Sony XDCAM PMW-EX1

Okay, first of all, this is my first post, and my first review for this camera is this: There's nothing else like it in its class. My dad own it, and I've borrowed it numerous times and I can't get enough of the high quality picture. Seems like even an amateur can make a beautiful shot with this thing.

To make things clear, let me post here the overview that I saw from Sony. It says:

The PMW-EX1 offers HQ 1080/50i mode, with its overwhelming detailed full-HD video (1920 × 1080 effective pixels), and HQ 1080/25p mode, with its film-like characteristics. In addition to its rich selection of video formats, the PMW-EX1 handheld camcorder also offers many of the advanced features introduced in the CineAlta series (HDCAM SR, HDCAM, and XDCAM HD), such as matrix, gamma, and detail adjustments. This makes it possible to capture the cinematographer’s or director’s creative vision at the shooting stage. Source: sony.co.uk

Now, the important part of a new camera model is its workflow. Any change in our equipment might also change the way we work. So, listen up.

The XDCAM Work flow
There is more than one way to transfer the files over but I elected to simply do it within the FCP log and transfer window. In order for this to work the software required is Final Cut Pro v.6.0.2, Quicktime Pro v.7.3 and Mac OS v.10.4.11, in addition to the free Sony Clip Browser and Sony XDCAM Transfer Tool v.2.1. Of course, for those who are already using OS v.10.5.1 you probably already have QT 7.3.

Once the camera was connected via the included USB cable I turned it on and waited for the camera device icon to appear on the desktop. When it didn't show up I looked into the camera's VF and discovered that it was waiting for me to say "OK" to its question which was: "Do you want to connect your EX via USB?" or something similar. Once I confirmed the request the device showed up on the desktop like a hard drive or disc image icon with the label "Untitled."

I started up a new project in FCP and chose a new sequence with the setting XDCAM EX 1080 30p 35 VBR because that's what the footage was recorded at yesterday. Once that's done you're ready for the transfer.

Now, logging in this instance isn't done in the traditional way like you would do if you were capturing tape. You don't use any of the log and capture controls. Instead go to the file menu and choose: "Import > Sony XDCAM." (Even though I had the log and transfer window open I'm not sure now that it even needs to be active in order to access the camera. Just a thought that others may want to look into when it's time for them to transfer video.)

Immediately the Sony Clip Browser window appears within FCP. From here, it's just a matter of highlighting each (or all) of those scene files and choose "Import" on the lower right side of the Clip Browser window.

Before transferring each clip you have the option to add a clip name, metadata, etc. to give each clip a unique file name. Before you do it, I highly recommend that you change the default capture settings within the Sony Clip Browser window. Meaning, you want to change the place where the actual video files will be saved.

Why? Because the default location is on your startup drive, inside your Documents Folder. Even though you may have already created a scratch folder on your media drive(s) within FCP, these transferred files will not be there when you check later. They will instead be in the folder location that you have chosen within the Sony Clip Browser window.

Why Sony chose the startup drive as the default location is known only to Sony, but your media should not be saved to your startup drive, only a separate media drive or a drive array. Using the USB camera connection resulted in a transfer speed of roughly 15 or so sec. for each minute of media transferred. Choosing a lower recording bitrate will probably result in faster transfer times.

Plugging your SxS Pro memory card directly into your MacBook Pro's Express 34 slot will dramatically reduce the time it takes to transfer media, down to about 5 min. or less for a 16Gbyte SxS Pro card which is about 50 min of footage recorded at the HQ camera setting.

Before you delete the actual video clips from your SxS Pro Memory card I recommend that you go to the clips on your hard drive and check each one, making sure they play okay. Just double -click each .mov file and it will play in the stand alone Quicktime Player window. Once you're comfortable with your work flow and have seen the reliability with it then you probably won't have to do this last step before reformatting the card, but for now I'd check first.

image source: cineunited.com