Z712 - Updated Firmware on Kodak's site

BigCTM · May 25, 2007

For all the Z712 owners, there is firmware version 1.03 available for download. It says it provides improvement for the following:

-Exposure quality
-Liveview display
-Quickview display
-Panorama stitching mode
-Video sound and color quality
-Make a picture from video processing.

Not sure what version it comes with but this definitely sounds like a worthwhile download.

Arh326 · May 25, 2007

That was a fast update.

Obviously there were some problems.

Kudos to Kodak for reacting quickly!

--
Adam
z612 & DX6440 (Wife stole it though)
http://flickr.com/photos/arh26/

davyo · May 26, 2007

So how much of a difference will the up-grade make ?

I bought the Z712 when it first came out and really wanted to like the camera but I ended up returning it a few weeks ago as my Z612 took better pictures.
Why the Z712 software up-grade ?
With the new software should I consider re-buying the Z712 ?
How much of an improvment in PQ could the software make ?

Davyo

guidolaremi · May 26, 2007

thank you for the news.I've just bought the z712 three days ago, and I have done the upgrade,before was 1.0.0.0...this is my first digital camera with manual facture,I hope to take decent photos...sorry for my english,I live in Italy...

BigCTM · May 26, 2007

I used both the Z612 and the Z712 at the same time and the biggest difference is in low light. The Z712 is MUCH better in low light than the Z612. Otherwise the picture quality is the same if you ask me. I kept the Z712 for its low light performance.

davyo said:
So how much of a difference will the up-grade make ?
I bought the Z712 when it first came out and really wanted to like
the camera but I ended up returning it a few weeks ago as my Z612
took better pictures.
Why the Z712 software up-grade ?
With the new software should I consider re-buying the Z712 ?
How much of an improvment in PQ could the software make ?

Davyo

davyo · May 26, 2007

BigCTM said:
I used both the Z612 and the Z712 at the same time and the biggest
difference is in low light. The Z712 is MUCH better in low light
than the Z612. Otherwise the picture quality is the same if you
ask me. I kept the Z712 for its low light performance.

The reason I returned my Z712 is after I did side by side same indoor shots w/ flash with the Z612 and Z712 the Z612 shots were so much better.
Most of my camera use is for indoor flash stuff so thats very omportant to me.

I was really bummed to cuz I really hate the silver color of the Z612 and the Z712 is such a cool looking camera, but hey, PQ is whats most important.

Davyo

BigCTM said:
davyo said:

So how much of a difference will the up-grade make ?
I bought the Z712 when it first came out and really wanted to like
the camera but I ended up returning it a few weeks ago as my Z612
took better pictures.
Why the Z712 software up-grade ?
With the new software should I consider re-buying the Z712 ?
How much of an improvment in PQ could the software make ?

Davyo

Click to expand...

--
davyo

BigCTM · May 26, 2007

It's possible the firmware fix would help the PQ of the Z712, especially in the area of exposure. I upgraded from firmware 1.0 to 1.03 and the exposure does seem better with the flash.

davyo said:
BigCTM said:

I used both the Z612 and the Z712 at the same time and the biggest
difference is in low light. The Z712 is MUCH better in low light
than the Z612. Otherwise the picture quality is the same if you
ask me. I kept the Z712 for its low light performance.

Click to expand...

The reason I returned my Z712 is after I did side by side same
indoor shots w/ flash with the Z612 and Z712 the Z612 shots were so
much better.
Most of my camera use is for indoor flash stuff so thats very
omportant to me.
I was really bummed to cuz I really hate the silver color of the
Z612 and the Z712 is such a cool looking camera, but hey, PQ is
whats most important.

Davyo

davyo said:

davyo said:

So how much of a difference will the up-grade make ?
I bought the Z712 when it first came out and really wanted to like
the camera but I ended up returning it a few weeks ago as my Z612
took better pictures.
Why the Z712 software up-grade ?
With the new software should I consider re-buying the Z712 ?
How much of an improvment in PQ could the software make ?

