Odyssey7 & Odyssey7Q October 2014 Firmware Update

[Mitch Gross]

In FS700 4K>UHD mode I've just noticed a fairly large drop in screen brightness when recording. WFM doesn't change just the screen display. When stopping recording the screen brightens again. Odd. Anyone else seeing this? Maybe related to the new power saving tweaks??? Shouldn't happen though.

This is a TEMPORARY fix for power issues.

4K ProRes requires a lot of computing which eats a lot of juice. So much so that while the Odyssey7Q itself is fine going up to 16-17w draw, the L-series batteries are in danger of tripping their internal fuses. This is only an issue when shooting FS700 4K RAW->4K ProRes and then only an issue when using the small camcorder batteries. Unfortunately we know that is a lot of you.

The TEMPORARY solution is for us to dim the screen brightness when recording 4K RAW->4K ProRes and the incoming voltage reads under 9v. This insures that your battery will not trip its fuse. When using AC power, a larger battery or a feed from a higher voltage source such as a D-Tap connection, there is no issue and the display is not dimmed.

We have some plans where we believe we can save on power draw enough so that we will never trip a failure and can maintain screen brightness in all modes. We are making this a priority for our next release, and this release we expect to be done in a relatively short timespan.

Please understand that we decided on this course so that you would not need to wait any longer for the 4K ProRes functionality. Ylur files will be properly recorded and your batteries will not be damaged.

 

[Mitch Gross]

I've also noticed that in playback, you only get single file playback. Multiple clips and a select all feature doesn't exist. Why is that Mitch?

I do like the new menu structure much better having just the options per camera selected available.

It exists in some modes but not others. The function was causing some issues in certain modes and as it is not a critical function, we decided to pull it and work on repairing it while you all were able to enjoy the release.

 

[Mitch Gross]

We're on a production now, can't update today. Screen dimming is worrisome! Can somebody please test SDI loop out and HDMI to see if Dir. Or video village experience is the same?

It is only the OLED panel and only in FS700 4K RAW->UHD ProRes.

 

[Mitch Gross]

I saw several mentions that this firmware would have something new related to LUTs but I don't see it listed anywhere in the release.

The LUT controls are now in the LUT menu and there are some minor improvements to some of the many available LUTs. More stuff coming but we had to hold off finishing it to get this release out.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Downloaded the new firmware and shot some examples. I can review them fine on the 7Q perfectly. However when I go to upload there are no files visible on the SSD, am I missing something here? Picture below. Any help would be much appreciated.

View attachment 92982

Did you Safe Eject the SSD? If so, please contact our Support Dept.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Great update, the UHD ProRes looks great on a 5K iMac – many detail and very organic sharpness.
A 2:1 zoom in real 4K would be amazing, may planned for a future update? I don't have any brightness-difference with a 12V battery.
Thanks for the hard work CD.

Do you mean recording the zoomed in image? When you use PIXEL ZOOM in this mode at 2:1 you are in act seeing pixel-to-pixel. Others have asked about just recording a center crop. It may be possible in the future but it would e sometime off.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Is there a brightness drop with the AC adaptor?

No. Not any incoming voltage over 9v. So a larger brick like an Anton Bauer or a v-mount (or a P-Tap cable from either) will prevent the dimming.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, am I right in seeing that there are no new recording options for the C500 in this firmware update? I know you mentioned that the Canon features are last priority for completing, but it's a tough pill to swallow given how much more C500 users have to pay for that product key.

Canon functions are NOT last priority. They are last in line as a matter of technical progress. We must complete the 4K ProRes and then the FS700 4K RAW to 4K ProRes before we can then tackle the Canon 4K RAW to 4K ProRes. This is not a matter of wanting to service FS700 owners first. For technical reasons this is the order of events.

 

[lightstrum]

Mitch, am I right in seeing that there are no new recording options for the C500 in this firmware update? I know you mentioned that the Canon features are last priority for completing, but it's a tough pill to swallow given how much more C500 users have to pay for that product key.

