Firmware Friday: Sony and Panasonic fix bugs for professional video cameras and gear

 

 

Our regular Firmware Friday roundup for this week has to be one of the briefest we've had in quite some time, with none of the main camera makers issuing any updates for their still cameras, lenses and accessories this week, and only two companies shipping any new updates for video gear either. So unless you're a Panasonic or Sony video pro, you can stop reading now.

If you're shooting with the Sony XDCAM PXW-Z280 video camera, or using the Panasonic AV-HLC100 Live Production Center / AV-HS6000 Live Switcher, however, read on!

Sony XDCAM PXW-Z280

Firmware version 1.10 for the Sony XDCAM Z280 hasn't yet landed on the company's global sites, as far as we can tell, but it's available already in the Japanese market. There are no new features in the update, with the sole changes being improved stability at startup, shutdown, recording, playback and during network connection. Japanese shooters can download the update here; in other markets we'd recommend waiting until the update becomes available locally.

Panasonic AV-HLC100 Live Production Center and AV-HS6000 Live Switcher

Panasonic's new firmware is also all about fixes. Firmware version 4.10 for the AV-HS6000 Live Switcher (get it here) corrects a problem with audio not being played back with certain devices connected. Firmware version 6-5-180718 for the AV-HLC100 Live Production Center (available here) makes quite a few more changes, fixing problems as follows:

• The audio level is lower by 20 dB during the recording or playback of a clip.

• The clips (.mp4) cannot be played back in the Media Player.

• When HDMI input format is changed, the video may be distorted.

• REC/Stream button operations do not match GUI REC/Stream indications or operations.

• Fade To Black will not work when the format is 1080/50i.

• 1080/60p streaming/recording cannot be carried out when the format is 1080/59.94i.

• Recording cannot be carried out if LOW is selected for encoding while the setting is at 1080i or 1080p.

• A PTZ camera will not stop panning even if you switch over from it to another while you are panning it.

• The selection screen for speed control will not be displayed if a PTZ camera is connected to SDI with its IP specified.

And that's all for this week. Be sure to check back next time for all the latest firmware news!

(Camera parts image courtesy of Kelly Hofer / Flickr; used under a Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license. Image has been modified from the original.)