Blackmagic Forum

Any new Beta at the moment for the BMPCC4k?

or... maybe is a planned obsolescence to buy the 6K

Kristian Lam wrote:Hi,

This link allows you to download Camera 7.3.2 beta

7.3.2b1_a2 - 8 June

Thanks.

Hello Kristian!
I have to report a couple of bugs of previous 7.3.1 version, can't find an apropriate thread, can I do it here? In case I will edit that my message.
Thank you!

Marian Munteanu wrote:

Kristian Lam wrote:Hi,

This link allows you to download Camera 7.3.2 beta

7.3.2b1_a2 - 8 June

Thanks.

Hello Kristian!
I have to report a couple of bugs of previous 7.3.1 version, can't find an apropriate thread, can I do it here? In case I will edit that my message.
Thank you!

Don't worry about posting reports for 7.3.1, if these same bugs are also present in 7.3.2 or whichever version is current then post.

Hi,

I have a Commlite EF-MFT adapter (non-speedbooster (no lens)). It supports AF, IS and Iris control (confirmed on my Olympus E-M10 MkII).

On my BMPCC4K with 7.3, there was literally nothing supported! I had no Iris control for any EF lenses!

With 7.3.2, I now have Iris support - but spurious touch AF - depends on the lens. IS appears to work (I'm spoiled by Olympus' IBIS).

Here's my report on my EF lenses used with the Commlite adapter and 7.3.2.

Lenses Tested:-

Canon EF-S 18-55mm (kit lens) - Iris OK, AF - Temperamental, IS OK.

Canon 24mm f2.8 - Iris OK, AF - Nothing, IS N/A - Note: If the lens is set to AF on turning on the camera, there's no Iris control, but the AF will hunt!. Set the lens to MF, turn the camera off and on again, and Iris control is back! No such issue happens with any other lens.

Sigma EX 50mm F1.4 DG HSM - Iris OK, AF - Nothing, IS N/A.

Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 - Iris OK, AF - Not bad, IS N/A

Sigma DC 18-50mm f2.8 EX MACRO - Iris OK, AF Very Good, IS N/A

Tokina 50-135mm f2.8 - Iris OK, AF Temperamental, IS N/A

In summary, 7.3.2 fixes all my previous Iris issues, but Touch AF still needs some work.

Over to you!


Ian

Hi,

I have a problem with BMPCC6K with Sigma ART 50/1.4 - the camera doesn't recognize aperture. I've tried 6.9.6 / 7.3 / 7.3.2b1_a4 firmware for BMPCC and also updated Sigma to the newest 2.03 firmware. Other lenses like Sigma 18-35 works fine with the camera as well as Sigma with other cameras - 7dmarkII, gh5s with viltrox. Does anybody have any experiences with this lens?

Does 7.4 already have these fixes from this thread?

Ulysses Paiva wrote:Does 7.4 already have these fixes from this thread?

no, 7.4 ads only the support for the new studio cameras

Hello, I noticed with 7.3, the iris shows fixed value, even the lens is 14-42mm F3.5-5.6, zoom in and manually adjust to 5.6 then zoom out. It shows 5.6 on screen through out the zoom range but I see the screen is getting brighter, the histogram show value going up and down.

Is it intended to provide the fixed value in the future? That would be great.

Is that feature included in the 7.3.2 beta?

Hi guys,
Whats going on with this BMPCC 4K firmware? We need a solution soon. It's incredible the time delayed with this.
Part of the problems have solution with old firmwares. And new firmwares have new features.
Copy old protocol lenses on new bad written firmwares.

Or make firmwares open source. Sorry for insist, but I want a camera fully funtional.

TY.

Yes, let's get back to the subject. First of all, I hope everybody of the team is fine.

