Sony PMW-EX1 (aka XDCAM EX) Official Thread

Wagsy, what housing will you be using and when will it be available? Please give some specifics on the available controls and options on the housing. I have not pre-ordered the camera yet. I'm waiting for a few user reviews on the camera, and then will plan out a housing to fit my needs, if I decide to do it. Aquavideo could have a housing built within a week or less of receiving the camera, but I would want to do it right, and not rush things. I hope you are first in the water, so you can do your usual excellent review. Me, I haven't fully decided if I really need it or not. Still pretty happy with my FX1 and Bluefin.

Dan

Dan the FX1 is wonderful but for this project it cannot be 25 mbps HDV and using a full HD setup is way to $$$, hard to travel with and harder to get the shots we want.

It will be custom made by a guy who made this. www.seafilms.com.au/hdtv.php

It will not be perfect or as robust as aluminum but it should be done by the end of the year if all goes to plan to be used in an up coming project. It looks like the others main manufactures won't have anything out for many months hence why we have gone this way.

Controls I have asked for

On /Off

Record/standby

ND filter

Iris, auto/manual with mechanical manual control.

Focus with auto/manual control with mechanical manual control.

Manual WB

Zoom

DB gain control

Shutter control

Wide angle to be on the camera itself and will shoot through dome port.

No URPRO but might be able to put one in the end of the camera barrel if needed for tropical stuff.

It will be designed so there is no barrel reflection when shooting up etc.

Was thinking of having the LCD out so one can view from the top but it would make the housing to wide.

I want it to hung the housing as best it can so it's not some big round bulking thing with lots of air space in it.

Will probably set it up so I can use the 16.9 Amphibico monitor ontop if needed.

It will be balanced so it is slightly negative like the Phenom with both internal/outside weights so easy to free dive with.

I'll update as things as it moves along.

Sounds good Wagsy. The EX1 will need an odd shaped housing to accomodate the protruding handgrip. It sticks out pretty far. Too bad the monitor does not flip up like the FX1/Z1, as that would save us some difficulties and $$$$. You will probably want access to at least one of the four assign buttons and possibly the macro focus also, maybe even menu and picture profile. Endless possibilities and complexity. The Sony WA lens should work very well with a dome port, and you definitely save $$$$ and have less awkward weight distribution. So, has your project approved the 35 mbps VBR codec for HD broadcast?

Dan

For those wishing to see the operators manual on this new Sony cam....

its embedded in this file.....

http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowConten...d=1193315622075

just download the clip browser and open... the manual is in there....

This is quite an interesting thread. I am still very much on the fence about the EX1. 35mbs at 4:2:0 feels like a very small incremental step...especially when you consider the big $$ involved in the switch and the overhead in even getting a working housing. Dan and Wags, don't underestimate the huge value in having a professionally produced, perfectly trimmed and balanced housing, with full electronic controls. Going all manual, and using prototype product is a big change.

This cam may turn out to be the real deal...I don't know. Everyone was raving about the V1 prior to its release. The actual reviews by UW folks turned out to be mediocre. I think i need to wait a bit for field results before I consider a second mortgage, and a degree in mechanical engineering for this set up LOL

I also wonder if RED will put a lot of pressure for sony to release a 4:2:2 (or better cam) in a year. If that were the case, I would definitely hold out for that. I would also consider a 35MB stream Z2 (if they made it) in the same form factor. That would enable reuse of my set up ...PLEASE Sony Please!

Yes it would be nice if the LCD could be like the FX1 and then make a window on top to see it Dan.

Might still have the LCD flipped out on the side so one can look down into it, have to see how wide it would make the housing. Could kind of mold it like this beta version has.

Still have the hole in the back for the viewfinder as we..

Shawn if there was a pro housing for it we would buy one no problems.

I don't think it comes with a Lanc hole anyhow so bit hard to make it electronic controlled.

Downloaded the manual so can go through the controls, cheers Dixter.

