[Craig Seeman]

Juan Martinez said there would be a firmware update that would allow other cards certified by Sony to be used in the camera so I don’t think firmware upgrades are speculation.

[Craig Seeman]

Don, Delete is always grayed out for me on both my Macs. I’ve tried as you suggested but it just doesn’t work for me.

In fact the Xfer manual says you can’t.

See page 20 of its manual
a) This command cannot be executed in the following cases.
When the source is an SxS memory card or a folder with the same file structure as XDCAM EX.

[Craig Seeman]

Thanks for the info. So I’m getting 4x on Intel and probably the same on my Windows box using basic cut and paste.

I believe historically there was a little publicized design issue on G5s with the USB2 that made it significantly slower than it should be. At the time I think Apple was focusing on Firewire as the way of the future and just gave USB2 the short shrift.

The thing that frightens me about the Copy Paste is that it’s easy for an assistant to overwrite one folder with another . . . and then manually delete it off the card. It just seems like a high risk workflow. I’d rather have the files imported via software and deleted from card via software.

BTW there’s no way to delete the clips off the card via software (Clip Browers or NLE Xfer tool) as far as I can tell.

[Craig Seeman]

It is good that some of the menu functions can be directly accessed from the LCD though. Steady Shot is one example. Slow Shutter and Shutter Speed are also on the LCD and a fairly quick Joystick toggle.

I think the White Balance is a bit quirky as you allude to. In Picture Profile you can only set WB on the Preset setting. Switch PP and your preset changes from 3200

[Craig Seeman]

I’m using the XDCAM Transfer Software 2.1.
As I mentioned I got about 1.3x on my G5
On my Intel Mac Mini (not my edit box obviously) I got about 1.8x
Using the Sony Clip Browser 1.1 software on my 1 year old Dell 2.8Ghhz Dual it wasn’t much faster than real time either going from MP4 to MXF.

Maybe I’m timing this differently than you.
G5 dragging BPAV folder with 2:04 minute clip to desktop – 53 seconds – 2.3x
Intel Mini doing same as above – 30 seconds – 4x

Based on my Intel Mini drag and drop I’m getting 4x but I was timing import into FCP (to MOV) on Mac and Clip Browser to MXF on PC.

[Craig Seeman]

[Rafael Amador] “And why not with a standard DVD-5? The Compressor HD DVDs presets supports 29’4 Mbps VBR for 4.2.0 MPG2. “

I’m not sure if HD-DVD supports Transport Streams. That could work if it did.
Just to be clear, changing the .mp4 extension to .ts doesn’t require any encoding. You copy the file, change the extension, burn to Blu-ray. It’s a fast way to give the client a master they can view. They’d only need a $300-$400 Blu-ray player.

[Craig Seeman]

Mark, an EX1 user on another Forum with an Intel Mac Quad 2.66GHz told me they’re only getting 2x.

Can others post their USB transfer speeds and computer used? I’m wondering if there’s a Mac USB issue or maybe some sort of Mac specific driver issue.

[Craig Seeman]

Keith, look at the Cine Alta forum. I was faced with the same purchase decision and decided on the EX1 for many reasons but they may not be valid for you.

Rather than repeat here I’ll point to this post
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/142/856334

Both Cameras are good.

My own experience is the rolling shutter skewing is exaggerated by many. The EX1 is NOT a V1 and it takes an extreme circumstance to get it to happen.

The EX1 4:2:0 keys and composites fine but 4:2:2 has advantages. But those numbers don’t exist in isolation. In this case the 4:2:0 is attached to 1/2″ chips at 1920×1080 and that outweighs the 4:2:0 for me (but maybe not for you?).

Keep in mind the EX1 does have HD-SDI out at 4:2:2.

There’s also a lot to be said in handing a client a disc with the Sony clip browser or a Blu-ray disc with the file extension changed to .ts for easy client viewing.

I suspect Panasonic will respond with a comparable camera though. Competition and technology works that way.

Both cameras are good though. Different features, choices, advantages, disadvantages. There’s no “perfect” camera but you have a choice based on your (your client’s) needs.

[Craig Seeman]

[Steve Wargo] “There’s a book?”

It took me some to figure out what that thing was for. I hooked the battery to it and it didn’t drain it so I thought something might be wrong with it.

I opened it and it had words so I figured it had nothing to do with video. I though maybe it was just packing filler kinda like some people do with old video trade magazines.

Then I thought maybe it was just one of those long warranty cards with terms that explain they don’t repair the camera if an elephant sits on it or you throw it out the window.

I decided to open it again and the words didn’t seem to make any sense. Ah I said, words not making sense, must be a manual. It has many cryptic phrases but much harder to read than a Harry Potter book.

[Craig Seeman]

[Steve Wargo] “Camera now in hand (Christmas Morning. Am I crazy? I should be in bed.) “
Actually you’re playing with your most favorite Christmas present. Christmas morning is time to play with our toys of course.

[Steve Wargo] “Subject is an Excedrin bottle, 1/4” from lens shade “
Must have had a good Christmas Eve party.

[Steve Wargo] “I thoought for sure that the lens had to be in full manual but not so.”

Macro is invalid in Full Manual Focus. Page 49 in the manual.