| |
Model
|
| Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| Picture ? | | |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| Canon 
|
| Name | PMW-EX1 | XL H1A |
| European name ? | PMW-EX1E | XL H1A |
| US name ? | PMWEX1 | XL H1A |
| lowest US price | 6299 $ | |
| On the market since | November 2007 | June 2008 |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Sony | link to Canon |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| slashCAM rating ? | Very good
 | Very good
 |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| Video formats ? | XDCAM EX
| MiniDV HDV
|
| Recording Medium | SxS / PC Express
| MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
|
| video resolutions EU ? | MPEG2 1920x1080 1-30p MPEG2 1280x720 1-60p MPEG2 1920x1080 1-60i MPEG2 1440 x1080 1-60i
| HDV 1440 x 1080/50i MiniDV 720 x 576/50i MiniDV 720 x 576/25F HDV 1440 x 1080/25F
|
| video resolutions US ? | MPEG2 1920x1080 1-30p MPEG2 1280x720 1-60p MPEG2 1920x1080 1-60i MPEG2 1440 x1080 1-60i
| HDV 1440 x 1080/60i HDV 1440 x 1080/24p HDV 1440 x 1080/30p MiniDV 720 x 480/60i 720 MiniDV x480/24p MiniDV 720 x 480/30p
|
| Max Bitrate ? | 35 Mbit/s | 25 Mbit/s |
| Compression format ? | XDCAM MPEG2
| DV MPEG2
|
| on-board memory ? | | |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Fujinon
| Canon
|
| Optical Zoom ? | 14 x | 20 x |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 31,4 mm | 39 mm |
| Filter diameter ? | 77 mm | 72 mm |
| Image Stabilization ? | optical
| optical
|
| ND Filter ? | 2 | 2 |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| Yes
|
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 3 | 3 |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/2 inch | 1/3 inch |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 2073600 Pixel | 1560000 Pixel |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CCD
|
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto manual presets
| auto manual presets
|
| Focus ? | auto manual
| auto manual
|
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/2.000 | 1/16.000 |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| Apperture control ? | auto manual
| auto manual AE-Shift
|
| Infrared recording ? | No
| No
|
| Expanded Focus ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Peaking ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | 70-100% | Off 70-100%
|
| Histogram ? | Yes
| No
|
| adjustable sharpness ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Adjustable color ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Cinegamma ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Black Strech ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Knee ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Colorbars ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Custom Presets ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Set Time Code ? | Yes
| Yes
|
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
FBAS ? synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| In Out
|
YC ? synonymous: S-Video | Out
| In Out
|
YUV ? synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
|
| HDMI ? | No
| No
|
DV / HDV (FireWire) ? synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | In Out
| In Out
|
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| No
|
| Microphone / Audio input ? | XLR
| XLR Cinch
|
| Headphones ? | 3.5 mm mini-jack
| 3.5 mm mini-jack
|
| Lanc ? | No
| Yes
|
| Time-code interface ? | No
| |
| Genlock ? | No
| |
| Accessory shoe ? | Standard
| Standard
|
| HD-SDI ? | Out
| |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 2400 g | 3435 g |
| Weight (with battery) | 2800 g | 3750 g |
| Battery type | Sony BP-U30
| Canon BP-950G
|
| Battery capacity | | 5200 mAh |
| Charger ? | external
| external
|
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
|
| Size |
| Height | 178 mm | 226 mm |
| Width | 176 mm | 220 mm |
| Depth | 311 mm | 496 mm |
| Relative Size ? | 97 | 246 |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Color Viewfinder ? | B/W and color
| Color
|
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | 252000 Pixel | 215000 Pixel |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
|
| Display size | 3,5 Inch | 2,4 Inch |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Display pixels ? | 921000 Pixel | 215000 Pixel |
| Touch Screen ? | No
| |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker Ring
| Rocker Ring
|
| Manual Focus ? | Ring
| Ring
|
| Manual Aperture ? | Ring
| Menu
|
| Focus switcher ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| ND Filter ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Exp Lock ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Gain ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| White balance ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Push AF ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Audio Levels ? | Yes
| Yes
|
Custom Keys ? synonymous: User buttons | 4 | |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| Audio Formats ? | MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
| MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1 HDV: 4x48kHz 16bit MPEG 2
|
| Microphone ? | external XLR
| Stereo internal external XLR
|
| Audio Control ? | auto manual
| auto manual
|
| Audio levels ? | Viewfinder Screen
| Viewfinder display
|
Still
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| Recording Medium ? | | SD Card
|
| Medium included ? | | 16 MB
|
| Effective pixels ? | | 1560000 Pixel |
| Resolutions ? | | 1920x1080 1440x1080 848x480 640x480 |
| Standard ? | | JPEG Exif 2.2
|
| Flash ? | | No
|
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| Specials | | optional upgrade for NTSC recordingsimulataneous video signal at RCA and BNC output |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| View 1 | | |
| View 2 | | |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| luminance resolution | | |
| chrominance resolution | | |
| lens distortion | | |
| test small ISO image | | |
| noise / internal microphone | | |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Excellent | Good |
| Resolution ? | Good | Very good |
| Color performance ? | Very good | Very good |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good |
| Optical Zoom ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
| Wide Angle ? | Very good | Satisfactory |
| Configuration / image ? | Excellent | Very good |
| Configuration / sound ? | Excellent | Excellent |
| Handling ? | Very good | Very good |
| Portability ? | Satisfactory | Sufficient |
| Photo function ? | Poor | Sufficient |
| Optics ? | Very good | Good |
| Dynamics ? | Very good | Very good |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Very good
 | Very good
 |
Total score ? (maximal 570) | 459 | 405 |
| Pros | + excellent image quality + Manual handling + Exceptionally well equipped + LowLight behavior
| + Excellent resolution in brightness and color + interchangeable lenses + 4 audio channels for HDV + Very well equipped
|
| Cons | - Expensive SxS memory cards - jerky zoom
| - unergonomical on the shoulder
|
| Conclusion | The Sony PMW-EX1 offers an absolutely convincing technology with virtually all imaginable (and even some innovative) control options.Add to that a very good lens which thanks to a digital CAC rarely shows chromatic aberrations.The lowlight performance of the camera is currently a class for itself. | The Canon XL H1A has excellent CCDs, which in some aspects tap the full resolution potential of HDV.In combination with very good dynamic behavior and the consistent colors this provides a very good image impression.The standard lens is not satisfying: for less distortion and chromatic aberrations as well as for more wide angle pros need to go for an additional (more expensive) optics. |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX1 | Canon XL H1A |
| slashCAM Review | | |
| external reviews/tests | provideocoalition.com
www.dvxuser.com
provideocoalition.com
library.creativecow.net
| www.camcorderinfo.com
|
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