Firmware 1.11: Realworld Extreme Tests Verify Efficacy

Lonnie said:
Love the stereo right to left effect - which mic did you use?

and did you boost the signal with a mixer or is this only mic to camera?

Thanks Mark,
Lonnie
(i also asked these on your utube page)
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I used the Rode NT4 on the camera, direct into the camera's preamps. Attenuator set to -23 or -29 (I think I changed it midway through the parade) and Rec volume at '6'.
 
GuyB said:
... While you can upgrade the firmware to 1.11, you can't fix the battery drain, label wearing & possible lens alignment issues without an expensive repair bill ...
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Do you know how I can determine whether my EX1 has the lens alignment problem?
 
Guy

You mention "Label wearing". Does that mean the white words on the camera wearing off? Because the sales rep did mention he had trouble reading some of the buttons. I also saw that the labeling was worn on a friend's early model EX1. That would indeed suck.

The battery drain prob is the worst though - costing a grand (with shipping) to get fixed. That immediately removes any bonus to the 1,200.00 in savings from purchasing a used EX1.

C
 
I'm starting to see the nomenclature wearing off around the power switch on the older of my two (soon to be three) EX1s. It's annoying, but only a problem of resale value. But I can't imagine ever selling the EX1s. I'll be dead before they're obsolete.
 
Yess Basspig, I plan on having my EX1 for a long time. I will feel much better getting the newest model, and a protection plan as well. I'll probably go with the 3 year B&H plan. Used can be tempting, but for such a complex/expensive piece of machinery I want to start new. Who know how the last guy treated his gear even if it looks OK on the outside.
 
On something like this, for six Gs, 'tis the wise choice to buy new. Used isn't that much cheaper. Remember the old days when 'used' meant 50% off street price?
 
Other than the lens (which effects the image), the other issues can be 'worked around'. I lived with the battery drain for well over a year (locally we get a 2 year warranty on our EX's). I still find I remove the battery when putting the camera away anyway. The labels rubbing off is cosmetic once you get to know your buttons but its not ideal either.

The point is, the origonal owner could have got all these things fixed under warranty, but I don't think many actually did...

In USD, the EX1 is essentially $6K. Based on that, for an EX1 with high probability of these issues I'd pay maybe $4k second hand, but many are willing to pay more so I'm not about to score one at that price. If I knew it had all these fixed I'd possibly pay high $4K.
 
basspig said:
On something like this, for six Gs, 'tis the wise choice to buy new. Used isn't that much cheaper. Remember the old days when 'used' meant 50% off street price?
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Well...just like in the used car and used audio gear world good gear retains resale value. And crap gear gets relegated to 50% off street value once word gets 'round!

I look at the EX1 as the video equivalent to a Shure SM57 mic. It has its minor technical limitations and isn't the absolute best camera out there (but it is at its price point, no doubt) but it is relatively inexpensive (compared to cameras costing $30,000 for body-only) and it's a true workhorse that should be around for some time to come.

If Sony would have neglected the audio circuitry I would not say the same thing but because this camera has the resolution, low light sensitivity, LCD screen that you can actually focus with, long recording lengths and superb built-in audio...I can.
 
adamr316 said:
it's a true workhorse that should be around for some time to come.

If Sony would have neglected the audio circuitry I would not say the same thing but because this camera has the resolution, low light sensitivity, LCD screen that you can actually focus with, long recording lengths and superb built-in audio...I can.
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I hear ya man. Compressed audio is what made me reject any HDV camera. Not that there aren't some very sweet ones like the Z5U or Z7U, but I am an audio guy and I want something I can record a show with and feel good about without dragging the R4-Pro every time.

Of course the video quality is out of this world for that price too. I can't frickin' wait. I'm tempted to just bust out the American Express today. I'd get 60 bucks back for using that card too! Hell, that's the price of a Hoodman adapter.

Chadfish
 
Chadfish said:
I hear ya man. Compressed audio is what made me reject any HDV camera. Not that there aren't some very sweet ones like the Z5U or Z7U, but I am an audio guy and I want something I can record a show with and feel good about without dragging the R4-Pro every time.

Of course the video quality is out of this world for that price too. I can't frickin' wait. I'm tempted to just bust out the American Express today. I'd get 60 bucks back for using that card too! Hell, that's the price of a Hoodman adapter.

Chadfish
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Compressed audio and just the general frequency response of prosumer cameras was just not that great. The DVX100 came out and kicked that idea in the shins. Then the HVX was just as good or better and the EX1 just blew the gold standard wide open. I have a book that's not too old, "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video" and it explicitly states to not use the built-in audio on prosumer cameras.

Now I can thankfully ignore that advice and not have to use a clapper on-set to get broadcast quality sound.
 
I've been enjoying DAT quality sound on my VX2100 (known for being hissy) since I got the Greg Winter mod, which bypasses the internal preamps. I have a modified Sound Devices MixPre (to allow for attaching between cam & tripod) attached to my camera, and xlr-to-RCA cables going into the camera's RCA inputs. It sounds sweet. It was expensive to do, but I save so much time not having to fix audio in post.

Here's the little set-up I will be retiring after I get the EX1:

http://precisionintermedia.com/chadsVX2100pics/

She's served me well for almost 5 years.
 
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