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#Arkive AL: Changing displayed language on JPN ver. Lumix cameras (GM5/GX8...)

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altruistic 123

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This method was told on Chinese forums many years ago (I guess 2015).

Surprised that I couldn't find any solution in English.

It might be less important now but in case someone still finds it useful.

This is for G6:

https://kknews.cc/photography/q9al9po.html

The ways to make the yellow exclamation mark appear vary from camera to camera.

It's more like a constant service mode instead of the one-off service mode for checking the shutter count.

For GM5:

1. Turn off the camera + SD card inserted.
2. Press Right + Trash + Playback at the same time.
3. Camera on
4. Press Playback.
5. Press Trash + Up at the same time.
6. Turn it off.
7. Turn it back on.
8. Select Spanner > ROM BACKUP > DSC-SD > SD card ejected.
9. Open the file ended with U (i.e.GM5U) on the computer.
10. Search 270f that appears first in the result from the top.

Japanese 0000,0000,270f,6363,270f,6363 (shown originally)
English 0100,0000,270f,6363,270f,6363
Simplified Chinese 0600,0000,270f,6363,270f,6363
Traditional Chinese 0700,0000,270f,6363,270f,6363

(Other hidden languages should be there and yet to be discovered.)

(Don't edit any subsequent strings of numbers you found below except the first string.)

11. Change the first 4 digits in this string of numbers (regardless of which row(s) they are on) > Save.
12. SD card inserted.
13. Select Spanner > ROM BACKUP > SDALL-DSC(FORCE) > Turn it off > Done.

Take the risk of turning it into a bricked one. (I haven't failed so far.^^)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you very much for this information. I always thought the GM5 language can only be set once, either in the factory, or when replacing the main circuit board.

The GM5 service manual does not describe your method. It only describes how to select the region (which includes a certain subset of languages that can the be chosen by the customer). And this region selection, once chosen after replacing the main circuit board, cannot be changed anymore - it is a once only setting.

This would mean we can now buy Japanese GM5 and convert to English. The sad thing is, that meanwhile prices for Japanese used GM5 have skyrocketed just like they have in our region. A few years ago they still were considerably cheaper in Japan.
 
cba_melbourne said:
Thank you very much for this information. I always thought the GM5 language can only be set once, either in the factory, or when replacing the main circuit board.

The GM5 service manual does not describe your method. It only describes how to select the region (which includes a certain subset of languages that can the be chosen by the customer). And this region selection, once chosen after replacing the main circuit board, cannot be changed anymore - it is a once only setting.

This would mean we can now buy Japanese GM5 and convert to English. The sad thing is, that meanwhile prices for Japanese used GM5 have skyrocketed just like they have in our region. A few years ago they still were considerably cheaper in Japan.
Click to expand...
:-) This trick comes in handy when cameras are being repaired by engineers who don't speak Japanese.

Yes, the rarity keeps the price firm.

Black > Black&Red > Green&white (Never seen one on sale in my city.)
 
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altruistic 123 said:
cba_melbourne said:
Thank you very much for this information. I always thought the GM5 language can only be set once, either in the factory, or when replacing the main circuit board.

The GM5 service manual does not describe your method. It only describes how to select the region (which includes a certain subset of languages that can the be chosen by the customer). And this region selection, once chosen after replacing the main circuit board, cannot be changed anymore - it is a once only setting.

This would mean we can now buy Japanese GM5 and convert to English. The sad thing is, that meanwhile prices for Japanese used GM5 have skyrocketed just like they have in our region. A few years ago they still were considerably cheaper in Japan.
Click to expand...
:-) This trick comes in handy when cameras are being repaired by engineers who don't speak Japanese.

Yes, the rarity keeps the price firm.

Black > Black&Red > Green&white (Never seen one on sale in my city.)
Click to expand...
Do you know if the GM5 procedure also works for GM1?

I am inclined to think possibly yes, as the procedure to enter the service menu is the same for GM1 and GM5. But the risk is high without knowing for sure someone else already succeeded.... one may brick the camera....

Are you repairing cameras for a living, or is it just a hobby?
 
Last edited:
cba_melbourne said:
altruistic 123 said:
cba_melbourne said:
Thank you very much for this information. I always thought the GM5 language can only be set once, either in the factory, or when replacing the main circuit board.

