FZ200 Hacks: What would you like to see?

What would you like to see if the FZ200's firmware is ever hacked (or officially updated)?

I'd like to see more options for slide shows. One thing I've noticed is that if you press the forward (or reverse) but down hard and hold it the images proceed in rapid succession, almost creating a movie. Now, why couldn't there be a "0.25s" or "0.1s" option along with the others, so I wouldn't have to hurt my thumb?

1. All settings recordable in the Custom modes

I'm sure I will think of more, just give me time...

1. Autofocus for video that is quick and stable when panning or zooming.

2. Function for a headphone output adaptor that fits in the USB port (such things exist).

3. An optional higher bit-rate for 1080/60p video----35 Mbps at least, or better at 40 Mbps.

4. Superfine J-PEG encoding option.

5. Twice as many indexed EV adjustment points-----1/6th-stop, instead of 1/3rd-stop.

6. Additional video zooming speeds, including a very slow one. Perhaps a Menu setting would be necessary for different speed ranges.

7. An additional Center Spot AF mode that is not flexible.

8. A combination EIS/OIS mode for video that increases the zoom range by 50% and gives better stability, like the Sony Active IS mode. It works very well and no loss of picture quality.


That's all for now------more later. It's so easy to throw out all these requests. It's free and no limits. Sorry, but I wouldn't want the lens to stay extended at the times Vickie suggested.

The ability to use 1/4000 shutter speed in a mode OTHER than shutter priority. Not available in Program or Aperture modes..... WHY?

Like the FZ150 and GH2 EZ-Zoom in video mode. I don´t have FZ150, but I´ve got that answer in this forum.

full frame panoramas

zoom in high speed video

Couple of minor things I'd like to see for the FZ150, probably applies to the FZ200:




Option to do 5 shot bracketing, instead of only 3 shot.

Output RAW files in iA and most other "creative" shooting modes.

Ability to manually adjust ISO in Handheld Nite Shot. (It usually goes to 1000).

For that matter, change "ISO Limit Set" to apply to all shooting modes including iA.

Option to change the zoom/focus scale between meters and feet.

There are some really good 'reasonable' suggestions here. Here are some of my thoughts:

I don't like the lens retracting every time you are reviewing your shots either. I feel like I am in a race to check my pictures before the lens retracts. I feel like it puts unneccessary wear on the lens motor, especially over a long time of use. I just ask to be able to turn the feature on or off.

I would like a 'Zoom' option under Auto Review so the camera zooms to 100% in auto review. I have a ultra compact Pany camera that has this function and I find it a valuable feature.

How about an electronic level?

The Histogram is useful but also a little annoying. How about being able to adjust its opacity so it could be more see-through but still readable? A nitpick, I know, but you asked.

That's all I can add at the moment, especially until I get to know this camera even better. My other suggestions are hardware related like mechanical zoom, eyecup, position of some buttons etc.

It really is a fine camera as is.

Tim

Yeah, electronic level would come handy. I saw one on Fuji camera.

GPS would be nice also.

leerob said:

leerob wrote:

Yeah, electronic level would come handy. I saw one on Fuji camera.

GPS would be nice also.

Click to expand...

Some really nice suggestions not to repeat them. I'm not sure if electronic level is hardware enabled with FZ200, but I'm sure that GPS cannot be introduced with firmware update of a hack

BR, Ilija

dobbre said:

dobbre wrote:

dobbre said:

leerob wrote:

Yeah, electronic level would come handy. I saw one on Fuji camera.

GPS would be nice also.

Click to expand...

Some really nice suggestions not to repeat them. I'm not sure if electronic level is hardware enabled with FZ200, but I'm sure that GPS cannot be introduced with firmware update of a hack

BR, Ilija

Click to expand...

Yeah, if I would have thought about it a little more I would have realized that an electronic level is very likely more than just software. And that may be why it isn't in more cameras. I bought a neat little electronic level from Polaroid that mounts to the hot shoe. Unfortunately it is only accurate in the horizontal position and not the vertical position so I have not been that interested in using it. A simple bubble level may be the ticket except I don't like how they look.

Tim

A hack to stop auto zoom of the lens when turning on the camera.

AndyW17 said:

bigdaddy999 wrote:

The ability to use 1/4000 shutter speed in a mode OTHER than shutter priority. Not available in Program or Aperture modes..... WHY?

Click to expand...

Here's a bit more detail

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3263895

Sherm

The ability to import the settings from a photo's EXIF data has always seemed like a useful idea to me. It would allow duplicating the settings from a "good" shot to be used as a starting point for a subsequent shoot. Of course, using the correct settings should become second-nature over time, but for infrequent uses this could be beneficial. It could also aid the beginner who may want to adjust the camera to match a photo's iAuto-selected settings to twiddle with.

The ability to tag custom setting sets with names would be nice so we don't have to remember what "C1" or "C2" are for. While we're at it, how about the ability to store custom settings to files so we could over come having a limited number? This would also allow for having custom setting sets for seldom-used configurations which normally wouldn't warrant taking up a precious camera custom setting slot - especially useful since these rarely-used settings are less likely to be second nature. The ability to share share custom setting files [here] would be very beneficial.

And how about app support? I see Sony is going there and I think apps for special purposes such as macro focus stacking or adding intervalometer capability would make the camera even more capable. I still want the camera to be "full-featured" out of the box and don't want to have to pay extra for ala carte features - this should be more for expanding its capabilities.

1. Restore the old "zoom" review setting, which displayed a magnified portion of the center of the image after each shot. Currently you can have a one-second review, but the image is not magnified. FZ18/28 had the "zoom" choice and it was very useful

2. Currently you can see the magnified center of the image when you manually focus (via the slider or the jog dial) but not when you tap the "focus" button in MF mode. Displaying the magnified center when you tap the "focus" button would help ensure that the camera's properly focused.

Sherm

sherman_levine said:

sherman_levine wrote:

Displaying the magnified center when you tap the "focus" button would help ensure that the camera's properly focused.

Click to expand...

Won't this conflist with the FOCUS button showing the green "in focus" boxes for 23-area focus? [I guess it could zoom into one of the "in-focus" areas for 23-area focus]

Raw +jpg files in IA mode ! (jpg only for now)

I'll second that! The ability to name more custom settings would make abigdifference to me.




HJ

Being able to have the 2 second timer remembered so you don't have to set it each time.