About to buy an EX1, input please

DCSensui said:
With the EX1 I'm seeing details in the brightest portions of clouds while also seeing the eyes of fishermen below their baseball caps. The deep blue ocean comes out rich and yet there's texture in the bow wakes of boats. Even backlit shots aren't as bad as they used to be with other cameras.

The show premieres this Sunday at 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard time and can be seen via the internet at OC16.tv. It'll give you an idea of what the camera can do.
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Looks good, Dean! Good luck with your show.

We shoot our show with the HVX200, but I'm thinking of switching to the EX1 next season because of the picture quality. Now if Sony would just fix these nagging little problems...
 
Sumfun said:
Looks good, Dean! Good luck with your show.

We shoot our show with the HVX200, but I'm thinking of switching to the EX1 next season because of the picture quality. Now if Sony would just fix these nagging little problems...
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I'm with you on this one!

Sony is so close to having one heck of a camera at $6.5K. Unfortunately, they fell short with numerous issues. I have no idea how these issues escaped QC.

I'm on my second camera. They are replacing the lens. Between my current camera and previous with both of them going back and forth to Sony service, at this rate the shop will have had longer time with the camera then myself!
 
PhantomVideo said:
The Sony Mics Suck, save the 250 and get a Senhisser.
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I don't think you know that the sennheisier sucks too. Only the 416 from Sennheisier seems abit decent. the ME66 is no good. There are many chaeper mics then the Me66 that are better sounding. Like the Rode NTG1 or 2

smoothmc40 said:
try Manfrotto tripods. they're inexpensive but work just fine unless you are doing high tension pan and tilts. the pan and tilt locks don't exactly lock that well. Cartoni's are nice. i think the Focus model is a nice choice for video cameras. Sachtler's are the best and their prices reflect it. a decent head and sticks will cost you over $4,000.


good luck!

-mike
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forget the manfrotto.. only the 516 heads and above are abit decent. The rest have back drift problems. If you want cheap and decent .The Libec 38 is a better tripod then the 503 and 501 heads of manfrotto.

even this reviews says the same too.

http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=150
 
well if you can afford the miller I would go that direction. Get the best you can afford. I've got miller solo legs with the libec 38 head. Its a great combo and doesnt hurt the wallet too bad.
 
basspig said:
I'm talking about ALL HDV cameras. We happen to have a number of HVR-V1Us and Canon HV20 in our 2007 lineup. All HDV images have compression artifacts, although the softer Canon images seem to aggravate the artifacts less.

The one thing I've found about the so-called "progressive" mode of those cameras is that it's really interlaced video and behaves like it in the editor, presenting some of the artifacts common to interlaced pictures.

The EX1 is using the XDCam HD CODEC, actually an extended version of it, which supports recording of full 1920x1080 images. HDV is only 1440x1080 and is interlaced 60i stream carrying "progressive" images in the stream. Totally different tech, totally different quality images.

The difference between images is nothing short of jarring. HDV has harsh highlights, aliasing is visible on edges and block artifacts in the shadow areas with a murky look to the darker tones. XDCam looks just like a moving photograph, with smooth, but detailed edges, detail in shadows, detail in highlights, no harshness, and it downconverts to SD beautifully.

We're not selling our HDV cams, as they have some use as closeup, locked off static shot cameras in cases where we need a lot of angles. Selling at current eBay prices seems like a major loss of investment.
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basspig I am sorry to say you have no idea what you are talking about. The codec is only on small part of what makes up a great picture from a camera. You are using v1us and hv20s. The canon xh-a1 cam shoot 24f which has at least 15% less compression than the cams that you have. So you are not talking about all hdv cameras just the cameras you have and not the one I recommended.
 
Quick question on the EX1 ... when rendering in a program like Final Cut Pro, does the EX1 footage in the high 35mb stream render like HD where it's pretty quick and easy to render your timeline or is it more like HDV footage where it takes up considerable processor time and energy?

I own a Canon HV20 and get frustrated by the rendering time but recently rented the P2 and was thrilled to see how much quicker post is because of the full HD. So is the EX1 more like HDV or the P2 when it comes to rendering?

