PMW-EX usability/ short comings

[Broad Reach Images]

I got the chance to shoot the EX on a few jobs recently, and while I have been very impressed with the quality of images the camera captures, I ran into some issues and inconveniences which have left me with a bad first impression of the camera. I would love for any feedback on whether I am in the minority, or if others feel the same.

My first issue with the camera comes with the menu system. I have seen other threads on this topic so I will not dwell on it too long, but it seems to me all the functions one would use most often are buried. i.e. formatting cards, switching record format / frame rates, and steady shot.

This first issue would not be such a big deal for me if the scroll wheel was more user friendly. Maybe it is something I would get used to, but when under pressure to change menu items quickly (mostly fps) I found the selector jumping all over the place as I inadvertently hit the wheel in the wrong direction. (The toggle which I finally discovered would have been a way better primary option).

Because this shoot involved a lot of interspersed 60 fps while shooting the rest of the content at 1080 30p, the process of switching the record format, then having to change the S & Q motion setting became cumbersome. Not to mention if the camera was shut off the S & Q motion setting turned off and needed to be reset. I realize these are just operator inconveniences and probably in most situations do not apply, but comparing it to the HVX I feel Sony has missed some obvious cues. Why are the assignable buttons, all of which are almost too accessible, ( I hit them by accident from time to time) filled with mostly, in my opinion, worthless settings? It seems they could be put to better use. Also, upon reviewing 60 fps shots on a bigger screen they looked soft. Our fix was to bump the shutter speed up to 120. Yet another menu item to click during a record change.

Probably my biggest issue with the camera is the EVF. I tried for about 40 minutes to get it in at least the same realm of the LCD, but it never came close. The image seemed always to be slightly washed and blown out. Now, the high resolution LCD is an amazing feature. It is a pleasure to review shots on, but in bright outdoor light it is not much better than any other LCD. Without a hood for the screen, and a barely functioning EVF, which I always would use in outdoor light, one is restricted to working off the zebras and hoping that the washed out image in the EVF is not what is being recorded. Not something I feel we should have to deal with in this day of age.

Other inconveniences I encountered were no preset for 5600k, not being able to fit a standard circular polarizer under the matt box, dealing with its poor weight distribution while hand held, a power switch one needs to really concentrate on in order to change correctly, having to cycle the camera through ‘off’ to review media disrupting some settings, and lettering on the camera that is already fading. (Has anyone else had this issue?? I was told this camera was only about a month old with light use and I could barely make out the ‘1’ and ‘2’ on the ND filter!)

There are things I like about the camera, the lens is great, and while I know that at the end of the day all that matters is the final image, I firmly believe usability is a piece of the puzzle.

Thanks for your thoughts and consideration.

 

[matthew77]

I agree with most things you say.

Also, upon reviewing 60 fps shots on a bigger screen they looked soft. Our fix was to bump the shutter speed up to 120. Yet another menu item to click during a record change.

For this one, if you set the shutter to 180° you wouldn't need to change the shutter speed. And I don't know why your images looked soft - perhaps too much motion blur.

1/120 is the accepted speed for 60p to give the proper "film look." 1/60 is a 360° shutter and is well known to look blurry to most viewers.

Other inconveniences I encountered were no preset for 5600k, not being able to fit a standard circular polarizer under the matt box, dealing with its poor weight distribution while hand held, a power switch one needs to really concentrate on in order to change correctly, having to cycle the camera through ‘off’ to review media disrupting some settings, and lettering on the camera that is already fading. (Has anyone else had this issue??

These issues are all partially true, but there are ways around them. Search the boards.

Also, I find the LCD workable in most lighting situations, and the EVF a reasonable gauge of exposure, though not nearly as nice as the LCD.

 

[Broad Reach Images]

Thanks for the tip on the shutter issue. I will make sure i check that out.

 

[Alan Bradley]

well, the scroll wheel is crap. i use the joy stick. it works a bit better for me.

the S & Q setting resetting after each power on/off does seems a pain but also it might save you someday when you "forget" to check the setting some morning the day after an S & Q shoot.

I've only used the EVF once and it did look like poo. I LOVE the LCD. name me one camera that actually has a good EVF? at least we have that LCD. it could be much worse. both the evf and lcd could be bad.

sure, the camera has it's quirks. but i would say all in all it is a BEAST!

