FlexColor 4.7 Released

[josayeruk]

Hallo,

Downloaded FlexColor 4.7 today and it has a nice suprise included!

As well as updating the firmware in my H2D (digital bit) it also updated the firmware in the body - all via FlexColor, no other connections, patch files etc etc.

FlexColor now has vignetting correction specific to the HC lenses (with a nice scale of 0 -100% if you still want some effect)

On the body there is a brilliant addition which allows you to add a small delay after the mirror has gone up before the leaf shutter fires.  This has made hand holding a lot easier with longer lenses.

Fooled about in the kitchen shooting some flowers for a bit and its made it a lot easier to use at slower shutter speeds and reduce camera shake.  The delay is only 50-200ms and not really noticeable.

Also you can target one of the keys on top of the body as a shortcut to adjust WB and ISO.  Nice!

I don't own a Image Bank but a feature has been added to allow backup of files from CF card to the Bank... Becoming more tempted now.  

Jo S.x

[Richard Morwood]

Jo
Where did you download it from? The Hasselblad website still seems to show 4.6.7 as the newest.
Regards
Richard

[josayeruk]

Hi Richard,

Early this morning!  Not sure why it is not there?  

Jo S.x

[godtfred]

The update is great, but lasts a long time... And don't, repeat, [span style=\'font-size:21pt;line-height:100%\']DON'T[/span] just click "OK". Your camera will freeze and a certified technichian will have to do a costly service job... Follow the on screen instructions carefully and to the point.

Both the H-body and the backs are updated with new firmware (usually only the back.) The new software makes flexcolor a lot more stable (for example if you accidentally disconnect the firewirecable while 40 something images are waiting to load, the images still keep coming in without a hiccup, computer RAM are holding them...) (BTW, if your coumputer goes over to using a scratch disk, things slow up a lot...)

-axel

[Richard Morwood]

Jo
Found it!
Many thanks
Richard

[josayeruk]

Ive Just checked again...

Its certainly there!  Maybe you need to refresh your browser?  Old cached page?

Here's a snip from the readme....

New FlexColor features:

DAC level III: Vignetting correction is implemented in this major FlexColor release together with numerous improvements of the camera and digital unit firmware.

Connecting to FlexColor 4.7 the firmware in an H camera is now automatically updated through the FireWire connection. FlexColor 4.7 contains the following firmware upload configuration:

- firmware version 209 for the digital capture unit
- firmware version 1.0.2 for H3D
- firmware version 9.2.2 for H1/H1D/H2/H2D.

New Camera features:

It is now possible to insert a customizable time delay after the mirror has been raised and before the shutter begins to open. This reduces potential un-sharpness in images caused by camera vibration. The default setting is 50 ms and optional settings are: 0 ms, 25 ms, 50 ms, 100 ms and 200 ms. This setting is activated by loading the ‘Standard’ profile or making a manual change in Custom Option #31. The optimal value depends on various factors but with the correct setting a very noticeable improvement can be seen. This feature is implemented through the H-camera firmware 9.2.2 or H3D camera firmware 1.0.2.

Ultra-Focus functionality is upgraded to contain improved correction for spherical aberration (aperture dependant focus) and influence of sensor cover- and filter-glass on the focus. All is implemented for H3D with the 1.0.2 firmware. The Ultra-Focus adjustment for differences in infrared performance between the auto-focus sensor and the camera HC/HCD lens is still in lab verification, and is not included with this release.

It is now possible to directly access the ISO and white balance settings screen without working your way down through the camera menu. Any of the three buttons “FLASH”, “AF” or “DRIVE” on the camera grip can be reprogrammed for this shortcut action. This feature is available with firmware 1.0.2 and onwards for the H3D model only. The choice for this setting is made in Custom Option #32.

ImageBank-II functionality has been extended to allow images on CF cards to be easily copied or backed-up to the ImageBank-II. The image batches copied to the ImageBank are shown in yellow text in the display. The ImageBank-II can also serve as power supply for an H3D capture unit on a view-camera, shooting in un-tethered mode.

Firmware Improvements:

- The handling of the battery status has been greatly improved on H3D.
- The menu item “Digital” now includes a new menu for setting of ISO and white balance.
- Extended frame number. H3D now correctly shows available frames on the ImageBank-II.
- When H3D’s digital capture unit is attached to the camera body the “Camera” menu is greyed out as the camera is automatically selected. Flash-sync and Pin-hole modes are available when the unit is used on a view-camera.

