Sony XDCAM EX Series, PMW-EX1R, PMW-EX3, PMW-350K, PMW-350L1 Brochure & Specs

The Sony XDCAM EX™ Series

Sony’s XDCAM EX line of handheld, file-based camcorders
have become an essential video production tool in educational
institutions. The most popular models, the PMW-EX1R and PMW-EX3
camcorders, are available at an attractive price point and offer
superb image quality in a handheld, lightweight body in
addition to high speed workflow.

The XDCAM EX series features both ½-inch (EX1R, EX3, PMW320) and 2/3-inch (PMW350) 3CMOS
sensors, amazing 1920x1080 and 1280x720 HD recording capability plus flash memory recording.

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Combining the moderate bit rate of MPEG-2 Long GOP compression to the SxS PRO
card, the XDCAM EX series offers cost effective long form recording coupled with nonlinear
capabilities such as instantaneous random access and high speed file-based operation.

The Lens

The Sony XDCAM EX
series offers attrac­tive features for
focus and lens
options. While the
PMW-EX1R uses a

fixed Fujinon
lens, the PMW-EX3 allows for interchangeable lenses.
Students will notice the novel focus ring. Most cameras in
this price range have a servo lens, which is adequate for
most work as it supports autofocus; but students may find
it difficult to manually change focus on the fly, should the

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14x HD

need arise. Professional camcorders typically have a
focus ring with distance readouts, but lack autofocus
capability. The XDCAM EX series splits the difference; in
the forward position the focus ring becomes a normal
autofocus lens, while sliding the ring backwards snaps
it back into full manual mode, allowing the user the best
of both worlds. “The focus ring closes the biggest gap
between consumer and high end production cameras.
It measures distance accurately,” says Professor
Anthony Artis, the Production Center Manager of NYU’s
Department of Film and Television Program.

memory

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Image Quality

Three ½-inch (EX1R, EX3, PMW320) and three 2/3-inch
(PMW350) Exmor
the camera’s imaging. They allow for higher resolution and
a shallower depth of field than the smaller sensors normally
found at this price point. Although the XDCAM EX series
records all of its images in long GOP MPEG-2 format in full
frame 1920x1080, it can also record in the HDV
standard of 1440x1080. Rick Siegel, Adjunct Professor,
Columbia University Graduate Film Division, says, “This
camera’s imagers are significantly larger than other
camcorders in this price range. What these half-inch CMOS
chips deliver goes beyond just 1920x1080 resolution. Talent
looks great. It truly captures the contours and shades of
gray.” Anthony Artis agrees, “The picture quality looks great.
All of my students love it as soon as they set their eyes on
the image. At the end of the day, spec sheets mean
nothing to them. Image is everything.”

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1920x1080 pixel CMOS sensors handle

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format

Shooting

For educational institutions
everywhere, 1080/24p is
considered the ideal mastering
format. 24p creates the rich film
look that enhances the overall

look of a project, offering
filmmakers increased creative control and flexibility.
Shooting in 24p enables the students to develop a film
look that is visually consistent with high end productions.
Rick Ramsey, Full Sail University’s Director of Film can attest
to that. “The XDCAM EX series opens up creative aspects
for my students. The cameras are part of Sony’s CineAlta
line, and the image quality shows.”

One of the first things students notice while shooting with
the XDCAM EX1R and EX3 cameras is their gorgeous 3.5”
LCD screen. Easily viewable in full sunlight, the screen offers
1920x480 resolution. In addition, there is a standard

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viewfinder in the back that can be powered on and
operated simultaneously with its LCD screen.

The Peaking functionality of these cameras has drawn rave
reviews from both students and professors alike. “With the
Peaking button on my EX, I don’t have to just trust my eyes.
What looks sharp on a 3.5” LCD isn’t always sharp. Especially
when I’m shooting from 40 yards away. With a press of the
peaking button, I can tell everything is in sharp focus and I
never have to second-guess myself. It saves me time, and
everything looks great when I review it in post production,”
says Artis. Over at Brooklyn College, Marcus Robinson, a
graduating film school student, raves, “I love the Peaking
functionality. It’s always spot on and gets the focus right.”

The XDCAM EX series offers a powerful Slow & Quick
Motion function, commonly known as over-cranking and
under-cranking by filmmakers. It enables students to create
unique looks or slow and fast-motion special effects. “Our
students love EX slow motion functionality, as it helps them
develop and achieve their own signature look,” says
Ramsey. With the Slow & Quick Motion function of the
XDCAM EX camcorders, images are recorded natively with
no padded frames and at full resolution. Even better, the
obtained quality of these images is indistinguishable from
those created in the editing process.

To flexibly handle contrast and give a specific look to an
image, the XDCAM EX series offers a wide variety of gamma
curves. In addition to four types of standard gamma curves,
the XDCAM EX series also provides four types of CINE
Gamma, identical to those on Sony’s high-end CineAlta
camcorders. Students can select the best-suited preset
gamma curve, depending on the scenes they’re shooting.
“The gamma spectrum on these cameras helps lay a great
foundation for digital filmmaking,” says Ramsey.

An important feature on the XDCAM EX line is its ability to
record time-lapse photography. With this feature, students
are able to demonstrate the natural progression of time in
just seconds. This is especially useful for students shooting
transitions for their documentaries or film projects.

With any camera line boasting the features that the
XDCAM EX series does, there’s bound to be some learning
curve, especially when students start playing around with
their deep menus. To simplify the process, user profiles can
be created and stored on each camera. “Each of our
previous cameras used to be set by hand. With these
cameras, we can now copy profiles to an SxS

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card and
pop them into every other camera. This is really helpful in a
school environment when students are always playing with
camera settings,” says Artis.

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