FAQ - Freefly Public

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FAQ
What resolutions and frame rates are supported?
The maximum frame rate in 4K (17:9) is 422fps and in 2K (17:9) is 1461fps. 2K uses subsampling, which preserves the crop factor of the image sensor but does not increase its light sensitivity. Other aspect ratios (from 4:3 to 16:1) are available with different maximum frame rates up to 9259fps (2048 x 128). Continuous recording is possible at all frame rates from 1fps up to the maximum in increments of 1fps. See Maximum Frame Rates for more details. See 4K vs. 2K for more details on the image quality differences of the two readout modes.
What does "continuous recording" mean?
Wave records continuously to its internal SSD at all frame rates. This means it operates as a normal video camera: press the record button once to start recording and press it again to stop. The clip is immediately saved in SSD flash memory. There is no RAM buffer or trigger setup required, and the length of the clip is limited only by the SSD capacity. (See Specifications for more details.) All recording is non-volatile and power-down safe.
What types of lenses are supported?
Wave uses a locking mount compatible with E-mount lenses. There is no electrical connection to the lens, so lenses with electronic focus or iris control are not supported. Likewise, there is no autofocus. Wave is intended for use with manual lenses that cover a S35 sensor. Faster lenses (with lower wide-open f-number or T-stop) are preferable for shooting at high frame rates, where light is at a premium.
Because of its short flange focal distance, E-mount can be readily adapted to almost any other mount. See Lens Recommendations for a list of some good lens options for Wave.
Is there an on-board LCD?
No, an external monitor capable of receiving a 1080p30 HDMI signal is required to view the preview image and interact with camera menus. On-camera external monitors typically also have useful tools such as histograms, waveforms, and focus assist. See Monitor Recommendations for a list of some good monitor options for Wave.
Foregoing an on-board LCD allows the entire back surface of the camera to be used for heat sinking, which is important for continuous high-speed capture. Embedded LCDs also tend to be lower resolution and/or brightness than readily-available on-camera monitors.
Can an external HDMI recorder be used?
The HDMI output is limited to 1080p30 and has minimal image processing, so the use of an external HDMI recorder is limited. There is no RAW output over HDMI available.
What are the key image sensor specs?
Wave uses a S35 color image sensor with 5.5μm pixels and a native resolution of 4096 x 3072 (4:3). The native ISO is 250 and the native dynamic range is 10-11 stops. It utilizes a global electronic shutter with shutter speeds ranging from 1s to (1/66000)s.
This sensor is first and foremost about speed: it produces pixel data at up to 37.75Gb/s. It is not designed as an HDR or a low-light sensor. Review the sample footage available to make sure it will work for your application. Review the Exposure Guide for tips to get the most out of the available dynamic range.
Is there an option for binned 2K? cropped 2K?
While this sensor does have a binned 2K readout mode, it's slower than reading out the full 4K, so it isn't useful in practice. While there is no automatic cropped 2K, it's possible to shoot at 4096 x 1088 and manually crop the center of the image later. This gives an intermediate maximum frame rate (833fps) with higher image quality than subsampled 2K. See 4K vs. 2K for more details on the image quality differences of the two readout modes.
What is the native recording format? Export formats?
Clips are recorded internally in a lightly-compressed 10-bit RGB file format optimized for write speed. At present, these files can’t be opened directly by other editing tools. Wave Player is the PC software used to view native Wave clips, trim them, apply basic image adjustments, and export them to other formats. Export formats include CineForm (.MOV), H.264 (.MP4) and PNG/JPEG sequences.
Do I need a Windows computer to work with Wave files?
​Wave Player macOS is now available for files recorded with Camera FW 1.1.0. For files recorded with Camera Firmware below 1.1.0, Wave Player for Windows is recommended.  
Most Macs capable of running macOS Big Sur are cabable of running Wave Player macOS. Refer to the following System Specifications for details on supported Macs. 
System Component
Minimum
Recommended
CPU Architechture 
Intel x86_64
Apple Arm (M1 Series)
Operating System
macOS 12.0
macOS 12.3
CPU Cores
4
8
USB
USB 3.x (SS)
USB 3.x (SS)
The Wave Player PC software used to view and export Wave clips runs on Windows 10. Refer to the following System Specifications for details on supported PCs.
System Component
Minimum
Recommended
Operating System
Windows 10
Windows 10
CPU Cores
4
8
Memory
8GB
32GB
Graphics
2GB VRAM
Dedicated, 8GB VRAM
DirectX Support
DX12
DX12
Display
1920 x 1080
4K
USB
USB 3.x (SS)
USB 3.x (SS)
Wave Player will not run on Parallels, as there is no support for DX12. It will run on a Boot Camp Windows installation.
See Laptop Recommendations for a list of some laptops that have been tested to work with Wave Player.
Is there an app for Wave camera control?
Not at this time, but the camera hardware supports WiFi and Bluetooth, so one may be developed later.
Is there an option for circular buffering / post-triggering?
At the moment, no. Wave always records continuously to its internal SSD, so it has only a small RAM buffer used to ride out variable SSD write latency. This would not be enough memory to support a circular buffer / post-triggering workflow.
Can Wave run on external power? External batteries?
Yes, the DC Input accepts 12-26V from an external power supply (included) or battery, and draws a maximum of 24W to both run the camera and recharge the internal battery. This can be supplied by an external V-Lock battery for longer-duration mobile operation. Note that although the camera will operate at 12V, fully charging the internal battery requires at least 14V at the DC Input.
Can the Wave SSD be replaced or upgraded?
Yes. The internal SSD is a standard M.2 NVMe SSD that can be replaced or upgraded. Only a small number of SSDs have been tested to meet the write speed requirements of Wave right now. But by using a standard interface, the camera can be upgraded as drives get bigger, faster, and cheaper. Details on the upgrade process will be posted at a later date.
Does Wave record audio?
No. Since it’s primarily a high-speed video camera, audio processing wasn’t included.