R5 RAW recorder... on the F3

Duke M.

Duke M.

Veteran
It's probably overkill, but I was just wondering if the R5 recorder will record a RAW file off of the F3's S-Log output? (Yes I do realize that S-Log isn't quite RAW but the paid for S-Log locks out most variables.)
 
As far as I know the AXS is a module that specifically plugs onto the back of the F5, F55, and HXS module (which goes on FS700). I doubt there will be any way to use it as "stand alone" but anything is possible providing Sony made it that way.
 
nsoltz said:
No. The R5 is a 2k/4k recorder with a direct connection to NewF. No SDi input.

Sorry

Ned
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Well Sony is releasing an adapter unit to plug into the SDI from the FS700, so it is somewhat conceivable. However, Sony has said 4k RAW will work with the FS700 and R5 with the adapter, but there has never been mention of the F3. The big question is whether the F3 can have its firmware updated to support whatever form of 4k RAW over 3G-SDI the FS700 will be firmware updated to use. Most likely, this will not happen since the sensor in the F3 is a bit less than 2.5k and the camera was designed and released over a year before any mention of RAW over 3G-SDI in the FS700, so it probably just isn't possible to add the feature in software. Frankly, even if against odds the F3 is supported by the the new R5 recorder, I'm not sure ~2.5k RAW out of the F3 would be all that worth it compared to the debayered 1080p S-Log recorded at 10bit and low compression you have been able to get with the F3 and an external recorder for a long time now.
 
Not likely, but for basically the same price you could get a Gemini 4:4:4 recorder, and with the RGB upgrade record uncompressed 4:4:4 video from the F3 - and while it's not raw, that's still a super high quality video format.
 
No the HXR-IFR5 intermediate module is specifically designed to work with the FS700 which remember can output 12-bit RAW through 3G-SDI (quite unique). The F3 is 100% Y'CbCr.
 
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starcentral said:
No the HXR-IFR5 intermediate module is specifically designed to work with the FS700 which remember can output 12-bit RAW through 3G-SDI (quite unique). The F3 is 100% Y'CbCr.
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Well the fs700 doesnt do it yet, supposedly it will with a software update. But yes F3 almost definitely wont/cant get such an update.
 
There are a couple components to this. One is hardware, and the second is marketing. The F3 was not designed to output a "RAW" signal, and there's a very good chance the hardware simply doesn't support it. Even if the hardware did support it, we're talking about quite a bit of software/firmware programming to enable it. And even then, it would only be suitable for 1080 or 2k - not 4k.

The second point is - the F3 is essentially a mature product now. Sony's enabled all the features it was designed for - and they now have new products to sell you with new features. I don't mean that as a slight, or a conspiracy - but it simply isn't good business to for them to go developing new features on the F3 that will undercut how many units of these new cameras they sell.
 
I too agree that the F3 is mature and completed in its journey, and we should not expect to see any significant changes to it any longer. People have been dreaming about 50mbps and RAW, and there are now new products which fulfill those requests. The F5 and F55.
 
starcentral said:
I too agree that the F3 is mature and completed in its journey, and we should not expect to see any significant changes to it any longer. People have been dreaming about 50mbps and RAW, and there are now new products which fulfill those requests. The F5 and F55.
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If that is the case then what is the upcoming firmware update about?
 
Probably small bug fixes and optimizations. One thing I've kept asking for is support for remote control of the servo zoom lens. Apparently at IBC Sony had a prototype remote unit to do exactly that. Such a unit will also be very useful on the F5 and F55, which are compatible with the SCLZ18X140 lens, but don't have a zoom rocker.

I wouldn't expect major new features.

EDIT: I would also not be surprised if all SxS cameras, even the venerable EX1 get a firmware update, just to make them all compatible with the new SxS+ cards. I'm not a Sony Engineer, so I don't know this for fact, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.
 
The new AJA will be good partner for the old F3. I also think that at some point Sony will come out with nice firmware updates ,so this camera will stay on the market at least one more year.
 
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