EX1 Firmware Update Info
 

I just spoke to a gentleman from Sony Japan at the Sony Booth and here is what he told me about the upcoming firmware:

•It will be available in July or August

•The only added features will be support for non-SxS media and the ability to output 24p from the SDI.

•No pre-recording.

There was definitely a language barrier between us, so I hope this is all accurate (actually I hope it's inaccurate). I was not able to find out how the update will be distributed.

I tried to inspect behind the lens of the EX3 to try to figure out what's going on with the EX1 backfocus (assuming the filter arrangement is the same on both cameras), but was interrupted by a Sony rep who asked me to stop before I could get a good look. Damn.

That's slightly disappointing. I do like the idea of 24p out on the HD-SDI, but there are many other things that I think could be added.

Phillip verified in another thread that the Firmware will be user upgradable...I just hope they can add easy access to change framerate.

Will this firmware allow us to correctly set the backfocus,is set it for ND off,ND1 and ND2 ?

Paul.

Paul,

The backfocus problem caused by switching the ND filters on is adressed in software version 1.05_0405
It is done through making an offset in the servo adjusted lens parts when you switch from ND-off to ND-1 or ND-2 and vice versa.

Is this a fact? Did you get this answer from Sony at NAB?

Dennis,

I was there when software version was installed.
Sony maintenance article said this version does address this problem and indeed it did in my case.

So when the firmware which we we can download and install via net/usb becomes available in a few months we can sort the backfocus and then redo the adjustments ourselves,that's great news.
It'll probably be firmware 1.06 xxxxxx or whatever by then.
I'd rather wait till then than send my cam off.

Paul.

Nice to see it will be possible to use non-Sxs media, I was already afraid that Sony wouldn't keep their promise. Are there certain specs a card has to have when shooting with the EX1 in HQ?

BTW, the new firmware 1.05 is already out, although some people can still get a camera with 1.03 (if they get an older camera), but if I'm correct you still can't upgrade yourself, as user? You still have to send your camera to Sony and have it lost for 2 weeks?

Thanks,

Very annyoing if true.

Ahh, the mystery of the Maintenance Article. Would be great if Sony made these public, then we'd all know what's up. Dreaming on...

George/

Hope they can fix the battery issue as well.

Thank You Peter for confirming this. Based upon your confirmation the Sony Pro Dealers in Western Canada are totally in the dark. As of April 12, 2008 are they claiming the EX1 has no issues they are asking Sony List $7400 minus $200.00. The Canadian dollar is on par with the US and has been for the last 6 months. Then there are the dealers, also as of April 12, 2008 who are quoting $400.00 below Sony list and pawning off their rental units. Sony Canada and its distributors have serious issues and for my part both have lost all credibility. I'm just glad that I have held off my purchase even though the EX1 with the latest 1.05 firmware may show good potential of resolving the major issues.

[QUOTE=My camera came back from repair two days ago and it still has the backfocus issue. The new firmware V1.05 was installed and the backfocus is worse than it ever was before... So this did not fix the... .[/QUOTE]

That is what Gerald wrote in the "Sony has confirmed backfocus problem" thread.

I don't think that the firmware update will automatically work wonders on the backfocus issue being that a few people have it and it has ot done anything for them...

Mine came back from service (two weeks ago) with firmware 1.05 and back-focus wasn't fixed either. Both cameras are back in Holland for the second time. It's been already two weeks and there is no reply from Sony about the repair progress.

"no pre-recording"
I know "me too" my serve little purpose but I agree. Is this the only professional solid state camera on the market that doesn't do this?

I finally bothered to look at my FW version and it's 1.02. But no backfocus problem.

After reading all of your comments I was about to buy the EX1 next week. However, not so sure now. Tell me why you like this camera?

Just talked to B&H to try and confirm what firmware the camera's they're stocking are up to...they couldn't tell me - said they'd have to tear open a box which they weren't willing to do.

Can we assume they're shipping beyond 1.03?

Please look at other threads for that info. The reason we like it is quite long.
Us liking it doesn't mean it's the camera you need though. You really should say what you NEED/WANT in a camera and see what comes closest to meeting your needs.

This thread is specific to what people are finding out about FIRMWARE UPGRADE.

I guess the unanswerable question (at the moment) is why don't they make the latest firmware update available to us NOW via download?

If it fixes issues that makes much more sense than shipping cameras back and forth.

Heck at least allow us to take it to an authorized Sony Pro service center.

Get it from Abel Cine tech, they actually can do all the major things that b&h refuses to do.....like walk 10 steps/make phone call to wharehouse to see what s/n they have in stock. All s/n with 4500+ in the U.S should have the latest firmware.

I speculate this is because a new backfocus adjustment has to be performed and that is not supported for end users... Although they'd have to get over that at some point.

George/

firmware
 

I repeat, as I said in another thread, I received my EX1 last week in Spain and
Has no problem of focus or vignetted.

