I suspect that was just an excuse. Really can't imagine Apple digging their heels that much. Taking into account how long things have taken so far, I would say we're another 6-8 months away from seeing 4k ProRes and another 18 months till we see 2k ProRes HFR and 4k RAW @ 120fps. In fact, I'm suspecting the last 2 will never happen. After a bit of digging I see that CD are not new to telling porky pies. Gemini.
Odyssey7Q April 2014 Firmware Update
- Thread starter Mitch Gross
- Start date
I suspect that was just an excuse. Really can't imagine Apple digging their heels that much. Taking into account how long things have taken so far, I would say we're another 6-8 months away from seeing 4k ProRes and another 18 months till we see 2k ProRes HFR and 4k RAW @ 120fps. In fact, I'm suspecting the last 2 will never happen. After a bit of digging I see that CD are not new to telling porky pies. Gemini.
brazzam
Well-known member
I don't think it was digging heels as much as Apple being a giant corporation and CD is just a little guy trying to get them to work faster... and Apple's attention was spread out over many more subject matters.
I agree though - I wish CD could find a way to stabilize their release cycle a bit more. There have been issues now out in the current release (that's a month and a half old) that haven't seen fixes.
That being said, I still love my O7Q and use it all the time to great results. It's my favorite piece of kit in my arsenal currently and look forward to the next firmware whenever it is let free into the wild.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 7Q when it's working. But it has bugs that make my heart stop. I've never had a camera give me that warm feeling of anxiety through my blood on so many occasions. I know it has the ability to do all that they promised. More just a case of when.
In the same way that I didn't like Jim J's constant stream of BS, I don't like CD's either. I mean, the last update wasn't an update was it? It fixed some bugs that shouldn't have been there in the first place. Let's call it as it is. They released it as a completely dis-functional piece of hardware, then in March they released firmware that finally made it work. To their credit, that firmware enabled it to produce images beyond my expectations. However, I bought it based on the list of functions that Mitch posted way back when (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?314805-Odyssey7-amp-Odyssey7Q-Status-Update/page73) and on the promise that firmware updates would be "ramped up". We haven't seen that. It's 3 months since the last significant update. Just saying.
Mitch Gross
Veteran
Wow, so glad to see that you have data in hand to make such informed predictions. Wanna bet on that schedule?
We have always said that we will see what is possible in 2K high frame rate compressed files. We need to take in the frames, convert to video, and then compress all in real time at very high speed. That's not easy, and we don't really know what's possible until we do it. But the others are coming and come they will.
And sure the hell not in 6-8 months or 18 months. Where does this come from anyway? Please tell me how you calculate such things?
Mitch Gross
Veteran
Functions were added in the last firmware update. Perhaps not the ones you were looking for, but features were added. As many as the firmware before it? No, but they were there. Including some LUT functions that made the device far more usable than it was previously.
A+++ would read again
haha, I am glad CD doesn't have sterile, canned responses. The world needs more real talk.
rheinturmblau
Well-known member
Any functions added are welcome.
I am glad, we received the April Firmware Update and I will be glad again, if we get the next step (and the step after). We have not read something like "out next Monday", so we are running into a two-month-cycle.
It was disappointing to learn, that the next release will still not include 4K compressed recording. So we might be three or four Firmware Release steps away to have the popular codec in 4K and a follow up-release to kick out its bugs, add stability and add higher frame rates. If we need two months for each milestone, that would add up to October or December 2014. Any delivery sooner is welcome, of course.
The O7Q will be a very mature product somewhere in the future.
But it will need time beyond my initial expectations.
I am glad, we received the April Firmware Update and I will be glad again, if we get the next step (and the step after). We have not read something like "out next Monday", so we are running into a two-month-cycle.
It was disappointing to learn, that the next release will still not include 4K compressed recording. So we might be three or four Firmware Release steps away to have the popular codec in 4K and a follow up-release to kick out its bugs, add stability and add higher frame rates. If we need two months for each milestone, that would add up to October or December 2014. Any delivery sooner is welcome, of course.
The O7Q will be a very mature product somewhere in the future.
But it will need time beyond my initial expectations.
I agree, I like that Mitch is blunt and argues back, but in the end I just want to see this thing have the capabilities they wanted it to from the beginning.
What ever happened to the compressed 4k that was going to come out before Sony opened up the RAW to them? Would users still be twiddling their thumbs waiting? I know they don't want to give dates or specifics because they don't want people to get upset when they under deliver, but right now nothing is being delivered and users are getting upset. And potential buyers should see a giant RED FLAG because of the current upset users. It just doesn't seem like a good thing.
That being said, there is nothing else on the market to rival them. The 4k RAW IS THE BEST EVER.
Chris Johnston
Veteran
Well, It's been 14 months since CD announced 4K compressed is coming, please tell me how YOU calculate such things.
the odyssey shines with RAW and CD offers most of the frame rates in RAW since its release. all the extra compressed codecs is nice and all but technically CD is delivering an amazing product for its price right now. 4k at 120fps is hopefully around the corner. but i totally understand why you guys want the precision scaled compressed codecs.
