EVA1: Firmware Fixes/Requests

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filmguy123

Veteran
I posted a number of these in December and am sad to see them not addressed yet.

1. Better, higher mbps HD Codecs (very problematic for HD work, and any VFR modes). Further details here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?359965-Complaint-Request-PLEASE-provide-better-HD-Codec!!

2. "Remember Codec Settings" on system mode switches. When you swap system modes (ie including, but not limited to, jumping from S35 5.7k to MIX mode and then back) it resets your codec setting, defaulting to LongGOP 420 8-bit. Ugh. Why? This really needs to remember whatever you had previously selected (ie 400mbps ALL-I). It really slows down workflow to jump from 24p to 120fps and back and have to reset your codecs, etc. Clunky workflow.

3. Zebra still does not display your selection when pressing user button. Am I on zebra 1 75%? Or zebra 2 100%? I have no idea! Because when I hit the button, the LCD does not display "Zebra 1: 75%" like other cameras. It just rotates through. This should display on button press for a few seconds. Additionally, there should be an option to keep it permanently displayed.

4. User Button to bind Base ISO swap between 800/2500. Thankfully this can now be done in the home screen (thanks!) but it would be really great to have this on a user button, as for docu or live work this can be a frequent selection point.

5. Freescroll option for Shutter + VFR. Currently it is a laborious process to dial in specific syncro shutter options for shutter or VFR with a manual "add" process. Cool feature for presets, but *needs* to be a toggle switch for free scroll as well. Often with flickering lights and slow motion settings, or various electronics, you need a very quick way to just cycle through to get rid of flicker, and as of now if I am on set I have to go into the menu and start fiddling and adding presets. And once I do that, now my "cleaner" settings of "144, 172, 180, 247" are ruined and I have messy menu. So, keep the current option because having go to presets cleanly added is cool, but absolutely need free flowing menu to select anything quickly for one-offs.

6. User Button Modifier Option on Press + Hold. This would allow UB 9 to modify the handle grip scroll wheel. Scroll wheel on handle for aperture, press UB9, modifies, now scroll wheel on handle for your choice of: shutter, ISO, wb, VFR.

7. Glad to see some home menu option improvements, but we really need a few more. Can we tap on the system frequency, frame size, and codec to change directly at home screen? This would speed up this process. It's quite clunky ATM, and something that needs to be done somewhat frequently since you often need to change both the system mode and codec to access different VFR settings.

8. Camera messaging needs to be clearer when the BASE ISO becomes 1250, it still lists BASE 2500 when in 4/3 crop 2.2k mode which can be confusing. Please update this with proper readout to reflect the actual BASE ISO here.

9. Mode Presets: The menus on the EVA1 are generally clunky if you are a user who shoots quick and needs to swap between various VFR settings. Because you have to change multiple parameters to do so. It would be great to see a mode preset on the home screen where you could just jump to favorites, for example.

A: 4K @ 24p @ codec
B: HD @ 2k @ 48fps @ codec
C: HD Mix @ 2.2k @ 108fps @ codec

etc. and have the camera swap all the associated settings.

(more details further in this thread)

10. Auto Base ISO mode, like the GH5s. I mean, how frequently will I really want to shoot at non optimal BASE ISO settings? The GH5s handles this way better, you just ISO up and the camera auto detects which BASE ISO will be optimal for the ISO setting.

Details / Rationale here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?360076-Ideal-ISO-Impact-on-DR-what-settings

11. Histogram. I know, no pro Panasonic broadcast division department camera has had this. But it's such a simple add. And it's extremely useful for ETTR shooting, and consistency between using the GHx line. I know you are separate departments, and yet the whole company benefits from consistency across lines. I can use the WFM monitor and it's "fine" (actually better in some ways) but for quick shooting, a simple Histo to show where the exposure is holistically in combo with eyeballing the zebras is a quicker and more effective way for ETTR live shooting.

12. False Color Please?
 
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Going to add on here:

13. "Home Screen" viewable on HDMI output. This is important for using an alternative, small lightweight HDMI monitor like the SmallHD Focus. If the "home" screen could be mirrored (which is important for workflow) then the stock LCD could be removed. The home screen can be navigated without touch (and unfortunately, is often easier to do so with the scroll wheels, since the touch is finicky anyhow).

I would very much like to permanently rig out the stock LCD to the Zacuto Z-finder, but this makes it much heavier, and thus ideal to be able to be removed when switching out of a shoulder mount position. The SmallHD focus with a hood is a much better solution when using the camera handheld or on an EasyRig. Keeping size, weight, power draw down - and streamlining the rig - are all key, and this seems like a very easy addition.
 
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Another EVA1 owner here - agree will all of them especially a preset option that allows us to switch instantly between UHD 10bit 24p to UHD 8bit 60p.
 
soarprod said:
Another EVA1 owner here - agree will all of them especially a preset option that allows us to switch instantly between UHD 10bit 24p to UHD 8bit 60p.
Click to expand...

This is big. These mode transitions currently must be done in a linear fashion and each takes a while as the camera "thinks" and resets. Not only that, but it just takes a lot of menu fiddling in general.

