Odyssey7 & Odyssey7Q Status Update

M

Mitch Gross

Veteran
Odyssey7 & Odyssey7Q Status Update
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MANUFACTURING:
As previously announced, the Odyssey7Q will begin shipping before the Odyssey7. The first official production units came off the line this week, and are being thoroughly vetted one last time before we pull the trigger on large-quantity production. We perform full “burn in” tests on all of our products, even the AC power supplies.

Convergent Design is currently on-track to begin shipping the Odyssey7Q in quantity before the end of this month. Moving forward, our production capabilities are in place to match this quantity of output every two weeks, and soon every week. The Odyssey7 is also on schedule, and is due to begin shipping in January.

While we currently have a significant backorder, Convergent Design expects to fulfill all outstanding orders for the Odyssey7Q within about 60 days. The Odyssey7 fulfillment should be shortly behind that.

Worldwide deliveries of Odyssey7Qs will begin in a few weeks. No region will be excluded from the initial shipments, and we will do our best to be fair in our allocation to our resellers around the globe. The same will be true for the Odyssey7 release.

FUNCTIONALITY:
On initial release, the Odyssey7 & Odyssey7Q will be very capable devices. We have plans to increase these capabilities over time, via free firmware updates. More on this in future bulletins.

On initial release, the Odyssey7Q will be able to record uncompressed HD video in 10-bit DPX stacks. Within one month we expect to release a free firmware upgrade to include a popular high-quality compressed recording codec. Most monitoring functions will be enabled, including waveform (luma, RGB parade), histogram, false color, focus assist, zebra, and pixel zoom (1:1 & 2:1). Vectorscope and LUTs will follow shortly.

OPTIONS:
The Odyssey7Q has several optional recording paid upgrades which can be downloaded from our website as permanent purchases or time-based rentals. Options available immediately for purchase are ARRIRAW, Canon C500 RAW, and Sony FS700 RAW. Time-based rentals of these options are scheduled to become available by mid-December. 2K RAW (numerous specialty cameras), and Multi-Stream HD (record up to four HD signals simultaneously) options are scheduled for the first quarter of 2014.

Please note that as these options become available, the firmware in the Odyssey7Q will allow for a free preview recording mode of each, with a “watermark” through the captured image. Also note that while Multi-Stream HD recording will not be available on initial release, Multi-Stream Monitoring (Quad-Split Monitoring from up to four video sources) is standard on the Odyssey7Q and will be included in our initial shipping units.

To recap, the Odyssey7Q will begin shipping this month in quantity. The Odyssey7 will begin in December. Compressed recording is expected within a month of first shipment. Most recording options will be available for purchase upon release.
 
Great news, but a shame about the "popular" not coming until a month later. That's what I'm looking forward to most. Does that mean no 4k recording on initial release from the fs700?
 
Hey Mitch, I saw this question was asked on another thread but unanswered as of yet. Will DnxHD be added at some point? Is there a time frame?
 
starcentral said:
Great news Mitch. Any idea what the ARRIRaw, Canon C500RAW and Sony FS700 RAW options will be retailing for?
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ARRIRAW = $1995 purchase, $149/day rental
C500 RAW = $1495 purchase, $99/day rental
FS700 RAW = 795 purchase, not rentable

Please note that the rental rates are by activated hours and one day = 24 hours. So you could wait until your production day starts, turn on the activation, shoot for the day and then shut it down. Switch off for lunch, etc., and you might be able to stretch three shooting days out of one "rental day". The FS700 RAW will not be made available for rent as we priced it very low to encourage ownership.
 
Hi Mitch,

I was wondering if the upcoming FS700 codecs, such as the 10-bit 4:2:2 HD are going to require additional payment?

If you can manage to get a good compressed 240fps 10-bit 4:2:2, I would pull out the Visa ASAP. Is that even possible? That would be the ultimate. The 2K RAW data rates at 240fps are just a bit too insane.
 
gene_can_sing said:
Hi Mitch,

I was wondering if the upcoming FS700 codecs, such as the 10-bit 4:2:2 HD are going to require additional payment?