Thanks,
Chris
Thanks,
Chris
It's a tough situation because the ability to capture RAW is like a delicious cake... It's rich and amazing, but we can't handle it 24/7. Many bought the 7Q with the promise of bread and butter--the compressed 4K. We can shoot for hours without unloading the footage, store lots of footage on our reasonably priced hard drives, and actually handle working with it on our day to day projects.
Are we happy Convergent Design ended up being able to give us cake? Absolutely. Can we handle it for every meal? Absolutely not.
Are we happy Convergent Design ended up being able to give us cake? Absolutely. Can we handle it for every meal? Absolutely not.
Clermond
Veteran
sorry Josh, I wanted to rate your posting thumb up but hit the other button on the iPhone.
I think 4K is hitting us faster than you might imagine.
I had a first enquiry for a 4K shooting last Friday. The client wants 4K footage but 2K/HD edit.
He brought forward the argument for 4K that maybe he will use the footage on a trade show
presentation later this year and want's to have the option for 4K. He is willing to pay the extra
(+1) and but nevertheless it brings me into trouble either buying another 512GB SSD and loading
tons of data or spending extra 260,-€ net for a two day rent of a BMPC 4K.
I don't argue with the client whether 4K makes sense or 2K would be enough. He wants it, he will pay
it. Period. It's a bit ironic that I made advertising for being able to capture 4K and if it comes true
I probably have to rent a camera.
I think 4K is hitting us faster than you might imagine.
I had a first enquiry for a 4K shooting last Friday. The client wants 4K footage but 2K/HD edit.
He brought forward the argument for 4K that maybe he will use the footage on a trade show
presentation later this year and want's to have the option for 4K. He is willing to pay the extra
(+1) and but nevertheless it brings me into trouble either buying another 512GB SSD and loading
tons of data or spending extra 260,-€ net for a two day rent of a BMPC 4K.
I don't argue with the client whether 4K makes sense or 2K would be enough. He wants it, he will pay
it. Period. It's a bit ironic that I made advertising for being able to capture 4K and if it comes true
I probably have to rent a camera.
Last edited:
Pretty much what Chris said. Your track record is beyond slow and your ability to make any delivery forecast stands at zero. If I were a betting man, I'd place a bet on my predictions as a appose to yours.
hugofilipe
Member
Mitch, can you tell me if I'll be shooting 4K 120fps with the 7Q soon or its history?
I find it wierd that on the January (February, March...) update it was talked as being possible (here on DVX) and I was surprise to find out that it would be actually released later. Well, I think its later enough now. Is it coming?
I find it wierd that on the January (February, March...) update it was talked as being possible (here on DVX) and I was surprise to find out that it would be actually released later. Well, I think its later enough now. Is it coming?
Mitch Gross
Veteran
It is coming. I confirmed this with the engineers yesterday. This is a programming completion question, not a capability question.
Mitch Gross
Veteran
You can get angry with me if you want to, but this is the way it is. We were a few weeks late and people were ready to come after us with pitchforks. So now dates stay close to the vest so we don't disappoint.
We have a sense of what features will be in the next release but we are still debugging some. If I told you what we are working on you would scream & yell if that didn't make it in. So I don't share too much. You do know that the pixel zoom with ProRes will be fixed. For C500 users the UHD at 50 & 60p will be fixed. And you know that 4K compressed will not be in the next release. There's a lot more coming, but that's what's being shared now. So of it pertains to FS700 users, some not. We have thousands of Odyssey7Qs in the field.
I can tell you one thing: I'm about to set off for Broadcast Asia, so we won't be releasing anything next week.
We have a sense of what features will be in the next release but we are still debugging some. If I told you what we are working on you would scream & yell if that didn't make it in. So I don't share too much. You do know that the pixel zoom with ProRes will be fixed. For C500 users the UHD at 50 & 60p will be fixed. And you know that 4K compressed will not be in the next release. There's a lot more coming, but that's what's being shared now. So of it pertains to FS700 users, some not. We have thousands of Odyssey7Qs in the field.
I can tell you one thing: I'm about to set off for Broadcast Asia, so we won't be releasing anything next week.
cckid
Well-known member
To avoid false expectation and pitchforks I suggest a future roadmap with upgrade schedule to be delivered to current owners of odyssey...you have to understand that many of us have purchased the unit beleiiving the compressed 4k, compressed 4k in 60p and 120 fps bursts will be available according to some of your earlier posts...since it is not happening it makes people who purchased the unit quite unhappy which on the long term is definitely not good...so maybe a future road map would make them more patient and less un-happy about the unit....what do you think? would that road map be possible?
This may not be directly pointed towards the April firmware release, but I have a question regarding the Odyssey. Is there any way to reset the number count on the clips? I can easily change the rest of the naming settings just fine, but I can't seem to find a way to reset that number. I know its a minor thing, but my OCD goes through the roof if my projects start with some odd number! 
