ARRI Software Update Package SUP 2.0 for Hi-5 Released

Firmware Update

by Jürgen MoorsMarch 24^th, 2023

ARRI SUP 2.0, an update for the high-end lens control and focus system, introduces 10 new features to enhance your on-set experience, plus many other smaller updates, improvements, and bug fixes. ARRI SUP 2.0 highlights include a frequency analyzer, a new predictive lens mapping workflow, and a customizable home screen featuring nine user buttons. Let’s take a closer look!

The ARRI Hi-5 Hand Unit is part of their 5th generation Electronic Control System (ECS) introduced to the market in mid-2021. As with previous hand units, you control ARRI cameras (like the ALEXA Mini LF) over the Hi-5’s interface without additional receivers or adapters. With the Hi-5, you can also control cameras outside of the ARRI family, including Sony and RED. For further information about the Hi-5 please read our article here.

Frequency analyzer helping users select a radio channel

When using the RF-EMIP Radio Module, the new frequency analyzer function of the Hi-5 gives users visual feedback about the level of traffic across the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum. Users can navigate through available radio channels and choose the one with the lowest level of interference, helping to improve connection strength. The Hi-5 can also be used as a “wireless sniffer”. Walk around the set with the frequency analyzer activated, and it will prove to be a useful tool for discovering devices that may be operating out of specification.

User button home screen for custom layouts

A new, fourth home page for the Hi-5 allows users to customize the six front-facing shortcut buttons to their liking. Camera functions, Hi-5 functions, distance measuring device functions, and menu shortcuts can be assigned, bringing the total number of easy-to-reach custom buttons to 9. Home page user buttons can be renamed, and the new shortcut of FUNC + UB allows user buttons to be remapped on the fly.

Predictive lens mapping creates lens files faster

The Hi-5 will now suggest distance markings to users while creating a custom lens file. Previously, the next lens marking had to be manually set via the force pad, regardless of the rotation of the focus knob. Now, suggested focus distances will change based on how far the knob is rotated. This improvement eliminates the need to input the correct focus distance in most situations, reducing user input and speeding up the process significantly.

Lens file browser for intuitive file management

A new lens file browser enhances the ability of users to manage multiple sets of lens files at once. Similar in behavior to the traditional PC-style file explorer, the file browser lets you create folders, as well as lens file copying, moving, importing, and exporting. Lens file favorites can be quickly switched between folders, simplifying the process of moving between multiple lens packages on set.

New smart focus rings for reverse-pullers and left-handers

To accommodate focus pullers who would prefer to pull focus either reversed, right-handed or left-handed, 40 new Smart Focus Rings provide comfortable and intuitive focus pulling. Smart Focus Rings are automatically detected by the Hi-5 and will auto-select the corresponding focus knob and screen orientation for users.

Smart iris rings for DITs, DPs, and tactile iris pulling

Five new Smart Iris Rings enhance the use of the Hi-5 as a dedicated iris controller, typically used by DITs and DPs. Smart Iris Rings will automatically assign the focus knob to control an iris motor and will move the iris scale display to the right side of the Hi-5, next to the knob. Smart Iris Rings are available in five variations, depending on the widest iris markings on the lens. The T1, T1.4, T2, and T2.8 rings are evenly marked to T22, whereas the fifth Smart Iris Ring offers a range of T1 – T32 and closed, for specialty and broadcast lenses, or as a one-stop-shop for a range of lenses.

Focus tracking toggle, the new on-set focus buddy

While the Hi-5 and WCU-4 have offered focus tracking for many years, they required the user to continually hold down a user button. Focus Tracking Toggle mode allows focus pullers to engage this mode indefinitely, which can be useful in many situations, including when users have to step away during setup, but an operator would like to continue framing up a shot. Active focus tracking is clearly indicated by an inversion of the colors on the distance-measuring device display.

Distance arrow damping for a smoother indication

Damping can now be applied to the distance arrow which shows the position measured by the distance-measuring device on the focus scale. Focus pullers will be able to match the mark more easily since there will be no erratic jumping around as focus distances rapidly change. Distance arrow damping does not affect the readout of the distance or the measuring device itself, and can be set in a range from 0-25.

Tally status knob color-bright, clear, and obvious

The previous selection of seven colors has been expanded with an option to set the focus knob backlight to display the tally status. The Hi-5 will then change color between green for standby, red for recording, and blue when no media is inserted, providing a clear and obvious indication of the camera status.

Manual T-stops and focal lengths, depth of field indication with only one motor

It’s now possible to show a depth of field indicator on the Hi-5 while only using a focus motor, thanks to an upgrade to the manual T-stop and focal length function. Set via the lens menu, previous versions required a specially created lens file to unlock the function, but it may now be used with any lens file.

Additional upgrades

In addition to these 10 new major features, there are many other smaller changes, UI upgrades, and bug fixes found in SUP 2.0. A SUP 2.0 for the RIA-1 is also available and is required when using the RIA-1 with Hi-5 SUP 2.0.

Price & availability

The ARRI SUP 2.0 for Hi-5 and RIA-1 is now available and can be downloaded free of charge from the ARRI website. For information on how to download and upgrade the new software package instructions, read the release notes for SUP-Hi-5-2.0.

What do you think about the SUP 2.0 updates for the ARRI Hi-5? Have you ever worked with the Hi-5 before? Please leave us a note in the comment section below.