Firmware Here

[Andy Walton]

http://www.sonybiz.net/xdcam

goto the blue section marked Reference Information and hit the more link bottom right, follow instructions

I have downloaded but not installed yet

good luck

Andy

[Rob Stiff]

Did the firmware update. It solved a few issues I was having.

Removing the side cover of the camera
and enabling the service jumper was a little "on the edge."

All I can tell anyone who has not done a firmware update on the 330/350L
is to not have any distractions around you for about 20 minutes.
Good Luck.

[Nate Weaver]

The only instructions I could find for this in the download refer to the service manual for the camera.

I understand the upgrade involves putting the rom files in the /MSSONY/PRO/CAMERA/PDWF350/ directory, but what's the rest? I assume Service Menu to initiate the update can only be gotten to by DIP switch under a cover?

Guess I'll be surfing the Sony sites to figure it out until somebody gets back to me here...

[Rob Stiff]

ftp://ftp.sony.com
If using OS X, use an ftp program.

User Name: storage
Password: NONE

Select the folder: XDCAM HD

Select the folder: Software

Select the folder: PDW-F350

Select the folder: Ver 1.06 - AT1.21

Download and read: F350_and F330 Software_Upgrade_Instructions.pdf

Drag all files to your desktop.

Make sure you have a memory stick that was just formatted
by your 350L.

Then connect that memory stick to your computer and drag
the files: F350PK.ROM f350at.rom f350fc.rom to your memory stick.

Eject the memory stick and reinsert it into your XDCAM.

Then get ready to unscrew the 4 screws for the side cover of your
camera and the rest is easy to follow in the pdf..... have fun and
don't sneeze into your camera with the cover off......

[Nate Weaver]

Everybody, be very careful with this stuff. In the space of time between when I asked for further instructions, and when Rob answered, I managed to make my camera inoperable by, I think, only managing to get ONE of the 3 packages installed correctly via a "force" update. If you're wondering how one does a forced update, I'm not telling you, because it's just plain unsafe for this camera.

Right now I finally got the camera to a place where I'm running the real, known method, and the flashing seems to be going well so far.

And for those wondering...yes, I'm dumb.

[Nate Weaver]

Whew. Got it fixed.

...and let this be a lesson to you all!

:-)

(p.s. thanks Rob, your response saved my cam a trip to the shop!)

[Thierry Humeau]

Originally Posted by Rob Stiff

ftp://ftp.sony.com
If using OS X, use an ftp program.

User Name: storage
Password: NONE

......

Nate,

I logged on Sony's FTP but do not see a XDCAM folder. Is the info above correct?

Thierry.

[Simon Wyndham]

Upgrading this version of the package should be safe, with no need to open the sides of the camera.

However I messed my camera up on the last upgrade, and this latest upgrade is not going too well either.

My camera keeps having a file read error after 15% of the upgrade process. I've re-downloaded the file, so it may be that it is corrupt in some way. Luckily it hasn't rendered my camera inoperable.

[Greg Boston]

Guys, I've had the firmware for about a week now (was going to write an article for DVINFO about the new features). YOU DO NOT OPEN THE CAMERA to do the upgrade.

Since the cat is out of the bag, even though I'm not sure it's supposed to be, I'll tell you the proper way to do the update.

The files go into /MSSONY/PRO/CAMERA/PDWF350/ directory on your memory stick. Make sure the camera is AC powered, as the update takes about 30 minutes total and you don't want to have it shut down in the middle of the procedure.

• Hold down the menu knob and the record button on the front of the camera body while powering up. The camera will find the files on the memory stick and do a quick update of the basic firmware.
  
• After this is completed, power down and power up the camera as you normally would. Go to Diagnostic Menu....Page D04.
  
• You'll see the ROM version displayed. Press and hold menu button for a few seconds and turn menu knob to place arrow next to PACKAGE and press the select button.
  
• The camera will find the package update on the memory stick and will prompt you to update 1.04 --> 1.56. Confirm with the menu knob and wait for about 20 minutes.

After this is completed, your firmware is updated.

It bears repeating that you DO NOT OPEN THE CAMERA for the firmware upgrade. It can be done that way but is unnecessary and could void your warranty (which is 2yrs parts and labor for the XDCAM family).

There is also a new version of the Proxy Browsing software with updated FAM driver for Windows. I am happy to report it solves the partial FAM copy bug that plagued the earlier firmware.

The current version of Sony XDCAM Transfer for OSX does not understand renaming the clip files on the disc so you should refrain from doing that until Sony releases the updated XDCAM Transfer application.

regards,

-gb-

[Carroll Lam]

Here's a set of install instructions that worked successfully for me. You do not need to remove any camera pieces.

Carroll Lam

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Thierry Humeau

Nate,

I logged on Sony's FTP but do not see a XDCAM folder. Is the info above correct?

Thierry.

I looked and saw no XDCAM folder there either. It probably got removed because it wasn't supposed to be available yet.

-gb-

[Rob Stiff]

As of this post, I confirmed the files are there on the Sony's ftp area for immediate download.

I recommend you use an ftp program to log into sony's ftp area.
Once logged in, you should be able to see the folder XDCAM HD.
If you are trying logging in via your browser you may not have any success
seeing all the folders in the root directory.

If anyone is able to do a complete firmware update without opening the
side of the camera, then great! It was a bit "on the edge" having to
open up several XDCAM cameras worring about loosing warranty etc....
But, as one can see from the pdf instructions provided from Sony,
it tells you to open the side of the camera to enable the service menu
option; and then after disable the service menu option.

These cameras are not cheap, so go with Carroll & Greg's method if
all possible.

[Greg Boston]

Originally Posted by Carroll Lam

Here's a set of install instructions that worked successfully for me. You do not need to remove any camera pieces.

Carroll Lam

That's the same instructions I got via email from my contact at Sony. This is the document that should be consulted for doing the firmware upgrade.

-gb-

[Carroll Lam]

Once you find the files on www.sonybiz.net you can download them directly without using ftp.

Carroll Lam

[Carroll Lam]

Does anyone actually _have_ one of the service manuals?

Carroll Lam