That sounds like excellent news. Is that an official firmware? When will it be released?

I had a production version of the F3 for the last couple of days and it didn't have this firmware yet. I think its pretty new. So hopefully we will be able to get it soon

Nigel, excellent news. Any useful information that came out of the SR Memory presentation other than what you just stated? Looking for obvious things like the pricing on the dual-link firmware upgrade, SR memory and SR recorder costs and other technical improvements that will be rolled out when the recorder/firmware hits the market.

-Andrew

Andrew

They didn't mention pricing of the upgrades, but when asked about the recorder for the
F3, it was suggested that it would be lower than the price of the F3. The example of memory was a 32G SxS is $1000 (ish) and a 1T of the new Sony SR memory would possibly be less than the price per gig of the SxS which was around 4x. Basically, they didn't want to say, but you can get the idea.

They did mention that there would be 256 and 500 gig type memory. This new memory looked very impressive. They showed it recording from SR tape and simultaneously playing back with constant speed of 5G speeds. They said the future tapeless would be based off this new technology.

Thanks Nigel for the info and your efforts. Hoping the memory will be cheaper than they are suggesting.

Sony will be riding a fine line trying to undercut a usable RED package to a certain extent and be mindful of the surprise entrants into the marketplace that will occur around NAB.

If mindshare shifts away from Sony this could put a lot of downward pressure on their pricing model. Right now they have pretty much have the field to themselves in this price range. This could easily change in the next couple of months.

Any word at all of 10bit HDMI??

I have an email into Sony about that

Nigel

in the picture you posted i see S-Log and 4:4:4 RGB
so i think it's the paid firmware they already mentioned and not a free update to allow more output options
...well i hope not !

I noticed that . On page 109 of the manual it talks about the dual link being separated into 1.5 G SDI before that Sony upgrade. I checked with Sony and they said that is how it should work. They said HDMI works simultaneously as well, but I want to check again, because it doesn't read that way in the manual.

Things are moving very quickly and as the cameras are being released not sure what version of firmware is going to be loaded.

I should have mine tomorrow, so I'll have a better idea then

Heard an update today that the HDMI and SDI will work simultaneously after a firmware update in April. Also, the dual link split into 2, 1.5 g sdi signals will not work in 1920 23.98. with firmware v1. UGGGG. Just tested it out. So far my Nano seems to be the best solution for HDMI and SDI at the same time, but there is a short lag, and will have to get a TC transmitter to get TC on monitors for logging. The work around continues.

Nigel, try setting your nano to "E to E" mode. I use E to E for Steadicam work. Works like a charm. No lag.

Thanks Andrew. I ended up trying that and it worked well with my Cineroid :)

Nigel, question. Slightly off topic but people in this thread will be interested...

I recall, you have used the SmallHD on an F3, now the Cineroid and probably some other sized monitors. What do you feel are the best routes to go with outboard monitoring in terms of size of monitor, maybe brand and if the Cineroid is ready for primetime and do you think it is a valuable secondary monitoring source to an external monitor?

I recall hearing somewhere the Cineroid's diopter size magnifies larger than what most are accustomed to in an EVF. What's your take?

EDIT:

Nigel, you mentioned elsewhere about on-screen timecode for logging. I just thought of something that might work. Solution isn't cheap and it is dependent on how Sony has implemented the on-screen data.

AJA makes this 3/1.5G to HD-SDI down-converter. It's about a 1000 bucks...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555774-REG/AJA_3GM_3GM_3G_1_5G_HD_SDI_Multiplexer.html

If you can get the on-screen data to come up on the HD-SDI port but not on the 1.5G port then you can do your logging with the HD-SDI monitoring and the outboard recording on the other.

Andrew

I'm impressed with how sharp the Cineroid is. At 3.2 inches its a little small, but it could be used as an outboard monitor, but its basically the same size as the LCD on the F3. Being able to drop the diopter on and see closer is nice but if your not handheld I would much rather have a larger monitor on the camera. The EVF does have its plastic feel in construction, but has lots of features. I think it could be very handy on a DSLR as an external monitor, and you can loop through to send to a director. I just got the Cineroid last week, and I have a big multi camera shoot for GM next week where we are using a mixture of F3 and 5D's. This will be our big test for the Cineroid and mixing the other cameras.

I have a Small HD 5.6 with SDI loop through. I really like this monitor. Its compact design is well thought out, especially how the batteries mount, the snap on screen protector, and the sun shade. Its light and has a small footprint. The guys are very responsive to improvements in firmware, and they are adding new features.

I also have a Panasonic 7.9 and 17" HD monitors. The broadcast ones. The 7.9 is very heavy and only SDI, no HDMI. Its always been very big on my other cameras. In studio situations, or controlled sets its fine, but for quick stuff or travel I've never liked hauling it around.

I did see the new Sony 7" OLED and its great. Around the same price point of the Panasonic, which is now a few years old, and more options. But still is very heavy. I believe there's a 5.6 coming out from TV Logic that's similar to the Small HD but has a waveform. Small HD is looking into the waveform option so I'm not worried.

I've looked at those AJA converters, but Audio Services in Toronto has a line of TC transmitter/receivers called Scriptlinc. I believe there around $500 for it, but don't quote me. I'm hoping to test it next week. It should just hook up to TC out of the F3, and TC in on my 17" Panasonic. (So I'm told)

The only issue with the 1.5 g port is that it will only work in 59.94. Not in 23.98. So it would be back to on output on the camera until firmware in April