Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 at DVinfo.net

Andrew Smith · March 20th, 2014, 05:53 AM

I had been complaining that such a modern camera as the PMW-300 had only USB2 support when USB3 was clearly the current standard.

Just realised that shunting data over a USB3 connection requires proper CPU support. To that extent, it may be more than what the chip-set driving the camera (aka a computer with sensor block and lens attached) can handle.

Makes sense. Just a bit of a shame, really.

Andrew

Doug Jensen · March 20th, 2014, 06:42 AM

What difference does it make? I honestly don't know a single person who uses the camera for ingesting clips. That's a pretty expensive card reader! A better option is to use Sony's USB3.0 reader/writer or Sonnet's Thunderbolt reader.

Andrew Smith · March 20th, 2014, 06:57 AM

The viable option of using the camera to transfer from directly. At USB3 speeds, it's not going to be much of a hold-up for the camera before it goes back in to usage.

Andrew

Andy Wilkinson · March 20th, 2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

What difference does it make? I honestly don't know a single person who uses the camera for ingesting clips. That's a pretty expensive card reader! A better option is to use Sony's USB3.0 reader/writer or Sonnet's Thunderbolt reader.

Yep! That's what I use (the Thunderbolt PRO version connected to a rMBP, as it's much faster)...still takes a while to download a full 32GB SxS1a card (newest orange ones) with 1080p50 4.2.2...but it would take forever via the PMW-300's USB and I don't want my cam cluttering my edit desk during it either!

Andrew Smith · March 20th, 2014, 11:09 PM

Yup. You'd only be shifting via USB2 if you were truly desperate. The cynic in me thinks another reason for only USB2 is that it helps sell their overly expensive USB3 reader.

(The cost for a reader for the more open standard and very usable QXD card is only $37.94 at B&H, compared to $300 for the proprietary Sony SxS card reader. The uber-necessary USB3 SxS card reader might be a high margin profit-maker for them. Just saying.)

Andrew

Meng Li · March 20th, 2014, 11:38 PM

Answer's simple: That USB port is not quite for exporting information, though it does have that feature as one of the fundamentals but the major use of it is to connect to IFU-WLM3 to let users gain control using iPad. So the real purpose of the USB port is to send signals to the camera to do actions like zooming or focus adjustment etc., which does not need a USB3. If you really want to use it to transmit data back to computer then it's OK as a last resort, but will take forever.

Andrew Smith · March 20th, 2014, 11:58 PM

That does make a lot of sense. :-)

Andrew

March 20th, 2014, 05:53 AM	#1
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 I had been complaining that such a modern camera as the PMW-300 had only USB2 support when USB3 was clearly the current standard. Just realised that shunting data over a USB3 connection requires proper CPU support. To that extent, it may be more than what the chip-set driving the camera (aka a computer with sensor block and lens attached) can handle. Makes sense. Just a bit of a shame, really. Andrew

March 20th, 2014, 06:42 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,442	Re: Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 What difference does it make? I honestly don't know a single person who uses the camera for ingesting clips. That's a pretty expensive card reader! A better option is to use Sony's USB3.0 reader/writer or Sonnet's Thunderbolt reader. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

March 20th, 2014, 06:57 AM	#3
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 The viable option of using the camera to transfer from directly. At USB3 speeds, it's not going to be much of a hold-up for the camera before it goes back in to usage. Andrew

March 20th, 2014, 11:09 PM	#5
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 Yup. You'd only be shifting via USB2 if you were truly desperate. The cynic in me thinks another reason for only USB2 is that it helps sell their overly expensive USB3 reader. (The cost for a reader for the more open standard and very usable QXD card is only $37.94 at B&H, compared to $300 for the proprietary Sony SxS card reader. The uber-necessary USB3 SxS card reader might be a high margin profit-maker for them. Just saying.) Andrew

March 20th, 2014, 11:38 PM	#6
Meng Li Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Richmond, BC, Canada Posts: 52	Re: Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 Answer's simple: That USB port is not quite for exporting information, though it does have that feature as one of the fundamentals but the major use of it is to connect to IFU-WLM3 to let users gain control using iPad. So the real purpose of the USB port is to send signals to the camera to do actions like zooming or focus adjustment etc., which does not need a USB3. If you really want to use it to transmit data back to computer then it's OK as a last resort, but will take forever.

March 20th, 2014, 11:58 PM	#7
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: Thoughts on why the PMW-200/300 has no USB3 That does make a lot of sense. :-) Andrew