Blackmagic Forum

The latest Cinema Camera 1.2 beta firmware update includes aperture readout on display, 2.5K rez time-lapse recording, exFAT format support, improved CinemaDNG file naming, better overlay options on SDI output, fix on RP188 output over SDI, Canon 35mm f/1.4L lens is working.

Nice improvements, there are some wish list items missing in this release that I'd love to see, but I'm sure many features are still to come. And even if you don't have your camera just yet, at least you'll get it with added features we've been requesting and testing by the time it gets in your hands.

Thanks One River Media for the info

love the exfat

We may not have everything, but they have started hitting our points! Such good news

dat 2.5k time-lapse

I think I must be the only one who let out a massive sigh at the inclusion of timelapse.

If there is one thing Vimeo doesn't need anymore of its that!

Canon 35mm f/1.4L lens is working
HOOT! HOOT! Hooray!

Where did you find this info? - NVM Got it
The fact that its still referred to as a beta firmware gives me hope that they may have a complete update soon. I hope they will consider most of the requested features. Higher frame rates please! But hooray for exFAT, aperture display and some lens compatibility!

Yay aperture!!

first and foremost, thanks for sharing it, but...

when you say "at least you'll get it with added features", actually it is not the way I see that...

this camera has lack of so much relevant (not to say necessary) features, that is somehow "good" (really?) that almost none is playing with it (ok, that was a sick thought) because the level of frustation can be bad for business, I know this sounds like another conspirancy theory, but imagine thousands of people complaining about the most unexpected missing features, like not having any indication how much "time left" for recording or something, it will look like a "forever beta" camera.

and we still won't have a thing until spring...

Question:

With firmware v.1.2, when the BMCC is in playback mode, does it display the current clip file name info (or "scene/shot/take") on the LCD?

So, for example, when you skip around playing-back similar-looking takes, can you tell which clip is which by looking at the clip file name (or scene/shot/take) info on the BMCC's LCD?

Question:

With firmware v.1.2, concerning the new frame/guide lines capability on the SDI output: Can the frame/guide lines be set for various aspect ratios? If so, is there a menu of certain AR choices, or can you adjust the frame/guide lines manually, or both?

neil_jd wrote:I think I must be the only one who let out a massive sigh at the inclusion of timelapse.

If there is one thing Vimeo doesn't need anymore of its that!

LOL

neil_jd wrote:I think I must be the only one who let out a massive sigh at the inclusion of timelapse.

If there is one thing Vimeo doesn't need anymore of its that!

To be honest, I am not too fussed about standard time-lapse functions (e.g. 1 frame per 1 second or more). That's what I have my DSLR for. What I want to see is a low FPS function (e.g. 4fps).

I want to see audio meters and record capacity.

mhood wrote:I want to see audio meters and record capacity.

+1,000!

Peter J. DeCrescenzo wrote:

mhood wrote:I want to see audio meters and record capacity.

+1,000!

+1 for this before anything else really...

Audio meters+Record capacity+format frame guides and the camera will be in a sweet spot.

Fabián Matas wrote:Audio meters+Record capacity+format frame guides and the camera will be in a sweet spot.

Yaaaaap.

Great features in the update!! Thanks BMD!
for the next update I would love to see audio meters and formatted SSD's in camera.. then for me it will be complete

mhood wrote:I want to see audio meters and record capacity.

We'll get there.

Bill Rich wrote:Great features in the update!! Thanks BMD!
for the next update I would love to see audio meters and formatted SSD's in camera.. then for me it will be complete

Bill - I agree, the ability to format or at least delete files would be nice. Formatting the SSD (and deleting files) is not possible in the Hyperdeck Shuttle. As such, I wonder whether it will ever be implemented in the BMCC.

Waveform, vector scopes and or histogram will be useful.

Recording time remaining (in current record format) and audio meters are more useful until then though.

At least we have zebras, though it's kinda interesting that those really obviously necessary tools (audio meters and remaining storage) aren't much of a priority over some other things.

