ARRI recently released SUP 1.2.1 for the ALEXA 35, adding several new features and user requests.

Sony’s FX9 is a popular choice for freelance shooters, sporting a full-format (aka full-frame) imaging sensor in a body design evolved from their equally popular FS7 series of cameras. Emmy-award-winning New York-based DP Rick Siegel, whose credits include features, short films, documentaries and musical events shot in a style we’ve come to refer to as “cinematic multi-cam,” has owned the FX9 since shortly after it came out. He was kind enough to lend his talents to exploring the new features in firmware 2.0/2.1 for the FX9.

Panasonic continues to add significant functionality to the feature set of their entry-level digital cinema camera, the EVA1. With the release of firmware 3.0 today, EVA1 owners can now record 10-bit files all the way up to the camera’s maximum frame rate in 4K, 60p (or 50p for those in formerly PAL countries). This is due to the inclusion in the new firmware of HEVC (for High Efficiency Video Codec), also known as H.265.

After the recent surprise announcement from Sony, I was was able to play with some of the new imager and recording modes in firmware v2 for the VENICE, and it includes some killer new features that are easy to overlook at first blush. Specifically, the two all-new 6K imager recording modes (6K 17:9 and 6K 1.85:1), enabled with the new firmware on cameras with the 6K Full Frame license, allow recording of the sensor’s full width (6,000 pixels across) to SxS cards in XAVC-I class 300 and class 480.

In a surprise move, Sony has moved up the general availability of the highly-anticipated version 2.0 firmware for their flagship digital cinema camera, VENICE. Originally promised for sometime in August, later rumored to be available in early July, this new firmware is actually available now and enables a broad range of features and functionality on the camera.

Canon's latest firmware for the C300 Mark II, version 1.1.0.1.00, adds support for additional EF and EF-S lenses. Even more importantly, it also adds support for the LM-V1 Monitor that was originally introduced with the EOS C200.

Panasonic has released firmware v2.1 for their GH5 mirrorless camera, which enhances existing features and adds some new ones. In this blog, I go through the list of improvements and take a look at 6K anamorphic.

I stopped by the ARRI booth to talk to Mike Wagner about the new features in the version 3.0 firmware for ARRI’s SkyPanel LED light fixtures. Building on the semi-hidden “Party Mode” in earlier firmware versions, a number of fun and creative new lighting effects have been introduced to simulate environmental lighting without console patching or programming.

This week Panasonic released firmware Version 7.0 for the VariCam 35 and HS, and Version 5.0 for the VariCam LT. These updates feature expanded ProRes recording, including higher bit rate Apple ProRes codecs and VFR to allow for more internal recording options to support your production's needs.