From what I have been reading, it's better than a Z1/FX1 quality wise period.

Better in low light that the panny.

Larger 1/2 chip.

35mbps still is not as high as true HD but that extra 10mbps is going to help quite abit.

We need to acquire the footage as high quality as we can without going to full HD but it will be the same rules if using HDV for a production ie 15% can be used. Im sure that rule may change once word gets around just how good it is.

The RED is going to be a huge housing underwater like the same size as a full HD rig.

I know Sony are also bringing out a XDCAM EX kind of thing but with detachable lens like a full size pro camera.

Anyhow lets see if it all comes together for us.

I'm wondering if Canon will jump in with something that's spot on for us at some point (4:2:2, solid state storage etc.). Surely they have to respond to Panasonic/Sony at some point.

If you guys making custom housings plan to shoot macro, why don't you think about a Century +3.5 diopter on a flip arm? That's what I would do. You could use an 82-72mm filter ring to hold the diopter and provide a fixing to the arm. It's thick but not that thick. Although I expect Dan, you'll be thinking of getting an Expodisc in there right?

Not sure how zebra and peaking will be controlled on this cam but I'd want access to those probably.

The other thing I would do is have 3 cups fitted direct on the housing body so I could snap in some Gorillapod legs.

The camera has no LANC control so it has to be kind of all mechanical and as the camera has so many buttons, you would end up with a housing with knobs everywhere. It does have a lens remote connector like a full size pro camera has for tripod use.

Nick with a wide angle on inside the housing I don't think we could get any flip arrangement happening. Zebra control seems easy to do, button on the side of the camera.

I came across some Gorillapod legs in a shop a few days ago, yes will have to get a set.

Plan is to dump it to a Laptop in the filed via USB 2 or put the card into a PC slot in the laptop then have a couple small external USB drives to make backups on in case laptop dies etc.

Thanks to Mr Peter Mooney of ScubaPix for providing Wetpixel with the schematics of the PMW-EX1, we can now see what the actual dimensions of the camera are. The same schematics have been provided to the big housing manufacturers already:

EX_with_hood_and_battery_.pdf

The most interesting aspect of this camera is the separate remote control for the lens, which will allow great control of transition shots.

 

Also the WA lens from Sony seems not to be too huge, a boon for the port optics housings.

Ex_with_wideconverterlens.pdf

 

Now all we need is an EX with 4:2:2 color XDCAM HD 50mpbs.

 

Any housing manufacturer who hasn't got these dimensions please feel free to use them. And please make a good housing with all the tidbits.

I've been watching this thread. Drew, you hit the nail. 4:2:2 color space is critical. I have an article on this camera in my WetPixel FLOG and another about the Sony bandwagon. I don't care who buys what, or who likes what. Just be sure what you're buying and, most importantly, why. Cool factor is not a good one. Color space is. I don't recommend any HDV camera underwater for the same reason. Pro-sumer or Con-fessional? Who's who? Comments and suggestion welcome.

Dixter - Thanks for the link. It is all over the web, but I saw it here first. Good find.

shawnh - I'm definitely on the fence, waiting for more info. Lots of good features and specs, but need some real world tests before making any decisions. I too really wish they had made an upgraded FX1/Z1 that would fit our housings. I am still getting great results with my FX1, but as I said earlier, I would like the better low light ability and image quality that the EX1 should have. I bought the FX1 in Oct '04 and began shooting underwater in early '05 with an Aquavideo housing. Yea it's not as fancy as the Bluefin HD, but it got the job done. Have had no regrets with my purchases, but I always want to capture in the highest quality possible, hence the interest in EX1.

