Sony is offering a firmware upgrade for NXCAM Camcorder "NEX-EA50H". The applicable products are with the firmware version "Ver.1.00".

Additional NEX-EA50H features*

1. Added DV format file recording.*1 *2
2. Two REC buttons enables to control memory card and the optional HXR-FMU128 in a different trigger.
*1 Class 6 or higher SD card is recommended when using SD memory card for DV format recording.
*2 The bundled software "Content Browser" needs to be updated to version 2.00 or later to handle DV files recorded by the
NEX-EA50H

Link: Sony | Micro Site NXCAM & AVCHD (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-nxcamsite/resource.downloads.bbsccms-assets-micro-nxcam-downloads-nexeahohfirmwareupgrades.shtml)

Hey Guys,

I went to the Sony site and checked this out. Nothing groundbreaking but I would like to try it. The only problem is model number confirmation? The upgrade is for the EA50H. The ID plate on my camera says EA50U. Technically it is a EA50UH. The "H" is the last designation on several models. Is this update for all EA50s with an "H" or for the true EA50H only? I searched the Sony site and other places. The last thing I want to do is download firmware that is not for my camera. Does anyone have a confirmation on this? Somewhere I once saw a list of all the model numbers and the differences (mostly geographic) but I can't find it now.

Steve

Here is the model number info I was looking for:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-nex-ea50-all-variants/512894-differences-between-nex-ea50uh-ea50eh-ea50h-ea50uk-ea50ek-ea50k.html

Steve

Wow, that's what we just needed, dv recording that we would like to avoid and some added functionality for the overpriced fmu128 that almost no-one uses with this camera. Good thing it's not for my region.

I was just going to say ... what a useless upgrade that is for me.

How about Sony actually listen to feedback, rather than throwing out useless upgrades.

There might be coming similar firmware upgrade for other regions but you can see Sony realy tries to push sales on the fmu128 unit. But for a price of 860 euro (1130 dollar) in my country I doubt they will ever see me buying it.

I went through the information carefully. There is no mention of any other change besides those two features. Sometimes firmware upgrades mention things like "various other improvements or fixes" but not this one.

I"m not sure it is for US models. If you stick to the exact letters it is only for:

EA50H -- Asia / Pacific region, incl. mic. & 18-200mm powered / servo zoom lens

But it is strange that the download page lists only the address of Sony's two US service centers. And it is on Sony's US site. What do you think?

Steve

I ran the update. I wanted the latest firmware to wipe out a couple of bugs I think my camera had. Sometimes my menu options would flash erratically. It only happened a couple of times so I will have to wait and see. I wish they would have done a whole lot more with this update!

Steve

You are a very brave man :) I can only hope Sony will do some useful firmware upgrade soon.

I installed the upgrade to EA50EH and everything works .. for now

I hope they fix some minor bugs, but it remains to be seen. The biggest problem for me is that the sound in noisy situations going into the red.

Hi Mladen

Are you sure your mic level sensitivity is set up correctly? Even at really loud wedding receptions I never have that problem. You can set mic level in the menu and also adjust it 3db at a time ...If the input level is set higher than the mic output then yes you will be able to overload the pre-amp quite easily. eg: if your mic or audio source has a sensitivity of say -38db and you set the level at -50db then you are simply making the input too sensitive for the audio source and the auto level control is maxing out!

Are you talking about the on-camera mic that comes with the camera or another mic or audio source?

Chris

I tried with the internal stereo microphone and with external ECM-XM1. Due to frequent changes in the sound level during recording, I'm recording with auto settings. The menu can only adjust the sensitivity of the internal microphone: high and normal (default is normal)

OK, on the Audio Set Menu skip the internal settings and go to the XLR Set option and then go to Input 1 trim (if your mic is plugged into Channel 2 you obviously go to Input 2 trim) ...there you will see that the XLR mic is defaulted to 0db and you can set it either up or down to increase or decrease the input sensitivity. I never ever use the internal mic only the XLR mic and mine to set to +3db and it works a treat with nice audio at all levels. As a hint the default of 0db is for a mic with a -48db sensitivity. Keep the channels as "separate" so you can adjust either and also set clipping to default also which is "off" all that does is give the signal a "haircut" and you lose quality from losing the peaks. Just also make sure that none of the switches are set to INT ...Just set input 1 to channel 1 and input 2 to channel 2 ...if you are just using the ext mic it means you will only get one channel recorded but you can switch that to both channels or combine them in your NLE very easily.

Chris

Thanks Chris for advice
I used the internal microphone because the stereo and catch a wider area (not directed as ECM-XM1)

Chris,

I have to disagree with your recommendation for his audio set up. You know me, I mean that politely. Why would you not record anything to channel two?

I always try to avoid auto gain control in any situation. But of course clipping digital audio over zero is disastrous and cannot happen. So in live event coverage with lots of variable audio levels I set it up this way.

