Dear Pixboomers,
Thank you, as always, for your patience, your attention, and your support.
This week, I want to share a clear update on two areas many of you are closely following:
- Software, firmware, and accessory progress
- The current status of our second pilot production run
We know many of you are watching production readiness and shipping timing very carefully, so we want to continue communicating as clearly and transparently as possible — including both the progress we’re making and the issues we are still working to fully validate before entering final mass production.
Software, Firmware, and Accessory Progress
Lens Adapter Compatibility
We’ve made significant progress in compatibility for the PL / EF / E mount adapters. At this point, most mainstream lenses on the market can be supported, including electronic communication and drive control.
This has been an important area of development, and we’re encouraged by the improvement we’re seeing.
In-Camera Firmware
12-bit Mode
Our most important firmware update is that 12-bit mode is now actively in development, and its priority has been raised to the highest level. At this stage, we expect 12-bit to become the first major OTA update after units begin shipping.
To set expectations clearly:
- 12-bit mode will run at approximately half the frame rate of 10-bit mode
- In return, it is expected to deliver better dynamic range and improved noise performance
We know this is a feature many of you care deeply about, so we want to be clear that it is planned as a post-delivery firmware update, rather than part of the initial crowdfunding delivery build.
New UI
We have also completed the first design draft of our new in-camera UI. The new interface is more modern, clean, and intuitive, and is designed to improve overall usability.
Our current plan is to introduce the new UI in a later firmware release, after the 12-bit update.
Important note: The firmware features mentioned above will not be included in the initial crowdfunding delivery build. They are planned for future firmware updates.
Pixboom Cine (PC Software)
We’ve continued making substantial progress on Pixboom Cine, with improvements focused on both usability and performance.
User Experience Improvements
Recent updates include:
- multi-level zoom
- drag-to-pan navigation
- more flexible keyboard shortcuts
- a refreshed UI style
- Performance Improvements
We’ve also improved playback and rendering speed by introducing a new playback engine, helping accelerate image processing and rendering.
The software now supports fixed-frame-rate playback from 24 FPS up to 120 FPS.
Expanded Export Formats
Export support is also no longer limited to DNG Sequence only.
On PC, files can now be exported in:
- H.264 (MP4)
- H.265 (MP4)
- ProRes 422 HQ (MOV)
Accessories: SmallRig Cage
The SmallRig cage is now in production.
Based on user feedback, we made another round of refinements to the final cage design to further improve security and reliability. We also added protective rubber pads around the mounting points to help prevent scratches to the camera body during installation.
Since Spark bodies come in both silver and black, we also paid attention to making sure the complete setup feels visually cohesive and polished.
Please see the image below for the latest cage preview.
Second Pilot Production Run: Final Validation Status
Now to the part many of you are most concerned about: the current status of our second pilot production run.
We are now at what is effectively the final major validation stage before mass production: aging and stress testing.
This second pilot run included 20 units in total.
In our latest internal aging test, the cameras were tested under full-load operating conditions:
- maximum frame rate
- 45°C ambient temperature
- continuous recording for approximately 1.5 hours
During this round of testing, a small number of units — 4 to 5 out of the 20 tested — experienced system shutdowns.
We want to explain clearly why we are taking this seriously.
Our standard for every Spark unit is simple: it must be able to perform reliably even under demanding shooting conditions. We do not want to move into final mass production until we are confident that the product can meet that standard consistently.
In this pilot run, we pushed the cameras through nearly two hours of continuous recording in a 45°C lab environment, which goes beyond what most users will encounter in normal filming scenarios. During that test, some units triggered thermal protection shutdown.
At the same time, we know some of our users work in genuinely harsh environments — including industrial settings, high-heat locations, and specialized production scenarios. Because of that, we believe it is the right decision to take one more step before entering final production.
Next week, we will send the units that have already shown shutdown issues to a third-party testing facility for deeper, targeted testing and analysis.
This is very close to the end of the production validation process, and the goal is straightforward: to make sure we fully understand the issue before scaling up into final mass production.
Once we receive those results, we will share them with the community as quickly as possible. Our next shipping update will also be based on what we learn from that external testing, and we expect to share the next verified results with you next week.
Why We’re Sharing This So Directly
We know this may not be the most exciting update to read.
But from the beginning, we made a commitment to communicate in a way that is transparent, direct, and grounded in reality. That means sharing progress when we have it, and also sharing challenges when they appear.
We would rather show you the real state of the product before shipment — including the difficult parts — than present a smoother story that does not fully reflect reality.
That may not always be the easiest way to communicate, but we believe it is the most respectful way.
A Practical Note on Timing
For those of you who are still hoping for April delivery, we want to be careful and honest here: while we are continuing to push forward as quickly as we can, it would be wise not to plan critical shoots around Spark arrival until this final validation step is complete and we are able to provide a firmer shipping update.
We know that is not ideal. But at this stage, it is more responsible for us to help you plan conservatively than to offer certainty we cannot yet guarantee.
Thank you again for your patience, your scrutiny, and your continued support.
Best regards,
Jing and the Pixboom Team 🧡