(and I know the computer system and all the variables can affect this, just wondering in general)
 
statman said:
Quick question on the EX1 ... when rendering in a program like Final Cut Pro, does the EX1 footage in the high 35mb stream render like HD where it's pretty quick and easy to render your timeline or is it more like HDV footage where it takes up considerable processor time and energy?

I own a Canon HV20 and get frustrated by the rendering time but recently rented the P2 and was thrilled to see how much quicker post is because of the full HD. So is the EX1 more like HDV or the P2 when it comes to rendering?

(and I know the computer system and all the variables can affect this, just wondering in general)
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the ex1 is hdv with a higher variable bit rate. That is pretty much it.
 
Stevet said:
I'm with you on this one!

Sony is so close to having one heck of a camera at $6.5K. Unfortunately, they fell short with numerous issues. I have no idea how these issues escaped QC.
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Sorry, I am a little new to the game here but I am seriously considering purchasing the EX-1.

What are the numerous issues facing the EX1?
 
OK, here's goes the list. Grab a cup of mud and kick back. You will be able to search the primary EX1 forums here, and you know the other one. ;)

1. Vignetting issue:
This problem can usually be viewed within the focal range (zoom) 8-30mm.
Sony is aware of this issue and offers an adjustment. This problem was large scale with a lot of EX1 cameras.

2. Back Focus:
There has been MANY cameras that have BF issues. Some notice there is a difference with BF when switching to ND filters.
Sony is aware of this issue and mentione software 1.05 and proper calibration corrects the issue.

3. Chromatic Aberration (CA):
Some have complained that their cameras have excessive CA on the tele end of the lens. I'm not sure what the fix for this is? I have a camera that shows this issue a lot more compared to another. Hopefully Sony will fix this when they address issue number "6" below.

4. Paint is peeling off:
Lettering is rubbing off above controls. Some are having paint rub off on the handle. Very odd to say the least, especially for a camera that is brand new!
Sony is aware of this issue. This is unbeliable! My camera was less than two month old before some of the back letters started to rub off.
I'm also extremely anal when it comes to equipment care.... unreal!

5. IR contamination:
Under some lighting conditions blacks can have a reddish tint.
It appears Sony some how overlooked this possible issue. Some are buying
an IR cut filter. But, the filter may be a trade for causing other color shifts.
As of now, Sony has offered nothing on this issue.

6. Excessive focus deviation across the image plane at longer focal lengths:
I have not heard but maybe three cases. Unfortunatley, mine is one of them! In fact they are "currently" replacing the lens for this issue!

7. ND filter switch sometimes sticks in between ND settings:
I imagine Sony will be able to easily fix this issue. I'm not sure if anyone has returned their camera to have this addressed.
Mine has never had this issue.
 
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DavidChia said:
I don't think you know that the sennheisier sucks too. Only the 416 from Sennheisier seems abit decent. the ME66 is no good. There are many chaeper mics then the Me66 that are better sounding. Like the Rode NTG1 or 2

http://www.dvuser.co.uk/content.php?CID=150
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Look you can't be serious. The ME66 is far from " no good ". I use mine all the time for and have used one with out one problem since 1998. That's 10 years of service. Mind you for Nat sound/ run and gun doc and outdoor shows. I mean am I missing something? Its not like they cost $99.00.

JK
 
I agree about the ME66. It's a fine, versatile mic.

I shot two features with it. One in 1995 that still airs on the Sci Fi channel and one last year (with a different unit, though the same model). It records perfectly nice, dry voice tracks.
 
Alan Bradley said:
just my two cents, but i think a spare battery IS essential. the stock bp-u30 is crap. it will last you very little time. the spare bp-u60 is much larger and i think a must. unless you plan to be tethered to a wall outlet. also, i have the libec h38. it rocks. $650 list. not sure that the sony mic you suggest is worth the $250. i'd check out the audio technica at4073a or at least the rode ntg-1 ($250).
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A strong vote here for the Rode NT4 mic. I shot a festival this weekend with a fellow DVXuser member, and did everything from recording interviews to recording a few minutes of a rock concert, up at the edge of the stage, and the quality of the audio was just unbelievable. The interview audio was clear and free of excessive background noise, the parade audio was "like being there" and the rock concert clip sounds like a CD album.
The Rode is a little bulky and 80% of the bulk is a handle/battery compartment which is not necessary for phantom powered applications, but the sound quality makes it all worth the extra buik. I carried this setup around all afternoon following the parade shoot and I did not find the EX1 + NT4 tiresome to hand hold all day. Then again, when I'm not shooting video, I'm usually swinging a hammer all day, renovating my house, so YMMV. :)