- ISO and white balance are now stored in the H3D camera profiles.
- A new batch will no longer be created when connecting the ImageBank-II.
- The amount of time that the ON-OFF button must be depressed before turning the H-camera on has been increased from 500 ms to 750 ms to avoid unintentional battery drain (inadvertently pressed in a camera bag, for example).

- It is now possible to turn the H-camera off directly from Standby mode.
- Better error messages on the digital capture unit have been introduced.
- The display is no longer dimmed when tethered and all warnings can be seen.
- Exposure time enabled in user interface for Contax 645.
- Added new camera type "Generic" (only available on CF with some I-adapters)
- Better defaults for sequence shooting.

Jo S.x

[vandevanterSH]

Is the upgrade useful for CFV back users?


Steve

[Gigi]

Is the upgrade useful for CFV back users?
Steve
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=123019\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Or for Scanner users, with Imacon scanners?

Geoff

[blacksun]

Loaded 4.7 onto our H2 with the CF39 back - TROUBLE!!!  The Flexcolor 4.7 crashed 8 times causing all files shot to be lost.  Luckily we build in a lot of security into typical interior shoots so we could recreate the sessions that were lost as we were shooting.  However, if I was shooting food or models at the time, we would have been screwed.  We typically are not running a redundant back up as files are being captured.  

BEWARE 4.7 is not stable.  

FYI, we optimize our macs and run clean machines routinely updating  os software.  As a H-shooter for several years I have been very unsatisfied with Flexcolor for what is  missing in the upgrades and the pressure caused by the additional work it creates being severly limited.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but Hasselblad ought to stop tooting their own horn.  If the product is as wonderful as they proclaim others with let them know.

[Nick_T]

Loaded 4.7 onto our H2 with the CF39 back - TROUBLE!!!  The Flexcolor 4.7 crashed 8 times causing all files shot to be lost. 

This has not been my experience at all.

 Flexcolour 4.7 has been rock solid on our machines. No crashes and no lost files. In fact in 5 years of using Flexcolour I have never had a crash that has caused me to lose files, can you explain exactly what happened?

Nick-T

[Henry Goh]

This has not been my experience at all.

 Flexcolour 4.7 has been rock solid on our machines. No crashes and no lost files. In fact in 5 years of using Flexcolour I have never had a crash that has caused me to lose files, can you explain exactly what happened?

Nick-T
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=127656\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hello Nick,

Is there somewhere one can download Flexcolour and some sample files to try out the software?  I would like to consider a H3D but have no idea if Flexcolour's workflow suits me.  Thanks.

[Henry Goh]

Is there a link somewhere that I can download a copy of Flexcolor to try out and see if I like the workflow before deciding on going the Hasselblad route?

Thanks.

BTW I'm on Win XP

[rsmphoto]

"BEWARE 4.7 is not stable."  

This is just NOT my experience, and I've made thousands of exposures on my H3d-39 since 4.7's initial release. Sounds more like your firmware may have been improperly installed when upgrading. I would look to that remedy before making such a broad statement.

[hubell]

"BEWARE 4.7 is not stable." 

This is just NOT my experience, and I've made thousands of exposures on my H3d-39 since 4.7's initial release. Sounds more like your firmware may have been improperly installed when upgrading. I would look to that remedy before making such a broad statement.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=127788\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The Hasselblad web site contains a download with instructions for anyone who improperly loaded the new firmware with Flexcolor 4.7.

[Martin Phillips]

<BEWARE 4.7 is not stable.>  

I have to agree with the others here. Flexcolour 4.7 has been rock solid for us over the last few weeks, and there are major improvements to the camera and the software that are very welcome.

[blacksun]

'Sounds like there are some real experts out there who are working their H cameras and backs through Flexcolor very hard and in every condition day in and day out without any issues. You guys are amazing and hold a secret the rest of us all want to know.  Please tell us exactly how you do it what it is you do so well and who you are.