I must agree with Javier Forza. Because the present situation for us BMPCC 4k users is the following: Older cameras (like mine) can be downgraded to 6.9.6. Then everything works, but without the new features. Newer cameras, as I have read, come with the problematic firmare 7.3 and can't be downgraded. The only possibility is to install one of the betas (I recommend the last one from June 15th). I use this version and have no problems. With focus peaking I have the impression that the flatter profile is simply less tolerant than the one of Gen 4. It generally works, but a wide open adapted lens is enough to show nothing at all. So the image must really be sharp!

As a non programmer I believe to understand that small changes can cause a lot of code to be rewritten. So it's certainly better to take time to do it right. But it's a long time ago that we heard anything from the team. Please let us know what the situation is now. I can imagine that not everybody wants to install a beta on their camera.

Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

thanks kristian for the info

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Thank you Kristian. Hopefully there’s some surprise updates for the URSA Mini Pro G2 as well.

This beta seems to have resolved compatibility issues with my Lumix 14-45 lens (
H-FS014045).

Ellory Yu wrote:Thank you Kristian. Hopefully there’s some surprise updates for the URSA Mini Pro G2 as well.

Yes please, give the G2 some love.

Hello,

Tested my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with a Viltrox EF-M1 and two lenses with this 7.3.2 beta version:
* Sigma 18-35mm, f/1.8: iris doesn't work, but manual focus does;
* Canon 50mm, f/1.8: iris doesn't work, nor manual focus.

Never mind: I solved the problem! Iris now works even with the 7.3.2 version.

After several weeks of testing, these are my conclusions with the BETA 7.3.2b1_a4 firmware - June 15, at the BMPCC 4K
Glasses:
Panasonic 14-42mm F: 3.5-5.6 MFT

With 4 / 3-> M4 / 3 Commlite adapter (And two other white label, cheaper):
Olympus 40-150mm f: 4-5.6
Olympus 14-42mm f: 3.5-5.6

Iris data is correctly received on camera, and it changes perfectly with the control wheel.

However, the point AF does not work in the longest focal lengths, that is, if we exceed the measurement of 40mm (the one written on the drum of each lens, without applying the crop factor), it becomes erratic, and, in the case of the Olympus 40-150, absolutely ineffective from the 70mm mark, leaving the focus point much closer than in the center of the image, so you have to act on the lens ring to readjust it.

I am aware that manual focus is preferable, and in my fixed lenses, that is how I always use them and without problems, but when a zoom is necessary, the vast majority of them move by servo motors to focus, and the ring is nothing more than a actuator of the internal microswitches, to command the rotation of the electric motors, so, before firmware 7.3, I simply pressed the AF button, and then, if necessary, reset manually.
However, due to the error in long focal lengths, I am forced to rotate the hoop several times, to bring the focus to infinity, manually.
The Peak Focus works acceptably, although it would be desirable for it to be marked more vividly on the screen, and slightly more precise to better differentiate what falls within focus, and what does not. I would suggest, if technically possible, that different colored lines or dots be used. For example, yellow for what is a little closer to the focus, red for a little further, and green for the exact point. Or different gradations and intensity, if a single color is used.

I would ask BMD to focus on firmware testing, and bug investigation, on long focal length operation. I think that is where the problem is, with a wide angle, the internal travel of the lenses is shorter, and the depth of field much greater.

asenraa98 wrote:Hello,

Tested my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K with a Viltrox EF-M1 and two lenses with this 7.3.2 beta version:
* Sigma 18-35mm, f/1.8: iris doesn't work, but manual focus does;
* Canon 50mm, f/1.8: iris doesn't work, nor manual focus.

Never mind: I solved the problem! Iris now works even with the 7.3.2 version.

What did you do to make it work?

My current camera firmware is 7.3. I've never had any problems installing firmware updates for the P4k, but for some reason these beta camera updates don't detect my camera at all when I plug my camera to my computer. I get the "No camera or accessory found" message. If I uninstall the beta camera setup from my PC, then install Camera Update 7.3.1 on my computer, the update software detects my camera and says that my camera is up to date, so I know I don't have a connection issue.

