Hope it's true: Sony FS5 Firmware 2.0 Details Leaked? 4K/60p RAW and Auto ND Coming in May | 4K Shooters (http://www.4kshooters.net/2016/04/03/sony-fs5-firmware-2-0-details-leaked-4k60p-raw-and-auto-nd-coming-in-may/)

That would be an amazing update. However I'd still prefer Sony to fix the manual focus issues with the kit lens first.

True. But auto-ND would make life easier for me when using my Nikon glass via an adaptor, ie I currently lose auto iris and thus a chunk of AE . I know auto iris/AE is a cardinal sin in many scenarios, but it's useful for run-and-gun.

That's a good point - auto ND will be very useful. Auto exposure has its place.

I'm more interested in the 60p. They should sweeten the deal with true 4096 4K through RAW only. (like the FS700)

I was curious whether the CineAlta post on FB was a late April fools joke. For example the FB account is registered to a user in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

So I contacted them directly to ask if it was an April fools joke. They responded claiming the information is correct.

But of course they might be tempted to say that…or it might be correct. I guess time will tell.

That would be an amazing update. However I'd still prefer Sony to fix the manual focus issues with the kit lens first.

Don't hold your breath, its not just the 18-105, every single E mount lens ever made other than the 28-135 has focus issues making them useless to pull focus. The focus is speed sensitive with no way of ever knowing id a slight turn of the ring will move you a few feet or a hundred. really sucks because they are wire driven so its nothing more than a firmware change to make them consistent and could easily give them a really long throw

Here are some details about what Sony announced yesterday for the FS5.
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Source 4K Shooters:

1. Sony FS5 Firmware Update v2.0 – May, 2016 / Cost: Free

AUTO ND: Electrical Variable ND filter can automatically keep the best exposure while keeping the aperture and depth of field.
GPS function is activated
Expanded Zebra – two zebra points can be switched swiftly.

2. FS5 RAW Upgrade Option (CBKZ-FS5RIF: Available in May, 2016) – Cost: 500 Euros / $600

4K 60p/50p Raw
Continuous 240fps/200fps FHD Output in Raw
Sony’s FS RAW allows user to record 4K (QFHD) 60p/50p and continuous FHD 240fps/200fps on an external recorder.

2.1. Sony FS5 and PXW-X70 can also get an optional 1080p MPEG2 422 50Mbps codec for integration with broadcast workflows and documentary productions. The firmware will be paid cost around 500 Euros and be available in Late May 2016.

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Now I know why they put an XDCAM logo on the side of my FS5 ...but I don't think I'll be paying for that option! My PMW-300 also got a minor firmware update announced too.

That's great, particularly the auto ND. If it works how I hope it will, it is going to be a big step forward for shooting and creativity. For outdoor run-and-gun work imagine setting your iris at f2.8 and then not having to fiddle with anything confident the exposure will always/mostly be correct. It will certainly speed up some shooting scenarios and be a godsend for something like weddings where you can't ask everyone to pause as you correct your exposure.

Re the MPEG2, what I am keen to know is how much better/quicker this will edit in something like Premiere over XAVC-L? If it speeds up rendering (or lack of it) and exporting even by 20%, in could pay for itself quite quickly on bigger jobs.

Your 'speed of editing' point is a good one - had not thought about it like that.

For outdoor work imagine setting your iris at f2.8 and then not having to fiddle with anything confident the exposure will always/mostly be correct

Isn't that not the same as selecting a fixed ND stop and letting the camera adjust the iso automatically? If I understand it right with auto nd you are basically letting the camera handle exposure automatically? Not sure if that can be considered a advantage because any stronger backlight like the sun will cause a wrong exposure anyway. This rather would mean that your exposure will always/mostly be "in"correct, no?

Isn't that not the same as selecting a fixed ND stop and letting the camera adjust the iso automatically? If I understand it right with auto nd you are basically letting the camera handle exposure automatically? Not sure if that can be considered a advantage because any stronger backlight like the sun will cause a wrong exposure anyway. This rather would mean that your exposure will always/mostly be "in"correct, no?

