Though the menu system for the F5 and F55 seemed to be on the right track when the camera was first announced, Sony managed to overcomplicate certain aspects, and still make it a little difficult to find what you're looking for if it's deep inside the settings. In the new v7.01 firmware released today, they've added a quick menu option (seen above) that lets you select a number of items that you use most often, so you don't have to dig around in the menu for them. 

You can also now record 4K XAVC 60/50fps and 50Mbps 4:2:2 MPEG2 at the same time in the camera, something that was asked for by documentaries and reality so that they can shoot non-slow motion 60fps and still get proxies. In addition, they've added more options for the zebras in the viewfinder:


Documentarians and natural history DoPs have asked us for better viewfinder exposure tools when shooting off speed material in S-Log2 and S-Log3 without a LUT loaded in the VF. In addition to the already implemented High Brightness mode, and 1D Tone curve for the VF, we have responded with an improvement that will benefit all cinematographers in all shooting modes. We’ve extended the adjustment range of the viewfinder zebra pattern.The zebras can now indicate 18% Gray when you’re shooting in S-Log2 and S-Log3.

Here's more on what's been released today:

Quick menu

Quick Menu has been added for easy changing and checking current status with quick response. When you press the OPTION button on F55 and F5, the Quick Menu is displayed in the sub display. The quick menu deploys up to eight often-used setting items in the six categories (Project/Monitoring/MLUT/Media/Viewfinder/Others).

MPEG2 50Mbps 4:2:2 recording on XAVC 4K or XAVC QFHD in 50P/59.94P

When the recording format is set to XAVC 4K or XAVC QFHD and the system frequency is set to 50P/59.94P, the MPEG2 HD 50Mbps 4:2:2 recording function is newly available.

ITU-R BT.2020 color space in Custom mode (PMW-F55 only)

ITU-R BT.2020 is added to the “Preset Select” setting value in “Matrix” of the Paint menu. ITU-R BT.2020 is available for the output signal of the 4K or QFHD or video recorded on XAVC 4K or XAVC QFHD.

Note: 2K/HD output signal or viewfinder works on Rec.709 when ITU-R BT.2020 selected. And when the playback picture recorded on ITU-R BT.2020 is output via 2K or HD from the F55, the video image does not have correct colors because of playing back Rec. 2020 materials on Rec.709 signal output.

Extended range of zebra pattern

The range of “Zebra1 Level” in the VF menu is extended from “50% to 107%” to “0% to 107%” and that of “Zebra2 Level” is extended from “52% to 109%” to “0% to 109%.” F55 and F5 can show 18% Gray and 90% White output IRE level by zebra pattern on S-Log2 and S-Log3 operations.

(e.g. S-Log3 18% Gray output IRE level: 41%, S-Log3 90% White output IRE level: 61%. S-Log2 18% Gray output IRE level: 32%, S-Log2 90% White output IRE level: 59%)

Improved image quality when User Gamma is used

When you apply the User Gamma created for the HDC series to F55 and F5, picture quality has been improved by adjusting the pedestal level.

Response of the status screen has been improved

The toggling speed of the status screen displayed on the viewfinder and external video monitor has been improved.

Bug Fix

When the remote controller was connected via the remote connector and Scene File was recalled from the controller, Gain setting was not applied. This has been fixed.

Note: Please store scene file in dB mode. If you store scene file in ISO mode, gain setting is not applied from the controller.

In AXS and SxS simultaneous recording mode, sometimes SxS recording kept even if AXS recording had stopped when the connection is not completely secured between F55/F5 and R5. This has been fixed.

If you have a Sony F5 or F55, you can find the links to the software below. 

Sony F55 Firwmare v7.01

Sony F5 Firmware v7.01

Source: Sony