Adam Wilt on the EX1

megabit wrote on 2/2/2008, 2:36 AM

And here is some opinion from the real expert - I'm proud my observations are basically the same as Adam's (like the mosquito noise around fine contrasty edges):

http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/awilt/story/review_sony_pmw_ex1_1_2_3_cmos_hd_camcorder/

Also, what I find of a particular interest is Adam's assessment of the ASA sensitivity, on which reports were so differing: yes, it might be 800 ASA but only in the interlaced mode; in progressive it's just the more realistic 400 ASA. This is the reason I was a bit disappointed with the lowlight performance, as I'm exclusively using progressive!

Comments

farss wrote on 2/2/2008, 3:12 AM

Interlace will always gain you 1 stop over progressive, it's part of the system not the camera. Low light performance of the EX1sure blows me away compared to anything I've tried before. From my quick checks the lack of horrid blocking in the blacks is a vast improvement over the V1.

Bob.

DJPadre wrote on 2/2/2008, 4:20 AM

hmmmmm

well, DV aint so crash hot itself.. ive just been tweakinga shot i have of a setting sun with a couple running across the sunset and the gradiated colour from light to dark is so noisy, it isnt funny... this si on DV mind you..
With HDV the noise is far less obvious, but with teh EX, from what ive seen its stupidly clean.

As for interlaced and progressive luma ranges, almsot all progressive switchable cameras face this, DVX as well as HVX. ONE camera that DOESNT suffer from this though, is the A1, which is pretty nifty.. prolly because its still recording interlaced in Frame mode.

megabit wrote on 2/2/2008, 5:09 AM

It's also worth mentioning that even if cameras tend to be less sensitive in progressive mode, one can switch the shutter off and it will be eqal to the framerate, giving .twice as long exposure as with the interlaced, without introducing smear.

Serena wrote on 2/3/2008, 12:25 AM

Good review -- lot of tech discussion.

Serena wrote on 2/3/2008, 6:44 PM

In fact better than a "good review". Answers a lot of questions for those considering buying and brings to mind some things to which I'd paid scant attention. Very useful on picture profiles and a lab test of exposure lattitude: 10 stops.