But on brighter days your ISO will reside at it's minimum and thus AE would normally operate via the Iris.

I'm more interested in the 60p. They should sweeten the deal with true 4096 4K through RAW only. (like the FS700)

Not really interested in RAW but would like UHD 60P internal to U3 SDXC cards 8bit 4:2:0 is fine for me. Would be the replacement for my FDR-AX1 I am waiting for !!! Are there any external recorders that will record 60P RAW UHD ?

Ron Evans

But on brighter days your ISO will reside at it's minimum and thus AE would normally operate via the Iris.

But if you manually select a 1/64 ND stop or let the camera do it for you, what difference will it make?

At the weekend a had to shoot a scenario in a garden with a family playing cricket. Time was limited so I had to get a variety of shots ASAP. Some with lots of sky, some close up on faces, etc. If I wanted maximum available shallow DOF for all of these shots it would have taken time to keep adjusting the FS5's variable ND to get the correct aperture to maintain the shallow DOF. Obviously I wouldn't want to flick in a preset ND, like 1/64 and let ISO compensate the exposure, because then I'm giving away quality to ISO when I don't need to. So that's the point I am making, for things like weddings, outdoor run-n-gun, etc, where you want to maintain a consistent aperture, this is a big step forward.

And as mentioned further up, this auto ND update will provide practical dumb lens (no electronics) AE outside where we didn't have it before. Great news for someone like me with Nikon glass and no way, until now, to acquire AE outside on the FS5. Inside I will reluctantly use auto ISO.

I shot my last wedding with a fixed f-stop of f2.8 all day on my jvc in fast changing light conditions as well and during run and gun I let the camera handle the iso, the only thing I needed to do was to select a right ND and compensate exposure with the EV linked to the iris dial. The only thing the fs5 does extra is that the ND is automated as well which will allow locking the ISO but nothing that will influence the image quality, if you need to use the ND the iso will be in the lowest regions anyway. I don't see this as a big step forward, it just is more convenient to use because it's one less step you need to deal with yourself. That is at least from how I understand this automatic ND works on the fs5. Then it still remains to be seen how fluid the ND changes are.

And as mentioned further up, this auto ND update will provide practical dumb lens (no electronics) AE outside where we didn't have it before. Great news for someone like me with Nikon glass and no way, until now, to acquire AE outside on the FS5. Inside I will reluctantly use auto ISO.

If you shoot with a "dumb" lens and let the camera handle the ND automatically, is there a way to adjust exposure if you want to shoot at a fixed f-stop but if your camera under- or overexposes?

I guess it comes down to what you feel is acceptable. I have always considered ISO/db gain as the last resort and find it significantly impacts grading, particularly on poorer codecs.

I suspect the auto ND will be quite smooth. I already use the FS5's variable ND on the fly for outdoor shooting and I can't notice the difference over auto iris.

If you shoot with a "dumb" lens and let the camera handle the ND automatically, is there a way to adjust exposure if you want to shoot at a fixed f-stop but if your camera under- or overexposes?

Generally speaking auto ISO on the FS5 is your best bet to get any form of AE on a dumb lens, other than auto shutter, which I wouldn't use for obvious reasons.

However AE shift can be used to adjust under/over exposure as long as either of the above are in auto. I assume auto ND will also be part of the AE shift equation. Sadly you can't give preference to where the AE shift compensation comes from at present unless you limit it to just one thing in auto.

It should be possible since my jvc can do that, might be just a firmware update to assign the ev to a dial.

Here are some details about what Sony announced yesterday for the FS5.
.............

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Now I know why they put an XDCAM logo on the side of my FS5 ...but I don't think I'll be paying for that option! My PMW-300 also got a minor firmware update announced too.


I just sold my PMW-300. I really like XDCAM being available for my FS5. It's still a much requested codec from many of my broadcast clients.
They don't care for 4K at all.