SONY'S NX70 GETS MORE FIRM

  Sony has released a firmware upgrade for their HXR-NX70 camcorder.  This upgrade provides several nice new capabilities to the camera.  

  Here's a complete list of what's added:

1. Improvement of zoom rocker operation(Selectable zoom speed). 
2. Dual Recording for Simultaneous Rec. to its internal memory and memory card.
3. Added 1920×1080/30p and 1280×720/60p.
4. The EXPANDED FOCUS and HISTOGRAM buttons are now assignable keys.
5. Added Last Scene Review feature.
6. The Display ON/OFF button now also controls display of the Face Detection Box onto video output.
7. Display ON/OFF optionally overlays Zebra and/or Histogram display onto video output.

  I've just downloaded and installed the upgrade but haven't had a chance to try out the new features.  Part of the install process requires a reset of the camera which puts all of the menu settings back to their factory default values so I've got to go through and re-establish my own personal settings.

  Item 1 doesn't mean much to me because most of my shooting is from a tripod using a remote zoom controller but it should be of great value to shooting handheld because the rocker control of zoom speed (before the upgrade) was quite twitchy.

  Item 2 is a great addition for those people worried about SD card corruption and loss of important shots.  The internal memory is 96GB so it can handle more than any available SD card.

  Item 3 isn't of interest to me but "filmmakers" will probably rejoice.

  Item 4 is a great addition.  Assignable buttons are a feature well loved on the Sony PMW-EX1R.

  Item 5 is also a great addition.  I really liked this on the EX1R.  Now, if they'd just add a "delete last scene" feature like the EX1R.

  Item 6 is not important to me.

  Item 7 is probably most useful to those using external monitors.

  You can download the manual describing the firmware update additions here.

  My previous blog discussion of the NX70 is here.