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Olympus stabilizes legacy lens video with OM-D E-M5 firmware v1.5

Oct 2, 2012 at 18:59:39 GMT

UPDATE FIRMWARE MICRO-FOUR-THIRDS OLYMPUS

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Olympus has released a firmware update for its OM-D E-M5 high-end Micro Four Thirds camera. Firmware 1.5 allows the use of the camera's in-body stabilization during video recording when using non-native lenses on the camera once the focal length has been specified. The firmware also promises to reduce the humming noise generated by the camera's stabilization system when keeping the sensor in its neutral position. The update can be downloaded and installed via the Olympus Camera Updater software. The update also includes the changes promised for the suspended firmware v1.2.

Comments

Total comments: 59

After installing firmware upgrade 1.5 the humming is gone until such time as you are about to take a shot i.e. while you half prees the shutter to focus. Nonetheless, an improvement on that continual hum.
It would be interesting to know if it has any measurable effect on marginally extending battery life.

P.S. Nice macro on the 12-50 lens

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

Just updated a few hours ago and it only gives me v1.3

I do not see v1.5 on their website.

Comment edited 39 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Update to 1.3. Upon successful temination, you'll be able to upgrade to 1.5.
User with 1.2, like me, were offered upgarade to 1.4 and finally to 1.5.

0 upvotes

Just updated my firmware to 1.5 and humming noise is gone! finally.

0 upvotes

Since the part acquisition of Olympus by Sony, would love to see focus peaking for video mode. But also the ability to adjust the exposure during video recording.

0 upvotes

Let's all start messaging Olympus and request for higher-bitrates, 24p and better video codecs:

https://support.olympus.co.jp/cf_secure/en/contact/index.cfm?consumer=ProDigitalSLR

0 upvotes

Can somebody tell me where to find that (assumed) firmware update?

0 upvotes

Yes, I wondered that too. As of now this Olympus page shows updates only to version 1.2:
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/software_results.asp?id=1583&os=w

Also, someone earlier mentioned getting updater version 1.06. But when I go to the update the updater page for Windows, it has version 1.03.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_downloads_updater.asp

Version 1.03
EXE (size: 15,063 KB)
updated : Nov 2011
OS : Windows 7 / Vista / XP

What's up?
Thanks.

0 upvotes

Strange: updater for Windows has version 1.03, updater for Mac has version 1.06.......

0 upvotes

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_downloads_updater.asp

That is the link to the camera updater. You download this and instal it. when you run this, it will update your camera and lenses. Olympus doesn't let you download the firmware directly.

0 upvotes

Thanks, it works.

0 upvotes

You need downlod the updater. Start the updater and teh you can select and follow the upgrade path 1.4 and 1.5.
I

0 upvotes

Word of warning - updating can take a lot longer that you might imagine :) I had visions of a bricked camera after I stared at a black screen on the camera and spinning 'updated' wheel in the software, but after 10 minutes it went to OK and works great. Nice to not hear the camera anymore - was wondering why IBIS can be silent in video, but not when NOT in use ! Now they've silenced it - thanks Olympus...

0 upvotes

Yeah... defo the best firmware.. just as big a deal as back in the day when Canon gave the 5D2 manual exposure for video. Now us video heads can use any MF lens!

I also wrote them a new short message:

"Thank you for giving us IBIS for adapted lenses in Video-mode.

In the future, can you please give us a firmware update with the following; in order to make this THE best HDSLR video-camera on the market And the ONLY with IBIS?

~ 24p: Every single other HDSLR has this option. Might as well give the OMD this options as it's also the only HDSLR with IBIS.

~ Higher video bitrates: Even though the OMD is the only HDSLR with a fantastic IBIS, at the same time it has the least amount of video-bitrate out of any other HDSLR. 30-50mbps would be perfect.

Thanks"

0 upvotes

But... it's not an SLR at all?!

2 upvotes

I think you are confused, do you mean for 'mirrorless' type cameras? Or do you mean the 5 Axis system on the E-M5? Because as it stands all Sony Alpha 'HDSLRs' and Pentax 'HDSLRs' have in body image stabilization - Olympus certainly aren't the 'only' ones with IBIS.

1 upvote

I could not update the lens firmware, it is still 1.1 version. Anyone could help?

0 upvotes

you need a 2-step update process from v.1.1->v.13, and then v1.3->v1.5. The v1.3 and v1.4 seem to be dummy updates.

0 upvotes

the firmware on lens stay the same

1 upvote

I already had v1.2 installed (before Olympus pulled it). I had to first update from v1.2 to v1.4 (v1.5 won't show as an option until you've done the upgrade to v1.4).