I would add to this that the mode preset menu or selections could include not just option to set frequency, resolution, and codec, but also allow the user to set the VFR mode (if any), scene file settings, shutter / ISO & Base ISO. That would be great.

BUT - the big three are definitely preset switches that change freq/res/codec all in one press.
 
filmguy123 said:
Going to add on here:

13. "Home Screen" viewable on HDMI output. This is important for using an alternative, small lightweight HDMI monitor like the SmallHD Focus. If the "home" screen could be mirrored (which is important for workflow) then the stock LCD could be removed. The home screen can be navigated without touch (and unfortunately, is often easier to do so with the scroll wheels, since the touch is finicky anyhow).

I would very much like to permanently rig out the stock LCD to the Zacuto Z-finder, but this makes it much heavier, and thus ideal to be able to be removed when switching out of a shoulder mount position. The SmallHD focus with a hood is a much better solution when using the camera handheld or on an EasyRig. Keeping size, weight, power draw down - and streamlining the rig - are all key, and this seems like a very easy addition.
Click to expand...

This was made available in the Firmware 2.0 update.
 
Good to hear on #13 Mitch, I will give this another shot. Must be a setting I missed, it wasn't working for me the other day and I am on latest firmware. I'll dig into the menus a bit!
 
I want to add to this:

14. Remember settings on reboot. I can’t tell you how tired I am of turning my focus peaking and zebras back on every time I reboot. This really adds up. The inconvenience becomes extra when on a recoil rig with the camera pressed against the side of your face. Queue awkward blind button pushes to re-enable settings. Most other cameras I’ve used leave your previous settings with these things as they last were.

As well, I initially posted almost all of these in December 2017 before recompiling into this April posting - thankful for the big RAW updates but really hoping to see some of these basic usability issues prioritized and addressed soon by the engineering team!!

Thanks for putting up with us, Mitch :)
 
Zebras - ability to assign different colours to Zebra 1 and 2 would be really helpful - also ability to cycle between Zebra 1, Zebra 2 and combo
Iris Locking - I often lock the Iris wheel on the side as i find it too sensitive, is it possible to also lock the handgrip wheel?
Black Balance - be great if this was user assignable to a function button
Home screen - exit button as well as Home button to exit this screen, much easier to locate whilst operating
Settings on reboot - as mentioned above
Ability to save fps/resolution/codec etc combos as settings and cycle between using assignable button
 
15. Mic input trim should default to -50db, not the current (and very prone to clipping) -60.
16. Sticky menus: should "remember" where I was working last time, at least return to highlight the last-used top level menu option
17. When toggle switch is set to center position and preset to control headphone level, the scroll knob should work directly, without having to push it first. Same way that it already works in the "ISO/Gain" switch position.
18. Related: the headphone level scroll wheel is way too "sensitive and slow ".It takes literally 70 swipes with my finger to move from 0 to 100. Even going from 75 to 100 takes 15 or more swipes.
 
19. Zebras: when Zebras 1 and 2 are both active, the User button should be able to step sequentially through them, rather than both confusingly shown at once. Also, or an alternative, program "window" of luminence range for the Zebras, such as the 70% zebra being active from 70 to 80%. That way, the screen would be less cluttered and it would be easier to distinguish between zebra 1 and 2. EDIT: apparently that's what the oddly-named "spot" attempts to do. But it's designed so that only Zebra 1 is active, and Zebra 2 is the upper limit of what shows in Zebra 1. Clunky design.

20. Zebras: Factory default should be 70%, not 80%. Who uses 80% zebras?

21. Format SD cards function available from the home screen. Or, if not possible due to home screen real estate, see below:

22. a "USER MENU" top menu where semi-commonly-used functions could be parked, so that one doesn't need to drill down several menus deep, or program a User button. For instance, format card, color bars and tone...
 
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Hi Mitch, many great suggestions here. It's been quite a while - do you think we might see an updated EVA1 Firmware anytime soon?

I know you mentioned these notes have been passed on and intentionally need to keep things vague... However, I am wondering if there is at least intent on behalf of Panasonic Pro Department to continue to support the EVA1 with firmware updates specifically to address UI and Quality of Life Issues such as, but not necessarily specifically, the requests here?
 
I really can't comment. If I say yes it becomes when and which features. If I say no it becomes you're abandoning us. What I can say is that the engineers take requests seriously because they know that happy customers mean loyal customers and more customers. I can also say that we only have so many engineers with only so much time plus many projects and products we wish to make or improve. It's all a big juggle. Not to mention the fact that I don't know the engineering challenges that exist, but I can tell you that part of the reason the EVA1 can be so small, lightweight and power-sipping is because the processor was specifically designed to handle certain tasks very efficiently. That also means that there is limited room in the desigh to make any changes. I don't know the limitations, but it certainly is different from a camera that is heavy and power hungry but can have its processor completely reflashed with a firmware update to radically change its performance. The EVA1 is a different sort of machine.
 
Now I've finally used the camera on a few jobs I think a couple of UI tweaks to speed up access to most needed functions would be very welcome.

The camera is great for what it is. Very impressed.
 
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There are firmware updates planned but I can’t (and won’t) say what functions and any timelines. We have various things in development but I don’t know which items will pan out and don’t know how long they will take until they’re done.
 
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