Is anyone experiencing this? Is there a special step that I skipped that is required to install beta firmware? Thanks for any help.

I am running Windows 10 version 21H1.

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Hi Kristian, any news about it?
TY

javier forza wrote:

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Hi Kristian, any news about it?
TY

+1

My Lumix G X 12-35 /f2.8 kinda just stopped working out of nothing. I had the "autofocus-problem" as soon as I updated, but manualy, the lens worked fine. Now, about 50% of the time, it just won't focus anymore. It just goes to maximum unsharpness out of nothing and you can't manualy focus it anymore. Sometimes restarting the camera helps, sometimes it doesn't. The Lumix G X 35-100 /f2.8 on the other hand does not have that problem (yet).

PLEASE finally fix this.


BTW: Tried two different P4Ks, does not work on both, same problem.


*** EDIT:
To be fair, it seems like the lens is broken and it's not a problem caused by the Pockets.

Same here. Very frustrating.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

No news on this topic. Obviously.
I bought two BMPCC4k early 2021. On BOTH autofocus isn't working with two different lenses.
This really makes me upset!
Maybe the better decision would have been to buy some other camera. Sadly I didn't know that there are is no support for all MFT lenses, at least with full functionality. Now I have to deal with these cameras somehow. And this makes me angry about myself and that I didn't read enough about the kind of service that you get here.

I was finally able to install this beta firmware.

I have a Pocket 4k. I am using a Metabones EF Speedbooster with the latest firmware (V3.6), and various Canon EF lenses.

The autofocus seems to work now, but I still have an auto white balance issue which I had with camera update 7.3. Usually when I try to do an auto white balance using a grey card, the white balance inaccurately sets itself at 10,000k. This is an issue I never had previous to the 7.3 update, but happens often now.

Edit: The 10,000k issue happens 100% of the time when I try to auto white balance under a shadow. There seems to be a color temperature threshold that when crossed, the auto white balance will automatically jump to 10,000k. What I mean is, in sunlight the auto white balance works well, but then I take a few steps and go into a shadowy area, then the auto white balance jumps to 10,000k.

RaulAndres wrote:I was finally able to install this beta firmware.

I have a Pocket 4k. I am using a Metabones EF Speedbooster with the latest firmware (V3.6), and various Canon EF lenses.

The autofocus seems to work now, but I still have an auto white balance issue which I had with camera update 7.3. Usually when I try to do an auto white balance using a grey card, the white balance inaccurately sets itself at 10,000k. This is an issue I never had previous to the 7.3 update, but happens often now.

Edit: The 10,000k issue happens 100% of the time when I try to auto white balance under a shadow. There seems to be a color temperature threshold that when crossed, the auto white balance will automatically jump to 10,000k. What I mean is, in sunlight the auto white balance works well, but then I take a few steps and go into a shadowy area, then the auto white balance jumps to 10,000k.

After further testing, I've noticed that the autofocus function with the Metabones Speedbooster stops working after a few minutes of having the camera on. To make it work again, I have to turn the camera off and the back on.

I really can't wait for the next firmware update. I have a feeling Blackmagic is gonna deliver a major camera update.

I have a feeling Blackmagic is gonna deliver a major camera update.

That's not the feeling I get. The feeling I get is that the bmpcc 4k is done in terms of firmware updates. While it has left us with major bugs.

Eugenia Loli wrote:That's not the feeling I get. The feeling I get is that the bmpcc 4k is done in terms of firmware updates. While it has left us with major bugs.

+1

Tim Lota wrote:

Eugenia Loli wrote:That's not the feeling I get. The feeling I get is that the bmpcc 4k is done in terms of firmware updates. While it has left us with major bugs.

+1

+1

javier forza wrote:

Tim Lota wrote:

Eugenia Loli wrote:That's not the feeling I get. The feeling I get is that the bmpcc 4k is done in terms of firmware updates. While it has left us with major bugs.

