PDW-700 Firmware version 1.5

Alister Chapman · July 6th, 2009, 10:08 AM

I have been playing with a sony demo camera that has version 1.5 firmware. According to the Sony guys the firmware is ready for release and should be available very soon. However they are holding off the release as if you instal it, it is possible to create discs that cannot be read by a U1 with the current firmware. New U1 firmware is coming very soon that will sort this out, but Sony are worried that if they release the 1.5 camera firmware it may cause issues for some users that currently don't exist.

The problem is with the new ability to create mixed format discs, mixing 720P and 1080 on the same disc is possible with version 1.5. There is an option to disable mixed format discs in the camera menu and it might be wise to use this to prevent making discs that can't be read by the U1 until that firmware comes out.

My favorite feature is the ability to write proxies to USB memory sticks, or other USB flash memory such as SD cards with a USB adapter. You can write the files as you shoot or simply transfer all the proxies from the disc in one hit. You can also write individual proxy clips. A dummy XDCAM HD disc gets created on the memory stick with all the correct files so that AVID and Vegas can work with the proxies. There will be a series of documents coming from Sony describing how to make the most of this workflow with Avid, Vegas, FCP etc very soon. This will be excellent for handing off to clients for preview and logging without handing over the full HD rushes. The proxies take little space

Another great feature is ALAC. Automatic Lens Aberration Correction. I have not been able to test this as my lens doesn't have the required handshaking between it and the camera, but with the right lens you should be able to virtually eliminate CA.

A further new feature is continuous clip record which gives you a single clip on a disc instead of lots of individual clips.

Thierry Humeau · July 6th, 2009, 07:38 PM

That's cool. Do you know if 1.5 allows for streaming DV25 out of the firewire port on the PDW-700?

Thierry.

Alister Chapman · July 7th, 2009, 12:26 AM

I didn't see any options for that in the menus.

Alister Chapman · July 7th, 2009, 09:16 AM

Just found out that it is impossible to get DV out of the firewire port as there is no hardware for that kind of operation. It's FAM only.

July 6th, 2009, 10:08 AM	#1
Alister Chapman Trustee Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,934	PDW-700 Firmware version 1.5 I have been playing with a sony demo camera that has version 1.5 firmware. According to the Sony guys the firmware is ready for release and should be available very soon. However they are holding off the release as if you instal it, it is possible to create discs that cannot be read by a U1 with the current firmware. New U1 firmware is coming very soon that will sort this out, but Sony are worried that if they release the 1.5 camera firmware it may cause issues for some users that currently don't exist. The problem is with the new ability to create mixed format discs, mixing 720P and 1080 on the same disc is possible with version 1.5. There is an option to disable mixed format discs in the camera menu and it might be wise to use this to prevent making discs that can't be read by the U1 until that firmware comes out. My favorite feature is the ability to write proxies to USB memory sticks, or other USB flash memory such as SD cards with a USB adapter. You can write the files as you shoot or simply transfer all the proxies from the disc in one hit. You can also write individual proxy clips. A dummy XDCAM HD disc gets created on the memory stick with all the correct files so that AVID and Vegas can work with the proxies. There will be a series of documents coming from Sony describing how to make the most of this workflow with Avid, Vegas, FCP etc very soon. This will be excellent for handing off to clients for preview and logging without handing over the full HD rushes. The proxies take little space Another great feature is ALAC. Automatic Lens Aberration Correction. I have not been able to test this as my lens doesn't have the required handshaking between it and the camera, but with the right lens you should be able to virtually eliminate CA. A further new feature is continuous clip record which gives you a single clip on a disc instead of lots of individual clips. __________________ Alister Chapman, Cameraman/Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk http://www.wild-weather.com http://www.xdcam-user.com

July 6th, 2009, 07:38 PM	#2
Thierry Humeau Telecam Films Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 325	That's cool. Do you know if 1.5 allows for streaming DV25 out of the firewire port on the PDW-700? Thierry. __________________ Thierry Humeau, DoP Télécam Films www.telecamfilms.com

July 7th, 2009, 12:26 AM	#3
Alister Chapman Trustee Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,934	I didn't see any options for that in the menus. __________________ Alister Chapman, Cameraman/Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk http://www.wild-weather.com http://www.xdcam-user.com

July 7th, 2009, 09:16 AM	#4
Alister Chapman Trustee Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,934	Just found out that it is impossible to get DV out of the firewire port as there is no hardware for that kind of operation. It's FAM only. __________________ Alister Chapman, Cameraman/Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk http://www.wild-weather.com http://www.xdcam-user.com

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