F3: New Convergent Design "Odyssey"

Dear Friends,

We expect to make some FS700 owners real happy.

Stay Tuned.

Respectfully,


Dan Keaton
Convergent Design
 
Dear Friends,

I certainly do not mean to tease. I was trying my best to answer the questions instead of ignoring them.

This is a very hot topic, as many with a FS700 want to record with an external recorder to gain more functionality.

I just can't release the information until all of the approvals and details are firmly in place.

So, we will release the information as soon as possible.

It is a pleasure working with Sony.

Respectfully,


Dan Keaton
Convergent Design
 
Dear Friends,

Yesterday I talked about our Avid DNxHD project, which is broken down into two parts the decoder and then the encoder.

We now have the decoder portion working 100%.

We decoded a SMPTE standard Avid DNxHD test file, and the results look perfect (in our very critical analysis).

So, we are now onto coding the encoder portion of the project.

The Avid DNxHD compressed codec will be added free to all Gemini 4:4:4's as soon as it is ready.

And it will be part of the "Compressed Codec" option (available at extra cost) for the Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q.


Respectfully,


Dan Keaton
Convergent Design
 
If it can record 4K RAW 12bit coming from the FS700 and if it costs me less than an AXS-R5 recorder + interface then I would definitely buy one Odyssey !

It's also a monitor so I should also add the price of an AC7 OLED monitor to the equation to be absolutely fair...

Anyway, good to hear that things are going well with Sony and looking forward for any news regarding the FS700 ! :cool:
 
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the other advantage... besides price... its the size of a monitor... so you don't have that long bazooka 700 with the AXS-R5 and interface... that was shown...
 
It is a pleasure working with Sony.


That's heartwarming, I say without irony. Sony putting customers first by making available the info you need to read that stream. Brilliant.

I think they realized they could have another big blast of FS700 sales with an affordable 4K recorder, and they'd be right.

If that FS700 raw is anything like the F5 raw, watch out. Holy cow. Lotta folks going to be making awesome material for $10K.
 
I think we've seen RAW from enough cameras to know that once you go to that level of bayer video data, the sky truly seems to be the limit.

The FS700 with ext. recorder is going to make an excellent contender in the 35mm RAW arena and I see a lot of folks switching over to it from BMC who really want to work with a larger sensor and maximize the 35mm lens format.
 
I think they realized they could have another big blast of FS700 sales with an affordable 4K recorder, and they'd be right.

If that FS700 raw is anything like the F5 raw, watch out. Holy cow. Lotta folks going to be making awesome material for $10K.

Head of nail hit. I am the kind of person that this move would appeal to. The FS700 is a great camera and the slow mo is cool and all, but I want something future proof. I am totally over this culture of buying a new camera every 12 months. It's been going on for a few years now and it's getting ridiculous. Buyers can't buy with confidence, through fear of depreciation and obsolesce putting them out of business. Hence the reason I've just been renting and investing in glass.

The FS700 was the first step in the right direction for Sony (and the F5/F55 are just totally amazing). 35mm sensor, real frame rates and the ability to record 4k. That gives me confidence to invest in a camera again, as I believe it will last me 3 years and I can recoup my investment safely. But that recorder and adapter, Sheesh! I had flashbacks of Franken-cam EX3+DOF adapter. No Sony, NO!

So if Sony ever read this forum (and they probably don't), it looks like Convergent Design are onto a winner here, so please let them do their thing and make the FS700 a viable future proof camera... Plus give us a sweet monitor at the same time :)
 
Sony putting customers first by making available the info you need to read that stream. Brilliant.

I still think this is going to come at a significant cost from Sony. I just can't see them completely sidestepping their own external recorder for a significantly, cheaper, lighter and more convenient option in the Odyssey. I am not picking on Sony here, I couldn't see Canon or Panny doing it either. Let's hope Sony see's viable business model for offering FS700 owners a cheaper path to 4K....I'm just not holding my breath for that to happen.
 