Davyo

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
davyo

alexakaalex · May 26, 2007

I wonder that Kodak plan a firmware for Z612 too.
There is room for improvement.
--
Z612 Kodak, Olympus D-390

BigCTM · May 26, 2007

I highly doubt it. Firmware updates are normally done for the latest products. It could be done but it's usually not a priority for older products.

alexakaalex said:
I wonder that Kodak plan a firmware for Z612 too.
There is room for improvement.
--
Z612 Kodak, Olympus D-390

davyo · Jun 3, 2007

So any opinions yet from those who have up-graded the software on their Z712's ?

Im still considering re-buying the Z712 if the software upgrade means I will get better picture quailty than the one I ended up buying and returning.

Davyo

BigCTM · Jun 4, 2007

The only area that the firmware mentions improving the picuire quality is for the exposure. This could make a difference for sure but how much is another question.

The other fixes are in other areas like the LCD picture after taking a shot or movie mode improvements.

davyo said:
So any opinions yet from those who have up-graded the software on
their Z712's ?

Im still considering re-buying the Z712 if the software upgrade
means I will get better picture quailty than the one I ended up
buying and returning.

Davyo

Calico Jack · Aug 7, 2007

Ahoy!

Am considering 712 IS as a walkaround unit and a 'wife friendly' p&s. Having seen the firmware update on Kodak's site, has anyone that has applied it got any user feedback to share?

Does it make a lot of difference, and if so, could you either show side-by-side examples or explain your findings please.

Reviews seem favourable. I am researching for another bridge unit to replace my ageing Pana FZ3.

--
Mark
http://www.airports2go.co.uk

acsmith · Aug 7, 2007

I doubt that there's an update in the works for the Z612 as the camera has been available for well over a year. I think Kodak nailed it pretty well from the beginning.

The Z712 firmware update actually came out within a couple of weeks after the Z712 was released. Kodak change the CPU in the Z712 and I suspect the firmware update was they result of them gaining more experience with that CPU.

Lee Beasley · Aug 7, 2007

It's a very user-friendly camera, and the in-camera panorama stitching does a great job. I was taking mine on vacation the very next day after I bought it, so I applied the firmware immediately before taking a picture. I don't know what it was like before, but it's definitely solid now. I sat in a rocking boat and took pictures of birds without a hiccup.

I'll try to fish one out and post it later. We're having a family party tonight so I have to dash.

brianlj · Aug 13, 2007

In-cam panorama software is all very well, but you don't actually need it. For instance, here's a hand-held 7-shot pano done using a DX4330 and Autostitch. It's about a 270 degree view of Nevis Crossing in NZ. The blob at the bottom right is the wing mirror of the Land Rover that I was stood in front of.

Good fun!

dtgaf · Aug 13, 2007

I am not familiar with Autostitch. Does it equalize the individual pictures for exposure, and white balance? The Kodak in-camera panorama feature does this. It sure is handy not having to try to equalize exposure and white balance manually. I went shooting panos with a friend the other day and we had a hard time trying to equalize the separate pictures from his camera to make a panorama. Here is the scene we played with (Rancho Santa Margarita, California--Kodak pano):

The full-sized version is http://www.pbase.com/tgaf/image/83748919/original

--
http://www.pbase.com/tgaf/kodak_z712is PBASE supporter Tom
Konica Minolta A2, Ricoh Caplio R4, Kodak Z712IS

brianlj · Aug 13, 2007

Autostitch http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html is a fully automatic system. If you look at the examples on that page, you'll see that the individual images are wildly different and, yet, it does a remarkably good job of blending them.

There's no doubt that an in-camera system is handy, but I just don't think that it's something that would be on my list of 'must have' items.

As they say, though, YMMV.

dtgaf · Aug 13, 2007

Thanks. I'll give it a try. To tell the truth, I was never much of a fan of panos in the past, but the Kodak in-camera feature makes it so easy that I use it fairly often now.
--
http://www.pbase.com/tgaf/kodak_z712is PBASE supporter Tom
Konica Minolta A2, Ricoh Caplio R4, Kodak Z712IS

brianlj · Aug 14, 2007

Well, if having an in-camera pano facility encourages you to experiment more often, that's gotta be a good thing!

Z712 - Updated Firmware on Kodak's site

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