What Atomos could teach Panasonic...

Rolf Silber

Rolf Silber

Veteran
New firmware update for Atomos Samurai out 30th of January, adding some nice features:

http://www.atomos.com/samurai/firmware/

Wouldn't it be nice if also camera firmware could develop in the same, constant way?

If it is impossible now - for reasons I may not know or understand - why not make it possible in the future?

Up till now, Atomos does a great job.
 
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Atomos could definitely teach Panasonic how to make firmware (or software) easily accessible, understandeable and defineable ( as in what it does).
 
"
SDI start/stop flag record triggering. Added a control to configure SDI start/stop flag triggering for cameras that support SDI start/stop flags. For cameras that do not support SDI start/stop flags or to prevent false triggering use this control to disable this function."

Now Barry must be very pleased with it :)​
 
the same logic, with a significantly different kind of application. modularity as a design principle for cameras has headed down a fairly crude and bumpy road.
 
Yes and given the price for those devices doesn't seem like it would be too hard for Panny to add higher quality codecs either for not much more money.
 
And Panasonic could learn from Sony as well.

But don't open this can of worms. I tried to say a similar thing a few months back and was basically CRUCIFIED for it. Several people in this forum (including Barry) said "It just isn't done in this industry" and "Camera makers can't possibly update firmware for existing products to give new features and functionality while at the same time developing new cameras", and that I just didn't understand the business. Basically made me feel like I was naive and uninformed - and unquestionably wrong.

And then Sony and others went ahead and did it.
 
The only example I see is Atomos releasing a firmware update that gives a new feature to a product that came out months ago.

Without straying too far from the topic, can you give an example of what "Sony and others" did that Panasonic could learn from? Simple list will do.
 
DChang said:
The only example I see is Atomos releasing a firmware update that gives a new feature to a product that came out months ago.

Without straying too far from the topic, can you give an example of what "Sony and others" did that Panasonic could learn from? Simple list will do.
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O.K

To obtain firmware for your Panasonic AF100 . You will wade through a site that is a confusing maze unlike the more direct path to firmware for an Atomos Samurai ( as an example)
 
I do not expect a camera manufacturer to configure the gear they sell to be - as we over here call it - an "egg-laying-wool-milk-pig". I also understand that a manufacturer may not want to confront customers with the probability that gear A from rental house B is decisively differently configured firmware-wise than from rental houses C,D,E,F.... and I do not expect a camera manufacturer to want to "open" more expensive gear than a GH2 is to - how ever genial - firmware-twiddlers with the result the camera may go up in smoke and the manufacturer get's blamed still. All of this accepted.

What I do like with the Atomos though is that they seem to make constant developments in their firmware that really add new features. Not just the last update, but the ones before too. And that this little machine is out only for about three months. Now, of course, this may stop by now as Atomos may feel it has done enough. I have the feeling it won't, but we don't know.

To tell customers what to expect with future upgrades - like adding another codec (for which I may or may not be willing to pay, my decision) - and then really to deliver like Atomos has done up till now gives me a slightly higher certainty this gear will stay "young" a longer time. Now: A camera is a much complexer tool than a recorder. And the AG-AF is fine as it is. And maybe it's not doable with this camera. All fine. All hunky-dory. Not complaining.

I only hope Panasonic would look and consider if in other, future models such an approach - like adding something like Slog - is possible. And no: I do not expect a firmware upgrade that allows my camera to work as a printer too......
 
Panasonic could make significant strides forward without taking the risky step of opening up their firmware to third-party developers. Rather than inflexibly locking their cameras into prosumer common denominator standards, Panasonic could engineer built-in and/or downloadable, field-licensed firmware upgrades for professional applications. The AF100 would be far more attractive to me if Panasonic sold it with a base-level H.264/AVC encoder that could be upgraded to AVC-Intra 100, or even ProRes or DNxHD. I would gladly pay extra to license such features.
 
DChang said:
The only example I see is Atomos releasing a firmware update that gives a new feature to a product that came out months ago.

Without straying too far from the topic, can you give an example of what "Sony and others" did that Panasonic could learn from? Simple list will do.
Click to expand...

The last 3 firmware updates for the F3.

The last firmware update for the FS100, and then one coming in March.

These updates all add functionality, features, and usability tweaks that keep improving the cameras for customers, and were not promised (nor even mentioned) when the cameras were announced or shipped.

They are also soliciting - and listening to - customer requests for future firmware updates. NOT FOR FUTURE CAMERAS - but for current cameras already in customers' hands.

Similar to what RED, Atomos, Sound Devices, Zacuto, Redrock and others are doing: creating modern devices with upgradeable firmware - and then actually listening to customer requests, and updating their devices with new features and tweaks, for a reasonable ongoing period, at no charge.
 
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