We'll get there in time. The camera's image more than makes up for these temporary shortcomings.

Is this for Beta testers only? Or can I update to this firmware when I get home by connecting the camera to the USB and opening up the BMCC software?? Cant wait to try these out this weekend

Nick Bedford wrote:Waveform, vector scopes and or histogram will be useful.

Recording time remaining (in current record format) and audio meters are more useful until then though.

At least we have zebras, though it's kinda interesting that those really obviously necessary tools (audio meters and remaining storage) aren't much of a priority over some other things.

We'll get there in time. The camera's image more than makes up for these temporary shortcomings.

I'm just glad we have zebras. That's a pretty big one for me for exposure. I used that heavily before DSLRs. Waveform would be nice for reference, especially in a studio. I think the major ones people want now are audio meters, remaining storage, clip management/deleting/formatting, etc.

Joshpapp wrote:Is this for Beta testers only? Or can I update to this firmware when I get home by connecting the camera to the USB and opening up the BMCC software?? Cant wait to try these out this weekend

You have to download the firmware from the BMD site in the support section for the camera.

PaulDelVecchio wrote:

Nick Bedford wrote:Waveform, vector scopes and or histogram will be useful.

Recording time remaining (in current record format) and audio meters are more useful until then though.

At least we have zebras, though it's kinda interesting that those really obviously necessary tools (audio meters and remaining storage) aren't much of a priority over some other things.

We'll get there in time. The camera's image more than makes up for these temporary shortcomings.

I'm just glad we have zebras. That's a pretty big one for me for exposure. I used that heavily before DSLRs. Waveform would be nice for reference, especially in a studio. I think the major ones people want now are audio meters, remaining storage, clip management/deleting/formatting, etc.

Yeah, I can agree with the first two, but for me, I'm not really that interested in clip management. I don't delete photos during a shoot so it's not something I would do in video too, despite the obvious size difference. Deleting clips can open you up to making mistakes and deleting the wrong one. You can't unexpose film nor delete clips on an Alexa or RED cameras.

PaulDelVecchio wrote:

Joshpapp wrote:Is this for Beta testers only? Or can I update to this firmware when I get home by connecting the camera to the USB and opening up the BMCC software?? Cant wait to try these out this weekend

You have to download the firmware from the BMD site in the support section for the camera.

Thanks Paul,

No updated firmware in there, have you got a link by chance?

Joshpapp wrote:

PaulDelVecchio wrote:

Joshpapp wrote:Is this for Beta testers only? Or can I update to this firmware when I get home by connecting the camera to the USB and opening up the BMCC software?? Cant wait to try these out this weekend

You have to download the firmware from the BMD site in the support section for the camera.

Thanks Paul,

No updated firmware in there, have you got a link by chance?

Oh... whoops... I guess it's not out yet, thus why we haven't seen an official announcement about it from BMD. Whoops. My bad. I thought it was already out. If it's not there, it's still in beta. Sorry for the confusion.

Hi guys

please who has.

or

where I can download the firmware 1.2 for BCC ???

Thanks.

It's not been released yet. Only BMCC beta testers have it.

You guys are right to emphasize audio meters and remaining record time, as most users (including me) regard those as essential.

I want to emphasize a histogram, also. I just love it. Nothing gives me a better idea of where I am at with my light over the whole scene than that histogram. Even just a 256-bucket histogram updated every 8 frames would be fine. No need to make it too compute-intensive. With a camera with such enormous DR, a log histogram would no doubt be best (a histogram of log values), since that is what is stored, and it best correlates to what we have to deal with in grading. Since there are routines to look at all of the pixels (e.g. for zebras), just add the histogram tallying code in there. It is not a big deal, especially if done every 8 frames. If done right, the index into the histogram bucket array is just the top so many bits of each pixel intensity (as a log value). It should be fast; it should be easy; we want it! Coding the display is a little more work but it is not that bad.

