Panasonic CM1 android updates

Hi,

I have just ordered a CM1 at a big discount:


After ordering I read a rather unfavorable review suggesting that some firmware update was badly implemented (Link below to review in norwegian...sorry).


I am now waiting for the packet to arrive and I have found the following updates available:

11.0761 (Apr. 13, 2015) Android 4.4

12.0274 (May 27, 2015) Android ?

12.0300 (Feb. 15, 2016) Android ?

I have also found that there is something called Camera2 API used by apps like ProShot for instance.

Are there any CM1 users here that can recommend which firmware version to run? Is it a good idea to just jump to the latest and greatest or do you regret updating?

Do you know if any of them supports the Camera2 API?

Do you know which Android version hides behind the different versions?

Any experience at all with the latest update?

Best regards,

Øyvin Eikeland

I catched the same deal and received my device yesterday. Updated everything and rooted the device.

I see no reason not to update.

I like the device. Still wondering what protection to get. Cotta cases looks awesome but I'm not going to pay 75% of the price of my device for a case.

There are some discussions on Flick and here as well.

Hi! I'm actually the developer of ProShot


While I don't have a CM1, I can explain the Camera2 API. This API was added in Android 5.0, and is a set of tools developers can use to manually adjust camera settings (shutter, ISO, focus, etc). This wasn't possible in any official capacity before Android 5.0.


The part that's confusing is not all phones with Android 5.0 can do manual control. The manufacturer actually has to enable that on the hardware level via Android's HAL. All devices that don't have FULL or LIMITED Camera2 API support run in LEGACY mode, which is to say the most you can manually adjust would be exposure compensation and white balance. I've done all I can to add fun things for devices of all capabilities though (histogram, customizable access aspect ratios, separate focus / exposure points, etc).


When you first load ProShot the intro screen will inform you of your device's capabilities. If manual shutter / ISO / focus is possible it will appear there. Hope that clears a few things up!

shanttu said:

I like the device. Still wondering what protection to get. Cotta cases looks awesome but I'm not going to pay 75% of the price of my device for a case.

Click to expand...

The Cotta case is incredibly overpriced. I'm using a pouch called "shocksock" from galaxy note which is ok in the interim..

I'm trying to find out how to protect the lens (i don't want the cotta hood), so been trying some DIY solutions but no luck so far.. Next I will try a 54mm push on cap

limesoft said:

limesoft said:

I like the device. Still wondering what protection to get. Cotta cases looks awesome but I'm not going to pay 75% of the price of my device for a case.

Click to expand...

The Cotta case is incredibly overpriced. I'm using a pouch called "shocksock" from galaxy note which is ok in the interim..

I'm trying to find out how to protect the lens (i don't want the cotta hood), so been trying some DIY solutions but no luck so far.. Next I will try a 54mm push on cap

Click to expand...

many cm1 owners try to protect the lens, but from what? if it's protection from the surface of the table, i don't see any difference if i place it face down or up, the lens doesn't touch the table when the lens is facing down. if it's protection from a drop to the floor, i just use a strap around my wrist just like any regular camera.

Hi,

I have now received the CM1 and purchased proshot but the phone does not support the functions you are describing I am also not able to assign any other app to the camera button.

Best regards,

Øyvin Eikeland

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Do you know which Android version hides behind the different versions?

Click to expand...

the latest firmware is 5.0.2

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Any experience at all with the latest update?

Click to expand...

I can help. what do you need?

vv50 said:

vv50 said:

Any experience at all with the latest update?

Click to expand...

I can help. what do you need?

Click to expand...

Thanks, but I have already received the phone now and have updated it to 5.0.2. I was contemplating leaving it at 4.4.4 after reading the review. They suggested that the updates may caused the slow response they were experiencing. So far I am happy with the speed of operation. What I am struggling with at the moment is:

- How do I keep the camera from turning on in my pocket? Do I have to carry it in a pouch or something?

- There seems to be some sort of plastic film on top of the screen. It is quite firmly glued on. Is it supposed to stay on? It scratches quite easily. Do you keep yours on?

- As many reviewers have pointed out JPEG quality is not the best. I am trying to shoot raw but I could use some help to find the quickest way to shoot-develop-share(facebook or private gallery or blog or instagram). Unfortunately my favourite tuning app = snapseed does not currently support rw2 it seems

I am going full in trying to use this as my main phone

Regards,

Øyvin

Øyvin Eikeland said:

vv50 said:

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Any experience at all with the latest update?

Click to expand...

I can help. what do you need?

Click to expand...

Thanks, but I have already received the phone now and have updated it to 5.0.2. I was contemplating leaving it at 4.4.4 after reading the review. They suggested that the updates may caused the slow response they were experiencing. So far I am happy with the speed of operation. What I am struggling with at the moment is:

Click to expand...

the camera functions by themselves don't feel any slower with the latest version. it is the android interface that has become more sluggish in version 5. i would still stick with the latest version since you're protected from stagefright. i get around the "slow response" feeling by switching on developer options and turning off all UI transitions and animations.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

- How do I keep the camera from turning on in my pocket?

