XAVC firmware for PMW 300

[Steve Siegel]

I am trying to learn about this firmware upgrade to XAVC for the PMW 300. Is it available? Will it really allow recording in 4K? Sounds too good to be true. Is it?

[Mick Jenner]

This link may answer your questions, no mention of 4k though PMW-300 and PMW-400 XAVC Firmware Updates Released. | XDCAM-USER.COM

Mick.

Ps very simple to install compared to the ex3 Steve, but 100mbs does reduce an 8 gb sxs card to 7mins max!!

[Steve Siegel]

Thanks Mick,

This link does say that XAVC supports 4K, but it doesn't specifically say that XAVC in the PMW 300 will. That's the confusion.

http://www.sony.co.uk/pro/article/br...at-accelerates

[Mick Jenner]

Reading the Sony spec looks like another upgrade due around now, I have the 1.2 which (the link I sent you) was released in May. When this latest firmware is released we may have more idea.

Mick

[Andy Wilkinson]

Steve,

I updated my PMW-300 to the XAVC codec a while ago (soon after the firmware was released). It is indeed much easier to update firmware on these cams than the old EX series.

There is no 4K capability for the PMW-300. I was never expecting there could be anyway as it does not have the sensor block resolution needed, even though it's a very sharp 1080p 1/2 inch, 3-chip camera.

I was however disappointed (but not totally surprised) that some kind of 1080p50/60 XAVC option was not available for the PMW-300 when that updated firmware was released - oh well. Would have been great for some semi-slo-mo work (and some sports of course).

Not really using XAVC yet as I've only just started using CC on my new Mac Pro (CS6 which I run on my old Mac Pro and rMBP does not support XAVC, but CC does). I'm mostly just shooting 422 50Mbps 1080p25 for now, by the way.

As mentioned, you'll loose some card run times due to data rate increase. But if you want the 10-bit XAVC 422 internal recording on this camera that comes with its XAVC encoding then you can't have everything ;-)

A great camera and a worthy successor to my old EX3. So versatile and I just LOVE the viewfinder arrangement :-)

[Steve Siegel]

I agree. The PMW 300 is a wonderful and versatile camera. But have you seen what the digiscopers are able to do with 4k? Gallery - Digiscoper of the Year 2014 - SWAROVSKI OPTIK

[Jack Zhang]

The reason for no 1080 50p/60p is because the sensor is "too old" to scan at that rate in the PMW-300. The upcoming PXW-X200 has 1080 50p/60p capable sensors. You'll have to wait for the PXW-X300 to have 1080 50p/60p.

[Andrew Smith]

My understanding is that the PMW-300 is using the latest chips available, and I expect that this would include the sensors ... hence the respectable increase in low light sensitivity.

With added functionality in sensors, there are always trade-offs in other areas. The PMW-300 does high definition at the industry standard frame rates very very well. I'm guessing that the sensor chips are optimised in this fashion, and therefore this is why it is physically impossible to get double-frame-rate 50/60fps off them.

Andrew

[Christopher Young]

Hi Andrew.

As Jack suggests there is a newer Sony chip development. I believe they are called the 'M' series backlit sensors and yes they are 50 / 60p capable. In 1/3" they are appearing on the PXW-X160 and 180 and in 1/2" on the new PXW-X200.

They are quieter and more sensitive the the last of the upgraded previous gen sensors as used in the PMW-300. I have no doubt that there will be a PXW-X300 coming. It's fairly logical I think as all other models have gone to this newer 50 / 60 capable sensor. My guess is that it would only be HD only because to cram 4Ks worth of photosites on that half inch sensor I don't think Sony would be claiming f13 in 50i mode of the PXW-X200. From memory the current PMW-300 is rated at f11.

Here is a pull straight from the the new X200 brochure:-

"New 1/2 inch-type 3CMOS Image Sensors.
The PXW-X200 incorporates three ½ inch-type Exmor Full HD
(1920x1080) CMOS sensors to achieve high resolution, high
sensitivity, low noise, and a wide dynamic range. With these
image sensors, the PXW-X200 achieves a high sensitivity of F12
at 1080/59.94i and F13 at 1080/50i – essential levels for
professionals shooting under challenging lighting conditions."

And as previously stated they are 50 / 60p capable in HD XAVC mode.

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

[Andrew Smith]

Bugger. I hate that. And to think I've just recently spent $10K (and the rest) on a new PMW-300. Still, it's an awesome camera.

Will be very interesting to see how special the X300 model manages to be.

Glad to have some solid info on these new chips. Thanks for that.

Andrew

[Andy Wilkinson]

Yep, good info. As a C100 owner I've already had that gut wrenching experience of the cam being superseded by a newer, 1080p50 capable C100 MkII - as of a week or so back.

It does seem inevitable, especially with the rate Sony seem to be spitting out cameras, that the PMW-300 will be superseded by a PXW-X300 sometime soon! Who knows when but I would guess within the next 12 months, maybe 6.

Back to that old advice - we all hear it often - only buy a camera when you have to as there is always something better coming along!

Not worried though. They have both paid for themselves many times over (and will continue to make me money/are great cams/produce great pictures). Just got to fight that gear lust urge to upgrade when the PXW variant appears (I'll more likely upgrade my C100 before the PMW-300 anyway).

[Mick Jenner]

Hi Steve,


These clips were recorded at 100mbs XAVC, thought they might interest you. No grading straight from the camera, but well compressed file for vimeo

Sanderlings, Littlehampton Beach, November 2014 on Vimeo

Mick

[Andrew Smith]

Any chance of getting Vimeo to upgrade your videos to 1080HD?

Andrew