"MASTERING THE SONY PMW-EX3" |
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"Mastering the Sony PMW-EX3" is the easiest way to learn both the fundamentals and advanced features of the new Sony EX3 camcorder and its state-of-the-art tapeless workflow. This 3-hour, 2-disc (DVD video) workshop includes tutorials, step-by-step examples, and detailed instructions covering the most important aspects of camera setup, menus, shooting techniques, clip naming, file management, clip importing, picture profile settings, basic editing, and even archiving. This DVD will pay for itself many times over by saving you hours of time figuring out things on your own. This is a completely independent production with no participation, sponsorship, input, or approval from Sony -- so it delivers unbiased information and professional advice that can't be found in the owner's manual. This video is designed to help anyone, from a novice to an experienced ENG/EFP shooter, get the best results from their EX1 by providing real-world examples and techniques that are easy to put into practice. Like all Vortex Media training DVDs, this workshop has been carefully researched, planned and scripted (not presented as"live" or ad lib). This DVD was produced by professionals with years of broadcast-level experience who have the knowledge to recognize what's important about the EX3 and how to teach it without getting bogged down in jargon. |
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Review by Simon Wyndham:At the rate new equipment is being released by camera manufacturers these days it can often be very hard to keep up. Quite often a camera operator is asked to use a lot of different cameras and cannot possibly learn all of their foibles on a couple of jobs. Further more, due to the complexity of today's camera systems it is often quite difficult to use all of their feature sets to the best of their ability without a good working knowledge of them. Many times even a camera operator who has owned a camcorder for a number of years may not be aware of many useful functions that they did not know the camera was capable of. For these reasons it is a good idea to research and train yourself how to use your camcorder efficiently, and to know its limitations. With specific regard to Sony's line of cameras there are a number of DVD's on the market. However some of them are clearly being made to sugar up Sony and do not make the operator aware of any drawbacks. On top of this some of them are not particularly well shot or put together. Doug Jensen from Vortex Media is a camera operator of almost 30 years experience shooting for major television networks such as NBC ABC, NHK, the BBC among many, many others. Being somebody who has been out in the field under all sorts of pressures and deadlines while still having to produce footage of exceptional quality means that he knows intimately what a camera operator is looking for. The Vortex Media series of instructional videos has been fast gaining a reputation for in-depth tuition and production quality. "How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews" is one in particular that i would recommend for anyone wishing to improve their facial lighting techniques. "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX3" is one of Vortex Media's latest DVD's that covers Sony's new semi-shoulder mount SxS tapeless camera. The EX3 is a big step up for people who have been using cameras such as the Panasonic HVX200 or the Sony Z1, while at the opposite end of the scale many broadcast camcorder vets will also need some tuition about the various ins and outs of this unit. The fact that the camera records to solid state cards is also a huge leap for many people who have been used to tape and requires a small learning curve. The DVD is presented by Doug himself, which means that instead of a faceless narrator or hired in presenter you are being given the information by a seasoned professional. Doug has a very laid back presenting style and unlike many in the profession he appears totally at ease in front of the camera. His voice is very clear and he presents all information in an easy to understand way. If additional references are needed they are displayed in the lower thirds of the screen, so if you are confused by the jargon you will have suggestions on how to further your knowledge. One of the aspects that I like about the Vortex DVDs is that they will not kid you that the equipment that they are covering is the best thing since sliced bread. If there are any limitations, or functions on the camera do not perform as well as they should they make you aware of it, as well as demonstrating directly the reasons why. Unlike other DVD producers Doug has not been loaned a camera by Sony. All equipment that he makes DVDs about he owns. So not only is the information coming from somebody who is a seasoned professional camera operator, but he has also used the equipment that he is covering in anger in the field. The important thing to take into consideration when watching "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX3" is that it is not an instructional video about picture composition and how to expose etc as many people are prone to thinking. Nor will it tell you in depth how to set up the colour matrix profiles for instance. Instead the DVD is a primer on the ins and outs of the EX3 and its various intricacies. Setting up detailed picture profiles is a personal thing, and setting up colour matrix settings would be better covered in a camera engineering setup DVD, so Doug has rightly kept the programmes focus on the EX3 itself and its specific functions and workflow. That said he does give a basic picture profile that he uses to shoot with that improves saturation and gives the picture a little more punch, but as he points out it is a personal choice as to whether you like the look yourself. Throughout the DVD there are some stunning examples of footage that Doug has taken throughout the US using the EX3. The whole presentation is put together in a very slick manner and is divided up into easily navigable chapters so that you can always jump to the area that is of interest to you. To conclude I would say that this DVD is an excellent primer on how to find your way around the EX3, and also how you can deal with the post production workflow compared to tape. Highly recommended.
"Admitting to being something of a "beginner" , I must say I found this DVD to be very useful, as well as wonderfully produced and presented. I am currently shooting with an FX1 and two other HDV cameras. I had read everything I could get my hands on about the EX1, including all of the material on the Web put out by Sony as well as the gazillion posts and screen shots on various forums. So last week, I purchased the "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX-1". And it was the fulcrum for my decision to purchase the camera! I found that the production added some real meat to the bones of what I had so far discovered. In terms of the content presented, I was first struck by the similarities of operation between the EX1 and the FX1, as well as the total dissimilarities in some other features, functions and operation. In particular, seeing the "live" on-screen operation of some of the menus and the handling of the camera body were particularly enlightening to me - try to get that in that way from an instruction book! And I was really taken with the well organized, cohesive, informative presentation - it helped tie together for me both the positive attributes and shortcomings I had noted elsewhere. It was worth far more to me than every cent I paid for it."