Any idea when this is launched?

Probably early January. I'm assuming Blackmagic crew have been having some downtime with their families over the festive season.

adamroberts wrote:Probably early January. I'm assuming Blackmagic crew have been having some downtime with their families over the festive season.

Thats cool, thanks!

DNomer wrote:Nothing gives me a better idea of where I am at with my light over the whole scene than that histogram.

I think a waveform would actually give you a better idea.

neil_jd wrote:I think I must be the only one who let out a massive sigh at the inclusion of timelapse.

If there is one thing Vimeo doesn't need anymore of its that!

I agree Vimeo may not need more timelapse, But For a Feature Film/Short, Commercial work etc.. this is invaluable.

Simply get a Monitor that has waveform, you need a offboard monitor anyway.

There you go Frank, Easy.

Remember, the BMCC still passes audio data via the SDI port, so a monitor like this would give you both Vectorscope/Waveform (the WP version - scroll to the bottom) and Audio Meters.

http://www.tvlogicusa.com/product/product.php?model=VFM-056W/WP

A little pricey, but one of the best from what I hear.

Hi guys

With the camera in my hands, and doing various tests.

Besides all the above suggestions from colleagues.

To the development team.

- Support for exFAT. VERY IMPORTANT
- Format the SSD directly from camera. VERY IMPORTANT
- Be able to write labels the SSD (important for DIT, Data Wrangler, avoid overwriting errors).
- Remaining recording time in SSD (percentage or time) and alarm display. VERY IMPORTANT
- VUs for audio. VERY IMPORTANT
- Information on screen aperture value º F.
- Remove clips directly from the camera.
- When playing the clips, the display information is for the clip (ASA, fps, # clip, etc), in version 1.1 shows the camera settings.
- Play any recorded clip. Whether you've recorded on the different options (Raw. ProRes, DNxHD), currently only played clips of current camera selection.
- If you record in RAW, with Film color. if valro to change the Video, when I play previously recorded clips, they affect reproduction. In my personal opinion, I think that should not happen, or be optional.
- Possible to have transparency for the menu interface. in areas that do not have information, (solid gray, gray background I mean).
- Option to access by key combination to view the current firmware version and other information of the camera hardware and camera settings. (Ex. push STOP for 5 sec or push and hold STOP y next PLAY)
- Choice of different colors peaking
-White balance manual option (Ex. change in values ​​of 100ºK).
-More pictures. 48fps, 60 and more.
- Timelapse.
- Option to select the information superimposed on the screen, and the SDI output independently (Audio VU, TC, guides etc).
- Waveform, Histogram.
To use the USB port to copy the material (I know, it's so slow USB information), but from experience can be an interesting option.
- Possible to have a Data Manager software, you can make a more secure verification, you can also help organize the material in a production

I will continue making suggestions.

Thank you very much.

Anyone over at BM know when this firmware will be released?

MikeC wrote:Anyone over at BM know when this firmware will be released?

+1 I'm hoping to download it asap

MikeC wrote:Anyone over at BM know when this firmware will be released?

Yes. Please let us know when to expect this update. I'm eager to start filming but I'd rather not spend $50 on MacDrive if exFAT is coming soon.

Any news when this firmware will be released?

Am I the only one not concerned with audio meters?

baforest wrote:Am I the only one not concerned with audio meters?

No you're not. This is a missing key feature. Too bad…

Franckfc92 wrote:

baforest wrote:Am I the only one not concerned with audio meters?

No you're not. This is a missing key feature. Too bad…

I think you missed what I was saying... I don't care for, nor use, audio meters in camera.

baforest wrote:I don't care for, nor use, audio meters in camera.

Surely you realize that many do.

baforest wrote:... I don't care for, nor use, audio meters in camera.

That's cool, but quite a few of us have requested audio meters for many months:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=265

Hopefully BMD will add them to the BMCC ASAP via new firmware. Cheers.