Ronnie Martin
Forum Replies Created
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I think that if the shallow depth of field is what you are after, then maybe you do not want to go to the Ex-1r. In my case, I have not been looking for that effect. For the past few years, I have been shooting racing footage at tracks where lighting is poor at best. With the cars moving at over 120 MPH, in poor light and the gain kicked up to 9DB, with the lens at 1.9, I still get great footage. Thankfully at the best tracks the lighting is good enough to shoot at around f4 with little on no gain the footage is even better. If you are after the “movie look” and your events are all static with little movement, no quick pans, and you need the shallow depth of field then go for that look with another camera. The best of both worlds would be the Ex-1r and a DSLR both in your camera arsenal.
As I stated in my previous post, the move to digital and not tape has been the best improvement in our work flow in a long time.
Here is a link to some information about DSLR video and Camcorders.
https://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/cam-cam.shtml
Take care
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
Are you using the hoodman card in the hoodman adapter? I have been using the hoodman cards and the hoodman adapter for as long as they have been available without a problem. I only use the aftermarket cards for personal non paying jobs. When I use the hoodman or any other non sony card I always have a Sony SXS card in the second slot just in case the aftermarket fails for some reason. One more thing, I never remove the card from the adapter while it is in the camera. I always remove the aftermarket card inside the adapter and replace it in like manner. For some reason I hae never had a Sony or after market adapter/card to fail in many hundreds of hours of shooting with the Ex-1, Ex-1r, EX-3 and Pmw 320.
Hope this helps.
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
I may be wrong but you need to check the provisions in your Art Beats license. I don’t think the license is transferrable. It would be similar to someone copying or redistributing your completed stock footage project to others without your permission and then getting compensated for it.
I know because this has happened to me. My projects have been copied and given to friends of the first buyer. As a result, my sales went in the tank and now I am out of business in that venue.
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
i don’t think you would go wrong with the sony Ex1R. We started our upgrade from SD (PD150,DSR 500) several years ago and chose the first version of the EX-1. The improvement in quality of the image and the speed with which we could be up and running with our edit was super.
Normally, we would come from a shoot with 3-5 tapes from our ZU1 most of the time only partially used. This would take most of a day to rewind then capture the footage in real time. Now when we get back to the office we have our footage on the timeline and we are editing away within a few minutes.
With that first Ex-1 we still used our Zu1 as a B roll and as a back up just in case we has the Ex-1 to go down. We learned years ago that when going to a commercial shoot that one camera was as if you had no camera and two cameras was as if you had one camera. That first year we put about 200 hours on the Ex-1 without a hitch.
Since that time we have moved up to the Ex-3, Ex1-R and the PMW 320 all XDCAM cameras with basically the same chips and same recording format. We never use aftermarket cards on a commercial shoot. On personal projects we always use the Hoodman cards. Since the first Ex-1 came out we have never had a problem with the Sony SXS or aftermarket cards. When using the aftermarket cards we usually load our camera with the aftermarket card in the first slot and a SXS in the second shot just in case there is a problem. So far none of our cards have failed us.
Hope this helps
Good luck
Ronnie
Kato Video Productions
ronnievideo@aol.com
https://www.dirtracinvideo.com -
I have been shooting 1920x1080i now ever since the first Ex-1 came out. My end product had been SD DVD. My main project has been auto mobile racing and delivery either for TV or for DVD. In the past I down converted with virtual dub (free software) to 720×480 and then out to DVD from the Edius 5.51 time line. Now that Eduis 6.06 is out if the DVD is going to be less than 90 minutes I use Edius to down convert (simply change project settings to 720×480)and burn my disk from the timeline. Excellent results.
If I need an extensive complicated menu then I use a third party program like TMPG or DVDit or even Ulead WS2. If WS2 handeled 16×9 menus better I would use it for everything. Very simple and great results. Most of the local affiliates that I have delt with only want 1080i not progressive. Of course whether you shoot progressive or interlaced is a personal preference and the “look” that you want. Some folks like the “progressive” look or a “film” look. I personally want a “video” look to my projects. Like some say “beauty is is the eye of the beholder”..
I think that you will get excellent results with the Ex camera family regardless . We have three of the cameras in this family (EX-1R, EXS-3 and the PMW 320) Our experence shooting interlaced has been super.
good luck
Ronnie Martin
https://www.dirtracingvideo.comRonnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
The quality that you are experiencing with the EX-3 is due partially to the sensor sizes (1/2 inch). When you go to a smaller camera most 3 cmos cameras drop to 1/3 inch or even 1/4 inch. Light sensitivity decreases with the smaller sensors and so does image quality. We have the ex-1R, ex-3 and the pmw 320 in our camera arsenal. The best bang for the buck that I have seen in a long time is the Ex-1R. You can travel with it and the ex1-r has improved ergonomics over our first ex-1 camera. I find that if I use the Hoodman loop on the view finder and the large or larger aftermarket battery it is very easy to use. I put a piece of foam on the large battery and with the hoodman and the battery butt resting on my chest it is very comfortable to use. The Ex-3 in my hands requires some type of aftermarket brace for me to be comfortable on long shoots. I just returned from a 12 day shoot in Ireland a few months ago and the video that I got from the ex-1R was stunning to say the least. The only thing I noticed was that ujpon returning thome I had “shooter’s thumb”.
One feature you will loose going from the Ex-3 to most smaller cameras is tha ability to have interchangeabe lenses. This may not be an important feature for you.
Each camera out there has it’s own stengths and weakness so you will have to decide which feature is best for you.
Good luck
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
Like the other two posts I also bought mine from Armatos and Dennis was my salesman. In the past 10 years or so I have bought all my camera from Dennis at Armatos. I have traded cameras many times with Dennis and he has always treated me fairly. Armatos is also an authorized Sony Service center. My first camera I bought from Dennis was a DSR 500 and on the first shoot it went down. This was on a weekend and I called Dennis and told him of the problem and that I needed my camera for a shoot in New Orleans on Tuesday of the next week. He sent me a new body over night and I got it on Monday morning in time for my trip to New Orleans. Ever since that time I have dealt only with Dennis at Armatos. Service after the sale is second to none.
Good Luck on finding the camera you need
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
I have the varizoom pro series for the Ex-1R ,ex-3 and pmw 320 and it works super. In fact I bought from Johnny Jib an adapter that would allow me to use the controller on Cannon lenses also.
The big thing that is missing on both the ex-1r, and ex3 is a good focus control. For some reason the lens on both of these cameras is missing the little hole where the focus control block would screw in.
On the 320 stock lens it is present and with the Fugi lens mechanical focus controller, it works super in s studio tripod configuration. Varizoom does have a focus controller but you must have rails to support the mechanism and not only is it pricey to me it looks a little gimpy.The Ex-1R is a great camera. I think it is the most bang for the buck in the entire XDCAM family.
Good luck
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv -
I have the same request for the 320. It would be nice if there was an instructional dvd on the 350/320.
Ronnie -
Jim: From Olof you can get a thicker pad on the shoulder brace just by asking for it. I stuck the thicker pad on top of the old one and it lasted over 140 hours of shooting last summer. It was exposed to heat, cold and rain at times. I never had a problem with it at all.
Like I said before if you are trying to get your Ex-3 to be as comfortable over the 300 or the 320 you will be disappointed.
The shoulder braces really help and the one by Olof is as good as they come but nothing I have tried is as comfortable as your well balanced 300.
Ronnie
Ronnie Martin
Kato Video Productions
http://www.dirtracingvideo.com
http://www.ramtv.tv