Click to expand...

none that i know of. the lens will extend and retract at random events like getting wifi/gps signal, or if you activate the led flashlight.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Do I have to carry it in a pouch or something?

Click to expand...

yes, ideally in something loose and non-insulating, since heating up the battery will reduce its lifespan.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

- There seems to be some sort of plastic film on top of the screen. It is quite firmly glued on. Is it supposed to stay on? It scratches quite easily. Do you keep yours on?

Click to expand...

it is the factory-installed screen protector, and yes i keep it on.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

- As many reviewers have pointed out JPEG quality is not the best. I am trying to shoot raw but I could use some help to find the quickest way to shoot-develop-share(facebook or private gallery or blog or instagram). Unfortunately my favourite tuning app = snapseed does not currently support rw2 it seems

Click to expand...

can you elaborate what particular characteristic of your jpeg is not the best? there are many photo styles, have you tried them all? each style can be customized in contrast, saturation, sharpness and noise reduction.

if you are planning to edit raw files, you can best do this on a computer since the screen on the cm1 is too small and uncalibrated to make proper color and exposure judgment calls.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

vv50 said:

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Any experience at all with the latest update?

Click to expand...

I can help. what do you need?

Click to expand...

Thanks, but I have already received the phone now and have updated it to 5.0.2. I was contemplating leaving it at 4.4.4 after reading the review.

Click to expand...

i also find that many online reviewers of the CM1 don't even get the basic facts correct. some claim that it has a "2x optical zoom" (it doesn't) and some claim that the lens is "fixed and doesn't extend" (it does) so i would take their opinions with a grain of salt.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Hi,

I have now received the CM1 and purchased proshot but the phone does not support the functions you are describing I am also not able to assign any other app to the camera button.

Best regards,

Øyvin Eikeland

Click to expand...

Ah, then it looks like Panasonic didn't add Camera2 API support to the CM1, what a shame

Sorry for taking so long to reply. I just felt the need to gain some more experience before claiming this or that. The main problem with the jpegs is blown highlights. Theres an incredible dynamic range in this sensor. I have done a couple of head to head comparisons between raw and jpeg on difficult subjects. The difference in highlight recovery is rather big and shooting raw can be useful even for snaps that are meant for instagram. The workflow is almost there with rawdroid for browsing and ratings plus raw support in snapseed for editing. Rawdroid is phenomenally snappy and useful but lacks the ability to convert to dng or tif when sending the pictures to snapseed (snapseed does not read rw2). I have contacted the author asking for this feature and he sounds very positive. Please support this guy/app so that rawdroid can become all it can be. It's almost like having photo mechanics in my pocket! Also: do register as a beta tester. The beta is much improved compared to the latest official version.

The other complaint I have regarding jpegs is detail loss in low light. This can probably be tuned in the settings. I have not played around much with this I must confess.

BR

Øyvin Eikeland

vv50 said:

vv50 said:

- How do I keep the camera from turning on in my pocket?

Click to expand...

none that i know of. the lens will extend and retract at random events like getting wifi/gps signal, or if you activate the led flashlight.

Click to expand...

After updating and starting to use a pouch around the camera I have had zero incidents of lens extensions in my pocket so far. Are you sure this problem is there (still)? I find the speed of the phone pretty good even without turning off this or that in the menus. It blows my old galaxy s3 out of the waters

BR

Øyvin

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Øyvin Eikeland said:

- How do I keep the camera from turning on in my pocket?

Click to expand...

none that i know of. the lens will extend and retract at random events like getting wifi/gps signal, or if you activate the led flashlight.

Click to expand...

After updating and starting to use a pouch around the camera I have had zero incidents of lens extensions in my pocket so far. Are you sure this problem is there (still)?

Click to expand...

for me yes, whenever my phone frequently connects to, and disconnects from, wifi networks. also happens when it switches from 2G to 3G to LTE.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

The workflow is almost there with rawdroid for browsing and ratings plus raw support in snapseed for editing.

Click to expand...

You are holding it wrong!

Øyvin Eikeland said:

Rawdroid is phenomenally snappy and useful but lacks the ability to convert to dng

Click to expand...

Try this instead. It's free and it's one click.
Keep the JPG in the same folder with same name of the DNG (or do a conversion with RAW2DNG if you are shooting just RAW).

Don't ask me why but when you have a sidecar JPG alongside the DNG, Snapseed will not only allow you to open it directly, it will also allow you to export the processed file in background while you are already opening and processing the next file.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

or tif when sending the pictures to snapseed (snapseed does not read rw2).

Click to expand...

It does open RAW but just the DNG format.

Øyvin Eikeland said:

I have contacted the author asking for this feature and he sounds very positive. Please support this guy/app so that rawdroid can become all it can be. It's almost like having photo mechanics in my pocket! Also: do register as a beta tester. The beta is much improved compared to the latest official version.

Click to expand...

Second that. As a manager it's very valuable. Portfolio is also OK and very fast.