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Now reading: Panasonic updates firmware for GX1 and 100-300mm F4.0-5.6 Mega OIS 29 comments

Panasonic updates firmware for GX1 and 100-300mm F4.0-5.6 Mega OIS

Published Jan 18, 2012 | dpreview staff

Panasonic is offering updated firmware for its DMC-GX1 enthusiast Micro Four Thirds model, and its 100-300mm telephoto lens. The GX1 update adds a series of interface and function improvements, including enhanced auto white balance and continuous autofocus. Meanwhile the 100-300mm lens' image stabilization is improved. The firmware will be available at the end of January.

Click here for the latest firmware (available 'at the end of January')

Press Release:

Panasonic Announces the Firmware Update Program for DMC-GX1 and LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300) to Enhance Performance and Usability

Panasonic announces the new firmware update program for the digital interchangeable lens system camera DMC-GX1 and LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300) of LUMIX G Micro System. The firmware will be released to enhance the performance and usability in its control.

The following functions will be available with the new firmware:

DMC-GX1

Enhancement in the performance of AWB
Enhancement in the performance of [AFF] (AF Flexible) and [AFC] (AF Continuous)
Improved stability when used with the SD Memory Card complying with UHS-I
Addition of [STEP ZOOM] and [ZOOM SPEED] in the setting of [Fn] (Function) button and [Q.MENU]
Reflection of [DRIVE MODE] settings to [CUSTOM SETTING]
[MENU RESUME] in each menu tab
Page flip in the menu tab with [DISP.] (Display) button

LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300)

Improved performance of O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)

Tags: micro-four-thirds, panasonic, update

Comments

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KevinO013

So this the end of month for January. Where is the firmware update?

Jan 30, 2012permalink

bricci_mn

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html

It is there since a week ago... :)

Jan 31, 2012permalink

mark kay

I have to say there are some images I have taken with the GX1 in AWB where the results were a bit disappointing..So i am happy to hear about the AWB fix

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Eden Yip

could the GX1 firmware also fix the OIS issue of PZ14-42?!

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Sabatia

In good light, the 100-300 takes quite good images. I've been surprised at how well the OIS works. I say this coming from years of working with Canon L prime teles on wildlife shooting. Again, I'm surprised at how many handheld shots zoomed in to 300 (equivalent to 600!) I've been getting that meet my sharpness and color richness standard. Nice to see Pana improving an already quite good product. Now if only they'd make a 200, 250, or 300 f4 or 2.8 prime, and--while I'm dreaming--if only they'd get a focusing system that would lock on to small moving distant subjects, at least as well as my former Canon mates.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

MichaelRpdx

Or a 100mm prime...
She said: "All you need is a 28 and a 200"
I have the 28 (14) and waiting on the long prime.

Jan 19, 2012permalink

(unknown member)

I agree about the 100-300.

But Panasonic needs to still fix the 45-175. which I wrongly bought on the supposition that the firmware update fixed it. It did not.

Jan 23, 2012permalink

CDMc

? they're available all over the UK ? Many of the main online retailers have them available, and prices are starting to reflect that supply

Jan 18, 2012permalink

kon23

Got a link?
Looking for GX1 with X-Lens.

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Calvin Chann

I'm not in the UK :(

Jan 19, 2012permalink

CDMc

They are available all over -

fotosense - i've used them personally very good
Mathers - very good reputation
SRS microsystems - ditto

etc

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Kerensky97

It's weird they're so hard to find in the US. I've has one on order from Amazon for 2 months now and still not even an estimated shipping date.

Jan 20, 2012permalink

Allanm1979

So, having purchased the GX1 about 10 days ago, I thought that it was a good sign that Panasonic would keep on top of things by releasing new firmware this quickly. Not so. I saw no pointer to the new firmware in the DPReview note. I found no reference to the firmware in Panasonic's web site. I called Panasonic support, and they were unaware of the firmware; I had to give the guy a pointer to the DPReview note announcing the thing.

