Shogun works great with A7s

[NeedCreative]

olof,
I've got some questions along the lines of Nicholoas'. I'm currently evaluating a small HD Pro7 monitor which has a lot of the same features ( minus recording of course) but I've found some of the monitoring tools sound better than they are.

For example if I set zebras at 60 and 100 ( which is what I like ) , the 60 IRE zebras are frankly obnoxious - you can't see the picture behind them - kind of zebras against a white background) so it is very difficult to keep them on while shooting - pointless then . Likewise they have 2 different preset false color choices , but I don't find either of them at all useful - they seem to be highlighting the wrong IRE. My old TV logic by comparison had false color that was completely user set-able.

Another thing to check is the color peaking. Is it user controllable and more important , can you set it so that it doesn't give you a lot of false positive information. A lot of monitor peaking circuits are next to worthless in the real world. i.e. I work with a 7" Marshall that has red peaking and a waveform monitor and neither is worth 10 cents.

So how do those tools seem to work on the Shogun . Also how do you like the basic picture quality? Does it come with any LUT's already? How many can you load in at a time?

Thanks

lenny

The color peaking. It's far too sensitive with no way to change it. You see every speck of sensor noise with color on it, so the whole image (in a scene with any low light/noise) takes on the color of the peaking. The peaking seems to only be a few pixels wide, so it's not a horrible thing (and it's usable), but it does need the ability to dial it back.

No LUTS right now; future firmware apparently (who knows when). There's a C-log "LUT" (like Visual Assist on those cameras) and you can mod lift/gamma/gain to make the picture a little easier to work with but that's it. I was not at all happy to see that. The software on it now is almost identical in functionality to what the Samurai Blade had on it with the addition of 2:1 and 1:1 punch in. That's it. Clearly they have more work to do; playback isn't even enabled yet.

The basic picture quality is actually very very good. Think of a super bright color calibrated iPad Air. That's just what it looks like - shiny glass cover and all.

I found the build quality to be relatively poor compared to their previous products and the Odyssey 7Q. It's all plastic, albeit ABS plastic it's plastic nonetheless. There's almost no metal on it except the screw holes. It feels very light, plasticky, and like it won't last if it's dropped. The front glass will certainly shatter, and that glass has no protection. The glass is also quite shiny and reflects everything (though not as badly as say, a BMCC.)

I also got horrible battery life out of it; the included battery fully charged got me maybe 30-45min.

 

[eddavid]

The color peaking. It's far too sensitive with no way to change it. You see every speck of sensor noise with color on it, so the whole image (in a scene with any low light/noise) takes on the color of the peaking. The peaking seems to only be a few pixels wide, so it's not a horrible thing (and it's usable), but it does need the ability to dial it back.

No LUTS right now; future firmware apparently (who knows when). There's a C-log "LUT" (like Visual Assist on those cameras) and you can mod lift/gamma/gain to make the picture a little easier to work with but that's it. I was not at all happy to see that. The software on it now is almost identical in functionality to what the Samurai Blade had on it with the addition of 2:1 and 1:1 punch in. That's it. Clearly they have more work to do; playback isn't even enabled yet.

The basic picture quality is actually very very good. Think of a super bright color calibrated iPad Air. That's just what it looks like - shiny glass cover and all.

I found the build quality to be relatively poor compared to their previous products and the Odyssey 7Q. It's all plastic, albeit ABS plastic it's plastic nonetheless. There's almost no metal on it except the screw holes. It feels very light, plasticky, and like it won't last if it's dropped. The front glass will certainly shatter, and that glass has no protection. The glass is also quite shiny and reflects everything (though not as badly as say, a BMCC.)

I also got horrible battery life out of it; the included battery fully charged got me maybe 30-45min.

OH well, I'm looking forward to shogun2.

 

[Alan Ting Judson]

- No assigning custom IRE on false color.
- Waveform is nice, albeit a little laggy. It can cover the whole screen. Blue is the only option for color.

hmm no assigning custom IRE on false color, this may stop me to getting it until they give the custom option in coming firmware updates. This features is very important to me, and i want adjust the IRE i want to match my own preference.

 

[Nicholas Natteau]

Hi Olof, would you know how many minutes of 4K 24p can be stored on a 240GB Sandisk SSD drive?
I was planning to get the 240GB SSD option.

 

[Nicholas Natteau]

Hi Alan,

That's my concern as well. I know that the Odyssey 7Q+ has this option and I really do hope the Shogun allows us to do this soon. Hopefully with a firmware update. I'd like to be able to define my own skin tone IRE range with a color of my choice. Oh well.

 

[olof]

Hi Olof, would you know how many minutes of 4K 24p can be stored on a 240GB Sandisk SSD drive?
I was planning to get the 240GB SSD option.

