[Curt Pair]

I have used all of the cameras you’re referring to and many more. I feel that I must share a REAL LIFE story that sums my experiences well.

I am a member of the Sony “ICE Team.” I received the EX1 in February. I didn’t have time to read the manual, or play much with the camera, when I decided to take it on a shoot, set it up in the back of the room and record some time-lapses and second camera footage. Upon completion of building our set for Fox Sports National (we were shooting “Saturday Baseball’s” opening sequence.), I had the EX1 and a Panasonic Varicam sitting on tripods right next to each other.

My sound tech was eager to play with the EX, and hooked it up to our monitor BEFORE he hooked up the Varicam. My client, a Fox producer named Don, says “you’re Varicam setups are simply amazing. They are some of the best I’ve ever seen…”

I looked and didn’t see a BNC/SDI cable connecting the monitor and camera… I asked Don what he was talking about…

“I’m looking at the monitor and it looks awesome!” Don said.

I then had to inform him that he was looking at the “little camera” and NOT the Varicam?

“Are you sure? Then let me see the Varicam!” Don requested.

So, we hooked up the VC and the EX1 in the SAME MONITOR! Once we had the Varicam showing on the montior Don said “no, don’t show me the little camera, I’m only interested in seeing the Varicam!’

I explained that he WAS looking at the Varicam and then “A/B’d” both cameras to prove it.

“OK, explain this to me, how does this little camera look better than the bigger, more expensive Varicam?” Don asked.

“It has a larger imager, so even in 720, the image is going to look better, pixel wise. As for the overall look, I’m not really sure. I’m having a hard time believing this one myself! It’s the first time we’ve pulled it out of the box!” I explained. Please bear in mind that in 720p, 24 fps, this was the ORIGINAL, factory set up, and not something I “painted…”

That’s been the reception with the EX EVERY time we have used it. I sincerely and respectfully disagree with the other individual. I think it does a far SUPERIOR job imitating film than the Panasonic HVX200. In fact, due to it’s six way matrix settings, we’ve managed to match it to Sony F900s, Sony F350/F355s, Z1Us, Varicams, and HDX900s, with about a one percent variance rate (looking at the “matches” on scopes, NOT by eye!)

You should know that during intense flashes of light the rolling shutter does come into affect. I’ve had that one on my own trying to shoot lighting. We’ve tried all sorts of things, and it’s just the nature of a rolling shutter. But the intervelometer, slow shutter, and over/under cranking features make up for it.

I must also disagree that the camera’s ergonomics and menu set ups are cumbersome. I do agree that the EX3 pulls to the right side, but NOT the EX1. I feel the HVX200 is heavier and bulkier than the EX1. The menu structure resembles that of other smaller Sony cameras, such as the Z1u, V1u, Z7, etc. Even with my experience in larger HD cameras, like the F900, Varicam, and XD HD cameras, I was able to spend VERY little time going through the menus to find what I needed to perform a task efficiently.

The “original” files transfer from the camera or drive faster than P2. I will admit, I’m not an FCP user. But I can transfer an hours worth of files into Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 HD and be editing in 9 minutes!

Plus, I can STORE the material by utilizing XD Cam HD discs. That way I’ll always have tangible files. If I want, I can even store them on DVDs. I’ve had great success with both.

For my company, this is and was never meant to be a primary camera! It does an excellent job as a second camera. HOWEVER, with that being said, in vehicles, small spaces, and for looking less conspicuous, this camera has quickly replaced larger cameras in our arsenal. For the money, the EX1 can’t be beat!

I suggest renting both, at the same time, and trying them out for yourself. In the end, you’ll find your answer. I feel you’ll fall in love with the EX line, and make a wise choice. Remember, your opinion is the only one that matters for your work flow.

Good luck!

[Curt Pair]

I’ve tried BOTH! I must say, that I like the fact that at the end of the day, if I use the F350, I have a TANGIBLE product! With the P2, I had to figure out what to do with the footage! I also like the “general” folder with XD Cam HD! In our post facility, we copy the editing/gfx/music project files and place them in that folder. This way, if we need to go back to that project, EVERYTHING associated with it is with the raw material. P2 just can’t offer that. Finally, we had a VERY long interview… never stopped rolling… when finished a producer DROPPED a P2 card while running to feed the material… the card was “damaged” (although it didn’t look like it physically!) and we lost the material on it an all the cards in the camera “after it…” (it was number 2). I had to send the card to Panasonic. When I got it back, it didn’t hold as much data as before… 6.2GB instead of 8.