Why did Sony exclude some common features? at DVinfo.net

Dave Luda · June 6th, 2010, 01:22 PM

Been looking into shooting some time lapse footage and was educated on the fact that the NX5 does not have interval recording among some other features that cameras in a similiar price range do include. Like a historgram, color correction. The Sony Z5U, Panny HPX170 among a few others do have these features.

I'm just curious on opinions as to why Sony would exclude those features and if you think they would revise the firmware to add them back?

regards,
Dave

Cristian Adrian Olariu · June 6th, 2010, 02:42 PM

Yes, it will be a good idea to add those features through firmware that weren't included in the first place. But I don't think they will do it even if it is possible to do it this way.

Dave Luda · June 6th, 2010, 03:19 PM

I just find it odd that these are features on the Z5U which is IMHO almost the exact same chassis, they basically took the Z5U and modified it to a tapeless chassis. So from a programmer/developer perspective it would seem there was already a software/code template. If so then Sony would have had to make a conscience effort to remove the features I mentioned. That is what perplexes me. I am by no means a programmer so *shrug*

Daniel Paquin · June 6th, 2010, 07:25 PM

Hello Dave,

Which computing platform (PC, MAC, Linux) are you programming ?

Alan Yu · June 6th, 2010, 10:00 PM

Firmware updates are generally reserved for bug fixes, not adding features. They'd have to go back and add to all their marketing stuff new features. Besides, why add a feature for all users for free when you can save it for rev B and charge people to upgrade? ;-)

Conspiracy theories aside though, I don't think they consiously "took those features out," they just didn't include them. The camera was a bit rushed to market in my opinion (timecode issues and buffer overrun, anyone?).

Anyway, I'm not a hater, I bought an NX5 last month myself and am happy with it so far.

Perrone Ford · June 6th, 2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Yu

Firmware updates are generally reserved for bug fixes, not adding features.

Features have been added constantly through firmware for the EX1/EX3 cameras. Including the rather shocking and welcome addition of being able to shoot full overcrank onto SDHC cards and not just SxS cards.

Cristian Adrian Olariu · June 7th, 2010, 01:35 AM

Back when I was searching information about this camera, I sent some e-mails to Sony regarding the missing features compared to Z5 and the answer was that they couldn't be included at that point because of the new technology used. At least that's how I understood it. The PR person said that he "wished" that the features were included.

Alan Yu · June 7th, 2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

Features have been added constantly through firmware for the EX1/EX3 cameras. Including the rather shocking and welcome addition of being able to shoot full overcrank onto SDHC cards and not just SxS cards.

I am happy to stand corrected.

Dave Luda · June 7th, 2010, 08:07 AM

After looking at responses I think the "rush to market" scenario is the best explanation since all these features where already on previous Sony models as well as the capability to add them to the NX5. I would take any correspondence from a Sony "PR" guy with a grain of salt.

I hope they do add them to a future firmware revision and if they charge for it, I'd reluctantly pay for that. What I don't want to see is the next NXCAM model (aka NX7U) come out next year with all those features added. That thought process is what annoys the heck out of me and really why I posted.

You can't take the pink hearts, yellow moons and orange stars out of me Lucky Charms, add them back, then charge me more for the "upgrade" without upsetting me :)

Perrone Ford · June 7th, 2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Luda

What I don't want to see is the next NXCAM model (aka NX7U) come out next year with all those features added. That thought process is what annoys the heck out of me and really why I posted.

Get used to it. Happens all the time in this business. The EX1r is a perfect example. I would LOVE to have that HDMI out on that camera. But you know what? I've shot over 100 gigs on my EX1. Things I would have had to shoot in SD, or things I wouldn't have gotten to shoot because I didn't have HD.

If you NEED the missing features, then find a camera with them and buy it, or wait. Or you can buy a camera today, and if a new model comes out, sell yours and buy it. So you lose a few hundred in the deal. So what? There are always going to be newer, better cameras coming out. Nature of the game.