The GM5 service manual does not describe your method. It only describes how to select the region (which includes a certain subset of languages that can the be chosen by the customer). And this region selection, once chosen after replacing the main circuit board, cannot be changed anymore - it is a once only setting.

This would mean we can now buy Japanese GM5 and convert to English. The sad thing is, that meanwhile prices for Japanese used GM5 have skyrocketed just like they have in our region. A few years ago they still were considerably cheaper in Japan.
Click to expand...
:-) This trick comes in handy when cameras are being repaired by engineers who don't speak Japanese.

Yes, the rarity keeps the price firm.

Black > Black&Red > Green&white (Never seen one on sale in my city.)
Click to expand...
Do you know if the GM5 procedure also works for GM1?

I am inclined to think possibly yes, as the procedure to enter the service menu is the same for GM1 and GM5. But the risk is high without knowing for sure someone else already succeeded.... one may brick the camera....

Are you repairing cameras for a living, or is it just a hobby?
Click to expand...
I agree with u on entering the service menu. There is not much risk as long as you don't touch the ROM part.

The camera froze once when I attempted Simplified Chinese. It freaked me out a bit.:-O

I took out the battery, restarted it and it still changed to that language.

Normally, the prompt "Copy successfully completed." shows up for both Traditional Chinese and English, and you can turn it off and back on without any crash.
 
This is amazing! I bought a Japanese version of the GM5 years ago and never came to love it due to the Japanese menu. Been looking for a solution for years but to no avail. Finally come across this today! Amazing find and thank you very much for sharing!! Got the GM5 all set up in English now :)
 
cba_melbourne said:
altruistic 123 said:
cba_melbourne said:
Thank you very much for this information. I always thought the GM5 language can only be set once, either in the factory, or when replacing the main circuit board.

The GM5 service manual does not describe your method. It only describes how to select the region (which includes a certain subset of languages that can the be chosen by the customer). And this region selection, once chosen after replacing the main circuit board, cannot be changed anymore - it is a once only setting.

This would mean we can now buy Japanese GM5 and convert to English. The sad thing is, that meanwhile prices for Japanese used GM5 have skyrocketed just like they have in our region. A few years ago they still were considerably cheaper in Japan.
Click to expand...
:-) This trick comes in handy when cameras are being repaired by engineers who don't speak Japanese.

Yes, the rarity keeps the price firm.

Black > Black&Red > Green&white (Never seen one on sale in my city.)
Click to expand...
Do you know if the GM5 procedure also works for GM1?

I am inclined to think possibly yes, as the procedure to enter the service menu is the same for GM1 and GM5. But the risk is high without knowing for sure someone else already succeeded.... one may brick the camera....

Are you repairing cameras for a living, or is it just a hobby?
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for posting these instructions. Just to be clear - after completing the procedure, may I safely format the SD card and proceed with normal use? Or is there a need to keep that file on the SD card?
 
JackHenry88 said:
Thank you for posting these instructions. Just to be clear - after completing the procedure, may I safely format the SD card and proceed with normal use? Or is there a need to keep that file on the SD card?
Click to expand...
U may do so afterwards as if nth happened.

Suggestion if u don't feel secure:

Use an empty SD to succeed in changing the language.

Keep this one as a backup for later. (Might save u some effort if u wanna redo the same thing for the same model in the future.)

Use any other SDs for normal use.
 
I tried it on the GF7 and it worked as well.



b1e88032977e4dd5978aa536cdd3fe92.jpg
 
This worked for my GM1! It was the first GM model I bought and imagine the disappointment when I realized there was no changing the Japanese menu! Thank you for posting this!

I notice the exclamation point doesn't go away when shutting off and the ROM option is still available in the menu. Is it possible to turn this mode off while retaining the new language setting? I see a poster mention that it's a "constant service menu" so maybe not. Not a big deal if we can't, I can easily live with it.

This opens up a lot of Japanese GM bodies to non-Japanese regions!!! Great find!!!
 
Jeeter001 said:
This worked for my GM1! It was the first GM model I bought and imagine the disappointment when I realized there was no changing the Japanese menu! Thank you for posting this!

I notice the exclamation point doesn't go away when shutting off and the ROM option is still available in the menu. Is it possible to turn this mode off while retaining the new language setting? I see a poster mention that it's a "constant service menu" so maybe not. Not a big deal if we can't, I can easily live with it.

