Firmware 2.0 for the Sony FS7

Sony has released a firmware update for its FS7 camera, which comes with some of the features most anticipated by its users.

4K recording in XAVC-I

That’s right, Sony has decided to make 4K (4096×2160) recording possible, up to 60p and with a maximum bitrate of 600 Mbit/s, all with intraframe compression. This table shows the speeds and bitrates available after the new firmware:

Internal ProRes encoding

This is one of the most anticipated features by the Sony user community. ProRes 422HQ and ProRes 422 recording will be available in HD resolutions with the optional XDCA-FS7 module. It should be noted that when you select this codec, simultaneous recording to both XQD cards will no longer be possible, as well as “S+Q” recording and “Picture Cache Rec”.

These are the options for resolutions and frame rates:

Four-channel audio capability

Another much-requested feature has been the expansion from two to four audio channels (the XAVC codec supports up to 8 channels), of which two are associated with the XLR inputs and the other two are accessible through the multi-interface hot shoe. In this way, the recording possibilities are facilitated, being able to work with the UWP-D wireless receiver, external microphones, the Sony XLR-K2M kit (which allows to control the levels of each channel and its power supply individually), mixers, etc.

These additional entries can also be used for time code, which opens up new synchronization options.

Firmware version 2.0 will be available free of charge from March 15. Here you can see all the new features added in the update.