 

[tjpowers]

My first issue with the camera comes with the menu system. I have seen other threads on this topic so I will not dwell on it too long, but it seems to me all the functions one would use most often are buried. i.e. formatting cards, switching record format / frame rates, and steady shot.

I would like to think that they burried these things for a reason. To protect users like me from themselves. For instance on the broadcast sony HD equipment (cameras and decks) you actually have to cycle the power to change system rates (I think it changes the mode of the power supply as well). As for the steady shot you can actually change that without going into a menu at all right in the interactive settings on the main display in camera mode.

I agree on the wheel... it is a little bit small and can be a bit frustrating.

 

[basspig]

The ergonomics can certainly stand improvement, but with $50K worth of picture in a $7K body, you won't hear me complaining too much about these minor issues.

I do agree that the scroll wheel on the back of the camera could be better. Seems like they borrowed the shape from the VAIO notebook line, rather than from prosumer cams like the V1U.

The menu features could be improved with a firmware release. I'd like to see the ability to rotate through the last menu item and have return to the top/first item, rather than to scroll all the way back up. Getting to something at the bottom would be much quicker. And ditto about the assign buttons being more useful if things like S&Q would be assignable. Alas, if Sony did this, then who would buy an F900?

I have a difficult time with my fat, stubby fingers, trying to operate the tiny switches. This camera was made for a woman's slender, pointy fingers, not a gorilla's. The fourth assign button and the shutter on /off switch are impossible for me to operate. I have to keep asking my wife to switch these. or bring a toothpick to operate them.

The weight distribution is no problem. I find that with the grip rotated forward about 70 degrees, that operation is much more comfortable.

 

[MattDavis]

while I have been very impressed with the quality of images the camera captures, I ran into some issues and inconveniences which have left me with a bad first impression of the camera. I would love for any feedback on whether I am in the minority, or if others feel the same.

Probably any new camera goes through the 'euphoria -> disgust -> grudging respect -> profitable staple' process.

Firstly, it makes the Z1 look like a dream camera in terms of everything except sharpness, sound quality and image. Oh. So what did I buy?

The Z1 is a PD150 with lipstick. The EX1 is NOT a Z1 with a tummy-tuck, found that out very early on. The whole joystick thing is a fabulous way to drive the camera. We just have to get used to it, that's all. The SxS workflow has been a revelation to me (now I have banks of nicely named shots, interviews with tummy tag info, groups of shots (done at different times) all named and consecutively numbered. Hooray.

The EX1 will bite you if you don't treat it right. My current metaphor du jour (as a long-term Z1 user) is that I'm like a cat owner suddenly owning a dog.

This is a manual camera. The people who designed it got a brief from the Z1 team, looked at it, and shrugged - "yeah, right". The auto audio is over-driven, the auto-focus is lethargic, the auto-white is scary, I could go on.

It's a shoulder mounted, hairy chested camera that has been squeezed into a Z1 form factor with no consideration for Z1 aesthetics. After all, look at where some controls are: I have to remove the camera from the tripod to disengage the zoom servo and I'll never access Button 4 without recourse to a map. It's all contempt, I tell you. Utter contempt!

So, here's a camera that
- Sees some black clothing as brown
- Has problems with the battery running down
- Will probably need back-focus checks for some time
- May need trips back home to cure some ills (ND? CA?)
- Has paint that rubs off
- Has a scary-good audio circuit that needs a Sound Recordist
- Has a lens so sharp it causes problems at downconvert time

Oh, the times I felt like sending it back.

Trouble is, to me, it looks like DigiBeta, it looks like HD, all that in a Z1 package with an FCP workflow that blows P2 out of the water (for me, for me only... honest). And it pees all over my Z1.

The EX1 is just like Uncle Henry.
- 'What's the matter with Uncle Henry?'
- 'He thinks he's a chicken'
- 'Why don't you take him to the doctor?'
- 'We need the eggs.'

 

[DCSensui]

I have a difficult time with my fat, stubby fingers, trying to operate the tiny switches.

Meanwhile I've had problems hitting buttons by accident. Turning on bars when picking up the camera for a quick grab shot, and not knowing right away how to turn it off.

