Sony releases PMW-300 firmware v1.20

[Andrew Smith]

... and pretty much forgot to tell anyone about it, I suspect. :-)

See here: Software Downloads - Sony ANZ Professional And Broadcast FTP

It was a pleasant surprise to find this when I was merely searching for the v1.12 update which fixes the vertical chromatic aberration issue. The newer firmware was issued on Monday. I have no idea what the additional improvements are.

After applying the firmware update, I checked in the OTHERS --> System --> Format menu and there is still no XAVC option as far as I can see.

Yea, I was hopeful.

Andrew

[Andy Wilkinson]

I was thinking of upgrading my PMW-300s firmware this last week (it's still on the original) but I've more or less decided to wait until the XAVC update is available (especially since I've had no noticeable chromatic aberration issues with my unit at all).

Unless Sony tell us why they are doing these "little tweaks" I'd rather stick with a proven firmware than update it, especially since I'll need to use the 300 on a big job starting next week.

My EX3 (sold at the beginning of this year) was actually still running the "launch firmware" - and proved to be a totally rock solid camera!

If it ain't broke and all that...but when XAVC becomes available, then I can see a good reason to consider that (assuming Sony are not going to do anything silly like charging big money for it). But hopefully it will be free...

[Geoff Tirrell]

I really wish sony would be more forthcoming with info on this xavc release. Its not just you 300 owner ops that are holding their breath.

[Andy Wilkinson]

All I was told at BVE in London back in late Feb was "mid-summer"...

[Meng Li]

Originally Posted by Andrew Smith

... and pretty much forgot to tell anyone about it, I suspect. :-)

See here: Software Downloads - Sony ANZ Professional And Broadcast FTP

It was a pleasant surprise to find this when I was merely searching for the v1.12 update which fixes the vertical chromatic aberration issue. The newer firmware was issued on Monday. I have no idea what the additional improvements are.

After applying the firmware update, I checked in the OTHERS --> System --> Format menu and there is still no XAVC option as far as I can see.

Yea, I was hopeful.

Andrew

Originally Posted by Andy Wilkinson

I was thinking of upgrading my PMW-300s firmware this last week (it's still on the original) but I've more or less decided to wait until the XAVC update is available (especially since I've had no noticeable chromatic aberration issues with my unit at all).

Unless Sony tell us why they are doing these "little tweaks" I'd rather stick with a proven firmware than update it, especially since I'll need to use the 300 on a big job starting next week.

My EX3 (sold at the beginning of this year) was actually still running the "launch firmware" - and proved to be a totally rock solid camera!

If it ain't broke and all that...but when XAVC becomes available, then I can see a good reason to consider that (assuming Sony are not going to do anything silly like charging big money for it). But hopefully it will be free...

Really! Have you guys even downloaded and looked into the release note? Obviously not, let me post it here:

Major functions updated with V1.2
Video Formats
PMW-300K1/K2 is compatible with the format of XAVC intra- frame (XAVC-I).
• “exFAT” is added for the selectable items of “F.Sys.” in “System” of the OTHERS menu.
• “XAVC-I” is added for the selectable items of “Format” in “System” of the OTHERS menu in exFAT Mode.

Sorry Andy for my previous typing, I am not at home but San Francisco now, doing some visiting and business but was a bit of pissed off. It is good for me to know about it too, but I have to wait till next monday to get back and do it, which could be another reason for my over-eagerness.

[Andy Wilkinson]

Well that is good news! Pity it was pointed out so rudely...but I am still delighted to learn that. Been a very busy week.

But bottom line, one would have thought Sony would have made a bit of a song and dance about this much anticipated release...

Edit: OK, no problem Meng. These things happen. Thanks for giving us the correct information and the apology/re-edit of your post.

[Andrew Smith]

Oh, we have to read documentation? :-P

I managed to miss the release notes PDF file as I grabbed .bin file from the unzipped files. I have some exploring to do.

Andrew

[Jack Zhang]

One critical test is if the SDXC adapter (MEAD-SD02) can be used in XAVC-I mode. Also, are all other formats available during exFAT mode? If so, this would mean you can theoretically record HD422 to SDXC cards now. We won't know until a test.

I'm assuming you cannot select XAVC unless it's in exFAT mode, but I may be wrong.

[Andrew Smith]

Formatted a 64GB SxS1 card to Fat32 mode in the camera. XAVC format options then become available (but not in the UDF mode).

And the recording capacity of the card is now down to one hour.

Shot a very short test file in 25p and Media Player Classic's properties function gives the following results:

General
Format : MXF
Format profile : OP-1a
Format settings : Closed / Complete
File size : 243 MiB
Duration : 16s 400ms
Overall bit rate : 124 Mbps
Encoded date : 2014-05-24 12:35:29.000
Writing application : Sony Mem 2.00
Writing library : Sony Mem 2.00

Video
ID : 2
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High 4:2:2@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format_Settings_Wrapping : Frame
Duration : 16s 400ms
Bit rate : 114 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : Component
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
Bit depth : 10 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 2.193
Stream size : 225 MiB (93%)
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709

Audio #1
ID : 3
Format : PCM
Format settings, Endianness : Little
Format_Settings_Wrapping : Frame (AES)
Duration : 16s 400ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 152 Kbps
Channel count : 1 channel
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Stream size : 2.25 MiB (1%)

(other audio streams not included in this posting ... but you get the idea)

No idea about how it would work with the adapter as I don't have one. My guess would be that Sony would want to software lock this to the SxS cards only because of their reliability. Don't need to risk the possibility of wildcard 3rd party issues messing with the reputation of your future-of-the-industry codec platform.

Andrew

[Brent Kaplan]

I did the upgrade

[Glen Vandermolen]

All I see in the Sony US page is v1.12.

[Andrew Smith]

Sony Australia is much more advanced. Download from: Software Downloads - Sony ANZ Professional And Broadcast FTP

XAVC is waiting for you. :-)

Andrew

[Bill Ward]

Of course with the Oz-based firmware, all your images will be upside down, it coming from Down Under and all...

[Jack Zhang]

Too bad you can't use MPEG HD422 on exFAT. Looks like you still need to be in UDF (which is not SDHC or SDXC compatible) to use 50mbps. Looks like the Intra options will not have 1080/60p or 50p. (Also, where's 24p? is that in NTSC?)

If the long GOP options lack 1080/60p, then it won't be worth it for me to get a 300.

[Brent Kaplan]

Does FCP7 support XAVC ?