Keep in mind that you CAN'T immediately update from v1.4 to v1.5 from within the new updater program...you must power the camera off after the v1.4 update, and then reboot by powering it back up again. THEN you'll be able to update to v1.5 (I did all this on a Mac Mini running Snow Leopard 10.6.8, not Lion).

1 upvote

@ all - If you check the following link to Olympus USA there is no mention of an update beyond 1.2 which was withdrawn from the downloads after install issues came up.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/software_results.asp?id=1583&os=m

So what gives, DPreview says there is not only a 1.5 vers, but 1.3 and 1.4 are these not for North American consumption? How frustrating is that! :>(

1 upvote

Make sure you have the latest version of Olympus Updater v1.06.
If not, delete you current version and download the new one. Then plug in your camera to the computer, click o.k. on the back of the camera and open Olympus updater and click continue. You should get a window that shows v.1.4. Install that and then you can go to v1.5. Now those are the instructions. did it work for me? Nope! I'm still working on it. Olympus support told me I had to bypass my wireless router and plug directly into the computer. I'll have to try it although i think it is B.S.! The only updater more screwed up than this is the one for my Sony NEX5N which only updates using a Win computer.
I shudder to think what will happen when Sony and Olympus merge. Anyway, try what I told you. Who knows? It may work for you.

1 upvote

Don't let that link bother you, just run the updater and it will update to 1.5... (I'm in Canada, it updated to 1.4 from 1.2, then to 1.5)

Comment edited 41 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Using it's own manual lenses with the help from today's technology!... HUMMM!!!! :D
That is something that canon SHOULD learn!!!
Oh wait, they are busy making APS sized point&shot, and trying to sell it more expensive then a reflex! (SIC!)
And I'm not even going to speak about trying to stop us from using ALL the other amazing lenses from ALL other manufacturers from ALL photography history!!! -_-
(Anyone that tries the sweet Olympus OM 50mm f1.4 will understand me! ;D)

well, i have to say, each year that passes I'm closer to leaving canon and going micro4/3!

0 upvotes

you dudes should do a video review of this feature, footage walking around, standing with wide angles, standing with telephotos. What is this actually possible of doing.

0 upvotes

There are plenty of videos out there that show the capability of the system already.

0 upvotes

All talk about noise from the IS but it has never annoyed me all mechanical things has some noise and in a 5 axis IS there will be noise.
For me it is important thats it feels like Olympus has done something so my camera has the right response time on the bottom's

2 upvotes

Very happy with the update so far. Camera is virtually silent now, the IBIS support for other lenses during video is great too. I haven't been able to reproduce any of the "rattlesnaking" others are talking about with my 45 1.8. Plus shouldn't you be shooting video in aperture priority or manual anyway :-P

2 upvotes

Just updated to 1.5. Its important to remember that to get the Updater to recognize the camera you must first go to the in-camera menu and access firmware and then press OK and after that its very simple. I was still at 1.0 and the update process required 2 separate steps; first to 1.2 and then to 1.5. Like a miracle now the humming noise is totally gone. It never really bothered me but it was always there and its nice to not hear it any longer. Whatever additional features the update contains will be a bonus.

2 upvotes

Thanks for this tip!

0 upvotes

After going from 1.4 to 1.5 the IS noise is gone ! At least as long as you don't half press the shutter release button. Once you activate AF (pressing button half way down) the noise becomes notaceble again. So they actually disabled the IS while not operating the camera ?

Comment edited 15 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

You can also disable IBIS at half press and the camera is virtually silent. I did some trials and I think the IBIS is still working at full press. Can someone confirm this? I was afraid that maybe the lag would be longer because the IBIS would need to wake up but I did not notice any more "lag" after full press.

0 upvotes

"The firmware also promises to reduce the humming noise generated by the camera's stabilization system"

No, the update actually promises to reduce operating noise. Nothing about "generated by the camera's stabilization system". In fact, when IS starting to work (on half-press if enabled for example), the IS-specific noise still appears (which is not the same as their usual former "shooshing").

0 upvotes

Any news on 20/1.7 + banding issues?

1 upvote

The banding issue is real, however if the photo is exposed correctly you shouldn't notice it. Everyone is hoping for a solution soon.

3 upvotes

I was already at 1.2. The updater took me today to 1.4 and after that update was done, then it offered 1.5...so you may need to run the update a few times to get to 1.5.

0 upvotes

Hey what happened to the other changes that were 1.2 update that was pulled. I thought they were fixing a few problems then would be releasing the update in it's original form.