Very poor support planning by Panasonic. I hope it gets better when I really need it down the line here.......
ps very pleased so far with the GX1...

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Al D

That's because the update isn't available yet, it will be on the Panasonic support site at the end of January. Now, in the meanwhile, I'll have to figure out how to update the firmware on this camera...

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Richard Butler

Sorry about that, it seems the firmware will be available from the end of January.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

kon23

Nice to see them on the ball with updates.
I've got my eye on a Panasonic GX1 or Sony Nex 5n.
At the moment in the UK you cannot get either of these for loving or money!
Sony lost their factory that supplies the sensors for the Nex 5n in the tsunami and I think Panasonic have some kind of major problem too.

I've been told everywhere that a Sony Nex5n with twin lens kit or the GX1 with X lens won't be coming into stock until late February. Even then, it's not guaranteed.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Azurael

The 5N TLK has been discontinued, according to my employer. No problem with supply of the single lens kits anywhere though... We've got plenty of GX1s too, although I've yet to see an 'X' kit come through the doors. Perhaps it just hasn't entered the supply chain yet ('paper launch')?

Jan 18, 2012permalink

chadley_chad

Personally, I sent back a NEX-5 and went with the GF3 as although you have the sensor size issue, the focus speed on the GX is blisteringly faster, I prefer the 'larger' view screen (it feels like a more traditional camera), it feels smaller, has touch to focus and shoot and (least we forget), not only a large choice of lenses but also that wonderful F1.7 pancake! .... cheaper too!

Jan 18, 2012permalink

kon23

@Azurael - Yeah ive seen the single lens kits are available for the Nex 5n. I was thinking of asking jessops if they'd give me the extra lens but match the kit price.

@Chad - I hear what you are saying. The GX feels more like a professional camera over the NEX which (bodywise) looks like a (dare i say it) "girly" camera. The thing thats attractive about the sony for me though is the cost of getting the twin lens kit with extra wide lens and fisheye for a LOT less than I could with a GX setup as I do love shooting VERY wide as its great for candid street photography (point in the general direction and shoot and guaranteed to capture everything).

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Calvin Chann

I have the GF1 and the NEX-5n. On the basis that the GX1 is an update of the GF1 with slightly worse ergonomics (as far as I'm concerned), I'd go with the NEX-5n. Sure, the lenses available for m43 are more complete, but the IQ from the NEX, for me is better, and I just want to take pictures with it.

Jan 19, 2012permalink

CDMc

They are available all over -

fotosense - i've used them personally very good
Mathers - very good reputation
SRS microsystems - ditto

etc

Jan 19, 2012permalink

AnakChan

Whatcha mean? I've had my GX1 for over a month :D!

Pity it doesn't seem to fix the underexposure issue "under certain conditions". In fact I seem to have an overexposure compensation on by default.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Sabatia

I've had Canon 40D and 50D and still have a S90(and now a G3): I've probably had one or two thirds of ec dialed in much of the time with each of these. Some of us don't want to lose highlights, or perhaps we just hate the flashing exposure warning. Or maybe we like darker richer toning.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Sevventh

Panasonic seems to be on the ball regarding firmware updates. This is opposed to Olympus who has still not addressed the rattlesnake sound issue when using the 25mm PanLeica lens.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

tonywong

Why can't you buy it? Our local store had units on boxing day in Canada.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Joe Braun

Something is up with Pany and the USA. We get new Pany product about six months after everybody else.

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Calvin Chann

Japan seems to think that North America is a bigger market and makes product available there first. We in Europe get ours much later. The Sony NEX-7 isn't even here yet and I've had a pre-order in since October 2011.

Jan 19, 2012permalink

Calvin Chann

Wonderful. Can't even buy it yet and there's a firmware fix!

Jan 18, 2012permalink

Infared

Is improved dynamic range on that list, too?

Jan 18, 2012permalink


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