X70 Firmware- ETA??

[Robert Young]

Wondering if anyone has heard any further details on new firmware for the X70, any estimated release date?
I had last heard maybe March, but here we are & I've heard nothing more in quite a while.

[Donald McPherson]

just found this with a quick Google.

PXW-X70 Firmware V3.0

Upgrade is free of charge and will be available during April-June 2016 (TBC).

New Features & Improvements:
● Support for 100 Mbps QFHD recording with XAVC format*

PXW-X70 V3.0 firmware will be downloadable here during April-June 2016 (TBC).

(*)PXW-X70 will need to be 4K capable, which requires a paid upgrade with CBKZ-X70FX, in order to record in 100Mbps QFHD XAVC.

[Barry J. Weckesser]

Now that we are in Sony's first "fiscal quarter" - anyone heard anything more about the new X70 Firmware for 100mbps

[Cliff Totten]

I think the bigger question is why it has taken so long for the X70 to get 100Mbp/s.

We know that Sony has no trouble implementing 100Mbp/s on EVERY consumer 4k and action camera they make today. In fact, the X70 is left all by itself in the Sony product line with a maximum of 60Mbp/s. The X70's little brother was given 100Mbp/s a year ago.

All of the X70's competitors are doing either 100Mbp/s or even 150Mbp/s today.

What in the world is the problem? Is it a marketing timing thing? Is it a problem with Sony not having the man power to add it in the firmware? Is it a technical problem with the hardware inside the X70? Based on X70 service manual, we know for a fact that is has a faster processor on it's mainboard than the AX100 has.

Why has this taken so long and why is the X70 the "oddball" in terms of standard CODEC bitrate in Sony's UHD fleet.

Very strange,.....

[Jeff Beardall]

Originally Posted by Robert Young

Wondering if anyone has heard any further details on new firmware for the X70, any estimated release date?
I had last heard maybe March, but here we are & I've heard nothing more in quite a while.

Looks like it has now been pushed to July 2016...sigh...time for a Z150???

[Barry J. Weckesser]

What is your source for that info (July 2016)?

[Cliff Totten]

Ahhh,...found it. Sony's UK Site:


https://www.sony.co.uk/pro/article/b...ipment-roadmap


PXW-X70 Firmware V3.0

Upgrade will be available from July 2016

New Features & Improvements:
● Support for XAVC QFHD 4K 100Mbps (3840x2160) at 30p/25p/24p, plus MPEG HD422 50Mbps (1920x1080) at 60i/50i/30p/25p/24p and (1280x720) at 60p/50p.*
* For XAVC QFHD 4K recordings, the PXW-X70 also requires the paid-for upgrade CBKZ-X70FX software key.
● Support for MPEG HD422 50Mbps (1920x1080) at 60i/50i/30p/25p/24p and (1280x720) at 60p/50p, as well as MPEG HD420 35Mbps (1920x1080) at 60i/50i/30p/25p/24p, (1440x1080) at 60i/50i and (1280x720) at 60p/50p.**
** For MPEG HD recordings, the PXW-X70 also requires the paid-for upgrade CBKZ-SLMP software key [expected availability from July 2016].
● Support for high quality QoS Streaming to PWS-100RX1.
● Support for Ustream® direct streaming in real time. Two resolution modes are available: 1280x720 at 29.97p, 25p, 23.98p, or 640x360 at 29.97p, 25p, 23.98p.
● HDMI/SDI/composite output selection during QFHD recording.
● XAVC Salvage – XAVC file protection with salvage recording function in case of accidental power loss.


Just curious. Is anybody interested in Sony's older MPEG 2 8bit 4:2:2 codec? Why would anybody want that when they have h.264 10bit available on the X70?

[Craig Seeman]

There are probably some broadcast facilities tied into XDCAM HD. It might involve an MPEG-LA license as well. In any case, outside of that, it may not be needed for most people these days.

[Paul Hardy]

** For MPEG HD recordings, the PXW-X70 also requires the paid-for upgrade CBKZ-SLMP software key [expected availability from July 2016].

Cheeky f****rs, yet another paid for upgrade - wow the money grabbing never ends. Was paying out £800gbp ($1100usd) for 4k licenses on my 2 X70's not enough?


Looking forward to the XAVC Salvage, although that problem shouldn't exist in the first place!

[Paul Anderegg]

Paul, just be glad you do not have to pay an arm and a leg to add Standard Def option to a high end HD XDCAM.......lol.

Paul

[Stephen Robinson]

Just curious if anyone knows what this means: "HDMI/SDI/composite output selection during QFHD recording."

Right now, I believe the X70 will output to a monitor/recorder during both standby and record while in 1080, but only in standby while in QFHD. That basically negates any benefit of using an external monitor while recording in QFHD. I'm hoping this firmware update will fix this issue. I've been looking into the Blackmagic Video Assist to be used as a field monitor but to also have a second option for recording if I desired. Anyone have any insight on this issue?

[Roland Schulz]

As far as I understand this, yes, we get QFHD output at HDMI/SDI/composite during QFHD recording.
Would be interesting to know if there will also be commands to start/stop a recorder via HDMI.

[Stephen Robinson]

I certainly hope so.

[Paul Anderegg]

That's interesting.......my A7sII shuts off the EVF/LCD when you hit record in 4K......haha! You can imagine how much fun that was to learn when it began happening on a LIVE SHOT I was doing.

One of the coolest things about the X70 is the ability to output any format while in a different resolution.

Paul

[Gabor Heeres]

Originally Posted by Cliff Totten

Just curious. Is anybody interested in Sony's older MPEG 2 8bit 4:2:2 codec? Why would anybody want that when they have h.264 10bit available on the X70?

Sure I would. Being able to load my footage straight into my client's workflow which still runs MPEG-HD from the PMW-200 and PMW400 cameras would be a huge advantage to me.