FAST SDHC Memory for the EX1

:dankk2:Arkay, "Sony no Baloney!" It's nice to know that the EX-x cameras memory recording capabilities are not just "one dog tricks!" Has anyone out there tried other types of memory cards that work?
 
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Hi,

I'm new to this forum but I've been following the topic on KxS media. I'm a proud owner of PMW-EX1 and when I purchased the camera I purchased it with the idea of being able to use an alternative to SxS. Well, how quickly did I learn to obtain the right express card wasn't an easy job. My numerous attempts of obtaining one from overseas failed and the one I could purchase in Australia - it seems to be working ok but it sticks out of the express card too much and therefore unable to close Sony's trapdoor and using it that way would not make me look professional and could create all sorts of problems down the track.

In desperation I contacted manufacturers of OEM express card and see if they could produce a card specifically designed only for SD, SDHC card. Guess what, I will be receiving a samples of the cards mid next week and if I'm able to post a picture of it for anyone interested I will do so. I'm going to do further testing on the new samples to determine whether they meet all specifications. In other words there will be options to use express cards which will be fully inserted (without protrusions) . I will let you know some time next week for anyone interested in how I went.

Marek
 
Please let us know how you go Marek, I will be happy to update my KxS page if you get positive results.

I have to say though that the door open isn't a huge issue. I shot all day today with KxS without a problem nor a real concern of the door being open. It didn't get in the way at all. Sure I'd like it to close but I don't think it makes me look less professional because the media door on the camera is forward. The reality is all the other people wouldn't know what it means anyway.
 
Marek Bilski said:
Hi,
it seems to be working ok but it sticks out of the express card too much and therefore unable to close Sony's trapdoor and using it that way would not make me look professional and could create all sorts of problems down the track.

Marek
Click to expand...

Most professional cameras don't even HAVE doors. Not sure what you mean by this. Give them the best video product they've ever seen in their lives, and you can have a pink polka-dot door and no one will care.

Heck, Sony's OWN hard drive solution for these cameras don't let the door close either.
 
They are getting harder to get worldwise as stores sell out of stock. I am in Aust as well have have 5 of them, I got one from B&H when they got some stock, and 4 from an eBay seller who had about 6 of them (all gone now).
 
Well, i don't want to pay 80-100 dollars shipped

As well i want to leave the SD memory card permanently inside the adapter.

Marek
 
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Even at $100, your going to be saving huge amounts. You really want two or three readers as a minimum so the shipping gets spread out anyway. I have probably spend about AU$750 on KxS now, and have 5 readers and 5x16GB cards. Thats all for a little more than cost of a single Sony 8GB card.. I could probably sell my 2 8GB SxS on eBay and make a profit (enough to buy a 32GB Ultra II when they come out).
 
the alternatives cost $80-$100 shipped? I thought you meant the Kensington did but to me even at that price it is good value.
 
Already had 2 full days of shooting. No problems, whatsoever. The door is open as the card sticks out a bit, but no big deal. In fact, I am thinking of buying another card (not an adapter). Keep swapping / copying the cards, and can go uninterrupted for days. Copying the BPAV's on two different HDD's, and will buy a 1 TB external for additional backup.

So cool to shoot 7 / 8 hours (I make movies; 7 hours of set up and 1 hr of footage = 5 minutes of the movie) without worrying about the cards getting full.

I still can't thank enough to GuyB and all others who have figured this out.

Now, if I can be this lucky with the PP's . . .
 
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I am sure that a lot of you are very happy with Kensington cards after all their work. You even might try different memory and it can work too. To me, being able to close the door on PMW-EX1 is very important plus, I want to leave the SD card in the adapter at all times. Well that’s me anyway. I have been looking at ssd memory cards but the only ones worth considering are SLC not MLC .The SLC are very hard to get and as well they are more expensive but they give you (22 mb/15mb), so there is more headroom.

Guy did fantastic job on working out witch cards work but it does not mean that we can’t improve on that.

From where I stand, Kensington is a temporary solution and not the permanent one and nether is mine. If only Sony would drop their prices on their cards, then we might not have to worry about adapters, but the chances of that happening are nil.


Marek
 
Marek Bilski said:
From where I stand, Kensington is a temporary solution and not the permanent one and nether is mine. If only Sony would drop their prices on their cards, then we might not have to worry about adapters, but the chances of that happening are nil.


Marek
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts Marek. From where I stand, and apparently others too, is that the KxS solution is not a temporary one, but a very welcome permanent one. The ability to buy memory at any electronics store in any decent sized city in America should the need arise is a VERY welcome change from having to buy a solution from Sony directly. The price scaling and market forces will keep the SDHC cards lower, and the GB increases will outpace the SxS cards consistently. I have no doubt of that.

If the Panasonic P2 cards had faced this kind of competition a year after introduction, I doubt people would be paying what they are now for those cards.

I am also somewhat dismayed to hear that being able to close the door is a significant issue to you. That would keep you from using any number of more economical solutions. I hope something comes along that works for you.
 
Marek, I don't disagree that the KxS may be temporary until we find an expresscard adaptor that allows the memory door to close, but Sony's own 60 GB PHU-60K video drive also does not allow the door to close.

The savings is far beyond having the door close. 32GB SxS card costs $1500. The upcoming 32GB KxS will be less that $200 !!

None of the current SSD cards work well in HQ mode. They are NOT fast enough.
 
I think Marek has found an another reader to use due to the difficulty of getting the K reader, especially in Australia. If it is more like the Sandisk reader in ergonomics the SD card sticks out a long way in comparison to the KxS combo. You really feel like you could swip the card and break it by accident...

I too see the K reader as a temporary solution and hope a flush reader comes along but if it doesn't I won't be too stressed either.

I did notice last night the Sony cards have 'SxS Pro' brand on them does this mean they could release a slower cheaper 'SxS' card to compete with SDHC and readers. Having said that, it was much easier and cheaper to connect my SD cards to read off to my PC last night than any Express Card. I got about 1GB per minute transfer off the Ultra II so a 16GB card took about 15min (the camera never fills the card totally).
 
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