But I'd be hard pressed to find another camera that can provide the picture and sound that the EX1 is capable of. It's truly a Reality Capture Machine.
 
Ok, so I am ready to buy. I have decided at the moment to hold off on sound equipment until I'm more familiar with the camera and actually start shooting with it, and to go all out on the tripod..



I'm gonna get the EX-1 from B&H now, with the Sagemax protection plan.. (it's pretty steep at $500, but with the warranty being transferable, and just for general peace of mind, I think that it's worth it.. I bought a $7000 lemon-car from a private party last year, so have learned my lesson about taking risks with big purchases. Also, with the exception of it being stolen, it pretty much eliminates the need for insurance)



Next, I'm grabbing a complete solo dv / DS20 kit from Adorama.

http://www.adorama.com/MIDS201501.html?searchinfo=ds%2020&item_no=3.

I'd prefer to buy it from B&H also, but it's $20 cheaper here and has free shipping, so will save me about $50 that I can put towards something else.



Sooooo, the only thing left I have to order is some sort of case for the camera. I would prefer a hard case I guess, but I'll do a soft case as well if the price / protection is right. Hopefully some people here can give me a good recommendation on a case that the EX1 can fit snugly into while leaving room for accessories, etc.





THANK YOU all for the great information I received
 
lahoozaa said:
Hopefully some people here can give me a good recommendation on a case that the EX1 can fit snugly into while leaving room for accessories, etc.
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I repurposed my Petrol Wings bag fairly successfully, would recommend it at the drop of a hat, but may I rant a bit?

UK airports have, to a greater degree, restricted people to one carry-on bag. Many cut-price operators have sizes slightly smaller than the international standards. Just to trip you up.

I regularly need to transport a Z1/EX1, MacBook Pro, 500 GB disk, 320 GB backup disk, mics, wireless mics, stick mic, cans, w/a adaptor, lens cleaning kit, batteries, charger, leads, camera tape, gaffer tape, tripod, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

Usually, my clients choose a budget airline.

And when I incur the inevitable excess baggage charge, I get a pile of manure dumped upon me at invoice time.

I am currently using a (get this...) "Jasper Conran" carry-on bag, where major bits of kit are wrapped in Bubble Wrap. Due to the lack of built-in padding, I can get everything into one carry-on bag (edit and shoot kit). It kind-of works, and I get no hassle. However, it's difficult to sling radio mics, hard disks, tapes, and the rest into one bag with no protection.

But it's either that or pack the Petrol Bag and my own baggage into a huge Storm/PeliCase trunk and incur excess baggage at 4x the cost of the airfare! NB: Only LHR in the UK seems to allow 2x hand baggage (which means Petrol and backpack are fine), the rest spell problems.

Petrol Wings does it for me: EX1, with Sanken CS-1 on top and Sennheiser cans to pad out lengthways. In the other side, I have room for 2x Sennheiser G2 radio mics, charger, 2x G60s, 1x G30, AKG 230 stick mic, lens cleaning kit, filters, cables, flashlight, XLR cable, spare AAs, camera tape, warm cards and some allen keys.
 
cool, thanks for the advice.

My tripod and camera are both on the way, will be here on Monday and Wednesday, am so excited!

Still haven't gotten a case yet. If anyone in the LA area has a used one for sale, I'd be interested.
 
was hoping to not spend much more than 100 bucks, so this looks pretty good actually, thanks
 
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hi, i'm also about to buy an ex1, so thanks for all the tips on this thread. can anyone advise on filters (circular polarising & UV) and basic lens attachments for this camera? I know there's a sony wide angle for about $450 but wondered if anyone has any recommendations.
 
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