Switching cards inadvertently when that button got bumped.

I might make a cover for those buttons I don't want too easily disturbed.

The one button that Sony put in the right place, and Panasonic totally missed, is the expanded focus button. Right where the shooter's hand is going to be almost all the time. Panasonic put their focus aid button in some odd spot on the left side where it's not easily found by someone who wants to do a quick focus check while doing run-and-gun.

 

[Ian Smith]

So, here's a camera that
- Sees some black clothing as brown
- Has problems with the battery running down
- Will probably need back-focus checks for some time
- May need trips back home to cure some ills (ND? CA?)
- Has paint that rubs off
- Has a scary-good audio circuit that needs a Sound Recordist
- Has a lens so sharp it causes problems at downconvert time

Oh, the times I felt like sending it back.

You missed a few:
- The ridiculous plastic SD cable cover that everyone loses within days of getting the camear
- The God-awful cheap and nasty plastic external mic holder that snaps off within weeks
- The dreadful fiddly, hard to position camera/off/video switch
- The ridiculous positioning of the AWB, Shutter speed and Assign 4 buttons

But, as you say, there's a lot to really love the camera for that compensates.

 

[da//media]

I dont know about everyone else, but I think you all should just go shoot the cam, run it through its paces and you will find that it's by far at the top of its league...
if your sitting pondering about how finicky the buttons are and how the scroll wheel isnt to your taste then your missin out on the fun part, which is getting some of the best footage $7k has to offer.....
seems like everyone is too caught up on the physical apsects of this camera, so some of it isnt designed the best, when you see the picture your thoughts should be swayed..
each time i go out and shoot, I come back more pumped on the camera than I was before, its off the wall good.

not trying to bad mouth anybody lol, but let start hearing some feedback on how the camera actually operates, not which buttons you would like to be made bigger and this and that...

Matt

 

[Ian Smith]

I dont know about everyone else, but I think you all should just go shoot the cam, run it through its paces and you will find that it's by far at the top of its league...
if your sitting pondering about how finicky the buttons are and how the scroll wheel isnt to your taste then your missin out on the fun part, which is getting some of the best footage $7k has to offer.....
seems like everyone is too caught up on the physical apsects of this camera, so some of it isnt designed the best, when you see the picture your thoughts should be swayed..
each time i go out and shoot, I come back more pumped on the camera than I was before, its off the wall good.

not trying to bad mouth anybody lol, but let start hearing some feedback on how the camera actually operates, not which buttons you would like to be made bigger and this and that...

Matt

As someone who's spent over 20,000USD on getting what I'd call a "usable" configuration based around the PMW-EX1, with further outlays necessary to overcome some of the problems of design pointed out above I think it's a slight exaggeration to talk about "best footage" and $7K in the same breath

I'd agree that it's a fantastic camera in terms of picture quality and control and I don't regret my purchase. I just think it could have been "sensational" rather than "fantastic" if they'd fixed some of these rather basic problems. It's not like they would be difficult to fix, or even difficult to spot given half an hour alone with the camera by a newbie.

 

[tjpowers]

As someone who's spent over 20,000USD on getting what I'd call a "usable" configuration based around the PMW-EX1, with further outlays necessary to overcome some of the problems of design pointed out above I think it's a slight exaggeration to talk about "best footage" and $7K in the same breath

I disagree. I am getting really nice pictures out of the box and haven't bought a SINGLE accessory. Really nice as in comparable pictures to our HDCAM Eng cameras here at the station. I think if you need to spend 20k for a usable configuration then you bought the wrong camera. Which we have already discussed in another thread.

I really think it is the best picture you are going to get for 7k. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[MattDavis]

I really think it is the best picture you are going to get for 7k. Maybe I'm wrong.

Don't forget that both Ian and I are Brits, and our national sport is moaning. We are VERY good at it, and come 2012, we'll get every gold medal in the moaning event, AND the whining and moping events too.

Most of us invested in the EX1 for its lens and its look, and compared to the rest in its class, it's magnificent WHEN you've addressed any build quality issues. You got a good one? Whoopee. Mine was soft at infinity out of the box:

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb.html

Then I needed to do it again for the ND filters.