+1

+1

+1

@Kristian Lam

Can you give to us an official situation of this delayed firmware?
We need to take decisions about continuing updating our cameras with Black Magic or other brands.
As you know this situation is embarrassing.

Thank you.

yes, would be great to see some update as there has been no update of firmware for long time now.. atleast fixing the focusing issue would be great..

Kim Janson wrote:The Blackmagic Camera 7.4.2 is out, but not sure if this is addressing any of the Pocket camera issues?

no, only for the new studio cameras:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=150147

So to be sure, ATM if I have 7.3 installed, there is not point for me to install 7.4.2, there hasn't been anything for bmpcc4k at all since 7.3 right ?

smunaut wrote:So to be sure, ATM if I have 7.3 installed, there is not point for me to install 7.4.2, there hasn't been anything for bmpcc4k at all since 7.3 right ?

yes, there are no new firmware update for the pocket series inside 7.4.2
exept the 7.3 (7.3.1 for the 6k pro)

javier forza wrote:

Tim Lota wrote:

Eugenia Loli wrote:That's not the feeling I get. The feeling I get is that the bmpcc 4k is done in terms of firmware updates. While it has left us with major bugs.

+1

+1

I totally understand everyone's sentiment. But I feel that they are still working on an update for the Pocket 4k, or else they would have removed this post already, or at least removed its sticky status. The one reason I believe they are still working on an update is because since it's release, the Pocket 4k has remained one of Blackmagic's best-selling cameras. It's probably just become a low priority update because it's such an old camera, but I think an update will come.

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Hi Kristian, can we please get an update on this? Thanks.

RaulAndres wrote:

Kristian Lam wrote:Quick update. Probably could expect another build sometime next week. Team has been busy with the new camera release.

Hi Kristian, can we please get an update on this? Thanks.

+100

Super sad, but I've already sold one P4K with all my lenses and stuff and ordered a FX6. Keeping the other P4K with a kit lens as backup and am using it with a Canon 24-105 + Viltrox until the Sony arrives. Have thought about switching for a longer time now and this Firmware-thing really accelerated the process. Still, will miss BRAW, the easy menus and the whole BMD feeling. Maybe BRAW with FX6 and Video Assist one day, BMD?

+1 super sad. The ship has been abandoned.

i recently used camera for different work, and i observed that white balance require many press to work fine, often need to be redone or green was the main color on picture.
If i downgrade firmware, no problem with wb, prefect at first shot; i do all of it with camera on tripods without change anything (i did a small set on home to manage many multicamera shooting).

During music video multicamera (p4k, 2 p6k, ursa mini pro g1) i should setup manually the wb on my p4k be cause never reach correct wb, where all other cameras work fine, later in the morning i had time to attach p4k to a notebook, downgrade camera firmware, from that moment all work fine.

please BMD decide to do something.
after months we would have a simple stable firmware for all feature not for someone feature.
p4k is a camera just in the shop.

carlomacchiavello wrote:i recently used camera for different work, and i observed that white balance require many press to work fine, often need to be redone or green was the main color on picture.

Just to be clear, are you referring to the auto WB feature?

Kristian Lam wrote:

carlomacchiavello wrote:i recently used camera for different work, and i observed that white balance require many press to work fine, often need to be redone or green was the main color on picture.

Just to be clear, are you referring to the auto WB feature?

I mean when I press frontal WB button to balance Wb on white or gray target (I had a focus // wb target).


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

@Kristian Lam

I know it's not related to FW7.3.2 But i want to report a bug in FW 7.5 on the UB2. When switching trough gain levels.

Switching between 8db and 10db the full sensor glitches and changes color for a few frames before turning to normal again. All other steps look normal. Just between 8 and 10 it's going funky.

@ Kristian

It's been almost 8 months now since Beta 4...
Is there a final release planned anytime in the near future and will there be a fix for the too weak focus peaking problem?

