Wish List For Future Firmware Updates

N

nsoltz

Veteran
Sony is seeking feedback about the 1.4 firmware update as well as our suggestions for future F3 firmware updates. And don't ask for 50 Mbps 4:2:2 internal video because it simply can't happen with the F3. Beyond that, Sony definitely is interested in what we have to say. Submit your requests to production@am.sony.com

Ned Soltz
 
Slog 2. A way to output hd-sdi out of the dual port so you can output 3 streams of HD-SDI. Why not? :)

But moreso I'm looking forward to the next Sony F3. The "Sony F5" would be great. 50mbps internal codec. 4k acquisition ability. Super slo motion. Basically take the FS700 and slog and a more robust internal codec and boom. Done. The ultimate 20kish camera.
 
Here's my list. Feel free to send some of the same ideas to Sony as I imagine numbers help.

1. Add 30DB gain and 60fps slomo 1080 recording like the FS100 has. (Maybe slo mo is harder on the SxS card, but 30DB has to be possible). Give us the choice to shoot noisy in the dark.

2. Make it possible to send color peaking and especially zebras to the SDI & HDMI out along with other viewfinder information. This would help functionaity with third party EVF's that often don't have either.

3. Add a waveform to the viewfinder ( and while you're at it a vectorscope) . Panasonic has it in all their cameras - why not Sony? Histogram is very very limited info. You could even add a false color option but the waveform is a very big deal.

4. Very Important - Make the assign buttons more useful.
For many kinds of shooting the time it takes to access the menus to change parameters is serious liability. Unfortunately the F3 eliminated one of the most useful features of the EX1-1 the little Joystick at the top of the camera that allowed you to change PP Settings and shutter speed with the flick of a switch. The recent addition of a jog wheel speeds that up quite a bit and was a great addition but you could do more:

The F3 has at least assign buttons all over the the camera. Sounds great but the options available are virtually useless in most production and are already assigned anyway. I never delete the last Clip a shot, never add Marks to anything - I'm too busy shooting. That's done by someone else logging footage.

Assign buttons could:


Set things from the PP menus for say:
specific gamma
specific color temperature,
specific PP setting

or from the main menu:
a specific shutter speed
an additional gain choice
perhaps the audio ext CH select A1 or A1/A2
or the wind filter
color peaking high, med or low
ND adjustment - now that would be incredibly valuable.

- Best would be if it just gave me access to various menu and PP menu items that I could scroll through with the jog wheel:
- i.e press assign 8 and the shutter speed menu comes up and I choose a new shutter speed with the jog wheel.

This would speed up use of the camera enormously and make those buttons powerful.

6. Make the 5600CC button 5600 only - get rid of it adding 5600 to the existing color temp choice just confusing
The camera really needs just a 3200 and 5600 choice that you don't mess with.
- A cool idea would be if you could roll through the color temps or just the color color offset with the scroll wheel without gong into the menus.


7 . viewfinder could show the name of the PP file not just the PP1, PP2 etc.

8. Focus is the biggest problem in shooting with the F3. so here are 2 suggestions

- If there is any way to make the color peaking circuit less affected by movement that would be good. Unfortunately now it disappears whoever the subject moves.

- Add the B&W mode choice to the flip out view finder. When B&W is enabled along with color peaking the focus point stands out very clearly
 
If you like those ideas let Sony know. I sent them once before back in 2011 so they would need to get more reinforcement to implement.
 
May I suggest that everyone email their feature requests directly to Sony since they are not monitoring the board; I'm just the messenger posting their request for input.



Ned
 
Thanks for this. I've just sent them an email now. It was about ex1r but many of my suggestions can be implemented to other cameras as well. They were:

More 'expanded focus' options (2x, 4x)
Being able to stay in expanded focus mode for as long as you want to.
Being able to move the image with the joystick, while in the expanded focus mode.
EXT CH Select: CH-2 option
'Assign button' menu for the remote control
 
I would say this... an upgrade path to 4k. Hear me out please:

Have a paid upgrade ability to send in your F3 to have the sensor and some boards switched out to 4K capable parts. To my understanding all that would be needed to be replaced is the sensor block and board with some software to boot.

If this is possible it would GREATLY keep your customers happy. Having to buy a new camera over and over again is quite annoying, and most cinema camera systems are leaning towards the modular design, making it possibly to upgrade without serious investment in new camera every time.

If not possible for the F3, the F5 must have this ability to insure its success. At these price ranges new competition will be doing this as well. The ability to upgrade a sensor without upgrading an entire camera is really important as well as the ability to upgrade the internal media ability.
 
^ yes 60p 1080 in camera for sure.

As for my 4k comment honestly I'd take 50mbps over 4k - but not sure that's going to ever happen.
 
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