Odyssey7Q April 2014 Firmware Update

I haven't bought the FS700 addon for my 7Q yet and havent taken the 7Q on many jobs since it still feels very unfinished and limited as a recorder. It would be tough to go backwards in terms of playback and monitoring.

From this point on, I don't think I'll ever choose to record internally to the FS700 over using the 7Q's 4K2HD mode. This feature is far from limiting, in my experience... it's immensely expanding my capabilities over the FS700's internal processing - freeing even.

Also, if you do not own the FS700 package, I'm assuming you were doing your tests from the FS700 HD output, correct? That means that you are still beholden to the FS700's weak internal 8-bit image processing... maybe the difference in your experiences come from the fact that Clermond is working from the 4K RAW signal, while you're still operating in the HD-SDI output mode. The 7Q can only work with what it's given, and the HD output from the camera is not so great.

Also, you suggest that using the 7Q is a step back in monitoring functionality? Might I ask compared to what? The 7Q is a very capable monitor, far beating out any other monitor I've seen recently. Other field monitors that claim a similar feature-set, are rarely as customizable in their implementation. For example, the 7Q's False Color mode is miles above other similar features I've seen. From the ability to set your own ranges, to even disable certain colors - I can make the 7Q into the machine that works for me and fits my shooting preferences.

I do agree that the playback controls need work, but from what we've been told, those are coming in an update here in a bit - and it's something I'm looking forward to.
 
With you guys talking about playback controls, i have a question. We almost always playback our previously recorded clip on the FS700. Can you do that on the 7Q with ease? I don't mind much if i can't FF or Rewind it. Just want to be able to playback the last clip.
 
"We almost always playback our previously recorded clip on the FS700. Can you do that on the 7Q with ease? I don't mind much if i can't FF or Rewind it. Just want to be able to playback the last clip."

Yes you can play back the last clip pretty easily. If you try to play back a clip shot at 240 fps it will only play back at 120 fps.
 
I'd really love a mode that just records a nice image and avoids all the color and edge issues the FS700 has... like just set the camera to SLOG2 and be able to monitor and even record with Sony's SLOG2-to-REC709TypeA LUT which seems to do a pretty good job. The LUT that is currently in there for SLOG2 seems pretty useless to me since it is very hard to imagine ever wanting to see what SLOG2 looks like with 3 stops of highlights clipped and the whole DR stretched way out revealing a lot of noise without even normalizing the shadows. If I were recording in SLOG2 I'd want to see some kind of LUT that might be the LUT the colorist could start with or the editor or dailies might use. The LUT in there is not that LUT. Would it be hard to just switch out that terrible looking LUT for the one Sony provides for SLOG2 to REC709 Type A (seems to be the best one).

Noah, I fully agree to your statement. Actually the 7Q is "only" usable as 4K RAW / 2K HFR recorder or in 10bit ProRes sLog. There is no "ready for the client" mode which hits broadcast requirements. Nevertheless the potential to record 4K RAW / 2K HFR and 10bit ProRes sLog catapults the FS700 into a new dimension. Regarding my shown examples I am quite shure that they are named right and not switched sLOG2 and ITU709 (800%). Sun is out this morning and I will run another test later.
 
here is another short comparison. I shot sLog and ITU709 (800%) at f=6.3 , ITU709 one step open at f=5.6

slog2
2014-04-16_sLog-1.jpg


ITU709 800%
2014-04-16_ITU790-800-1.jpg


ITU709
2014-04-16_ITU790-1.jpg


sLog2
2014-04-16_sLog-2.jpg


ITU709 800%
2014-04-16_ITU790-800-2.jpg


ITU709
2014-04-16_ITU790-2.jpg


ITU709 1:1 puple edges are improved to previous Firmware
2014-04-16_ITU790-2-100.jpg
 
I'm not sure how useful those comparisons are - 800% performs very similarly to Slog2 in the highlights. Have you tried shooting people with it? Placing skin tones where you would expect them to be? That might be a better comparison. That should show how it performs in the mid tones.
 
it will be the next step. Actually I am shuffling paper and have only access to my small balcony for some minutes ;-)
 
Also, if you do not own the FS700 package, I'm assuming you were doing your tests from the FS700 HD output, correct? That means that you are still beholden to the FS700's weak internal 8-bit image processing... maybe the difference in your experiences come from the fact that Clermond is working from the 4K RAW signal, while you're still operating in the HD-SDI output mode. The 7Q can only work with what it's given, and the HD output from the camera is not so great.

