Sony is introducing an accessible camera system for 4K and HDR-ready studio and live production with the combination of the latest HXC-FB80 portable camera and HXCU-FB80 camera control unit (CCU). Based on a 3G-SDI platform with 1080/50p capabilities, the new system is well-suited for live production applications (studios, education, events), where production professionals need a high-quality HD solution with a migration path to 4K and HDR.

Since its debut in 2015, the current HXC series has been adopted worldwide by regional broadcast stations, production companies and educational institutes.  With inputs from these customer experiences, Sony today enhances its range of system cameras to support 4K upscale and HD HDR production in order to widen its applications. The HXC-FB80 has the same choice of configurations as its predecessors – the HXC-FB80H (camera body only) and HXC-FB80K (with 2/3” HD Lens, Portable viewfinder and Microphone).

The HXC-FB80 expands Sony’s HXC product line-up and shares many common features with thecurrent HXC-FB75. The new camera continues to provide signal-to-noise ratio at -60dB with high sensitivity of F13 at 50Hz – ideal for low-light shooting – and a variety of camera painting and processing capabilities.

The CCU upscales HD content to 4K (3840×2160) and provides a 12G-SDI output in addition to a quad-Link 3G-SDI. An HD HDR output supporting Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) will be available in 2018 summerthrough a firmware upgrade.

The camera has three 2/3-inch type CMOS Exmor image sensors and provides 50Hz progressive operation at 1920×1080 between the camera head and CCU using a 3G Platform. The camera also supports 23.98PsF shooting for productions requiring a film-look, including interviews and newsmagazine-type programs along with 25PsF shooting.

Furthermore, the ND filter wheel can be remotely controlled by the newly adopted filter servo motor in the camera head in addition to the electrical CC filter.

Notably, the potential distance between the camera head and CCU is extended up to 600m, while keeping the 10km extension by single mode fibre cable with local power supply. Together with the HXC-P70, the cable length can be extended up to 1,000m with the supplied power from the new HXCU-FB80 CCU. In addition to a Neutrik connector interface, an SMPTE-311M LEMO connector interface is also available for the camera head and CCU.

The HXC-FB80 system can be controlled not only by the CCU front panel operation, but also RCP remote operation as well as PC-RCP (HZC-RCP5) and Master Setup Unit (MSU) system for multi-camera application, which ensures scalability of its system.

The HXC-FB80 camera and HXCU-FB80 camera control unit are planned to be available in January 2018.  Sony will be exhibiting its prototype at the NAB Show New York, booth N401 Hall 3B Level 3, from 18 to 19 October.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

A few bug fixes following a major bug spotted on V2.0 firmware. Highlighted on HD Warrior with the camera shutting down after scrolling through the Display button.

Panasonic “Following bugs were found after updating the firmware to Ver.2.0 but now they have been fixed.

[Power Save LVF Shooting] was automatically set to [1 sec].(This makes the camera go into sleep mode in 1 sec in a standby mode.)
* [Power Save LVF Shooting] will be set to [OFF] when the firmware Ver.2.0 is updated to Ver.2.1.If you would like to enable [Power Save LVF Shooting], please set it on manually by selecting a designated time.

The parameters of picture quality adjustment in Photo Style were all set to -5 when setting the recording mode to [MP4 HEVC(AAC)]. This bug has been fixed.

* The parameters of picture quality adjustment in Photo Style will be reset to ±0 when the firmware Ver.2.0 is updated to Ver.2.1.
If you would like to adjust the picture quality in Photo Style, please adjust them manually.
There were cases where [V-LogL View Assist] did not work, This bug has been fixed.

There were cases where motion pictures recorded in [AVCHD] cannot be divided. This bug has been fixed.”

Get your softwares here : http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

The Aputure LS C300d is the biggest and brightest light we’ve ever made. Winner of several awards (including Best Lighting Product at NAB), the LS C300d is a game changing COB light, boasting extremely powerful output, an advanced cooling system, portable build, and a TLCI rating of over 96.

