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

A piece of advice is to only buy gear with a set of features in the camera and never expect to get any improvements. If you do that you wont purchase the latest and greatest but stay behind and maybe pick used items. In the world of ever changing software nobody can be certain what any given product will end up as.

As far as the F3 goes let's consider it for what it is. One of the greatest 1080p cameras when paired with a matching external recorder. If you need to deliver higher than 60fps or higher resolution look elsewhere.
 
Osslund said:
A piece of advice is to only buy gear with a set of features in the camera and never expect to get any improvements. If you do that you wont purchase the latest and greatest but stay behind and maybe pick used items. In the world of ever changing software nobody can be certain what any given product will end up as.

As far as the F3 goes let's consider it for what it is. One of the greatest 1080p cameras when paired with a matching external recorder. If you need to deliver higher than 60fps or higher resolution look elsewhere.
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Hindsight is 20/20!
 
This case is a little bit different since Sony announced they were giving us another firmware release, but hasn't done it.
 
The big bad manufacturers will never get it right or give us what we want.

I identified a year ago now to Sony that the HDMI signal coming out of the F5/F55 did not work in 23.98/24p modes and they are still looking into it. Wireless transmitters, 3rd party monitors and VF's - most of them do not work.

Instead of focusing on features that would make the camera better out of the gate like proper exposure tools, in-camera LUT's for slog, and working external video signals they were too busy worrying about wi-fi ipad control, developing their own flavour of B4 lens adapter, and many other things that really should have been pushed out in the queue.

Oh well, if not this bad guy then its the other bad guy so no matter what you never win.
 
starcentral said:
The big bad manufacturers will never get it right or give us what we want.

I identified a year ago now to Sony that the HDMI signal coming out of the F5/F55 did not work in 23.98/24p modes and they are still looking into it. Wireless transmitters, 3rd party monitors and VF's - most of them do not work.

Instead of focusing on features that would make the camera better out of the gate like proper exposure tools, in-camera LUT's for slog, and working external video signals they were too busy worrying about wi-fi ipad control, developing their own flavour of B4 lens adapter, and many other things that really should have been pushed out in the queue.

Oh well, if not this bad guy then its the other bad guy so no matter what you never win.
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The problem is that those R&D teams are assigned specific projects and once they arrive at release date, they are given other ones. Thus what happens is that the original team that worked on it is no longer available and it may take many months before they can turn their nose to it again.
 
Many F65 owners are upset at the lack of attention and progress on features and firmware for their cameras... imagine you spent + $100k on that camera.

Given that I do believe that the F3 is last on the list, if it is even on a list to begin with.

I hate giving credit to manufacturers since I am so cynical and really don't like cheering for one more than another, but for Sony as a company whether we agree or not the F5/F55 really are new products that are helping them get market share in the super35mm game.

I'm interested to see the landscape in another 2-4 years. Will we see another new F camera? Probably, but honestly I feel like the F5/F55 can be the last stop for many of us. So many codecs and the option for RAW, anything else might really only be "un-necessary".
 
starcentral said:
I'm interested to see the landscape in another 2-4 years. Will we see another new F camera? Probably, but honestly I feel like the F5/F55 can be the last stop for many of us. So many codecs and the option for RAW, anything else might really only be "un-necessary".
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At least feature wise the F65 was already that camera. I mean, isn't it ready for even 8K?
 
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They aren't even including the F3 in marketing an "F-series" camera anymore. I know at one time they included it when referring to the series, but no more! Forced amnesia...like the cam didn't even exist. Oh well, the camera is still the perfect camera for me and will likely keep it for a long time, even if I get an upgrade I don't see the F3 being obsolete any time soon.

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Cleverly maybe the F3 was part of Sony's overall marketing plan all along? ie. introduce low cost CineAlta F series to wet people's appetite for only what was yet to come.
 
