Firmware update for Sony XD cams (and other Sony camcorders)

[Gunnar Reitan]

I have a (general) question regarding firmware updates on Sony camcorders:

Lets say you bought a (Sony) camcorder in 2018 with the firmware 1.0 installed.

Then in 2019 you find out that it has been released firmware: 1.1, 2.0, 2.1 and the latest: 3.0.

Do you have to install ALL the firmware updates (beginning with 1.1 and upwards) in order to get all the fixes and improvements?

Or can you just install the latest firmware (3.0) and all the fixes in previous updates are also included?

Thanks.

[Doug Jensen]

Download the most recent firmware and read the PDF installation instructions very carefully. It will tell you if it is okay or not to install the update on your camera. So check the instructions, but generally it is okay to skip versions.

[Gunnar Reitan]

Thanks! :-)

[Christopher Young]

Let us know what model XDCam it is. Somewhere in my archives I think I may still have all the XDCam firmware upgrades stashed. As Doug says read up carefully. With some update versions you can leapfrog upgrades but with some you MUST go through the correct version sequence to avoid 'bricking' your camera.

Chris Young

[Gunnar Reitan]

I have a PXW X70 and FDR AX100.

The X70 has version 3.01

The AX100 has version 3.10

By the way: Where can I find the most recent picture profile for the X70 from Doug Jensen? Have searched all the web and many people are recommending his picture profile settings, but I am confused of where to find it. Seems like I came a little late to the game :-)

[Doug Jensen]

Hi Gunnar, I've never used an X70 so I don't have any recommended settings for that particular camera.

I do have some recommended scene files and picture profiles for many other Sony cameras but I prefer that people get those settings by viewing one of the camcorder master class training videos that I produce. Why? Because I don't want to encourage people to mindlessly use settings that they have no understanding of, the reasons why certain settings have been selected, what settings to avoid, and how the various paint menus settings interact. I am interested in EDUCATING people about their camera -- not just giving them a list of settings to plug in. Also, the successful use of my scene file and picture profiles is highly dependent on knowing how the exposure should be determined and how the white balance should be set. Those are not just simple settings that can be plugged in. Without that knowledge, my profiles are useless.

[Christopher Young]

Originally Posted by Gunnar Reitan

I have a PXW X70 and FDR AX100.The X70 has version 3.01

Sorry I thought you meant ENG type XDCams. For the X70 I think this is the latest firmware:

https://pro.sony/en_HK/product-resou...5wB0qoU6OnAkew

Way back in 2014 when I first experimented with the X70 I came up with a set of settings that worked well for me in strong high contrast sunny conditions. Not saying it's what you are after but a number of others shooters, 790 so far going by the feedback have used them so it might be a starting point for you. The settings are listed at the head of a series of test shots. Can be downloaded here:

https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/t9yiwl

Also here are those settings used by a French cameraman, Valéry Bellengier who put an example up on Vimeo:

https://bit.ly/2rkXFHL

Chris Young

[Gunnar Reitan]

Thank you all for you help, and Happy New Year :-)