MxRExpresscard Reader (For Sony PMW-Ex1/Ex3)

This Express Card Reader is specifically designed to accommodate SDHC cards only.

It uses a push-in/push-out mechanism where the whole SDHC card is enclosed in the reader. It has been tested to work with the 16GB Ultra II Sandisk, 8GB and 16GB Class 6 Transcend card.  

We cannot guarantee to be compatible with all brands of cards, as we have only tested these major brands, and some miscellaneous smaller cards.

Features

• Compliant with Express Card™ USB 2.0 standard
• Suitable for desktop/laptop with Express Card™ /34 slot
• Compatible with MacBook Pro
• Allows smaller and thinner mobile systems
• Ideal for small form factor and sealed systems
• Compatible for both desktop & mobile device
• Rugged and reliable stainless steel cover
• Packing Information: Blister Packing Size:34(L)x75(W)x5(D)mm

Specifications

Support SDHC without adapter
Interface: Hi-Speed USB
Operation Voltage: +5.0V - +3.0V (+/-5% wide range power supply)

System Environment:

Operating Temprature: 0C -70C
Operating Humidity: 20% - 85%

System Requirements:

Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista and Mac OS 8.6, 9.X, 10.1.2 or above (Driver is needed for 98SE)

FAQ

Which firmware should I have to use MxR cards?

An MxR card will only work with firmware 1.11_0531 on EX1/EX3. All cameras produced post August 2008 come with this update. To work out which version of the firmware is in your camera, press the Cancel + Select + Menu buttons at the same time, and you will enter the service menu. Navigate down to IF and you will see the current firmware version. If your camera does not have this update you will have to go back to Sony to have the firmware updated. There are links on the internet which show you how to update manually, but we highly recommend you use a Sony repair centre to complete it.

How reliable is a MxR card?

We’ve done extensive testing on the cards with selected memory cards by recording hundreds of hours and there wasn’t a single failure of a card while we were reading or writing to it. During our QC testing, we found a failure rate of less than 2 in 500. On that basis we abandoned hand testing, with this proviso, any card that arrives to you DOA we will replace with 2 cards sent expedited at our expense. Just give us proof your card has been dispatched back to us. We need any DOA card to find out why this has happened, and to change manufacturing procedures. Our goal is 100% function right out of the box. We know how frustrating it is to receive a shiny new product and it's DOA. If it happens to you promise to get you up and running as soon as we can.

Is a MxR card stable enough to use in a professional environment?

You can use your camera in any environment eg documentary, broadcast, weddings, indie film, as the imagery is recorded in the same way as if you were recording on Sony SxS cards.

Can I use the overcranking feature with MxR cards?

You can happily overcrank up to 720p/48 fps, but will not work at 720p/50-60 fps. The overcrank limitation is not from either the MxR or the SDHC cards, but is rather the result of the Sony's USB 2 implementation on their cameras.

Why should I use a MxR card instead of Sony SxS card?

The biggest consideration to use the MxR cards is the price. To be able to record using a modestly priced adapter, onto commodity priced SDHC cards has dropped the cost per hour of footage to between 1/6th and 1/8th of SxS. This has led producers to be able to complete shoots without the need to offload to Laptop. Some producers are completing several days of shooting and downloading when they return to the studio. Others are handing over the SDHC cards at the end of the shoot, in the same way they did with tape.

Why do I get a media restore error?

This message occurs when the camera has not completed writing the TOC (Table of Contents) for the file it has just written. This error has two main causes:
1. Ejection of the card before it completes writing the TOC, ie before the slot light turn green from red.
2. The writing speed of the SDHC or SSD is too slow for the camera.

What type of SDHC cards have you tested?

16GB
Pass:

• Sandisk Ultra II Class 4
• Transcend
• Kingston ( Please note not all of the Kingston play nicely, some are too slow)

Fail:

• Adata
• Toshiba
• Lexar16GB SSD

32GB
Pass:

• Transcend

Fail:

• Sandisk Ultra II Class 4
• Kingston

Which memory cards can I use?

We highly recommend Transcend cards with our adapter. We designed the adapter to work with both Transcend 16GB and Sandisk 16GB.

What makes a MxR card any different from other USB 2 base express card adapters?

Other brand adapters were designed to be used in a computer, and were later found to work in with EX1/EX3. The MxR card adapter was specifically designed and engineered with Sony EX1/EX3 cameras. We chose to design a card with the idea that it should work on a Sony camera firstly and a pc secondly. This meant that the SDHC memory card should be fully inserted in our MxR card, and not sticking out.

Does the MxR card work in the Sony EX-30 deck.

Yes we have tested it in the deck, and it behaves in the same manner as the SxS. We also have many customers who are happily using the MxR with their EX-30, and not reported one issue to date.

Does the MxR work with the Sony SxS Express Card Reader SBAC-US10?

No. The MxR card is based on a USB interface, the SxS on a PCIe interface. The SBAC-US10 will ONLY read PCIe card readers not USB.
Is that the end of the story? Well not quite, there are many other much cheaper options available than the SBAC-US10 which we will be bringing out in the very near future.