Bricked EX3 due to firmware update

Gives a whole new meaning to that phrase about "bricking oneself" about a stressfull situation.

Updates for a camera as expensive as the EX1s should be a hassle free experience.
 
Well they are if you follow the instructions and don't try to run the PC version of the update on a MAC which is in effect what you are doing trying to run through virtualisation...

Its not hard and is hassle free:
See
http://www.vimeo.com/10106072
 
I don't understand why people are talking about running the PC version of Version Up Tool in virtual PC (or Boot Camp) on their Mac. The Version Up Tool I downloaded was for a Mac. The download comes with 2 application folders in it. One for Mac and one for Windows.

VersionUpTool_PMW-EX3_1.10_1101(Mac)
VersionUpTool_PMW-EX3_1.10_1101(Win)_a

I ran the Mac version on my Macbook Pro and had no problem updating my EX3. I made sure everything was pluged into AC, and had fully charged battery power for both.

The PDF manual that come with the download even suggests that:

"Use the BC-U1/U2 Battery Charger to connect the
PMW-EX1/EX3 to an AC power source. You can
mount the battery pack at the same time to prevent
problems in case the AC power source is interrupted."

I updated from 1.02 to 1.10.
 
dpryke said:
I don't understand why people are talking about running the PC version of Version Up Tool in virtual PC (or Boot Camp) on their Mac. The Version Up Tool I downloaded was for a Mac.
Click to expand...

Because the blog post from the OP said that he tried the Mac tool and it didn't work, so he ran the Windows tool using Parallels.

It helps to pay attention, ya know?
 
Yea but he didn't say why it didn't work, after one attempt when he couldn't get it to work it seemed his next option was to go through a completely unsupported and untested approach.
 
I have both EX-1 and EX-3 so I downloaded both updaters. It seems that the Mac VersionUp Tool (upgrader app) packaged with the EX-3 update did not work. So I deleted that app and copied VersionUp Tool from the EX-1 updater to the same folder as the EX-3 updater. At that point I was able to launch the VersionUp app and update the EX-3. I had updated the EX-1 first and had no problem. That might account for why the OP was using the Windows app.
 
Guys....hate to bump this thread but also hate to start another.

I have not been able to use my EX3 since buying it a few years ago (criminal waste of $$ I hear you say.....long story as to why) but am now in a position where I can devote most of my time to Videography now that I have given up a large part of my Web Design activities.

I filmed a wedding for my nephew as a real test case and was going back and forth between auto iris/manual iris (1.9 for dim church mostly) and auto focus/manual focus with a good PP profile/+3 gain etc.
I was horrified with the footage at wide angle setting which was mostly out of focus.
This I take it is the Back Focus issue.

My firmware is V1.02_0078
Why does a 8,000euro camera need a service to fix?

My Sony PrimeSupport Agreement expired on September 01 2010.
I was far too preoccupied at the time to figure this would cost me so badly.

What does a Sony Service firmware update cost?

Anyone experience the back focus issue and see it resolved with the update?
 
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I realize this is going to sound like I am having a go at you but I am really not. I am just trying to point out the issues here:

EIREHotspur said:
I have not been able to use my EX3 since buying it a few years ago (criminal waste of $$ I hear you say.....long story as to why) but am now in a position where I can devote most of my time to Videography now that I have given up a large part of my Web Design activities.
Click to expand...

Understood, everyone has things going on in their lives...

EIREHotspur said:
I filmed a wedding for my nephew as a real test case and was going back and forth between auto iris/manual iris (1.9 for dim church mostly) and auto focus/manual focus with a good PP profile/+3 gain etc.
I was horrified with the footage at wide angle setting which was mostly out of focus.
This I take it is the Back Focus issue.
Click to expand...

So you didn't shoot ANY test footage with the camera before deciding to film the wedding of a family member? That's walking the razor's edge. I test my camera before filming the local kids' football matches. And I been using it regularly for 2.5 years. Have you attempted to set the back focus on the camera? Here is a video on how to perform the procedure:

http://vimeo.com/13007009 (Thanks Andy!)


EIREHotspur said:
My firmware is V1.02_0078
Why does a 8,000euro camera need a service to fix?
Click to expand...

My car cost 5 times that amount and it requires servicing several times per year.


EIREHotspur said:
My Sony PrimeSupport Agreement expired on September 01 2010.
I was far too preoccupied at the time to figure this would cost me so badly.
Click to expand...