Channel 1, internal mic, set on auto. That is your insurance track. With AGC it is not going to clip.
Channel 2, shotgun mic, set on manual, constantly monitored and adjusted.

Both mics have completely different characteristics. When you go to post you will always have the internal mic as your safety in case you clipped the shotgun a little bit. Plus you can listen to them both and you may find you prefer one over the other. You can pick one and place it on both channels or you can mix the two tracks depending on the situation and what you recorded.

Also, he said he is clipping. I would not recommend a plus 3db boost in that situation. He must be in some very loud environment; I would take it -3 or possibly more.

There is also no substitute for good headphones, the ear buds that come with an I-pod don’t count :)

The status check button will bring up a calibrated VU meter. You can check that to get an idea of where the little cheesy bars in the viewfinder are hitting in terms of db. Basically, in the viewfinder VU half way across is -20db.

Steve

Mladin & Chris, we are so for off topic we should move this if we are going to continue the discussion.

Actually I think the ability to record the DV format is huge and makes the camera far more versatile. In most live streaming jobs with powerpoints you must have SD out . If the camera can output 720 x 480 you're golden.

That was a drawback of the EX1. The EX1R brought DV back, making the camera far more versatile.

I still make far more money in SD then HD.

So that's a good firmware update. makes the camera even more attractive to me.

I would not mind to have the dv possibility but sure I will never use it, you also need to take care about the fact this firmware upgrade is for a certain region, so it might be that it is not stable if you use it on a camera from another region. I wouldn't use that on a paid assignment.

Hi Steve

I always have another audio source in Channel 1 - Usually a radio mic so my on-cam is on Channel two. That's the way I set up so I was purely relaying information. Nope I never use int mics at all, for me they are a disaster but then again each to their own

Now, Noa so is the firmware for the EA-50H or not for the EA-50H??? Both my cameras are EA-50H models so Australia falls within the Asia/Pacific Area but your cams in Belgium might be different?? Are yours H series too?

Chris

Hey Chris,

Same here, I don't use the internal mic ether, except in rare occasions. If your going to use the camera as is that's the way I set it up.

The firmware is for the EA50H. You will be fine. My camera is the EA50UH. I did the update and everything is good to go. There is a mistake on the download page. Besides the firmware there are two other downloads, one says it is instructions, the other a manual for the firmware. They are both identical. There is no installation instructions. They are a manual that tell you exactly what and how the update does.

The firmware download (I used windows) is an .exe file. The instructions are built into it step by step. I hope that saves you some time. I scrutinized everything.

Like Al said, I am glad to have the DV and will use it. But like all of us that have the camera know there is much more they could have done. I am not complaining, it is a great camera for what it is.

Steve

I think this is an upgrade for all H series cameras because they changed the specifications for UH model on the website
Sony Product Detail Page NEXEA50UH (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-NEXEA50UH/)

EDIT:Firmware upgrade for NEX-EA50EH
http://www.sony.co.uk/pro/product/nxcamcorders/nex-ea50eh/support

Did anyone do the update from N. America region using the Mac version of the update? Any problems?
Mine says "NEX-EA50U" on the base of the camcorder. (Hawaii is considered North America).

I think the H refers to the servo lens.

I won't be updating my firmware at this current time as it's pointless for me ...

However, this leads me to ask will it cause any problems should they release an update that I want ? will I need to update it to THIS CURRENT ONE, to install another future release ?

Sometimes my menu options would flash erratically. It only happened a couple of times so I will have to wait and see.
did you still see this behaviour after the firmware update? When the menu flashes, are you still able to operate it?

Hold on guys, there might be a bug in the firmware. Two days after the upgrade I was shooting a house and the time code quit running on the display. The camera is recording and the clips have time code. But my display is stuck on 00 00 00 00 and never changes any more. I have tried free run and rec run, neither one works. UB mode does work.

Has anyone else seen this? Any suggestions? I knew I was going to be a guinea pig for everyone by jumping on the upgrade so fast. Now I think I got bit by the pig!

Noa, the menu flicker I mentioned was something that happened a long time ago. It did it twice on the same day and then it never happened again.

Steve

Sure enough, after trying everything I could I finally used the reset button and my TC came back. And of course it reset to version 2 because 1 is no longer on my camera. I going out on a shoot today, a little scary. I will let you know if it keeps working.

Steve

Is there no way to revert to the original firmware? I do hope it turns out allright.

I shot about 100 short clips on a job yesterday. Everything worked fine and my time code is still there.

You cant revert back to version 1 as far as I know. It is not on the download site I am using. Maybe Sony tech support could tell you where to get it if you had to. There is no way to save it yourself. The upgrade process wipes it off your camera.

Steve

But the new firmware for EUROPEAN version...where is?
on sony web site...no fw downloads , no news about.

Just launched I think but I'm going to be cautious...and hold fire.