New PMW-350, EX1R & media reviewed

Sony's first memory-based shoulder-mount camcorder with all-new 2/3inch Exmor CMOS sensors, an upgraded EX1R with native DVCAM recording, plus new media options impress freelance cameraman Alister Chapman.

Officially launched at SATIS 2009, I was lucky enough to spend a weekend before the event trying out all the new XDCAM EX equipment on a real production. My first impressions are that Sony have done it again with one totally new camcorder, which redefines the entry-level shoulder mount camcorder market, a rather nice evolution of the original EX1 and some very welcome updates to XDCAM EX media options and pricing. I really, really didn't want to give either of these new cameras back. Over the next few pages, and in an accompanying video, let me explain why.

So what are they? Well the first camera is the PMW-EX1R, this is major update to the workhorse EX1 camera that I love so much. It has some wonderful new features as well as some ergonomic improvements. The second camera is the PMW-350 and this is the camera that I and many others have been speculating about for some time. It’s a 2/3 inch, 3 chip Exmor CMOS, full size shoulder mount camera, recording on to SxS cards. If that isn’t enough there are also new low cost SxS cards, an adaptor that allows you to use consumer Sony memory sticks in an EX camcorder. Plus Clip Browser is also getting a major update, including a clever tool that automatically fixes partial frame exposure problems that can be caused by flash guns and strobe lights.

So where do I start..?