From the FAQ sheet.

When recording the highest quality ProRes HQ (880Mbps), the following times are possible;
2TB = 5hrs, 1TB = 2.5hrs, 480GB = 1hr 12min, 240GB = 36min, 120GB = 18min.

They don't mention frame rate, my guess is this is 25/24 fps as this is a PAL country device. But state 4K I assume UHD is what they mean.

Once a drive is inserted and formatted the Shogun tells you how long with current record settings.

Merry Xmas.

 

[dcloud]

any comment on the internal vs 4k prores? would love to see a side by side

 

[Alan Ting Judson]

Hi Alan,

That's my concern as well. I know that the Odyssey 7Q+ has this option and I really do hope the Shogun allows us to do this soon. Hopefully with a firmware update. I'd like to be able to define my own skin tone IRE range with a color of my choice. Oh well.

Yeah, one of the big reason i love my odyssey 7Q is the false colour, i just can't live without it, it let me control my exposure perfectly especially for skin tone. But unfortunately my 7Q cant record 4k from a7s, and i also not satisfy the support CD gave me few days ago. So i decide to look for shogun solution, so far it attract me so much,smaller size, 1080p screen resolution, many features as well and even support fs700 in future firmware update. But anyway i think i will just wait patiently for their promise firmware update and see more reviews, i don't want repeat the same mistake waiting 7Q firmware update for that long to get those recording option and features, lastly no support a7s 4k

 

[Fahnon]

I'm kinda hoping for a 5" recorder with better battery life, more mature firmware, and a lower price in 2015.

 

[stevedocmaker]

+1

 

[Mitch Gross]

i also not satisfy the support CD gave me few days ago.

Hi Alan,

I'd like to understand your issue with our support. Based on the problems you described it clearly sounds like there are physical repairs we must perform on the unit. These will be done at no cost under warranty, and we issued you an RMA the same day so that we could get the Odyssey7Q in for repair. What else were you looking for from us?

 

[Alan Ting Judson]

Hi Alan,

I'd like to understand your issue with our support. Based on the problems you described it clearly sounds like there are physical repairs we must perform on the unit. These will be done at no cost under warranty, and we issued you an RMA the same day so that we could get the Odyssey7Q in for repair. What else were you looking for from us?

really no mood to say it more. I just want to know anyway can i check myself to see if my unit is really a defective product but just yeah, never respond for this solution. Later i send it back, reply back say no problem at all, it is just normal the unit to have all those problem, then my high pos fee back will just being wasted, as well as the period i send back i also cant use it for my project.

 

[Mitch Gross]

really no mood to say it more. I just want to know anyway can i check myself to see if my unit is really a defective product but just yeah, never respond for this solution. Later i send it back, reply back say no problem at all, it is just normal the unit to have all those problem, then my high pos fee back will just being wasted, as well as the period i send back i also cant use it for my project.

You reported two separate issues to us, one relating to the HDMI port and the other relating to power. There really is no way for us to have you remotely test these issues, and if there are defective parts then we would repair them free of charge under warranty. We also have an Odyssey loaner program with units throughout the world so that we can support clients in the field who may need to shoot while their units are in for service with us.
We need to see your unit in order to assess the reported issues. There's really no way for you to do it in the field. We try to make this as painless as possible. Please let us know if there is any more we can do.

 

[Alan Ting Judson]

You reported two separate issues to us, one relating to the HDMI port and the other relating to power. There really is no way for us to have you remotely test these issues, and if there are defective parts then we would repair them free of charge under warranty. We also have an Odyssey loaner program with units throughout the world so that we can support clients in the field who may need to shoot while their units are in for service with us.
We need to see your unit in order to assess the reported issues. There's really no way for you to do it in the field. We try to make this as painless as possible. Please let us know if there is any more we can do.

i already say clearly all in my email. Esepecially for my 7Q is defective unit, sometime a repair of parts wont really completely fix a problem. It must be replaced. Nvm..just stop here, now i trying to look for other brand.

 

[Mitch Gross]

i already say clearly all in my email. Esepecially for my 7Q is defective unit, sometime a repair of parts wont really completely fix a problem. It must be replaced. Nvm..just stop here, now i trying to look for other brand.

If we determined the unit needed to be replaced we would do so without question, but to do so we need to see the device in our facility. Every other manufacturer in the world would likely tell you the same thing. Otherwise we would be beset by fraudulent claims from unscrupulous customers attempting to get free product. I'm not saying this is the case here at all, but it is the reason we must have such a policy.

If you feel you must go with another product that is certainly your choice. But we do pride ourselves on our customer service and we are trying to do the right thing.