XDCAM EX Firmware Updates Available

Pietro Jona · March 12th, 2010, 06:13 AM

Strange, i read on sony's pdf that comes with the downloaded file that Mac os x 10.4 is ok. I'll try later with my girlfriend's mac, which is newer.

Charles Newcomb · March 12th, 2010, 08:17 AM

"Personally I am waiting a month or so before upgrading to see how things shake out."

Olof: I think I'll hang out in the scaredy cat corner with you for awhile. That okay?

Barry J. Weckesser · March 12th, 2010, 09:11 AM

I was actually going to do the same thing - had some strong ice tea with a little caffeine buzz so told myself "what the hey" - it was a very smooth process except midway through I read in the instructions about having the battery in the camera even though you powered the camera with DC converter just in case your power went out and there was a storm system approaching so was a bit anxious until everything was done.

Maybe it is my imagination but the camera does seem to boot up more quickly and the red light on an SxS card seems to turn green in less time after recording.

Armando Accardo · March 12th, 2010, 10:33 AM

Hi,
I just wanted to post my own experience updating my EX-1 just few minutes ago.

I have been using an Intel iMac with Leopard 10.5.8.
The updater was starting ok.
After connecting the camera and hit ok after the license screen, I got a message that the USB connection got lost. I clicked ok and let it go, as I saw the uploading progression bar going fast toward 100%.It took quickly to reach 100%, then the system reported applying the portion to the camera: it went fast up to 50%, then it asked to reboot the EX1.
I switched off for about 10 seconds, then after I switched on into camera mode again, I got again the error message about the USB connection being lost.
I closed that one and hit ok on the main screen to continue.
The uploading phase went fast again from 0 to 100%.
This time the upgrade to the camera from 50% to 100% took more than before.
But at the end the EX1's red light flashed and the program informed me that the update went ok.

As I have an original 8GB SxS and couple of MxR adapters, I tried those first.
I lost the usual couple of minutes as reported already by others (on both SxS and MxR).
With my surprise I switched to the MxR with the Sandisk Ultra II 16Gb 15MB/s and I was able to shoot 10 minutes of 720p 25fps overcrancked 60p: never happened before.
I remember getting media error immediately and being able only to crank it up to 48fps.
I played back the clip from the camera and didn't get any media error as well.
So for me it was a great update as it looks like I'm now able to slowmo with the Sandisk as well as the SxS.

Cheers,
Armando.

Pietro Jona · March 13th, 2010, 07:04 AM

Tried again after failing with a G4 Powerbook. Used a Intel Macbook, everithing was fine.
I also had a couple of "USB connection lost" messages and let go.
I had to reboot the camera twice, this is probably because my EX1, that is one of the first ones sold in Italy and that I have just bought used, had never seen a firmware update before.
I have checked, the firmware version is now shown in the menu.
Thanks to all who posted about the update!
Time to buy some cards..

Paul Cascio · March 13th, 2010, 09:36 AM

Updating the FW on an expensive camera (EX1) is a guaranteed way to raise your pulse rate, but all went well. I used a laptop (Vista) so I had battery backup on both camera and computer.

I thought it only calls for 1 reboot, but it needed 2. SD cards work great now. Does this take care of the battery drain problem too?

Alister Chapman · March 13th, 2010, 10:03 AM

It won't change the battery drain, that's hardware :-(

Steve Nelson · March 13th, 2010, 10:54 AM

Upgrade went smooth on my EX-1. Everything working normally. Overcrank won't go longer than 2 1/2 minutes on Transcend SDHC Red Stripe Class 6 32Gb and 16Gb using MxR. I'm guessing Class 10 will be more reliable due to higher throughput capability. Although I get Media Errors I don't have to reformat to clear them. The card continues to function after rebooting the camera.

Robert St-Onge · March 13th, 2010, 01:56 PM

I was wondering if once the firmware upgraded, is the interval when recording and stopping and recording again shorten? I did read that the red light turns green faster but can you trigger it faster than before.

I have an EX1 and noticed when I switched to MxR adapter, that when you would record and stop and record over, the interval was about 1 second longer than using SxS cards.