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb2.html

And then there's the Infra Red thing so black clothing looks brown, requiring a $200 filter. Then there's the power leak (just gotta remember to unhook the battery when you're done). I could go on (I did and deleted it).

But then there's the joy of seeing what this puppy CAN do when you start trying out the look recipes and tweaking them to your desire. Blown highlights transmogrify into subtle tone, shadows open up with hidden detail. Colours begin to sing.

This is not necessarily an 'out of box experience' camera, and some people will be better served by adding matte box, rails, 35mm adaptor and Zeiss primes, 4x 16 GB cards, are we nearly at $10k yet, mum? I'm happy as is, though a Wangle would be nice, and I guess I'll need an IR filter.

We "always rains on my parade" Brit owners would just like to make potential owners know (like I learned before I bought mine) that whilst the picture is to die for, you'll feel pecked to death by a thousand ducks.

Could be worse. I could have bought a Split Screen Effect HD100! (grins, ducks and runs)

 

[basspig]

Don't forget that both Ian and I are Brits, and our national sport is moaning. We are VERY good at it, and come 2012, we'll get every gold medal in the moaning event, AND the whining and moping events too.

Most of us invested in the EX1 for its lens and its look, and compared to the rest in its class, it's magnificent WHEN you've addressed any build quality issues. You got a good one? Whoopee. Mine was soft at infinity out of the box:

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb.html

Then I needed to do it again for the ND filters.

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb2.html

Hey, if you think THAT'S soft, then I guess mine is total garbage. That image looked tact sharp compared to my EX1 at full tele!

 

[Ian Smith]

I really think it is the best picture you are going to get for 7k. Maybe I'm wrong.

Where did I say this wasn't the case?

If you haven't bought a single accessory presumably you already spent the cost of the camera on a decent editing PC so let's leave that out of it, but it still leaves a ton of other stuff.

Are you just recording 25 mins max at a time? A few extra 16GB cards (needed in my opinion just so you can have 2 hours safety) ramp up the cost significantly.

Do you always film using a mains adapter (or are your shooting sessions so short you can get by with the limited short life battery supplied instead of buying extra higher capacity ones)?

Are you really happy with the poor internal mic?

If you shell out a not inconsiderable amount for a decent directional mic are you happy that if camera mounted using the supplied holder it shows in the viewfinder when you zoom out? (if not that's more money on accessory adapters that shouldn't be needed if Sony had put a bit of thought into the design).

Do you not use a tripod?

How do you hand-hold the camera for more than 5 minutes without severe wrist strain?

If you invest in the shoulder mount how do you switch the camera quickly between tripod and shoulder mount without purchasing more expensive extra's?

Do you manage with no lighting?

Do you never need wide angle coverage?

Sorry, but I think it's rather ridiculous to imply 7K (the cost of the camera in its minimal form) is all it takes to get good video with this camera!

 

[basspig]

My Homemade Rode NT4 camera mount

My Homemade Rode NT4 camera mount

I picked up a Rode NT4 for $329 on eBay this week and made my own mounting kit from a pice of 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC pipe and a 3/8" bolt. Painted it black and used a little electrical tape to make a non-slip surface.

Rode NT4 mounted with wind screen.

Rode NT4 no wind screen.

Rode NT4 mounting adapter, home made.


Now I get fantastic audio (with trim carefully set for the situation) at a budget price.

 

[MattDavis]

Hey, if you think THAT'S soft, then I guess mine is total garbage.

Sorry if I've got the wrong end of the stick, but you are seeing the flip of images between before and after by mousing over the image and off again?

If yours started worse than mine, then cue the Fun Lovin' Criminals track, and smoke 'em if you got 'em. I guess you got yours tweaked back to perfection.

Your audio tests really show the scary bit about the EX1. My PD150 was a good 'un, pretty good audio, and I liked my Z1s as they were very forgiving. I did have an issue with male voices on chesty mics, but I guess that was due to putting a COS-11 on a bloke with a cold with just the wrong pitch of voice...

... Now, the EX1, as you've shown, records ABSOLUTLELY EVERYTHING. The onboard mics are so bad I wonder why they're there blocking the space for a matte box. I guess somebody in Sony R&D saw the requirement and shrugged, making a bad decision into reality.