"Hi guys, I just finished watching "Mastering the Sony EX1" which I received in the mail a couple of days ago. Fantastic! I really, really liked, it's perhaps the best instructional video I have seen. Usually they are boring and uninspiring, but not this one. I am an inexperienced videographer and was worried this video would be too technical. But Douglas explains things simply, without wasting any time. Incredibly he manages to cover EVERYTHING. Every single point in the menu - but he is selective about what to put emphasis on. Congratulations, this is really a quality product."
"I watched this video over 2 nights before using my PMW-EX1 for the 1st time.then read most of the sony manual and returned to the Vortex DVD again.if you think the sony manual lacks certain details as to what each setting does, then the Vortex DVD is for you.it will tell you at what gain the EX1 is best. what shutter speed should be used at each frame rate and many other head scratchers.here is one sample after watching the vortex video." |
About the Instructor:
Doug Jensen is the owner of Vortex Media, a cameraman, producer, director, editor, consultant and trainer with over 25 years of video production and post-production experience. Jensen combines his extensive production experience with his teaching skills to bring a wide-ranging, real-world perspective to his independent DVD workshops and live seminars. As a member of Sony's Independent Certified Experts (I.C.E.) team he has taught high-definition XDCAM classes for Sony at NAB, Japan, Hollywood, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. In the summer of 2007 Sony hired him to shoot demo footage with a pre-production EX1 camcorder, and to operate the camera during field tests conducted by Discovery Communications. In recent years he has directed, and co-produced several popular training DVDs including: "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX1", "HandsOnHDV: A Complete Guide to the Z1U and FX1," "A Guide to Shooting with the Sony XDCAM HD F350/F330 Camcorders," and "How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews." Jensen owns several cameras, including a Sony PMW-EX1, Sony PMW-EX3, Sony F350 XDCAM HD, Sony HVR-Z7U, Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder, and an Ikegami HL59 Betacam. His credits and clients include: NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, PBS, BBC, NHK, EBU, TNT, Discovery, ESPN, E!, A&E, HGTV, WGBH, Food Network, NASCAR Images, MLB Productions, Travel Channel, History Channel, Sundance Channel, and NBA Entertainment.
Customer Comments about our DVDs:
"This DVD must be in your toolkit, just like a tripod, if you are serious about shooting professional video. Although it still is a standard definition NTSC DVD and I am in PAL land, the quality of the picture looked awesome on my new 40” Bravia TV from Sony. The DVD structure is very simple and straight to the point, which makes it very easy to navigate. From the first chapter you feel right at home. The presentation is very well done. When someone is watching the DVD with the camera by her or his side, she or he gets enough time to make the settings that are explained. You are getting lots of tips that will help you master your camera even better after watching this DVD. Throughout the whole DVD-set I never got the impression it was sponsored by Sony. This DVD is completely independent. For me personally, on a scale 10 it deserves a 10! I recommended it to everyone who already owns, or is going to buy a Sony PMW-EX1 camcorder. After watching this DVD, everyone with a little bit of talent can pick up an PMW-EX1 and start shooting gorgeous HD footage without even touching the manual supplied by Sony. Never expected less, because all the DVD’s and products I own from Vortex Media are great and well calculated products."
"Like others, I bought my Vortex EX3 DVD a few weeks before my EX3 arrived and yes, it's more expensive than my "Star Wars Holiday Special" bootleg DVD (the worst production *ever*) but it's all about value. The cost of Doug's DVDs are noise when compared with the time I have saved not re-inventing wheels, not beating my head against various walls, and most dangerous of all, not developing incorrect superstitions on how things work. Going from 0 to 60 for $125 in training on a $10,000 camera. Bargain of the century. Thanks to Doug and the crew at Vortex, I was comfortable enough with the EX3 and its workflow that I was shooting almost immediately and used it on its first real gig within a couple of weeks. Time is money and so is knowledge."
"Doug Jensen did a presentation with Rule Broadcast on the EX-1, and his presentation helped to convince me to buy the EX. 100 bucks or so of solid training is invaluable and for those of us buying the camera it's really pennies."
"Another vote saying it's worth the money. I watched this before I got my camera and I've been watching it, with judicious use of the Pause button, again now that my EX1 is delivered. If Sony had sense they'd have commissioned this for the camera launch and placed it in every box even if it meant a slight mark-up in price."
"I ordered my copy because it is not - Can I Learn This Myself - but rather will the DVDs help me learn it faster. As for the price, I compared that to hiring a trainer or trying to get into a class and it proves to be cost effective."
"Just got my copy of "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX1" and it's worth every penny"
"Yes, I would recommend this to a friend. As an amateur videographer with a V1-U I purchased this video because of my interest in the new EX-1. I found it to be a very straight forward, logically organized and professionally produced introduction/guide to the EX-1. It concentrates on practical usage of the camera and all it's features from acquisition to computer editing. I was particularly struck by the comparisons to digital SLR photography as it relates to a file-based format. After viewing it I realized that the EX-1 is within my sphere of abilities and plan to purchase one this year. Kudos to Mr. Doug Jensen, the instructor, and his staff for their excellence. If I can master 1/10 of his knowledge I'll be a better videographer. Thank you sir."
"I received "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX1" today and have been through the first DVD and it is excellent. I highly recommend it to EX1 owners."
"I just finished watching your training video on the Sony PMW-EX1. Well worth the time and money! Your insight and instruction was effective and informative. Thank you. "
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