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Sony's PMW-EX1 camcorder premiered under glass at NAB 2007, and I recently had a chance to work with an engineering sample. It wasn't a finished product, so I can't say anything definitive about its performance, but I was at least able to get a sense of how the camera handles and what sort of pictures it will likely make.
Branded with Sony's CineAlta label, the EX1 is a fixed-lens Handycam using three 1/2-inch CMOS sensors. It records either 1080- or 720-line HD on two SxS memory cards and offers variable frame rates. Clearly, the EX1 takes aim at Panasonic's P2-card-based HVX200.
Overall, the EX1 is slightly smaller than the HVX200. At about 4.7 lb., it's within a few ounces of the weight of the HVRZl HDV camcorder and nearly a pound lighter than the HVX200. Visually, its lens predominates; with no tape transport taking up space, the body is comparatively short and fat, with Sony's SxS memory cards slotting in sideways.
The EXl's lens is a 14x Fujinon with features that bridge the gap between "real lenses" with full manual control used on higher-end camcorders and the servo lenses used on lowerlevel gear. Its zoom range of 5.8-81.2mm is about 31-440mm in 35mm still camera terms.
The focus ring slides forward and back a few millimeters; in its forward position, it acts like any other focus-bywire system, offering full and momentary autofocus, manual override of autofocus, and a unique "MF assist" mode in which the lens finetunes your manual focusing to achieve ultimate sharpness, then stops, so it won't hunt or suddenly shift focus. With the focus ring pushed back, full manual mode is engaged. You have direct-coupled focus control, as on a "real lens," complete with a calibrated focusing scale.
The zoom ring is mechanically coupled and has a slide switch to enable or disable the zoom servo. The zoom has a good feel, and smooth manual zooms are...