The LS C300d is the brightest LED light in the Light Storm series. Boasting an impressive 48000 lux @ 0.5m with its included reflector, it can also reach an incredible 142000 lux @ 0.5m with our fresnel mount (with camera settings set to f/36, 1/200 shutter, and ISO 800). The LS C300d makes lighting nearly all scenes possible.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Interesting update to this, one of my readers Ron Evans thinks this might be down to the type of software you use to download the firmware.

The PC version has the POWER SAVE LVF SHOOTING mode in the OFF position while the MAC version which is the one I used is at the ONE SEC position. That would account for at least 50% of users not having this problem.

Since this post I have been informed a PC user had the same problem, meanwhile this note has appeared on Panasonic’s download page.

I love the fact that Panasonic tell you to restore the setting but not telling you to restore it to what ???

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

This EVF will set you back £5000, £2.6K less than the EVA-1 yet its made exclusively by Panasonic for the Varicam camcorder.

Its not rocket science that the same team of designers could produce a downmarket version for EVA costing about £1.5K.

As a cameraman I get so hacked off at the lack of thought that video manufacturers give to supplying EVF’s these days, an LCD screen is hopeless for critical focus the least they could do is supply an EVF at a reasonable cost rather than leave up to third party manufacturers.

Just a thought.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

I have tried this myself but I cannot guarantee that its a permanent fix till I have used both cameras again in this mode.

Go into the main spanner menu and page 2/4 will be Economy

Inside this menu look for Power Save LVF Shooting

By default the time is set to 1sec

Change this to the OFF position as shown above…job done. My thanks to Geoffrey Callens for this fix.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

I had this intermittent fault just after I updated my camera but thought nothing of it and put it down to finger problems. Today my friend Stewart phoned me to explain what happened to him yesterday and we discovered it was the same problem, camera shuts down by itself.

Problem…As you press the DISPLAY button it eventually reaches a total blank screen, then although it does not happen every time, the camera shuts down.

Work around…Switch the camera off and on again.

UPDATE : One of my readers thinks it might also be related to the type of software as seemingly the PC download has the POWER SAVE LVF SHOOTING mode in the OFF position while the MAC version which is the one I used is at the 1SEC position…interesting.

As usual time and time again the wrong people get the FW early who do not pick up on these problems.

Meanwhile you can avoid this happening by locking off the DISPLAY button as shown by Erik Naso below…The good point about locking off the display button is once its locked off it stays that way even after powering down your GH5.

Please report to me on this blog if you also have the same problem with your GH5 and we can get Panasonic to act quickly to remedy this. It would also be useful to know where you are from i.e. Scotland, England, USA etc.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Sadly there is no indication that the firmware (FW) has completed, I left my camera for at least 10 minutes after installing the FW. In my first GH5 the camera powered off and never powered on again, giving me a very tense 15-20 minutes, I finally decided to switch it off and on and v2 FW was on the body. Second camera worked as Panasonic predicted.

1. Once the firmware update process is completed, the camera body will turn off the power and turn on again then it will be initial mode automatically.
2. To verify the version number, follow Step1 at the beginning. Upon the confirmation on the camera body firmware version same to the one you downloaded, the firmware update is completed.
3. Turn off the power switch.
4. Remove the SD memory card.

Here is a video produced by Simon Beer from Production Gear, taking you through the upgrade to V2.


As an added bonus you can now choose from -9 and -12 dB giving you more latitude while filming in sunlight. note you need to have EXTENDED GAIN SETTING switched on before this is enabled.
This can be found in the spanner with the c beside it then choose EXPOSURE and you will find it in menu one at the top.

My thanks to Erik Naso for demonstrating how to enable Fn lock

You can get the FW here… http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Discuss part exchanging your old equipment for the new Panasonic EVA-1 available at the end of October 2017. Both John and Andy will be able to give you part exchange details and 0% deals on the EVA-1.

This Thursday only at at Malvern…103, Worcester Road, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 1EP

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Today, Wednesday is your big day to finally see the Panasonic EVA-1 at Production Gear.

Production Gear Ltd
Units 12 & 13
Wrotham Business Park
Barnet
Hertfordshire
EN5 4SZ

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions