Following its planned roadmap for steady improvements to two of its pro-cine camera platforms, Sony has launched a new firmware update that introduces a new, simplified menu interface.
Known as the Big 6, the quick-access menu interface gives touchscreen access to the six most used camera settings, giving shooters immediate tactile access for adjustments on the fly. And there’s more.
First seen on the high-performance Sony BURANO and VENICE cinema cameras, the Big 6 menu is now available on the mid-range Sony FX3, FX3A, and FX30 cameras, providing content creators with fast access to view and adjust essential settings, such as ISO, frame rate, LUTs, and NDs. All via touchscreen.
Image Credit – Sony
Firmware version 6.0 for the Sony FX30, version 2.0 for the FX3A, and version 7.0 for the Sony FX3 also add support for 1.5x and 1.6x anamorphic de-squeeze display, plus there’s support for a focus magnifier in manual focus when using the bright monitoring feature.
Sony also now supports external recording of Blackmagic RAW when outputting to HDMI on supported Blackmagic Video Assist monitors.
Image Credit: Sony
Other features and fixes include:
- Displays the remaining capacity of both storage devices during movie recording when using Simultaneous or Auto Switch Media (Relay Recording).
- Introduces a Fixed/Variable mode that enables S&Q shooting settings by allowing users to directly specify the shooting frame rate without needing to enable S&Q mode.
- Enables the camera to automatically detect and connect to a USB-LAN conversion adapter (sold separately) when powered on.
- Records the optical density of pre-registered ND filters in the metadata.
- Allows filtering of camera images for smartphone and FTP transfers using Clip Flag.
- Facilitates direct video uploads from the camera to Creators’ Cloud based on OK/NG/KEEP flags. Settings must be adjusted using the Creators’ App version 3.1.0 or later.
- Supports Monitor & Control app functions, including manual framing, attaching Clip Flags, and notes. Version 2.4.0 or later of the Monitor & Control app is required.
- Housekeeping fixes to improve overall reliability.
Image Credit – Sony
The firmware update removes a few outdated security functions as well, with Security (IPsec) no longer supported, alongside WPA and WEP WiFi encryption protocols having been removed.
Users are encouraged to use WPA2 or WPA3.
Downloading and installation notes:
The new firmware updates are available as a free download from Sony’s Professional Support website.
Users can also use the Sony Creator’s App to update and install as well. The app is available on the iOS App Store and Google Play.
When updating, users are advised that they must be running the most recent previous version of the firmware before updating.
Therefore, Sony FX3 users will need to update to version 2.05 and then move to version 7.0. FX 30 users will need to run version 1.05 first, and then upgrade to version 6.0.
Any attempt to leapfrog past these will result in an error during updating. There doesn’t seem to be any requirement for the FX3A, but it’s always good practice to keep the most recent version in place before updating to the next variant.
[source: Sony Pro Cine]
Order links:
- Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Camera with 24-50mm f/2.8 Lens Kit (B&H)
- Sony FX3A Full-Frame Cinema Camera (B&H)
- Sony FX30 Cinema Camera (B&H)
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