Dave Luda · June 7th, 2010, 10:18 AM

I hear ya and I do appreciate the feedback. I understand that technology is ever changing. But I'm just not a "get used to it" type of guy. If something doesn't make sense to me I am going to ask questions. As in this case when the "technology" has been around for quite some time. I will and have done all the things you suggest ( buy, sell, buy).

I'm really only about 3 years into this and my skills/requirements with a camcorder are constantly progressing so I believe the trick is knowing exactly want you want/NEED before a purchase.

I believe the EX1 and even maybe the EX3 will be my next purchase. Hopefully later in the year. I think I will be pretty happy after that happens.

June 6th, 2010, 01:22 PM	#1
Dave Luda Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 63	Why did Sony exclude some common features? Been looking into shooting some time lapse footage and was educated on the fact that the NX5 does not have interval recording among some other features that cameras in a similiar price range do include. Like a historgram, color correction. The Sony Z5U, Panny HPX170 among a few others do have these features. I'm just curious on opinions as to why Sony would exclude those features and if you think they would revise the firmware to add them back? regards, Dave

June 6th, 2010, 07:25 PM	#4
Daniel Paquin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 179	Hello Dave, Which computing platform (PC, MAC, Linux) are you programming ? __________________ Daniel Paquin Production ZoOM vidéo

June 6th, 2010, 02:42 PM	#2
Cristian Adrian Olariu Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iasi, Romania Posts: 121	Yes, it will be a good idea to add those features through firmware that weren't included in the first place. But I don't think they will do it even if it is possible to do it this way.

June 6th, 2010, 03:19 PM	#3
Dave Luda Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 63	I just find it odd that these are features on the Z5U which is IMHO almost the exact same chassis, they basically took the Z5U and modified it to a tapeless chassis. So from a programmer/developer perspective it would seem there was already a software/code template. If so then Sony would have had to make a conscience effort to remove the features I mentioned. That is what perplexes me. I am by no means a programmer so shrug

June 6th, 2010, 10:00 PM	#5
Alan Yu New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 16	Firmware updates are generally reserved for bug fixes, not adding features. They'd have to go back and add to all their marketing stuff new features. Besides, why add a feature for all users for free when you can save it for rev B and charge people to upgrade? ;-) Conspiracy theories aside though, I don't think they consiously "took those features out," they just didn't include them. The camera was a bit rushed to market in my opinion (timecode issues and buffer overrun, anyone?). Anyway, I'm not a hater, I bought an NX5 last month myself and am happy with it so far.

June 7th, 2010, 01:35 AM	#7
Cristian Adrian Olariu Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iasi, Romania Posts: 121	Back when I was searching information about this camera, I sent some e-mails to Sony regarding the missing features compared to Z5 and the answer was that they couldn't be included at that point because of the new technology used. At least that's how I understood it. The PR person said that he "wished" that the features were included.

June 7th, 2010, 08:07 AM	#9
Dave Luda Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 63	After looking at responses I think the "rush to market" scenario is the best explanation since all these features where already on previous Sony models as well as the capability to add them to the NX5. I would take any correspondence from a Sony "PR" guy with a grain of salt. I hope they do add them to a future firmware revision and if they charge for it, I'd reluctantly pay for that. What I don't want to see is the next NXCAM model (aka NX7U) come out next year with all those features added. That thought process is what annoys the heck out of me and really why I posted. You can't take the pink hearts, yellow moons and orange stars out of me Lucky Charms, add them back, then charge me more for the "upgrade" without upsetting me :)

June 7th, 2010, 10:18 AM	#11
Dave Luda Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 63	I hear ya and I do appreciate the feedback. I understand that technology is ever changing. But I'm just not a "get used to it" type of guy. If something doesn't make sense to me I am going to ask questions. As in this case when the "technology" has been around for quite some time. I will and have done all the things you suggest ( buy, sell, buy). I'm really only about 3 years into this and my skills/requirements with a camcorder are constantly progressing so I believe the trick is knowing exactly want you want/NEED before a purchase. I believe the EX1 and even maybe the EX3 will be my next purchase. Hopefully later in the year. I think I will be pretty happy after that happens.