Since recording times on cards have been shortened by the new firmware, I was wondering if this would have an incidence.

I never had any problems with recording media other than this with my EX1 and MxR. Never had any media errors or restore, has been extremely reliable, so I would greatly appreciate your feedback on that subject matter before I decide to upgrade.

Thanks

If you want a live view video upgrading the firmware to ex1:

Malcolm Hamilton · March 13th, 2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alister Chapman

It won't change the battery drain, that's hardware :-(

Hi Alister,
I take it, then, that the battery drain problem has to be corrected by Sony.
Is this an expensive fix?
Malcolm

Enrique Orozco Robles · March 13th, 2010, 04:23 PM

Is there a way to "back-up" the actual firmware on the camera (ex-3) before proceeding to update with the new one ?? ... Just as with computers .... To have your old nice backup in case something go wrong (as some cases reported...)

kind regards

Brian Rhodes · March 14th, 2010, 10:00 AM

I finally updated my EX3 and EX1 tricky getting the usb plug into the EX3 usb port. I had some cards laying from the early days of testing The Lexar express SSD 8 GB card now works in HQ mode fill whole card twice 1080 24 and 1280 60p no errors cannot over crank with the card. The MSAC-EX1 duo adapter still does not work.

Tito Haggardt · March 14th, 2010, 08:41 PM

i am also getting the tool error message when i try to install the up grade on my ex1. anyone have another site i can try to download from?
aloha
tito

Dean Harrington · March 14th, 2010, 09:12 PM

The update on the EX3 has solved my sandisk 32gb extreme SDHC card issue of re-formatting!

Pietro Jona · March 15th, 2010, 02:25 AM

Tito,

chances are that you have the same problem I had. What computer are you using?
I tried downloading the tool from differents places but in the end it was my laptop which wasn't working well enough (in spite of the requirements that came with the attached pdf).
The same tool opened and worked well in a younger laptop.

March 12th, 2010, 10:33 AM	#109
Armando Accardo New Boot Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 8	Update went OK. Hi, I just wanted to post my own experience updating my EX-1 just few minutes ago. I have been using an Intel iMac with Leopard 10.5.8. The updater was starting ok. After connecting the camera and hit ok after the license screen, I got a message that the USB connection got lost. I clicked ok and let it go, as I saw the uploading progression bar going fast toward 100%.It took quickly to reach 100%, then the system reported applying the portion to the camera: it went fast up to 50%, then it asked to reboot the EX1. I switched off for about 10 seconds, then after I switched on into camera mode again, I got again the error message about the USB connection being lost. I closed that one and hit ok on the main screen to continue. The uploading phase went fast again from 0 to 100%. This time the upgrade to the camera from 50% to 100% took more than before. But at the end the EX1's red light flashed and the program informed me that the update went ok. As I have an original 8GB SxS and couple of MxR adapters, I tried those first. I lost the usual couple of minutes as reported already by others (on both SxS and MxR). With my surprise I switched to the MxR with the Sandisk Ultra II 16Gb 15MB/s and I was able to shoot 10 minutes of 720p 25fps overcrancked 60p: never happened before. I remember getting media error immediately and being able only to crank it up to 48fps. I played back the clip from the camera and didn't get any media error as well. So for me it was a great update as it looks like I'm now able to slowmo with the Sandisk as well as the SxS. Cheers, Armando.

March 13th, 2010, 07:04 AM	#110
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Tried again after failing with a G4 Powerbook. Used a Intel Macbook, everithing was fine. I also had a couple of "USB connection lost" messages and let go. I had to reboot the camera twice, this is probably because my EX1, that is one of the first ones sold in Italy and that I have just bought used, had never seen a firmware update before. I have checked, the firmware version is now shown in the menu. Thanks to all who posted about the update! Time to buy some cards.. Last edited by Pietro Jona; March 13th, 2010 at 11:23 AM.