If you can manage to get a good compressed 240fps 10-bit 4:2:2, I would pull out the Visa ASAP. Is that even possible? That would be the ultimate. The 2K RAW data rates are just a bit too insane.
Click to expand...

This is definitely in the works. Once you pay for the FS700 recording option any updates to it are free. Without the recording option you are limited to the 8-bit HD video output from the camera. With the recording option you get whatever we can do with the 4K or 2K data streams. We have a lot of plans in the works.
 
Mitch Gross said:
This is definitely in the works. Once you pay for the FS700 recording option any updates to it are free. Without the recording option you are limited to the 8-bit HD video output from the camera. With the recording option you get whatever we can do with the 4K or 2K data streams. We have a lot of plans in the works.
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Sorry Mitch, just to clarify. "This is definitely in the works," is that referring to compressed 240fps 4:2:2 10-bit?

Thanks again for taking the time out for all the questions.
 
gene_can_sing said:
Sorry Mitch, just to clarify. "This is definitely in the works," is that referring to compressed 240fps 4:2:2 10-bit?

Thanks again for taking the time out for all the questions.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is what it is referring to. Not on initial release, but coming very soon as free firmware upgrade (if you buy FS700 recording option).
 
Hi Mitch, can you re-clarify what the Sony FS 700 option for the 7Q will include on the first batch shipping? Also ballpark roadmap timing for your anticipated completed package. thks
 
Well, there are several things going right now so I cannot confirm everything that will happen. For FS700 we currently have 2K RAW recording available, including 240fps continuous capture. We pledge to have a 4K solution, but for several reasons I cannot go into exactly what that will be yet. We also will have a high quality HD which is derived directly from the 4K RAW. And maybe a few other tricks -- again I cannot be specific.

Right now our schedule has four major firmware updates scheduled over the next several months. The first two will take care of almost everything we've promised plus some other tidbits. The later two address some functions we've come up with over time, including some ideas I've tossed into the mix since joining the company. But all of this remains a bit up for grabs because as we show the early units to various clients we get requests for certain features, and that can mean some juggling to the schedule. If a major client wants a certain function enabled and they plan to buy a lot of units, we have to prioritize. Or sometimes someone comes up with an idea that never occurred to us, and we like it so much we find a way to work it into the roadmap. I can tell you that this has happened A LOT since the Odyssey program was first announced.

Don't worry about this making the Odyssey7Q sound like an unfinished device. It will always remain this way. The unit is very functional on first delivery and will have nearly all promised functions shortly. But we're in this for the long haul and have put tons of extra capacity within the system's processor. The idea is that we will continue to list to client needs and add functionality. The Odyssey7Q is not meant to be "this year's model" but instead be a device with enough capability that you can use it for quite some time. So it might be "fully functional" in a couple of months, but a year from now we may come back with another update which adds stuff you never dreamed of.
 
But we're in this for the long haul and have put tons of extra capacity within the system's processor. The idea is that we will continue to list to client needs and add functionality. The Odyssey7Q is not meant to be "this year's model" but instead be a device with enough capability that you can use it for quite some time.
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This is the biggest thing that attracted me to the Oddysey. I went to NAB this year with budget to replace my limited field monitor with one that had exposure tools. I have a kiPro so I wasn't really shopping for a recorder, but once I saw the 7Q with its functionality and potential expandability (not to mention FS700 slow motion & 4k support that my kiPro doesn't have) I decided to budget a bit more and wait for this product. Since then, I've been very impressed with how Dan and you have kept folks informed and have listened; thank you both for that.

I still haven't quite decided which way I'll go regarding some of the third party accessories. I haven't seen a sun hood that looks to be a very simple quick on-off one as yet. I'm also undecided about the various power options since I have plenty of Pani and Sony camcorder batteries and a couple of V-mounts as well. I may hold off on some of these until more options are available or I see some feedback from folks on the accessories they choose. <--- not so subtle hint to keep us informed of any new developments in the accessory area as you do with the Oddysey itself.
 
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