Version of the firmware is 1.05_0405

Hello me again asking stupid simple questions..

Where can i see the firmware version of the camera ? Merci.

I think it means you can use the Sony harddisk unit with it. I doubt they will already allow other cards to be used.

I just got back from NAB. I ask several Sony reps about the new firmware and being able to use other brand cards. The response I got as this was not going to be covered on the new firmware and the main purpose for the the new firmware is to be able to use the new hard disc unit on the EX1 and it will be released about the same time as the hard disc battery not included. I was told the price would be around $1000.00. As for the firmware the rep said it has to be sent back to Sony or may be the dealer would be able to update the cam

I got a chance to use the EX3 its about the same weight as the EX1 with better ballance I post some pics later.

But what am I missing here? Isn't firmware updating just connecting your camera via USB, downloading and installing the firmware, done?
People are loosing their camera's for weeks for every update or problem... This isn't do-able if you need your camera every week to make money.
I don't understand this.

What are some of the choices for non-SxS media?

If this bears out, then all of the camera's in the field plus those currently in the retail and warehouse hopper need to go through the process. From the comments in these forums, I'd say folks who already own the EX1 are as qualified or more than most dealers to do a USB update. If the unit has to go back to a Sony repair depot for the update, then Sony is surely not being forthright in revealing the depth and breath of EX1 issues, including those who claim to have not any backfocus problems. Firmware updates for some basic new features such as Third Party memory cards, SDI 24p output and the newly announced harddrive all sound pretty insane at this point.

Again based on Phillip Blooms comments the other day in the EX3 thread the Firmware has been delayed several months but when it is released it will be able to be updated by us...But for now if you need Firmware update it must be sent to them. No company in their right mind would want every product sent back for basic firmware updates they would never dig out of the hole, This is not the 80's or early 90's we are not using devices that need EPROMMs burnt... It will be released for us eventually.

Spoke to a second Sony rep today at NAB.

He confirmed there would be no pre-record on the update. And reiterated the August release. I asked him if there would ever be pre-record for the EX1 or EX3 and he said probably not ever, but refused to say "never."

Thanks Eric for asking again.
Pre-recording is one of the talents of flash card based cinematography - not making use of it is just a waste.
It could be implemented so easy since the data flows have to be buffered anyway. What a shame.

Yes, thankfully we are in the 21st century with Flash Based Memory which is by no means infallible. Chirs Hurd hit the nail on the head in another thread where he pointed out that user firmware updates could "brick" the camera rendering them useless. Phil Bloom and others mentioned that an end use non-disclosure agreement will be involved in the event of a botched user upgrade. The Dealers are also demanding a non-disclosure agreement to protect their keisters.

At the end of the day and when the time comes, no one knows if Sony's USB upgrade utility will be robust enough to accomodate all of various versions of firmware presently in the field, in the retail chain and in the warehouse. Interesting times, the next few months will be.

True, you can Brick devices but most of the users of this Camera should be able to manage...(notice I say most as I am sure someone will pull their USB out mid update and render their camera useless) Sony's Firmware utilities in other devices such as the PSP and PS3 work very well and they are constantly releasing new Firmware updates for these...Also they both can do updates over WiFi which I thought may not be the most safe way to go about updating but so far I have yet to have a single issue...Hopefully they will make the EX1 update just has simple over USB.

Jason I couldn't agree with you more. This is also my experience with the Sony Blu-ray player BDP-S300 which I have updated twice since I purchased it last summer. It's initial firmware did not permit it to play rewritable Blu-ray discs. The latest update in February 2008 does so now can I burn post 1080i and 1080p video with menus on rewritable Blu-ray discs and they play as expected.

Both the PS3 and the BDP-S300 are consumer devices with no non disclosure agreements required to update their firmware. No fuss, the updates work flawlessly.

Seems as though the Sony Broadcast Division is still getting up to speed on this notion of user updates. At the very least they are foot dragging with the EX1. It's also unusual to my mind that a Sony pro camera dealer would ask me to sign a non disclosure agreement before permitting me to upgrade firmware on the EX1?

So are you guys saying that if you mess up the camera during the update, Sony would not honor the warranty and/or charge you to fix/replace it?

Dennis, I think the Jury is still out on this... I have not heard of the NDA needing to be signed... nor could imagine Sony being able to handle the sheer volume of cameras coming back for such a simple task... I think more would be damaged and lost in transit then users frying their own cameras. I am sure they recognize this but due to Sony being so secretive, everything is speculation for now....

The bigger problem from what I was told by a sony rep is that the firmware overrides all of the lens settings, and needs to be recalibrated on an optical jig after the installation. They may have pushed back the release to design an update that doesn't work this way.

Now that would make sense...I would not want to update and have all hell break loose with my lens... Should not be an issue once they create a Firmware realease that does not affect the camera in this way...that probably is the reason for the delay...