March 13th, 2010, 09:36 AM	#111
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Updating the FW on an expensive camera (EX1) is a guaranteed way to raise your pulse rate, but all went well. I used a laptop (Vista) so I had battery backup on both camera and computer. I thought it only calls for 1 reboot, but it needed 2. SD cards work great now. Does this take care of the battery drain problem too? __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

March 13th, 2010, 10:03 AM	#112
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	It won't change the battery drain, that's hardware :-( __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 13th, 2010, 01:56 PM	#114
Robert St-Onge Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mtl, CDN Posts: 77	I was wondering if once the firmware upgraded, is the interval when recording and stopping and recording again shorten? I did read that the red light turns green faster but can you trigger it faster than before. I have an EX1 and noticed when I switched to MxR adapter, that when you would record and stop and record over, the interval was about 1 second longer than using SxS cards. Since recording times on cards have been shortened by the new firmware, I was wondering if this would have an incidence. I never had any problems with recording media other than this with my EX1 and MxR. Never had any media errors or restore, has been extremely reliable, so I would greatly appreciate your feedback on that subject matter before I decide to upgrade. Thanks If you want a live view video upgrading the firmware to ex1: Upgrading the Sony EX1 to Firmware 1.2 on Vimeo Last edited by Robert St-Onge; March 13th, 2010 at 02:09 PM. Reason: link

March 12th, 2010, 06:13 AM	#106
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Strange, i read on sony's pdf that comes with the downloaded file that Mac os x 10.4 is ok. I'll try later with my girlfriend's mac, which is newer.

March 12th, 2010, 08:17 AM	#107
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	"Personally I am waiting a month or so before upgrading to see how things shake out." Olof: I think I'll hang out in the scaredy cat corner with you for awhile. That okay?

March 12th, 2010, 09:11 AM	#108
Barry J. Weckesser Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 427	I was actually going to do the same thing - had some strong ice tea with a little caffeine buzz so told myself "what the hey" - it was a very smooth process except midway through I read in the instructions about having the battery in the camera even though you powered the camera with DC converter just in case your power went out and there was a storm system approaching so was a bit anxious until everything was done. Maybe it is my imagination but the camera does seem to boot up more quickly and the red light on an SxS card seems to turn green in less time after recording.

March 13th, 2010, 10:54 AM	#113
Steve Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Monument, CO Posts: 109	Upgrade went smooth on my EX-1. Everything working normally. Overcrank won't go longer than 2 1/2 minutes on Transcend SDHC Red Stripe Class 6 32Gb and 16Gb using MxR. I'm guessing Class 10 will be more reliable due to higher throughput capability. Although I get Media Errors I don't have to reformat to clear them. The card continues to function after rebooting the camera.

March 13th, 2010, 04:23 PM	#116
Enrique Orozco Robles Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chihuahua MEXICO Posts: 146	Is there a way to "back-up" the actual firmware on the camera (ex-3) before proceeding to update with the new one ?? ... Just as with computers .... To have your old nice backup in case something go wrong (as some cases reported...) kind regards __________________ Enrique Orozco - Sony/JVC/Nikon/Panny cams, DJI/Yuneec drones, VegasPro www.aerofilm.com.mx

March 14th, 2010, 10:00 AM	#117
Brian Rhodes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 753	Lexar Express 8 GB SSD card work in HQ with update I finally updated my EX3 and EX1 tricky getting the usb plug into the EX3 usb port. I had some cards laying from the early days of testing The Lexar express SSD 8 GB card now works in HQ mode fill whole card twice 1080 24 and 1280 60p no errors cannot over crank with the card. The MSAC-EX1 duo adapter still does not work.

March 14th, 2010, 08:41 PM	#118
Tito Haggardt Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ocean View Hawaii Posts: 88	i am also getting the tool error message when i try to install the up grade on my ex1. anyone have another site i can try to download from? aloha tito

March 14th, 2010, 09:12 PM	#119
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	Update ... The update on the EX3 has solved my sandisk 32gb extreme SDHC card issue of re-formatting!

March 15th, 2010, 02:25 AM	#120
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Tito, chances are that you have the same problem I had. What computer are you using? I tried downloading the tool from differents places but in the end it was my laptop which wasn't working well enough (in spite of the requirements that came with the attached pdf). The same tool opened and worked well in a younger laptop.