SMM firmware observations.

Question

Im sure a lot of this ground has been covered but I thought Id put my 'want list' together. I blogged at http://www.sammorganmoore.com/fs7-notes-on-firmware/ Here is the text.. (badly formatted) The FS7 is the finest camera I have ever owned – I want to be clear on that. Slog3 is a fantastic space and the LUTs to delog it are wonderful. This makes the camera pseudo raw at 1/4 of the data rate of a raw camera.. well done Sony. Audio pots, a self powered EVF, low power consumption and other features also make the camera a wonder.. well done Sony!Now I think the camera could be moved to another level with some concentration on the firmware. I know nothing of firmware but I have a sense of what is easy to do and things that will push the processor to a place that it may not want to go. Bugs  magenta shiftWell known – Custom mode kelvin dial is off presenting a magenta shift in the image as one moves away from 3200k. cache recordOn event coverage I like to use cache record , however if I engage S+Q, and shoot an offspeed clip cache record is no longer engaged when I return to normal speed. matrix unstableWhen using custom mode I like to record Slog3, Matrix Off – as matrix adds saturation that should not be there in a LOG image. Matrix appears to ‘randomly’ switch itself on. mlut unstableAn early observation but it seems like Mlut status can be lost on engagement/disengagement of S+Q general unstabilityI cant remember other examples but other settings seem to ‘randomly’ move too. For example my camera is now on shutter speed – Im sure I set it to angle – setting it to angle means less button twongling when engaging S+Q menu delaysWhen I change ISO using the HML switch the EVF only picks up the settings two seconds later – very confusing if you are used to a faster response – If lags are defined by processor speed then the EVF could display a ‘wheel or egg timer’ in the way that computers tell us ‘this is hard, bear with me’ record status lostIn S+Q one can shoot a short shot and then get the camera into a status where the camera is neither displaying the record button or the STBY status – leaving the operator at a loss if he wants to start rolling – hit the record button again or not? A side note to this is the record button on the op side is not as sensitive as most record buttons. colour balance failThis might be a function of using Slog3/Custom which does not present the system enough colour data – but often it is impossible to use the WB button. If the camera is pointed at a white card it will read ‘NG highlight’ if one stops down in 1/2 stop increments the reading then suddenly changes to “low light’ making a click WB impossible. it is called tint!Tint is called tint by everybody and even in Cat Browse. So why is it called Temp in the Sony colour menu? Simple upgrades  Red dot on display offThis would be a simple warning to add.With the EX1/3 Fs100/700 one is still presented with an in monitor red icon when recording – can we have that back please. Display on/off was elegantly done with the FS100 Titles of Luts etcWith the EX1 I had many picture profiles built – they may have had titles like ‘SMM_EXT_Daylight’.. but on screen was not this title but PP3. With the FS7 the same or worse is the case. Ideally we would see something like..Recording: “EI : Slog3″Monitor: “SMM_Golden_Lut :”And in Custom Recording: “SMM_Daylight_Warm”This is super important at the moment because I have a setup “SMM_Minus17Magenta_55k” – this must be on when shooting Custom at 5500k and must NOT be on when shooting at 3200K which needs “SMM_32_Standard”(ideally this would also be burned into the meta data esp in EI so the colourist could go to the selected LUT to recreate the on set experience)  Taking it furtherReally I think the complete firmware of the camera needs a complete revisit. Sony should forget their broadcast heritage menu set up and move towards offering a simple interface that aligns with both Professional Cinema cameras and professional DSLR stills cameras (1dx, nikon D4) LUTsLuts should be consistent both in playback and HFR and not kill the WFM – I will not use Mlut at all until this is the case. LUts in CustomMany shooters are desiring EI mode to be ‘upgraded’ to include sharpening NR et al. I feel this is wrong as keeping those facilities out of EI gives one a safe method of recording image. Custom mode should be expanded to offer LUTs and then one could shoot with Slog, Sharpening, NR and a LUT. SlogCustom, match SlogEIWhen Slog 3 is engaged, matrix and all colour controls (excluding temp and tint) should be turned off – so that  SlogCustom matches Slog EI.  ISO, Shutter Ctemp buttonsPressing the ISO button engages Auto ISO – this is wrongand can ruin shots – Sony should align ISO button to match cameras by everyone else..The ISO button should open the ISO menu, 500-1000-2000-4000-6000-8000-10000-AUTOSame for the other two base controls..Temp 3200-4000-…..1000k-AutoShutter – 360-270-180-90-45-… Auto  RGB WFMThe basic way of evaluating colour in a digital camera is to evaluate large RGB histogram or WFM – addition of this.. even only to evaluate a still or in status mode would add a critical functionality – a functionality that is available on $500 and up DSLR and compact cameras. Bleeps.audio bleeps or clicks could be a confidence booters in start stop and menu navigation (EX1 FS100) AssignableEvery button shold be assignable!LUT ON/Off (see Sony PMW-F3)

Answer 1

A little update from this weekend. I filmed a drama short. Overall the imagery from the camera and flex of the files is absolutely performing as expected. BUT Somehow the camera managed to perform a factory reset without me noticing (possibly on battery change - maybe I didnt leave the battery in long enough after turning off?). My mind is on story, and the 20odd crew and cast I'm concentrating on.  I faile to notice the factory reset - but was certainly noticing 'no synch' in my monitor! Bad lead? what has happened? Where is my WFM (on the EFV?) Rerig to lookat the EVF which the director had been watching mounted on the back of the cam (nice simple solution). Non happy director! At least the factory settings are Slog and 4k which is what I was shooting. So I lost my monitor (as 4k-1080 needs to be set up) and my WFM and also the camera went to 50p 360 shutter. So buried was I in trying to restore the monitor between takes that I failed to notice 50p/360 for about 10 takes - so they will need retiming in post. Nice images but it is super stressful to have to watch the camera like a hawk. I want the camera to by my friend not the little devil on my shoulder ruining my day whenever I take my eye off him.