Also, you suggest that using the 7Q is a step back in monitoring functionality? Might I ask compared to what? The 7Q is a very capable monitor, far beating out any other monitor I've seen recently. Other field monitors that claim a similar feature-set, are rarely as customizable in their implementation. For example, the 7Q's False Color mode is miles above other similar features I've seen. From the ability to set your own ranges, to even disable certain colors - I can make the 7Q into the machine that works for me and fits my shooting preferences.

I do agree that the playback controls need work, but from what we've been told, those are coming in an update here in a bit - and it's something I'm looking forward to.

I was testing the fs700 option in demo mode. You're right the 7Q is already a nice monitor. It is a bit of a step back from what I'm used to just using internal recording and my tvlogic on my fs700 in that the 7q lacks some functionality including vectorscope and a chroma/saturation function and playback is extremely limited compared even to the playback in camera. No saturation adjustment means if I want to add a poormans lut to slog using saturation and brightness I can't do that as well and am stuck with the clippy LUT CD provides.

I have no doubt it will get better eventually, but I'm starting to wonder how long it will take for them to give me what I paid for and at least match the functionality of monitors/recorders costing less than half the price. Of course I'll stick with it since no one is doing what they are with the FS700 signal.
 
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Do you guys think its better to get a single 512gig drive for non slo motion or another 2 256gig drives. I already have 2 256gig drives and they filled up quick in raw.
Thanks,
Chris
 
Do you guys think its better to get a single 512gig drive for non slo motion or another 2 256gig drives. I already have 2 256gig drives and they filled up quick in raw.
Thanks,
Chris

Sounds like a no brainer to me, two drives for sure.
 
Do you guys think its better to get a single 512gig drive for non slo motion or another 2 256gig drives. I already have 2 256gig drives and they filled up quick in raw.
Thanks,
Chris

I did so - but it only makes sense if you plan to get another 512GB sooner or later. If not I'd recommend also to get two 256GB drives.
 
I'm using Odyssey 7q with latest firmware with FS700. I was shooting long interview and my battery died during filming. When I changed it 7q was recovering clip (don't remember exactly what it was showing on screen). When it was done I hit rec button and was continuing shooting. When I downloaded footage there wasn't footage from the point when it turned off. I mean the recovered footage during witch it went down was ok, but the one that I was recording after wasn't on any SSD of CD.

What was the problem?? It should be like that?
 
I had this happen as well and the good news is the footage is most likely there. What happens is the 7Q will name the two clips the same file number after the power loss and Mac will only show the most recent file with that name/number, so you have to find that clip now. I was advised by CD to bring up the SSD in windows and it will show both clips and rename one of them. I was able to do this on a partitioned Mac.
 
I had this happen as well and the good news is the footage is most likely there. What happens is the 7Q will name the two clips the same file number after the power loss and Mac will only show the most recent file with that name/number, so you have to find that clip now. I was advised by CD to bring up the SSD in windows and it will show both clips and rename one of them. I was able to do this on a partitioned Mac.

Ah-ha! that's worth knowing. Just out of interest, did you try changing your finder settings to show hidden files/folders? I wonder if that would make it appear.
 
I bought the FS700 Recording options from the CD website just now. I can't find an activation code for it. Not in the email confirmation, and i'm looking at my order on the website. It just says billing status is authorized, but the order status is "unshipped". Where do i find the activation code?

Sorry to drop that in, thanks!

Edit: emailed CD about it, but maybe i'm missing a simple answer.
 
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