I guess I should have moved this over sooner so it isn’t so buried in the thread, but since this is the new place for software and firmware, I’m copying over the list of issues and suggestions from various topics. I’ll try to keep this updated. As of right now, the list partially predates this new firmware build (I’ve updated with some fixes noted by others), but I will update it as I test my camera with the new build.
Again, apologies if I’ve missed a feature request, problem, or official reply addressing said subjects posted in this topic or elsewhere.
Hardware
- no current requests
Menus/Interface/Buttons
Pixboom has said they’re redesigning the Live View interface, which may address many of these things.
- MENU/BACK hard button not working on Live screen
- Inconsistent scroll wheel functionality across settings and menus
- Inconsistent hard button/soft button functionality (sometimes one works while the corresponding other button doesn’t)
- MENU/BACK hard button works inconsistently across menus
- Menu driven iris changes can only be made on the Home Screen, so I can’t see the Live view while making the changes (using the built in screen). See Live View interface update link above.
- Fn1 and Fn2 buttons don’t change settings while rolling (or from the live screen at all)
- Settings changes (such as iris stops) don’t take effect until after selecting the value we want and then also selecting “Set,” which makes it cumbersome to scroll through and test how they change the picture. The settings should change as soon as we tap a new value and not make us also tap “Set.”
- Scroll wheel not able to change settings after pushing a Fn1/2 button. Request noted and being evaluated.
- Custom settings lost when updating firmware (which requires a factory reset). No way to save/export user settings. Pixboom said they’d fix this.
- Improve playback scrubbing. Due for inclusion in next update.
- Exiting 4x Zoom feature setting can cause a visual glitch
Monitoring
- No LOG output. Currently being discussed between Young and users.
- No exposure tools
- Plugging in HDMI after booting up can cause the camera to cease working (requires power cycling)
- Some issues with sending a 4K image (switching to 1080P works)
- No 24, 25 or 50Hz (or other non-30 or 60Hz) monitoring option. Being discussed for consideration.
Media
- Camera boot up time without media installed takes 3.5 minutes and gives an error message
- Can not change camera letter or roll number (stuck at A001). Either in development or planned for future development.
- No “eject media” function (despite camera door saying to eject beforehand)
- Hot swapping media without powering down locks up camera
Image
- Sensor stitch line showing up for some users (could potentially be fixed with a manual black shade option in the software). Pixboom engineering is looking into the problematic cameras.
- Blue/Yellow bands at top and bottom of extremely cropped sensors (low resolutions like 256x32). Engineering is looking into this.
- Sensor flip mode requested. This is in development.
- Ability to perform sensor calibration/black shade
User Manual
- No documentation on proper media ejecting practices
- Manual incorrectly lists lens mount screws as 3.0mm hex, but is actually T8 Torx. Will be fixed in the next user manual update.
Pixboom Cine Software
- No ability to export non-LUT footage expect for DNG format. Currently being discussed between Young and users.
- No hot key support for setting in/out points, etc.
- No ProRes or H.265 export support on Windows. This is being looked into.
- Export frame rate resets to 24fps every time the program is opened. This should be a perpetual setting, so Europeans can select 25fps and it’ll stay that way until they change it. Possibly being fixed, see above link.
- No exposure tools. In roadmap discussions. Again, see previous link.
- No way to reset/clear in/out points in a clip when they’ve already been set (if I’m understanding point 1 correctly)
Feature requests
- Additional anamorphic desqueeze ratios (such as 1.8x or vertical desqueeze). Young has hinted there will be more options coming up.
- Auto fan speed control (camera will speed up or slow down the fan automatically, depending on temperature)
- Ability to change playback behavior (loop same clip, automatically advance to next clip, etc.)
- Ability to mark “good takes” in camera
- Ability to add center markers to monitoring
- Ability to adjust iris while rolling
- Auto white balance. Suggestion noted for consideration.
- In camera custom LUT support
- Better (or custom) “user” resolution names. Either let us type in a custom name (such as “3.8K 16x9 3820x2160"” or “2K 2.4:1 2048x853”, etc.) or at the very least have the default “User” title also include the aspect ratio (such as “User 1.78 3820x2160,” “User 2.40 2048x853,” etc.). Right now it’s just “User” and the resolution, so then I have to do the math to figure out the aspect ratio when scrolling the list.
- DaVinci Resolve native PXBC support
- Remote control SDK. Young has asked for input on workflows.
- Flair integration for robot arms
- Record limit setting (to stop rolling after a predetermined amount of time - useful in case somebody forgets to cut)
- CAD, 3D models, or technical drawings of camera hardware so people can model and design accessories. Include wiring diagrams for pinouts for cable design.
- Ability to send an overlay feed with relevant camera data to an external monitor. Maybe have 3 settings: clean, basic (record tally light and maybe a couple basic things like timecode, card time/space remaining, clip number - just the things video village might need to see) and advanced (all the settings like iris, shutter, iso, etc. Maybe these can be customized by the user on what items they want included).
- Ability to record proxy files in camera. Pixboom is looking into whether this is possible on the hardware.
- Add project frame rate setting. In discussion with development team.
- Longer pre-record times
- Speed sensitive scroll wheel
Upcoming features in active development
- 12-bit recording mode (cuts frame rates approximately in half)
- Mobile/Web app
- ProRes recording
Fixed and added features
v1.0.1
- Anamorphic desqueeze “radio” fixed to “ratio”
- 4K over HDMI enabled
v1.1.0
- SDI enabled (can be used simultaneous with HDMI)
- Pre-record can now be canceled: press and hold record button
- Physical button control improved
- Fixed inconsistent scroll wheel functionality across settings and menus
- Added 4x Zoom button on Live screen