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[lkarman]

Just received my Beta 5.0 notice from ARRI. There seems to be horizontal image mirroring instituted but no VERTICAL image mirroring as well. Really?

from the release notes:
"Horizontal Image Mirroring (3D)
MENU button > SYSTEM > SENSOR > MIRROR IMAGE HORIZONTAL
This function, also referred to as FLIP, provides a horizontally mirrored camera image. As an alternative to
flipping the image in an external box, this function can be used when the camera is mounted on a 3D rig
looking on the beam splitter.
mirror image horizontal OFF mirror image horizontal ON
User Interface"

Why can't ARRI add the Flop as well? While there are many 3D productions, I can guarantee you that many more Alexa users are employing Steadicam on their productions and this would be an incredibly useful function to add in the final release version of 5.0

[lkarman]

And PS to the Arri engineers: this is already possible in the EVF menu, just add the same function to the MON out menu!

[nostalghia]

And PS to the Arri engineers: this is already possible in the EVF menu, just add the same function to the MON out menu!

Agreed. The interesting thing is the flip is performed on the sensor, therefore effecting all monitoring and recording outputs in the 5.0 beta. Yet the EVF flop has only ever been accessible over the EVF channel. Either way correcting this in post isn't a big deal, but a sensor or MON out flop would be greatly appreciated.

On our last shoot, we had a 3D Alexa rig mounted on a scorpio head. The only monitoring solution we could come up with, wasn't particularly practical. We ended up having to use 2 AJA hi5 boxes (one to preform the flip and or flop and the other to combat the latency that was being created by the first) in addition to 2 SDI distros (per rig. It was a 2 rig shoot). We ended up building the 8 boxes + power supplies into a pelican case, but it was a bit of a wiring nightmare for our monitoring guy.

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270908_10150693178380368_509230367_19510270_7925246_n by brianrocafort, on Flickr[/img]

[Thomas Wright]

oh, haven't you heard of putting your monitor upside down? Or face it backwards and put a mirror on a C-Stand?

[lymchotdog]

Yes, we have been there and done that, it was a nightmire. We used the lastest Transvideo monitor which can flip/flop L/R eye of Alexa cameras, but when you shoot on four Alexas with four OB-1s, the Director, DP,Stereographer all require to watch 4 Alexas' 2D and two 3D live images on realtime and check the playback immediatly, DIT requires to check four OB-1 liveplay and playback too, so we do need quite a few AJA box,although we have Q-take HDx2 on-set. If Alexa can flip/flop, then we don't need AJA Hi5HD boxes. If Alexa can playback L/R image at the same time, then we may not bring Qtake onset every moment.

[Jan Heugel]

Hey guys,

input noted and forwarded to development.

Jan

[lkarman]

I'm still expecting this will be instituted in the next software upgrade! Please say it will be?

[lkarman]

6.0 released today. Once again Arri has ignored  user/owner requests for image Flip/Flop capability on monitor out. Thanks for nothing.

[lymchotdog]

can't believe it either. If there is flip, it has better have flop. Especially when we shoot 3D with Alexa, easy flop in camera or use several AjA Hi53D boxes with external power? 3D shooting do need flop in many cases.

[Michael Borenstein]

Lawrence and Lynchotdog,

I'm sorry that you're disappointed in this build.  I can assure you that we do everything in our power to ensure customer satisfaction.  Software development and request prioritization are not simple tasks.  If it were as easy as writing a few lines of code or calling a new function we would have included the flop functionality in this build, after all, we know that this is a feature request of yours.  It is not a simple task however.  It takes countless man hours to code, test, quality check, and ensure that one line of code regarding an icon in the EVF doesn't affect image quality in 444 3G DL for example.  We refuse to release software that will compromise the integrity, quality, and stability of the Alexa camera system, and only with that guaranteed, we release new builds of software. 

Regards
Mike

[lkarman]

Just used an F65 on Steadicam and was pleased to find the ability to flip and flop the image in the SDI out (for both monitoring and recording) How about it ARRI? When's it coming?

[Michael Borenstein]

Hey Lawrence,

Thanks for the feedback on the F65.  We're still looking into the possibility fo the flop functionality.

Regards
Mike

[Anders Holck]

Image Flip+flop or 180° rotation is a must have feature for steadicam Low-mode work, not necessarily on the sensor level but just the HD-SDI monitor out. I would accept a frame of delay in the output buffer in rotation mode, if this would help implementing it. It would still be at or better than EPIC levels....

[Michael Borenstein]

Anders,

Thanks for the feedback.  I'll forward it on to the product manager.

regards
Mike

[Ants Martin Vahur]

Just deviating a bit: Flipping option in the EVF is for when you need to flip the viewfinder to the other side of the camera because the VF goes upside down. But very rarely I've seen other operators wanting to operate from the right side of the camera even though for the actors eye line or squeezing closer to the wall it would have been necessary. I've used it quite a lot.

Thomas Wright, Turning the monitor upside down or using an actual mirror to watch it have totally different effects. Latter one gives you mirrored image when shooting low-mode steadicam for example whereas turning the monitor gives you the result you are looking for.

I'm just saying..

Flip+flop option would be great, I agree, but so far I have been able to live without it too.

All the best!
Ants Martin Vahur
Cinematographer / Steadicam operator
Tallinn, Estonia