[gingerchris90]

Hi.

I've done a lot of reading on the EX1 camera and have found the general consensus to be quite positive. However I've since decided that the EX1's price tag is more than I can justify spending. I do however love the fact that they now appear to have brought memory cards up to scratch, and would be very interested in buying an SXS card camera as I now own a mac with the express card 34 slot. Makes capturing easier and no tape drop out!

Does anyone know if they are bringing out more cameras with SXS cards in the more affordable ranges? Like the Z series or FX series?

Also, SXS is always mentioned as the one to rival MiniDV tape, are there other card formats that beat MiniDV for picture quality, and are they compatible with my Mac pro express card slot?

Thanks for all your help - in advance

[senu]

SXS is Sony Proprietary as is PS2(Panasonics) for DVCpro HD Panasonics AVCCAM (AVC intra )use SD cards
I know RED also have thier own memory card
None of these systems employ mpeg2 ( as used by tape) and each claim that the compression algorithms they use are far superior to HDV .. or their rivals format

Sony with its XDCAM format with EX using SXS : The XDCAM HD ( which uses proprietary discs) and even better HDCAM SR
Panasonic with AVCCAM using SD cards, The PS2 tend to DVCPro/ DVCPRo HD

The choice is very limted to these 2/3 AFAIK

The SXS cards are Express card interface however I dont see transfer by USB to a computer to be that limiting via SD card for AVCAM

At this level though there is a tendency to all sorts of transfer methods ( USB, Firewire Cardbus ect)

You would essentially be buying into a system and need to be happy with software support, not just the fact of a non tape based High quality format

[gingerchris90]

Does anyone have any opinions as to which of the above formats are best?

Both in terms of quality of output and ease of editing.

[senu]

Quality is probably like comparing a Merc with BMW or a Bentley and Rolls
Cant go wrong with any

Ease of Editing

I Know Sony Vegas edit the XDCAM Adobe Premiere CS pro 4 can as well (I have both) but Im not sure of what happens on a Mac


With the Panasonic I think there are windows and Mac suport for AVCCAM. Having used neither I cant say more ,
I have however used the EX1 once or twice and it was very good and edited on Vegas 8 pro on a PC but that was once and it was on a Q 6600 with 4 Gb RAM runing Vista
The onething the Panasonic seemto trump is use of CCDs raher than CMOS. this may or may not be important to you but certainly EX1 owner seem to not find it a big issue

[gingerchris90]

Cheers for your help Senu.