F3: Feature Requests for Firmware Upgrade on the Sony PMW-F3

Richard Allen Crook said:
Sometimes it's hard to discern between absolute certainty and speculation. Many of you guys are speaking with absolute certainty that nothing can be done. I agree though...i am one of those who thinks they have moved on from the camera. But the point of this is to get a list together so that we can at least talk to Sony and get a response. If you guys speculating actually have some inside knowledge from Sony then please divulge it to us. But even still, I think it's still very feasible to get a response from Sony directly and put this to bed finally. And I mean this in the nicest possible way, but let's at least try for a response from Sony and not put this to bed just yet. :)
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I agree, but I think we have to dial back our expectations and go back to what we think Sony was contemplating in the 1.5 firmware. They made a call out to the community asking what we wanted in the firmware release, gave us some indication what they wanted to focus on: workflow enhancements but never followed through. And MOST importantly, they made an intentional effort that they were going to continue to support the product. The threads are here in the archives if you want to dig them up.
 
I don't think we should dial back anything. Yes of course some may have high (and maybe impossible) expectations and all that. I don't think anyone should be forced to come through endless threads of pure speculation in lieu of simply getting a response from Sony. My point is to end all this speculation and hear from the horses mouth…from Sony. That's my point.
 
Well if anyone here is going to NAB, please consider talking to Sony about it... by which I mean scream at them "JUST GIVE US ALL 4:4:4 AND BE DONE WITH IT!!"
 
Yes, I am going to NAB as I usually do.

I think there is a way to structure the requests so we can present options that could in one instance provide a business case for adding new features. And the second one would be to present an option where provide an update that fulfills what most perceive as the intent of version 1.5 firmware which would include Grug's suggestion and addtional quick access to features through the assignment buttons and the ability to see the histogram and zebras through the HD-SDI port.

It will only be through a discussion with Sony reps on the show floor where will be able to determine the viability of adding current features like codecs beyond XDCAM-EX and so on.

A multi-pronged approach, I think is the best way to satisfy the needs of most here.

I think if we provide a simple laundy list of everything without rationale that empathizes with their realtiy will end up with them saying, effectively, "Go pound sand. Are you insane!"
 
I have seven F3's that I use at a University and would love all the features added you guys are talking about. It would help us keep them viable for a few more years and help with the awful XDCam workflow.

But, like some other people are saying - this list is not technically achievable so I'm not holding my breath.
 
What you guys haven't asked yourselves is; what's in it for Sony?

Let's say it would take 2 programers 6 months to write the software. Their salary is $100k per year. Another QC enginer to test it another 6 months that partly overlaps with the first two. Then distibution and advertising costs. (Yes if anything this would just be an act of good will so they will want to advertise.)

You're now up to $200k in costs and it's not going help them sell any more F3's. I'd be really surprised if they are even making F3s any more. The product life is over.

If you were Sony would you spend $200k for nothing?

You might, and its a very thin might, be able to get Sony to impliment ONE really easy, simple upgrade as an act of good will. That's not going to be the codec. The codec is hard coded in the chips. If you can think of one easy, fast upgrade and everyone asks nicely (many people ask rudely and Sony doesn't want the grief on a dead end product) then you might get it.

So far you guys are showing that you can't settle on one thing and most of your "wish list" items are pie in the sky. Sorry.
 
I agree. The only thing I can see us having the slightest hope of getting, is them unlocking 4:4:4 on all F3s (since it already exists and there's no real programming or development work needed).


If we can get that, then at least we can take our PIX240s or our Odyssey 7Qs and go sweetly into that good night with 10-bit 4:4:4 at up to 1080p60 (which remains a pretty substantial and highly capable spec).
 
I agree with everything you say, if they had been 100+, then it might be worth asking, but not for a few.

If I had to choose one item, it would be a cable that connected to one of the ports on the F3, so that I could use the viewfinders from the F5/55. Do you think this is possible? Then I will have a viewfinder for when I do upgrade to a new F..... F65 when they are on eBay!

Grug, I held out for the RGB option for nearly three years, just buy it from someone on here like I did. Imagine 4444 from your PIX :thumbsup: You won't really need a new camera then.
 
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Most of these requests are just never going to happen - Forget internal 444 or 422 (that's been a request since the camera was new & hot) or likely cables that will allow F5 viewfinder etc. I would think that Slog and 3 should be pretty easy to accomodate though and perhaps better 3D LUTs if they ever make them. Though the LUTS might be harder.
 
MPB said:
yeah Grug. i mean . . . wake up and smell the coffee.


right Jack? :)
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Yeah, your right :) Not only that, if the F3 is at the end of the line, so will the S-Log upgrade, so grab it while you can. http://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/sony_cbk-rgb01

O.K, so we won't get any new firmware or hardware :cry: My question to all you F3 users is.... What will your next camera purchase be? And why?

As for me, I'm undecided, perhaps another F3, or wait until the New F's come down in price. FS700 is not a CineAlta, although I like it, but it's not ideal. As for other manufacturers, nothing takes my fancy. JVC anyone?
 
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While I haven't reviewed the block diagrams for the F3, it seems likely to me that getting the zebras and histogram overlaid over SDI may not be possible, period.

If, as I suspect, those overlays are generated by an inline chip after the signal has been split to the LCD & EVF, then there's no way to route them back to the SDI port, period.
 
Viddovation said:
While I haven't reviewed the block diagrams for the F3, it seems likely to me that getting the zebras and histogram overlaid over SDI may not be possible, period.

If, as I suspect, those overlays are generated by an inline chip after the signal has been split to the LCD & EVF, then there's no way to route them back to the SDI port, period.
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That is along the line of what I suspected. You've articulated what is most likely the reason why we don't have this data display info going to the HD-SDI port.
 
I am in the process of selling my house so the timing is poor to attend nab this year.

What's in it for Sony? Who knows? Isn't that why we want to talk to them directly instead of speculating?
 
It never hurts to ask, but in this case at least getting something from the horses mouth would be better than nothing at all. Any news is good news.
 
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