My B&H guy says to be realistic they will be onhand for ordering about mid January. I'm thinking enjoy Christmas, get pissed at the New Year, and then hunt an EX1.

I did reply.
I'm in Sydney, Australia, "So where the bloody hell are you?"

Sorry about the language, that's from one of our tourism ads.

Laura is definately worth a look at!

Bob.

The cameras are in Melbourne but lacking the larger battery and the extra 8Gb SxS card. Promised for next week, so I reckon I can wait to pick up the whole package. Now I need Chrosziel to produce the matching rail mounting block.

Great info so far Bob. I think Spot will be the only one of us wearing this cam on his head. haha

Does anyone know if the cards will work with the express34 card slot on a MacBook Pro using Bootcamp? I can't imagine it wouldn't work, but just thought I'd ask in case someone has tried this. Then importing using the clip browser straight from the card obviously.

I should have mentioned I already have the V1 (MHStevens) as many others posting here do. I wasn't choosing between the two. So, it's nice to hear that the two can cut well with each other.

So far your dislikes seem tolerable Bob. Thank you again from all of us for taking the time to fill us in. Derek

"Now I need Chrosziel to produce the matching rail mounting block"

I'll be interested to see how you go with the Chrozy on your EX1, there's a photo around somewhere, maybe on DVInfo, that seems to indicate that with their matte box on the camera you can't close the LCD which is troubling. I was planning to use the Zacuto rails and mounting block, their block has a lot of adjustments for offset and height and they have a nice range of other parts that should work with the EX1, even if not I'd say they're already working on bits that do.

Lemac are the Zacuto agents.

Bob.

Not enough clearance on the installed mic? That would be a nuisance because it's convenient to leave the matt box installed when camera is in its case (which I do with the FX). Probably not a great problem, I hope, when shooting because can have both LCD and viewfinder on at same time.

EDIT: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachment.php?attachmentid=5383&d=1197059108matte box photo[/link]

I think in the photo the filter "knobs" are on top, which would be a huge problem. Can't do that with the Z1 or FX (take filters out the bottom).

EDIT2: the http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachment.php?attachmentid=5384&d=1197059108top photo[/link] seems to not have the matte box on the rails, so I'm not sure what is happening there.

EDIT3: http://16x9inc.com/products/chrosziel/ac-440-03ex1k.htmlChrosziel box[/link]

EDIT4: I observe that Chrosziel haven't got the LCD closed in their photo. I suspect that it does indeed interfere.

Thanks, one of those is the photo I was referring to.
For what it's worth I spoke with one of the guys from Chrozy at the 16x9 stand during NAB last. I'm pretty certain (it was noisy and he spoke quietly and English wasn't his first language I think) he had a lot to say about their matte box being redesigned for the Z1 so the filters would go in from the sides, that might help with the EX1 but we might still be stuck with a problem with the LCD. If was just the largely useless stereo mic, I do have a hacksaw...

I agree with you, if a matte box goes on the camera you don't want to be taking it on and off and you would want the LCD to fold away. I plan on renting my camera out so it needs to be goof proof.

This mightn't be too easy an issue to address, there's not much wiggle room there. Mount the matte box further forward and I'd expect you'd have a real vignetting issue to deal with, especially with a WA adaptor on the front or maybe not! Maybe leaving one on the camera would move the matte box further forward enough to clear all the problems, wonder if anyone will make a 1.0 WA adaptor, would solve the problem nicely and then you could get the filters in from the top with no obstruction.

Bob.

Will someone comment on the EX1's LCD. I know it has a lot more resolution than the FX1/Z1 but it is the same dimentions and I'm wondering is it big enough for a serious camera like this?

Mike

It's a big as the specs say it is.
Could they make it any bigger, not without running into a lot of issues.
It is razor sharp and the camera does provide just about every form of focus assistance know to man and even one I've not heard of before. It is missing a built in laser rangefinder (my old Sony DSC has one, don't laugh) and tape hooks.
Don't forget it's also got HD SDI output so you can hook it upto any of the good monitors or even a set of HD scopes if you're really picky and yes it seems the HD SDI is the real deal, we get the whole 10bit 4:2:2!

Now my only problem is this. It'll shoot 60p, woo hoo. So how the friggin hell do I edit that as 60p and what can play 60p?

Bob.

Bob: My question about the LCD was not directed to focus issues but whether there is the size/resolution combo to see detail in shadow and highlights for good exposure. Exposure is my problem. Is the histogram superimposed over the LCD image?

As my filming takes me deep into the outback / wilderness alone I'm looking to avoid carrying a laptop with OnLocation or an external monitor which isee to need with my FX1.

Cheers,
Mike

"Is the histogram superimposed over the LCD image?"
Yes but only in one corner of the frame, doesn't cover enough to get in the way. Also you can have two zebras at once. Skinny for 70%, fat stripes for 100%. Outdoors you can switch the LCD backlight off. All LCD parameters are adjustable so I'd expect you can calibrate it to taste.

Bob.

Im jealous Bob.. no really i am..
Hey if ur ever looking for shooting work, you can always drop me a line.
At least if i hire you , i will know that you know how to use your gear...
LOL

Just picked up my EX1 with U60 battery (in addition to the U30 supplied) and the 2nd 8Gb SxS card. Now following in Bob's footsteps and have battery on charge. My Sony charger has a more sophisticated display than Bob described, but I guess they're the same.

Glad Spot mentioned opening from the bottom of the box was he easy way in. The packaging certainly is a marvel (no foam either).

I don't see a problem fitting the Chrosziel to the EX1. There is sufficient clearance to park the LCD.

EXCELLENT!

Chroziel seem to make a number of slightly different models, maybe the people having the issues have a different model.

Bob.

Ah, the light just stops blinking. What is that coloured scale for? That to the left of the LED. The manual isn't very descriptive about the charger (or I haven't read the right pages).

You got fooled too!

That scale just tells you what the blinking LED means.
My first reaction was "it's broken", then it dawned on me.

Blinking Orange = < 50%
Blinking Green = > 40%
Steady Green = Full charge.


Compared to the AC-V700 which tells you time to charge normal, time to charge full and expected battery life it's not as good. Also on the AC-V700 charger the lead for camera DC unplugs, that's my biggest gripe about the EX1 charger as it makes the charger harder to pack.

Word from Sony regarding the vignetting issue:

"Since the launch in November, the PMW-EX1 has been received extremely well within the market with a huge level of order commitments and very positive feedback from customers using the product.

Sony regrets to inform you that there have been a small number of reports of a specific lens issue with the camera, which upon further investigation by our engineering team, has been identified as ‘unbalanced light falloff’ at the edge of the picture. The cause of this has been identified as being a result of a mis-alignment of the center of the lens and the light axis. Sony takes such technical matters very seriously and although this issue has only been seen on a very small percentage of the units supplied worldwide, Sony has implemented a full review and modification of the manufacturing process in order to alleviate any re-occurrence of this issue.

Sony will re-align any camera exhibiting the symptom described above at no charge to you at the highest priority. If your camcorder exhibits the symptom described please call our Product Operational Support Center at 1-800-883-6817, option 2-5-2 for advice on how to proceed."

How does one test for this misalignment. Is it obvious?