I am having a few 2nd thoughts about not hassling Sony about the F3, though I doubt it will have an effect. The one easy thing they could do for us would be to simply supply an upgrade offering sLog2 and sLog3. Because we don't have it, it makes using the F3 as a second camera (or an out of town camera) on shoots with the F5 and F55 very confusing for Post. That is kind of a low blow on their part and a drag for us.
 
starcentral said:
Cleverly maybe the F3 was part of Sony's overall marketing plan all along? ie. introduce low cost CineAlta F series to wet people's appetite for only what was yet to come.
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If so it was a really poor strategy. I feel like the F3 is a red-headed step child that's forced to live under the staircase and only fed gruel. I'm reluctant to spend the money on an F55 even though it's much better for fear they'll kill my investment a second time. Well, third time considering the paid S-Log debacle. :furious3: In fact, I'm going to sell my Zeiss PL mount primes no matter how much I like the images. Actually two sets of Zeiss primes, then the F3.
 
I'm keeping my F3. All they stuff I shot with it comes out great and it's a joy each time to bring it to a shoot. Maybe I'll add a 444/1080p60 capable recorder this fall.

4k and high fps are tempting but when I'm looking at the F3 for what it is and that it still is the mini Alexa I can't be anything but satisfied.
 
I have been away for a few weeks- has there been any word about the upgrade on the f55/f5s other than the shoulder mount extras that I saw pictures of here a few weeks ago that was shown an NAB?
 
Osslund said:
I'm keeping my F3. All they stuff I shot with it comes out great and it's a joy each time to bring it to a shoot. Maybe I'll add a 444/1080p60 capable recorder this fall.

4k and high fps are tempting but when I'm looking at the F3 for what it is and that it still is the mini Alexa I can't be anything but satisfied.
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Conferring with another F3 owner, we agree there really is something quite organic about the image. For some reason, I find it is sharp yet gentle. It really makes me wonder if all that race after resolution is really necessary.
 
Osslund said:
I'm keeping my F3. All they stuff I shot with it comes out great and it's a joy each time to bring it to a shoot. Maybe I'll add a 444/1080p60 capable recorder this fall.

4k and high fps are tempting but when I'm looking at the F3 for what it is and that it still is the mini Alexa I can't be anything but satisfied.
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+1 on that.
I recently took out my long dormant F3 as "B"camera on a shoot for a friend in Paris. "A" camera was a F3 too. Both spent most of the shoot on steadicam, but there were some shots on sticks and hand held too. My "reunion" with the F3 convinced me to keep the camera rather than sell it which was my intention earlier this year. Not only keep it, but to enhance it's usability with some upgrades.
I will not miss the lack of 4K or higher frame rates. If those features are wanted on any shoots I will just rent the gear for that, right now I see no need to spend a lot more money just to have those abilities in case they are needed. The images the F3 can produce are really wonderful, I haven't seen anything that much better that induces "new camera lust" for me.
With the PIX recorder and the couple of upgrades in progress this camera will suit my needs for a considerable time to come.
 
Lenilenapi said:
I am having a few 2nd thoughts about not hassling Sony about the F3, though I doubt it will have an effect. The one easy thing they could do for us would be to simply supply an upgrade offering sLog2 and sLog3. Because we don't have it, it makes using the F3 as a second camera (or an out of town camera) on shoots with the F5 and F55 very confusing for Post. That is kind of a low blow on their part and a drag for us.
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Agreed. Having sLog2 and ideally sLog3 would make the F3 usable as a B-Cam with an F5 or F55 and speaks to the original intent of this thread.

EDIT: Good to hear you are back in the saddle with your F3, Peter.
 
Andrew Stone said:
Agreed. Having sLog2 and ideally sLog3 would make the F3 usable as a B-Cam with an F5 or F55 and speaks to the original intent of this thread.

EDIT: Good to hear you are back in the saddle with your F3, Peter.
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thanks for the "welcome back" Andrew,
I have spent a lot of this past year having an affair with the Ikonoskop DII that I bought a year ago. An interesting "date" that's turned into something more serious. I love the look of that camera, ( it's very S16 which is by far my favourite "look" and medium ), though it's sometimes frustratingly quirky in use. For me it's akin to that odd dog you adopt from the pound that despite eating the sofa, pissing on the rugs and jumping on the table to finish your lunch you sort of know you're wedded to for life.
In contrast the F3 is beautifully behaved though definitely a mongrel.
Two dogs in the camera house now........
 
My dream would be that they also came out with a new board for the F3 that would also change the codec and/or data rate for about $1,000. The wires, the two sets of media, batteries, etc is less than ideal. I have no real complaints about the image. The stupid EVF location and right side grip I can put up with, but what was some designer thinking of? A ten pound or more handicam when fully kitted?
 
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