Nick - I definitely plan on using Expodisc with any current or future housing, but as Wagsy said flip arms will be more difficult as they have to go in front of the WA lens, so everything has to be bigger and there may not be much room. I'm exploring the possibilities and researching dome ports. Gorillapod? Of course, everyone should have one (or more).

hd2o.tv - I don't know what to say to you. I will say that your anti-HDV, anti-MPEG2, and anti-Sony sentiments are unfounded and untrue. Reading on your website you state that Keys diving is the best diving in the world. Well that statement tells me plenty about you. There are some nice wrecks down there, but "the best diving in the world", don't think so. Too bad I would have to pay to see your work, I might have enjoyed it. Guess I'll never know. I notice your posts here and elsewhere all have the same agenda. I think you could use your time and talents far better than what I've been seeing. "4:2:2 color space is critical", critical for what, shooting good video? Don't think so. I do agree it would be a great feature, but critical it is not.

Dan

We would all luv to have full HD setups but we all have not got $150,000

hd2o.tv I don't know what you have edited HDV on but the realtime colour correction from EDIUS using the Canopus HQ 8 bit codec is wonderful even in dirty green water. In blue clear water it's even better.

BTW the Canopus HQ codec is an intra-frame variable-bitrate 4:2:2 codec. It yields average file sizes between 100-160 Mbps and you can even crank it up to like 340 mbps if you want.

Before

After

HDV was made for the masses and it certainly is a huge step up from DV. Yes it has it's limitations but once you know what it's good and bad at it can pump out some wonderful results.

Here is a 1.1 (jpg) screen grab taken from horrible incorrect colour space HDV timeline. If the XDCAM is better than this then I will be one happy chappy.

http://hdvunderwater.com/videoclips/lion.jpg

Also I don't think it would be a very good business thing for SONY to make these little camera's as good as the full HD one's as it would kill that market.

Good example Wagsy. The current XDCAM HD cameras with 1/2 chips all shoot 35 mbps VBR 4:2:0 at 1440 x 1080 resolution, and is readily accepted by broadcasters as HD, and is preferred over any camera with 1/3" chips, no matter what the codec. The XDCAM EX with 1/2" chips will shoot 35 mbps VBR 4:2:0 at a full 1920 x 1080 resolution. Wait till the camera ships and goes into use before condeming it for it's codec. Also note the the modern codec used by the XDCAM is far more efficient than some older ones, and the 35 mbps is just the video portion. 25 mbps HDV is audio and video. XDCAM audio is recorded uncompressed separately. As great as HDV is (and it is), the XDCAM EX is sure to impress.

Wagsy - Have you gotten a delivery date for your camera yet? I also understand the WA lens may not be shipping till January. Any word?

Dan

First half of this month I was told.

I'll ask about the WA for it.

Here is a guy who has a F900 and XDCAM HD.

http://www.studiodaily.com/hdstudio/editorschoice/8102.html

Does anyone know if metadata such as exposure information can be captured to HDD with the video file? Like RAW stills. It would be great to see exposure info for a clip during editing, which is something we can't do with DV or HDV without looking back at the tape.

Wagsy, do you have any dimensions for your housing yet?

Cheers, Simon

The Digital Journalist has a good review of the EX1 here - good read and gives some additional details on the handling of the camera.

Cliff, that's a reprint of the DVUser article from Aug and already listed awhile back by Ferg.

Everyone should note that the EX1 housing is NOT yet a huge priority for the major housing manufacturers. The smaller housing manufacturers should sweep the floor on this one being that they can quickly release a product.

Sweet, I guess there's gonna be a few FX1/Z1's on the selling block soon for us mere mortals...

Wags, I kind of like the first capture... That green reminds me of my HC7 footage...

I have received a mail from Gates, they are working on xdcam ex housing; expected shipping date is June 2008.

I know that Sony clip viewer software runs only on Intel Mac. Does anyone know how we, poor G5 quad owner, will be able to import xd cam ex files straight into Final Cut 5 (not 6...).

Alberto

I'm feeling really bummed - flew down to Sydney from sunny Cairns to pick up my new XDEX camera only be told there is a small delay.

End result it will not be available for another 2 weeks which is after my trip to the Eastern Fields