This opens up a lot of Japanese GM bodies to non-Japanese regions!!! Great find!!!
Click to expand...
It won't go away, so live with it. ^^
 
KingRh1n0 said:
I was able to get out of Service Mode.

Followed THIS: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/25760190
In P mode turned power off while pressing Menu/Set and Right at the same time. Hitting Menu/Set and Right at the same time twice in a row reset it. When I turned it on it asked me to set the time and appears to be working.
Don't really know what I did, or how dangerous it might be, but it worked!
Click to expand...
Found this comment on another thread (How to check Panasonic DMC-GM1 shutter count (Service Menu).: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)) by a user that has succesfully gotten out of the "constant service mode" with the exclaimation mark on shutdown. Could you give this method a try to see if the language change will stick ?
 
[No message]
 
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This type of thing could be lost forever. I am going to post it on my blog nobody reads so more people can figure it out if they're googling, but man.

funkmon.com

If anyone has any bookmarked old threads they want me to post there, which I should have up for years, let me know.
 
Funkmon said:
funkmon.com
Click to expand...
"A personal log of sarcasm, nostalgia, naïve idealism"? That sounds like my kind of place. And I already like what I am seeing there. That was an immediate bookmark. I am looking forward to reading your blog!
 
MinhTommy said:
KingRh1n0 said:
I was able to get out of Service Mode.

Followed THIS: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/25760190
In P mode turned power off while pressing Menu/Set and Right at the same time. Hitting Menu/Set and Right at the same time twice in a row reset it. When I turned it on it asked me to set the time and appears to be working.
Don't really know what I did, or how dangerous it might be, but it worked!
Click to expand...
Found this comment on another thread (How to check Panasonic DMC-GM1 shutter count (Service Menu).: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)) by a user that has succesfully gotten out of the "constant service mode" with the exclaimation mark on shutdown. Could you give this method a try to see if the language change will stick ?
Click to expand...
Hi,

I tried the procedure and could change the language from japanese to English. Nevertheless, Trying to remove the exclamation mark by the method suggested resulted in a reset of the entire camera and it booted in Japanese language. Apparently, the Japanese version on the ROM was re-loaded but not the file in its altered version on the SD. Any suggestions what I could have done differently from you?

Best regards

A
 
No matter what I've done - even downloading and using the PTool to insert the English Language into the FW - nothing worked. The Ptool FW was not recognized at all by my GF1 and I could not do anything to fix the FW. I purchased the GF1 from Japan recently, and I didn't realize that Japanese purchased GF1's had the Japanese language only (no other options).

If there was a menu system that worked to bring up English, that would be wonderful.

Any ideas or suggestions here?

Ben
 
I have a Japanese GM1 and the English language fix worked as advertized. Likewise, performing the sequence to read the shutter count per https://www.apotelyt.com/camera-find/panasonic-g-shutter-count will return the shutter count, etc, but switching the camera off reverts it to it's normal mode, which is, I guess, Japanese language. I reproduced the steps here for convenience:

"Shutter count on the GM1 and GM5

With your camera's battery well charged, perform the following steps in sequence:
  1. Insert a memory card into the card slot;
  2. Turn the camera ON and take a picture;
  3. Turn the camera OFF;
  4. Press and hold simultaneously the PLAY, TRASH, and RIGHT buttons, while turning the camera ON;
  5. Now, press and hold the PLAY button together with the MENU/SET and LEFT buttons; A first set of service menus will appear.
  6. Repeat the last step, that is, press and hold the PLAY button, while pressing the
  7. MENU/SET and LEFT buttons;
  8. Write down the number next to PWRCNT. This is how many times the camera has been powered up;
  9. Write down the number next to SHTCNT. This is the shutter activation count;
  10. Write down the number next to STBCNT. This is the number of times the flash has fired;
  11. Switch the camera off to revert back to normal operating mode. Congratulations, you have successfully retrieved the shutter actuations information!"
The question I have is, if one had the US GM1 ROM code (which only has English and Spanish as language options) could you load that ROM instead of the modified Japanese ROM code? In other words, would it work to do "ROM BACKUP > DSC-SD" on a US camera, take that SD card and put it in a Japanese camera and do "ROM BACKUP > SDALL-DSC(FORCE)"?
 
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