I will post an AIFF of internal mic vs CS-1 camera mounted shotgun if anyone wishes to support the quality of the internal mics.

OTOH, you've done some very thorough and intense audio tests. Have you compared the AGC audio level to manual? Is it not the spawn of the devil? I find the AGC rides at the top-most level and gets overwhelmed at the merest whisper of difficult audio (wind rumble, tripod-transmitted noise, rogue bass frequencies that turn the EX1 audio circuits into wind chimes for robots). It's as if the designer has a contempt for this kind of thing, and I can picture a sort of 'Sin City' scene as the designer looks at the brief from Sony, and the table of settings he can create, narrows his eyes and pictures a bunch of wedding videos sounding like a podcast from hell. Nobody does Wedding Audio on MY camera!

Oh, but the nurse says it is time for me to take my medication (hopefully a nice little Merlot but probably not).

Matt - killing time whilst making VC-1 renders look nice in SilverLight, dreaming of tweaking my EX1 further into the realms of rapture...

 

[rrrobb]

what is this 200 $ filter to make the brown black again ? I think I just noticed this issue today when filming pure black objects. And also, where can I get one of those charts to fix the backfocus?

 

[tjpowers]

Where did I say this wasn't the case?

If you haven't bought a single accessory presumably you already spent the cost of the camera on a decent editing PC so let's leave that out of it, but it still leaves a ton of other stuff.

Are you just recording 25 mins max at a time? A few extra 16GB cards (needed in my opinion just so you can have 2 hours safety) ramp up the cost significantly.

Do you always film using a mains adapter (or are your shooting sessions so short you can get by with the limited short life battery supplied instead of buying extra higher capacity ones)?

Are you really happy with the poor internal mic?

If you shell out a not inconsiderable amount for a decent directional mic are you happy that if camera mounted using the supplied holder it shows in the viewfinder when you zoom out? (if not that's more money on accessory adapters that shouldn't be needed if Sony had put a bit of thought into the design).

Do you not use a tripod?

How do you hand-hold the camera for more than 5 minutes without severe wrist strain?

If you invest in the shoulder mount how do you switch the camera quickly between tripod and shoulder mount without purchasing more expensive extra's?

Do you manage with no lighting?

Do you never need wide angle coverage?

Sorry, but I think it's rather ridiculous to imply 7K (the cost of the camera in its minimal form) is all it takes to get good video with this camera!

I totally agree that these things are all essential to make good video. However this post is not about what a production house needs to have in their kit, it is about the performance and or shortcomings of the EX1 alone.

Thats all I was disagreeing with. And honestly, usable for me is a completely different thing than usable is for you.

I shot 2 days ago at a pro sporting event to get atmosphere and broll for station IDs and promos. Nat sound was not an issue. I didnt need more than 20 mins of footage. Battery was more than enough, even when shooting a couple short interval records. I did use sticks (sachtler) that I already own and use with other rigs. Lights were a not needed. Shoulder mount was not needed.

When I got back to the station, I put the video on TV and it looked great. Isn't that what this is about?

This may be your first camera and you may be starting from scratch but I think its fair to say most EX1 buyers already own most of, if not all of that extra stuff that is not camera specific.

My point is if you want a camera that goes on your shoulder, buy a camera that goes on your shoulder. If you want to get inexpensive broadcast quality footage in a very small package, get an EX1.

Leave the grip truck out of it.

 

[tjpowers]

Don't forget that both Ian and I are Brits, and our national sport is moaning. We are VERY good at it, and come 2012, we'll get every gold medal in the moaning event, AND the whining and moping events too.

Most of us invested in the EX1 for its lens and its look, and compared to the rest in its class, it's magnificent WHEN you've addressed any build quality issues. You got a good one? Whoopee. Mine was soft at infinity out of the box:

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb.html

Then I needed to do it again for the ND filters.

http://www.mdma.tv/ex1/fb2.html

And then there's the Infra Red thing so black clothing looks brown, requiring a $200 filter. Then there's the power leak (just gotta remember to unhook the battery when you're done). I could go on (I did and deleted it).

That is a bummer. I haven't seen those problems with my EX1 but then again I'm not shooting resolution charts. The real world footage has been great so far.

Americans love to complain too

Of course most of them are tape guys or your occasional disgruntled editor.