I have mentioned this many times and discussed it in person with Mitch. I don't think it is going to change and while I love the CDq7 for what it does and is, it keeps me from buying any more CD q7s.

 

[Listo]

Hey Mitch, no brightness drop here using Series 7 EX-L96 (BP type) batteries. But is there potential to damage the battery?

 

[brazzam]

Took the O7Q out for a test spin today myself to check out the ProRes UHD capture. Impressive! I even checked out the new interface for markers and In/Out points which is a nice addition. I'll have to wait for the new ProRes Transfer tool to check out the total workflow, though.

Here's what I got... nothing too creative and I took my crappiest tripod, but I'm loving the image and level of detail!

All-in-all, I'm very happy with the new firmware, though the screen-dimming is quite annoying when shooting in daylight. Maybe this is a hint that I should finally upgrade my power solution and get a V-mount system.

 

[jshbckr]

Just tried out the feature for setting markers in PLAY mode... pretty awesome. I think for some of my travel gigs the director/clients will like to watch dailies and quickly mark favorite shots for the edit.

Also, this was probably a feature on older firmwares but it popped out to me just now: overlays for SDI out. Sometimes I run FS700 to 7Q to EVF. I would always hit record and then check the Odyssey screen for confirmation that it was rolling. Now there is a green/red stripe on the EVF to indicate if the 7Q is recording. I absolutely love that.

I'll be hanging onto the FS700+7Q for a while, but it does make me a little sad that a lot of the features I was looking forward to are finally hitting with the FS7 about to deliver. I have a feeling I'll be run-n-gunning 4K XAVC and internal 10-bit HD while using the FS7's internal LUT functions rather than lugging around the FS700 and 7Q. For studio and more controlled location shoots, I'll definitely use the 7Q.

 

[ChadN]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

 

[Gene Sung]

Excited.

Strangely enough, the record / dimming thing doesn't bother me that much, at least indoors. Haven't tried outside yet. The good thing is, the SDI out to the client / director monitor does NOT dim. I'm happy about that because it would freak directors and clients out for sure.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Hey Mitch, no brightness drop here using Series 7 EX-L96 (BP type) batteries. But is there potential to damage the battery?

No, because those are 14.4v batteries. The dimming cutoff is 9v. Those U-series batteries are actually quite powerful, like a Dionic cut in half. You won't hurt them.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Just tried out the feature for setting markers in PLAY mode... pretty awesome. I think for some of my travel gigs the director/clients will like to watch dailies and quickly mark favorite shots for the edit.

Also, this was probably a feature on older firmwares but it popped out to me just now: overlays for SDI out. Sometimes I run FS700 to 7Q to EVF. I would always hit record and then check the Odyssey screen for confirmation that it was rolling. Now there is a green/red stripe on the EVF to indicate if the 7Q is recording. I absolutely love that.

Glad to hear some people are discovering how cool the Markers are. Depending on the work you do they can be a very useful tool.

The TALLY function puts a green bar for Standby and a red bar for Recording across the bottom of the image on the SDI and HDMI outputs. It's been there since the beginning, but it was a little buried in the menus. Shows what a better interface can reveal. OVERLAYS is to allow Image Analysis Tools such as Waveform or False Color to travel out the SDI and HDMI outputs.

 

[Clermond]

I can't find the posting actually but wasn't there an update for the CD Apple ProRes Transfer tool also?

 

[Martin.G]

Its coming a little later, as they did something wrong with the web package or something.

 

[ChadN]

I was wondering why i didn't see the brightness drop while recording UHD Compressed. Turns out i had my oled set for lowest brightness since day 1 when i messed with the settings. Forgot all about it. I think i did that because the recorded image looked about as bright as the screen on the lowest brightness on my first test. Thought it would help me judge better by eye. So for me, i guess i'm already used to it! But i'm glad for the reminder so next time i shoot in the sun i can see better...

Love the update!

 

[Pgale]

Mitch, what are the plans for the remote connector now that Bluetooth support was ditched. Is it possible in the future to remotely play and mark shots? Might be quite useful rather than using the onscreen controls.