FS7: FS7 Firmware Version 2.0

N

nsoltz

Veteran
Juan Martinez posted on the Sony Community Forum (and also told me personally) that firmware version 2.0 will be available for download by the end of March.

He will be posting a complete PDF but both from his post as well as from my feeble memory, this is what we can expect:

4 Channel Audio using the MI shoe
If using the UWP-D wireless system, 1 or 2 channels of audio can be assigned to the MI shoe. The 2 side XLR's can map to 2 channels. If only using 1 channel of audio via the UWP-D on the MI shoe, then the internal mike could map to a 4th channel

ProRes HQ and ProRes 422 in HD up to 60 fps. Of course, requires XDCA back. It will be possible to record 60/24 for some slo-mo in ProRes

If not using the XDCA back for timecode, one channel of audio could be mapped to timecode for those NLE's that will read it.

Fixes:
Magenta cast
Optical stabilization on/off bug
Fixing problem where camera fails to retain previous settings when switching modes

We need to await the detailed description from Sony for all specifics. In fact, this was to be embargoed until noon 2/24 but since Juan posted something, I felt it was OK to repost here.

I am only an imperfect messenger from the fourth estate.

Ned Soltz
 
Thanks Ned.

I think I am pretty much done being an early adopter. Pro Res was supposed to be enabled by the end of Jan.
 
For further details

Pro.sony.eu/firmware

Also enables 4k DCI in camera.

Glad I am early adopter. Getting business and rentals before market is saturated with cameras.

Ned
 
If next weeks job comes in as planned I've just about paid for my FS7. Not to shabby having had it for three months. So regardless of late firmware releases it's the best camera purchase I've made.
 
I was really hoping for this update at the end of Feb but as long as they actually stick with the end of March I can deal with the current issues as I have already. If I had the extension pack and had clients that needed Prores I would be a little more sore at the slow to deliver firmware.
 
I'd say I got burned being a Sony PMW-F3 early adopter, and it taught me to be very cautious in my expectations of future equipment.

I got my FS7 right at thee end of October 2014, and to date, I've already used it for over $10k in billed work, using the base $8,000 package. Since I have to pay myself, I wouldn't necessarily say the camera is "paid off" but it certainly is performing as expected.

It worked for me because I didn't plan my usage of the camera around roadmap features, but around the feature set it shipped with.

I've found the roadmaps from all of these companies hard to trust, and therefore I don't plan or budget shoots around manufacturer roadmaps.
And agreed with Ned and Osslund - being an early adopter does mean getting work before the market is saturated.
 
Question... with the Extension Unit is there ever going to be UHD or 4K ProRes? I figure there would be but maybe I am missing something.
 
nsoltz said:
For further details

Pro.sony.eu/firmware

Also enables 4k DCI in camera.

Glad I am early adopter. Getting business and rentals before market is saturated with cameras.

Ned
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have phrased that better. Paid off the camera but between Sony and Convergent Design the extension unit has been a pricey paperweight so far :)
 
FrameFarmMedia said:
I was really hoping for this update at the end of Feb but as long as they actually stick with the end of March I can deal with the current issues as I have already. If I had the extension pack and had clients that needed Prores I would be a little more sore at the slow to deliver firmware.
Click to expand...

Wait... I hope I'm miss-understanding this.

Juan Martinez said several weeks ago that the Firmware 2.0 will be out on February 24th (which was originally promised in January). Now, Juan is only releasing a .pdf on February 24th telling us what will be available when the firmware actually comes out in March?

If this is correct, this is insanely terrible. Please tell me I am wrong.
 
At one time freelancers renting to production would generally use 3% as the rental rate. The scale would change depending on the item factoring in consumables involved, market saturation of said item and so on.

The magenta issue should be dealt forthwith and issued without delay as it is a serious production related issue.
 
Andrew Stone said:
At one time freelancers renting to production would generally use 3% as the rental rate. The scale would change depending on the item factoring in consumables involved, market saturation of said item and so on.
Click to expand...

For my camera, if I call the cost $9000 (with media, etc), 3% is $270. Using that figure plus direct line item rental income it has generated, the $9,000 camera will have earned $4,250 by 3/2/15 - in the space of approximately 4 months of ownership, nearly half of it's retail cost, while the camera is still in limited supply and is still probably worth 80-85% of retail. That means on average, each month it has earned over 11% of it's cost.

That's as good or better than any other camera system I've owned in terms of cost to return ratio over time.
 
The thing with the FS7 it's so versatile and everything coming from the camera in SLOG3 looks nice. It might not be the best camera but it is a camera that fits into so many shooting situations and I can take on any job.
 
gene_can_sing said:
Wait... I hope I'm miss-understanding this.

Juan Martinez said several weeks ago that the Firmware 2.0 will be out on February 24th (which was originally promised in January). Now, Juan is only releasing a .pdf on February 24th telling us what will be available when the firmware actually comes out in March?

If this is correct, this is insanely terrible. Please tell me I am wrong.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it was always stated as an early 2015 update, which kind of means first quarter. So, yes, you are wrong:-)
 
It was definitely January. There's absolutely no way I'd spend £1500 in November on a piece of gear that wouldn't be enabled for 4 months. It's obviously been edited/updated.
 
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