In the meantime, we at my studio we have had some specific situations in which either Hasselblad's back, the camera or the software do not function to the standard by which Hasselblad has set. Over the past 4 years of shooting these systems and running Flexcolor on the Imacon scanners I have recorded a fairly long and detailed list (including all technical logs of such issues) of technical glitches from battery failure to file corruption to lock-ups to file naming to file exporting and to dng file efficacy.  I have worked through the numerous firmware upgrades (including the 4 most recent 4.6.4, 4.6.5, 4.6.7 to 4.7) and I am most certain that version 4.7 will not be the last.  But any savvy pro shooter will know that all software/firmware has issues, especially give the pressure placed on software in the many work environments it must perform in.  

Therefore, in the process of discussing software stability (not utility - which is another discussion) there ought to be some basic assumptions:
   • software/firmware will always need to be updated as other software and hardware changes
   • software/firmware upgrades are essentially good, welcome and needed changes
   • software/firmware will never perform perfectly in all environments to all users at all times
    • time, testing and use will are the steps to reaching the goal of perfect software
   • software/firmware will fail
   • software/firmware is only as good as those who write the code
   • if software does not work, then the quality of life is lowered

Here is the specific issue we have recently found with Flexcolor 4.7 within the specific condition to which Flexcolor has not been stable. Note: the only change in this scenario has been from 4.6.7 to 4.7.  Prior to 4.7 the software crashing did not occur

Environment: Mac/Hasselblad
- Mac G4 Powerbook 1.5 GHz, OS X 10.4.9, 1 GB ram
- H2 body
- CF - 39 back
- Tethered with 14' firewire II cable
- Flexcolor 4.7 installed on all 3 devices (laptop, body, back)

Operation: Tethered Shooting on Location
- Enable camera control within Flexcolor
- Firing camera staged from laptop
- Captures load into Flexcolor and on to laptop
- After random # of captures (10-20) Flexcolor crashed with an error message "Flexcolor Unexpectedly Quit"
- Upon re-launching Flexcolor, the recently captured fff files in the designated folder are missing, and after a global search of the drive nowhere else including the trash.

Noteworthy: there are several great tech folk at Hasselblad who are more than willing to address and help investigate and remedy tech issues and software glitches as they arise.  I can't give Paul Claesson enough praise regarding his genuine interest and care for the pro shooting community.  He is a real asset to Hasselblad and an excellent person when issues need to be addressed.

[josayeruk]

Hi Michael,

Well for starters I wouldn't say I was an expert but common sense would lead me to question an immediate point on your equipment...

Environment: Mac/Hasselblad
- Mac G4 Powerbook 1.5 GHz, OS X 10.4.9, 1 GB ram
- H2 body
- CF - 39 back
- Tethered with 14' firewire II cable
- Flexcolor 4.7 installed on all 3 devices (laptop, body, back)

A G4 Powerbook with only 1GB of RAM is way underpowered for a 39MP model.  I imagine you are putting huge strain on a machine like this.

How much hard drive space is available?

At the very least you should have 2GB of RAM... the least!

When I changed from the old Macs to the new Intel Macs there was a big leap in performance.

You are making you're life extrememly hard with that laptop.  I would promote it to a ncie iTunes player and treat youself to a new MacBook Pro and stuff it full of RAM.  

Other than that, I don't think you have any other issues except a bad firewire cable.  Have you tried another one?

Jo S.x

[Weldon Brewster]

I agree, 1gb of RAM is not enough to run Flexcolor and the system software.  Upgrading the ram to 2gb will help alot.  I have 4gb on my MacBook Pro and it uses all of it when I'm processing large amounts of files.  I would also consider getting at least a MacBook.

Cheers,
Weldon

[Henry Goh]

Can someone please tell me how you import a hassie file into Flexcolor 4.6Beta?
I use the Import function and nothing happens.  If I dragged the file onto FC, a greyed out image shows up on thw workspace and nothing else happens.  I'm puzzled.

Henry

[josayeruk]

Can someone please tell me how you import a hassie file into Flexcolor 4.6Beta?
I use the Import function and nothing happens.  If I dragged the file onto FC, a greyed out image shows up on thw workspace and nothing else happens.  I'm puzzled.

Henry
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=128211\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Well first of all I wouldn't be using 4.6 beta.  That's very old software.

Is the extention of the file .fff or .3fr?

Did you follow the instructions on the earlier post?  If it is a .fff file you do not need to import it, just target it in the Thumbnails window (Window>Thumbnails).