100 PMW-EX1 Tapeless camcorders Bought By Mitcorp
The IBC launch of the new Sony PMW EX1 has been followed by a swift and perhaps significant huge order of the product from UK Sony dealer Mitcorp.
We cannot ignore the fact that tapeless acquisition and workflow has become a ‘hot topic’ in recent months with programme makers recognising that like it or not, tapeless acquisition in HD is where television production is headed.
Mitcorp's Dennis Lennie commented: "We firmly believe Sony’s latest addition the PMW-EX1 provides our customers with the benefits that tapeless technology has to offer without having to dramatically alter their familiar tape based working practices.
"The HVR-Z1E for example has become a staple for programme makers particularly in the factual and reality arena because of its size and ease of use. Mitcorp have supplied many hundreds of HDV cameras to production companies and hire facilities as well as individual camera people and producers. Until now, solid state has been restricted by the length of recording time and that has restricted the use of tapeless products to shorter projects unless you use as 3rd party storage drive.
"Longer documentaries have been shot on the Panasonic HVX-200 which does offer excellent picture quality however the higher quality and lower compression means larger files and a requirement to manage that media meticulously in the field, something few factual programme makers want to do unless they have to. In reality the majority of factual programmes do not require such a high quality.
"A few years ago factual programmes were being shot largely on Digibeta but budgets reduced and DVCAM became the workhorse. The Ex camera will offer higher image quality than DVCAM and satisfy many HD requirements as it produces a full 1920x1080 image.
"We have committed to such a large initial order on the back of the high degree of interest we have had from our customers since its launch at NAB earlier this year. The PMW-EX1 is the only camcorder of its size and price that allows for up to 70 mins of recording at full HD quality on to high speed and robust SxS PRO media, thus bringing solid state into the same ballpark as tape in terms of duration. Moreover the media is non proprietary as SanDisk will also be manufacturing express cards meaning more choice and value for money."
The PMW-EX1 allows a camera person to take 4 cards and have over 4 hrs of recording capability. You still have to move the footage from the card after a day on location but this can be done on a laptop with an Express card slot or by using a card reader in the evening. The camera is file based you can review footage and if you wish only transfer the ‘good takes’. In addition Express card technology offers a faster transfer rate of 800MB/s which means that footage will copy at twice real time speed.
The PMW-EX1 is a full 1920x1080 resolution using ½” CMOS sensors in a sub £4500 camcorder.
posted by Julian Mitchell at 3:09 PM
3 Comments:
Having read several reviews of 'first hand' use of the EX1, I expect that Mitcorp, and other UK resellers of Sony kit, will be shifting huge numbers of this camcorder, especially at under £5,000.
I see the EX1 as a genuine step-change in HD acquisition for a number of reasons that have already been discussed - here and elsewhere.
Half-inch CMOS 1920x1080 imagers, proper focus and iris rings, improved depth of field, tapeless recording, useable gamma curves, over-cranking and a proper timelapse facility are all going to appeal to a wide variety of camera operator.
What hasn't been said so far is how yet another new camcorder will add costs to current workflows. For a start, the memory cards can only be inserted natively into the latest laptop computers (I know there is a separate card reader on the way). Then, there is the tricky issue of archiving material. As I understand it, 1920x1080 footage shot with the EX1 is automatically down converted to 1440x1080 when it is archived to XDCAM discs. What is the point of shooting in the highest quality afforded by the camcorder if one's efforts are only going to be down graded? New batteries, to accommodate the increased power needs of this camcorder also mean that traditional Sony batteries are all but obsolete. Even screw-in filters (ND grads, polarisers, black mists and the like), used by Z1 operators, will have to be put to one side or chucked out altogether because the EX1 has a 77mm diameter lens compared with the Z1's 72mm offering.
There is also the issue of storage. With an increased maximum data rate in HQ mode, EX1 footage will need more space and bandwidth in editing systems. It's all good in pursuit of higher quality but it all adds to the bill of upgrading camcorders.
Finally, what about obsolescence? The EX1 will probably hurt future sales - or even secondhand values - of the Z1, the V1 and the A1 as many rush to upgrade. And, to those individual operators and companies still using Z1s, V1s and A1s- will Sony offer a trade-in deal for loyal users or will everyone be trying to offload their 'so-last-year' kit on eBay?
Discuss.
Charles Amponsah
http://reeltime.blogware.com/blog
I have read on various website, that a lot of people find hand holding the EX1 uncomfortable. I have to agree with them. I have been using this shoulder brace http://www.studio1productions.com/vsb1.htm
and man does it make a difference. I recommend any EX1 owner take a look at this shoulder brace. It's great.
Don
Brilliant Camcorder
Post a Comment
<< Home