The Odyssey would be the ideal solution for raw recording on the FS700, as Sony's solution is kinda retarded/cumbersome looking....
Maybe I'm stupid... :) but I was thinking of Sony RAW solution from that point of view, and I cannot imagine someone filming with FS-700 RAW, using small, cheap NEX lensess for it :) ... so if you gomna use really good CINE-lenses plus good MAT-BOX on RIG, than FRONT PART OF your RIG gonna be REALLY BIG and HEAVY, something like this:

FS-700_01s.jpg


FS-700_RIG_03.jpg


or even like this:

FS-700_RIG_05.jpg


... in this case, Sony_HXR-IFR5_unit, R5 Recorder and battery will be GOOD COUNTERBALANCE option for your RIG... don't you think so? :)
So, after I read this tread, I start to think, that I'm not sure about what will be better FOR RAW - original Sony recorder or Odyssey ...
Seems like Odyssey will cost about $5000-$6000 with complete package for FS-700 ..we will know better in 10 days :)
 
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I'm sure happy as heck I got everything under "one roof". :cool:

In reality, the camera length doesn't matter much, it hangs over shoulder if needed anyway...
 
... in this case, Sony_HXR-IFR5_unit, R5 Recorder and battery will be good counterbalance option for your RIG... don't you think so? :)

No. If you'd seen it in person or the pictures, it's retardedly long, like a bazooka on your shoulder. Not practical in tight spaces in the slightest. I saw it in person at the Sony 5/55 release event in November and literally laughed.

And that was even with only a tiny lens, if I remember right. A real cine zoom literally would have the thing at 4ft long, not joking.
 
No. If you'd seen it in person or the pictures, it's retardedly long, like a bazooka on your shoulder. Not practical in tight spaces in the slightest. I saw it in person at the Sony 5/55 release event in November and literally laughed.

And that was even with only a tiny lens, if I remember right. A real cine zoom literally would have the thing at 4ft long, not joking.

Here was the link to the original thread picturing an FS700 with the HXR-1FR5 interface and the AXS-R5 Recorder AKA 'The Bazooka' LOL...

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?301560-The-FS700-4K-Solution!

The other question I am wondering about is whether or not these non Sony 4K Raw external recorders (KI Pro, Odyssey etc...) will require the use of the HXR-1FR5 interface or will these recorder be able to draw directly from the SDI output ?
 
Dear Michael,

The Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q will include an AC Power Supply. Optional Accessories include a battery plate, a 14.4Volt Lithium-Ion battery, and a battery charger.

Also, one can power our units from 10 to 35 Volts DC. We have built in over-voltage and reverse polarity protection.

And we have built-in a power switch.

Respectfully,


Dan Keaton
Convergent Design
 
and I cannot imagine someone filming with FS-700 RAW, using small, cheap NEX lensess for it

You seem to be implying that there is nothing in between the lightweight Sony kit lens and communist, land mine resistant Lomo lenses. There is plenty in between that aren't that heavy... Like the CP2's for example. Are you saying it's not worth shooting raw if you don't have Cine lenses? Strange. Plus you're looking at this from a very one dimensional view. I don't film on my shoulder all that often, so that doesn't really factor in for me. Plus I have to hike sometimes for 3-4 hours in deep snow to get to my location, so needlessly adding extra kilos is a massive no no. I mean come on, look at the link, http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...00-4K-Solution . That's the most cumbersome looking set up I've ever seen. No thanks.

... in this case, Sony_HXR-IFR5_unit, R5 Recorder and battery will be GOOD COUNTERBALANCE option for your RIG... don't you think so? :)

If I really have to balance my super heavy Cine lens, I've found a cheaper solution. Gonna purchase me one of these and hang it off the back - http://tinyurl.com/d7fo2fb
 
Dear Friends,

When using the Odyssey7 or Odyssey7Q with the Sony FS700, you will not need the Sony Interface Unit.

The Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q weigh about the same, about 1.2 to 1.3 pounds. We will have an exact weight once we build our productio-level cases in Magnesium.

The units that we demonstate at NAB will be milled aluminum, which is heavier. Magnesium is very strong, durable, lightweight and can be made into precision pieces.

We pride ourselves in building powerful, small, lightweight, low power and innovative products.

Respectfully,


Dan Keaton
Convergent Design
 
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