Has there been any word from the Mother Company about addressing some of the requests for additional features like FOCUS PEAKING when in MF mode? With the millions of SONY dollars in the bank I hope they spend a little on improvements on the OM-D before releasing an upgrade.

0 upvotes

You can wish for the world, but you'll have to be satisfied with these welcomed fixes for now. It's a pleasure to review my photos without the noise in quiet situations now.

0 upvotes

http://www.pekkapotka.com/journal/2012/10/2/discussion-with-mr-terada.html

0 upvotes

Updated here . All seems fine.

0 upvotes

This is one of the lamest new firmware i ve seen for a camera, Olympus do not listen to their costumers, what a shame, take example from Ricoh for example !

Olympus, You Can't !

1 upvote

It was a good camera to begin with, so why such anger?

How often du you see Nikon or Canon push major firmware updates?

Hope to see more firmware updates in the future, but I'm actually quite happy with it as it is. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought it...

13 upvotes

What else would you like to see changed?

The only thing I can think of is focus peaking, but that is something that will take some coding.

5 upvotes

I can imagine that reprogramming the IBIS part alone was quite a major task.

2 upvotes

Am not familiar with what Ricoh has done, so I'd like to hear what other issue there are. . . I plan on buying this camera in a few weeks. . .

0 upvotes

@ KZMike
Here's what people want to see: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=42254194

0 upvotes

This is the most robust update to the system thus far. Tell me, how many camera manufacturers have included an update to allow IBIS during video recording when using non-native lenses?

1 upvote

The humming noise is almost gone, but now the blades of the lenses (a least the Panaleica 25mm AND the Olympus 45mm) started to chat again! A terrible and noisy behaviour if you point the camera into a light source, even a light source as bright as the LCD screen. After a few seconds the chatting starts...
You should wait with the update!!!

2 upvotes

Here is an explanation when "Rattlesnaking" (aperture dance, lens chatter) happens and some hints how to avoid it.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&message=42005056

0 upvotes

I literally have to put my ear right on the camera to hear the hissing noise after the update to 1.5. Previously I had no problem hearing it from a foot or so away (not that it ever bothered me). For the life of me I cannot MAKE my camera "rattlesnake". I have tried everything to reproduce it and just cannot. Strange.

0 upvotes

I do get the sensor humming noise, but it is very faint. As for lens chatting, I never experienced it. My E5M has the version 1.2 which I installed before that version was suspended and I have no problems with it. The camera does everything it is supposed to do all the time.
I have to wonder what all the fuss is about.

0 upvotes

@Timur
Thanks for the link. I knew about the problem, but didn´t have problems before the update, or just sometimes with the Panaleica 25mm. But you are right, the "rattlesnaking" seems to appear with flickering light only. And after the update I was sitting in front of my screen and pointed the camera towards it. In that case, the "rattlesnaking" is repeatable to 100% for me. It starts after three seconds... and you have to turn off the camera. but no problem with natural light. My fault, I thought, it was the update, but I think nothing has changed or became worse concerning that problem.

Cheers,
Peter

0 upvotes

"reduce the humming noise generated by the camera's stabilization system"

This never used to bother me to begin with, but now that my EM-5 is whisper quiet.. I can't imagine what it sounded like before!

0 upvotes

Well, just enable the stabilization system when half pressing the shutter and you'll know again. ;)
But I agree, it wasn't a real problem for me either...

2 upvotes

What is the right number of update? My camera shows 1.4 not 1.5.

0 upvotes

You first need to update to 1.3 (earlier than 1.1)/1.4 (1.2) and only _then_ you can update to 1.5.

0 upvotes

One of the 'other' primary reasons for me in purchasing this OM-D is for the stabilization for shooting video. Camera noise is 'a big deal' when video is shot. . . would like some feed back on any focusing noise or any other noise that is likely to be picked up by the video audio.

0 upvotes

@Timur Born, this is the first I have heard about the replacement update for 1.2 (1.3 & 1.4)? Where is this to be found and what do these updates cover? What features, fixes and improvement are included?

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I just upgraded to 1.5 in two steps, first to 1.4, then with a second go to 1.5 Took 2x 5 minutes. Scary but worked fine (first time ever - I come from Nikon film SLRs and skipped the AF and DSLR era altogether). I made sure to install the little flash on the camera though, as suggested in the download instructions - probably not necessary, but anyway. The slight 'fan' noise is now indeed only audible when half pressing the shutter. Kinda miss that cool noise now. Man, do I love this camera! I just ordered the 45mm f1.8 Zuiko and am looking forward to see what that does to it. Thanks Olympus and thanks DP Review.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 59


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