F350 funny goings on with exposure?
 

F350 funny goings on with exposure?

I've got a Sony F350 on loan from Sony UK, but am experiencing a little problem with the exposure.

Shooting in 25p with the shutter switched manually to 50 I find that if I use the 'auto' button on the lens (switch set to M) temporarily to get a rough guesstimate of the exposure from the camera, it appears to be underexposing by nearly 2-Stops.

This is how I usually work, then once I have the cameras estimate I tweak it accordingly using the Zebras to guide me further. However, with the camera underexposing by 2 stops like this, it is a feature that might as well not exist as it is so far out in the underexposed department.

I had heard that this was a software issue in the early XDCAM HD cameras, but this one has just dropped off the production line.

I can't even use the iris under/over override as it can only be set to +1 F stop, I need to be able to set it to +2 to compensate for this irritation.

I know if I switch off the shutter the problem goes away, but then I'm introduced to images that are not quite as clear as when shutter is switched in to 50 manually.

Is this an annoying feature with XDCAM HD F350's or is their some sort of firmware that can be downloaded that I can do myself; or is it a back to Sony job?

Mine's like that too, AE is almost useless. I'll guess they know about it and it's an easy firmware fix for that update that's coming.

When is the update coming Nate, any idea?

All I keep hearing is "soon". It's been like that for a couple months now.

The Fujinon lens I own has internal settings to alter the response of the auto iris. There are also some menu settings in the camera. You may wish to optimize those things to your liking.


-gb-

Well, I've been hearing around the end of September for quite some time. Our patience will be soon rewarded. Like... very soon.

-gb-

I've just been emailed a beta firmware update for XDCAM HD from my UK sony contact. I'll put it on Memory Stick and do the firmware upgrade on the F350 I have on loan tomorrow and let you know if it fixes it.

I know this firmware update has the buffer feature and a bunch of other stuff.

Arg! We want, we want!

Just realized I don't have a card reader to get it from computer to F350 :(