Ok, so you bought a camera, let the warranty run out on it, used it untested on a one-time event, and had an issue. Certainly a tough situation to be in, but honestly, there's no one else to fault. A cursory check of the camera on delivery would have shown up problems while the camera was under warranty and it could have been sorted quickly, and likely for free.


EIREHotspur said:
What does a Sony Service firmware update cost?
Click to expand...

Here in the states, the cost I heard was about $100. I did my own updates with no trouble.


EIREHotspur said:
Anyone experience the back focus issue and see it resolved with the update?
Click to expand...

I seem to have read of others fixing the issue, but as I have an EX1, it's not been an issue for me. I'd suggest trying to see if you can set it yourself per the video, and see if you can get the desired result. Again, I am not trying to be harsh with the comments here, and my comments are really in general terms as it's not a unique scenario.

I sincerely wish you the best with this situation, and I hope others have valuable advice for you as well.
 
Thanks for that Perrone...I will work through that backfocus video tomorrow.

Sounds really stupid I know.....I hate even reading it back to myself but got to be honest about it and not bullsh!t.

Health issues with my partner took up a lot of my time and concentration the last few years.

I usually research stuff as much as I can before I buy......should have held off buying the camera until I had time enough to devote to it but there you are.

I can't do the updates myself though according to the warning about firmware below 1.04 (mine is factory setting 1.02)

Thing with the wedding is that he really wasn't too bothered about a video....it was me that pressed him to have one and there is a lot of mid to close up stuff that I can use.
Silver linings and all that.
 
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Ok, I was really hoping you'd understand I wasn't trying to bash you there. Thanks for understanding. And do let us know how you get on with the video. I watched it and I don't even have an EX3! I thought it was nicely done and very informative.

I can't remember what firmware my camera shipped with, but then the EX1 and EX3 may not have been congruent in terms of firmware numbers.
 
Usually firmware updates will wipe your backfocus calibration clean, so update your firmware which is incredibly easy, then you must calibrate your backfocus as it has been reset. It's a very simple procedure, just google for instructions on how to do it with an ex1/3. Is it the same for the ex3?
 
I have read up on it the past few days and seen posts (including yours) and a lot of warnings about updating.

I can't do the updates myself though according to the warning (on the Sony Website) about firmware below 1.04 (mine is factory setting 1.02).

Thing is wouldn't it be safer to go from 1.02 to 1.11 and then update to 1.2?

It seems they do not want people to jump straight up to 1.2.

I cannot find the first update anywhere though.....obviously they make money from the updates.
 
Looks like perrone might have your back. I have older firmware but only for the ex1. Go from your 1.02 firmware to an earlier firmware update, then the newer one. Just follow the version number warnings and such on their site.

Nothing to be afraid of about updating, just make sure you're using the right firmware number, follow instructions, and have it on ac power with a battery. I have heard of nobody bricking their cameras due to upgrading, except for the guy that started this thread. Who tried to do it in a virtual machine layer. So don't do that.
 
No problem Perrone....thanks for the thought anyway.

I agree with that though, reading too much can put you off doing anything.
Spent an hour on with Sony.....Irish number put me through to a guy who wasn't in Ireland and he passed me to a UK number who said that the Ex3 was a Pro Camera and gave me a number that rung out....the ring back got me onto a lady who was getting more impatient by the minute because the line was so bad it sounded like she was shouting at me down a wired bean can......you got to love Telesales people.

Amongst other media update features, The latest firmware negates having to readjust the backfocus every so often..right?

I will try and see if anyone else on the other forums have it and go from there. Thanks Lads.
 
No problem, and the backfocus should only ever have to be set once and left alone. But when you update the firmware, it gets reset so you have to do it again. Little bit annoying
 
Fohdeesha said:
No problem, and the backfocus should only ever have to be set once and left alone. But when you update the firmware, it gets reset so you have to do it again. Little bit annoying
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Wow, this would have been a nice thing for Sony to tell us in the firmware update instructions. Unless I missed something...Anything else it erases like white/black settings in the service menu?
 
Fohdeesha said:
No problem, and the backfocus should only ever have to be set once and left alone. But when you update the firmware, it gets reset so you have to do it again. Little bit annoying
Click to expand...

When you set the back focus following the the latest firmware updates, does the update fix the back focus for good once and not have to periodically set it?

Problem goes away?
 
I'm not sure, I've never dealt with a drifting backfocus adjustment, my camera has always kept the calibration solid, until I updated the firmware and it wiped it clean. If yours is drifting out of calibration over time that sounds like a mechanical issue
 
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