony Canada has no concept of service outside of these two cities or their respective provinces. Given the above, there is no way I am going to risk taking my EX3 out of service. I will not send it by courier because neither depot is willing to take responsibility for firmware upgrades out side of their province. This situation is intolerable!

November 13th, 2009, 12:42 PM	#8
John Wallace Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dumfriesshire, UK Posts: 41	Um, how can I find out what FW version my camera is running? JW

November 13th, 2009, 02:14 PM	#9
Barry J. Anwender Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 382	John, select, cancel, and menu buttons all at once--but not the ones on the handle (they won't work),the ones next to the menu button.

November 13th, 2009, 03:53 PM	#10
John Wallace Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dumfriesshire, UK Posts: 41	Thanks Mr. Anwender! [wonders how much damage can be done in these menus] Next dumb question: Anyone know what's the latest version available? Machine I have runs 05_0094. JW

November 13th, 2009, 07:05 PM	#11
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Hi John, As I stated in my post above I had my firmware updated a few weeks ago and the version is called V1.05_0094. The updating was delayed for a few days as I was advised that that this new version was coming. No one could tell me what the updates were, however I can still use my MXM and MXR adapters. I was advised that the updating was probably irreversible which is something to consider.

November 14th, 2009, 05:09 AM	#12
John Wallace Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dumfriesshire, UK Posts: 41	Hi Alastair, Interesting you mention using MXM and MXR adaptors. Reason I asked is I've been following a thread about media error / restore woes. I seem to be having a lot fewer problems than other folks. Firmware may be an issue. Maybe you could chuck in your own experience? JW

November 14th, 2009, 06:25 AM	#13
Paul Inglis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: British Isles Posts: 415	I was reading another thread and I believe it was Alister Chapman who said, that Sony might be allowing end-users to update their own firmware so that they could use the latest orange cards and their own version of the MxR. However, I am wondering if this move will include a complete update for those who haven’t had any firmware updates from the original version (the one that was in the cam at the release last year)?

November 14th, 2009, 02:39 PM	#15
Ed Kukla Major Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: All over, USA Posts: 512	I have 1.04 What do I get by updating? Thanks all