| |
Model
|
| Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| Picture ? | | |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| Canon 
|
| Name | PMW-EX3 | XL H1S |
| European name ? | PMW-EX3 | XL H1S |
| US name ? | PMWEX3 | XL H1S |
| lowest US price | 8320 $ | 7800 $ |
| On the market since | August 2008 | May 2008 |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Sony | link to Canon |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| slashCAM rating ? | Very good
 | Very good
 |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| 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 ? | | 72 mm |
| Image Stabilization ? | optical
| optical
|
| ND Filter ? | 2 | 2 |
| Exchangable optics ? | Yes
| 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-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
FBAS ? synonymous: RCA, composite | | In Out
|
YC ? synonymous: S-Video | Out
| In Out
|
YUV ? synonymous: Component Signal | | 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 ? | In Out
| In Out
|
| Genlock ? | In
| In
|
| Accessory shoe ? | Standard
| Standard
|
| HD-SDI ? | Out
| Out
|
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | | 3435 g |
| Weight (with battery) | 3600 g | 3750 g |
| Battery type | Sony BP-U30
| Canon BP-950G
|
| Battery capacity | | 5200 mAh |
| Charger ? | external
| external
|
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
|
| Size |
| Height | 250 mm | 226 mm |
| Width | 210 mm | 220 mm |
| Depth | 400 mm | 496 mm |
| Relative Size ? | 210 | 246 |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Color Viewfinder ? | B/W and color
| Color
|
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | 921000 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-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| 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-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| 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-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| Specials | The viewfinder is a hinged, magnifiying eyepiece in front of the display | optional upgrade for NTSC recordingsimulataneous video signal at RCA and BNC output |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| View 1 | | |
| View 2 | | |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| 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 ? | Very 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) | 467 | 405 |
| Pros | + excellent image quality + Manual handling + Exceptionally well equipped + LowLight behavior + interchangeable lens
| + Excellent resolution in brightness and color + interchangeable lenses + 4 audio channels for HDV + Very well equipped
|
| Cons | - Expensive SxS memory cards
| - unergonomical on the shoulder
|
| Conclusion | Thanks to its very good lens with digital CAC and outstanding low-light capabilities the Sony PMW-EX3 is momentarily unrivaled in the price range up to 10.000 Euros.Of course, those who can do without the interchangeable lens can go for the cheaper and somewhat more compact EX1. | The Canon XL H1S has excellent CCDs, which exploit the resolution potential of HDV in many areas.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.Also the surcharge for professional jacks seems disproportionate. |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony PMW-EX3 | Canon XL H1S |
| slashCAM Review | | |
| external reviews/tests | www.kameraverleih-deutschland.de
www.vimeo.com
| |
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|
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