I mean - 8 months?

I think, it is quite obvious, the bmpcc4k although still on the shelves does not get any firmware support anymore. It is a bummer. Is the my next camera going to be a blackmagic? I'm not sure anymore.

kontrakatze wrote: Is the my next camera going to be a blackmagic? I'm not sure anymore.

if your idea is that a 1300$ camera should have eternals support, you should not buy any camera, from any brand sony, canon, nikon, and more...
also Arri stop to support with firmware update and spare parts some of their camera, and them cost a bit more then pocket 4k.
anyway, is a your choise, i buy cameras from 1991, and i never see a long time support, with exception on broadcast tool, but it's another world where a lens can cost 150.000$, and camera also more...

I don't think anybody expects eternal firmware updates for decades. With other brands it's the same thing. But the problem is the condition of the firmware. As I already said: Buyers of new BMPCC 4k's have two choices: Either version 7.3 with very problematic lens compatibility (not as advertised), or a beta. For me the beta works well, but is it really a good idea to abandon one of the best selling cameras in this condition? And the competition is strong. With a Lumix S5 and a Ninja V we are very well equipped. At least some sort of a statement would be fine.

Hans Balmer wrote:I don't think anybody expects eternal firmware updates for decades. With other brands it's the same thing. But the problem is the condition of the firmware. As I already said: Buyers of new BMPCC 4k's have two choices: Either version 7.3 with very problematic lens compatibility (not as advertised), or a beta. For me the beta works well, but is it really a good idea to abandon one of the best selling cameras in this condition? And the competition is strong. With a Lumix S5 and a Ninja V we are very well equipped. At least some sort of a statement would be fine.

sure but...
perfected firmware never exist on every brand.
i can tell you that ...
i had pocket 4k first batch (i can go back to cdng and more), but i use with latest firmware and with beta.
- i had some lumix lenses and work fine with beta, autofocus, dial and more
- i had metabones adapter with latest firmware, and many sigma, canon, canon efs, canon L series work fine
- people that told they had problem on focus peaking... i had not, i see peaking colored lines on every lenses and do correctly manual focusing, the trick often with braw is to use video mode, and later change in film mode in davinci if you need more peaking enhancement (anyway i use everytime film mode).
- i used in the last two years like webcam for on line teaching, a lots musical videos and more and i found one ONE troubles on 7.3.2 beta about WB setup, when i hit WB balance button on camera sometimes give me wrong value (i ever use external tool to measure light color and setup like this measure, and all work fine).

to be honest, i came from many other more nightmare situation with RedOne that hang up sometimes during shooting, problem of fpn on more recent RED also on lighted set, Alexa of first batch that give me only half of feature enabled, Varicam that give me frame dropped also on check support... just to tell you about more expansive and reability cameras...
i like a lots bmd cameras be cause i can own them, instead to rent, and for their price them work very very well.
At end of days i ever see the pro and cons of every tool, and try to work with first (pro) and workaround about second (cons), it's my work

ps obviously that if bmd release a newer firmware for pocket4k, like they did years ago for production camera 4k, to do better, i'm really happy, but i not ask that waiting for life

To be honest, this situation is very disappointing. I have been a fan of this brand!
Unfortunately I will contact my dealer to get a refund on my two BMPCC4k. They are one year old but actually they never worked as they should. Since I have 7.3 running on both cameras and both (with different lenses as mentioned in an earlier post) refuse to autofocus, this feature is simply not available! And this is clearly a feature that is listed in their specs.
@Blackmagic, this is not how to treat customers that buy brand new stuff from you. I don't know what's going on with you or the situation and I don't want to make any thoughts on this. I have to make my decisions on the situation that i am confronted with. And this decision is not to buy more hardware from Blackmagic.
All i wanted to have is a working firmware. No new features or anything else. I thought that this should have been possible in the past months.

In the beginning a fan, later a very disappointed customer,
Dirk