FZ1 firmware upgrade - bring it on!

John_Reed · Dec 14, 2003

Thanks, Karl! It's just as you say. This camera has taken on a new dimension or two!

Karl Norris said:
John_Reed said:

Thanks for the easy download, cinchy upgrade. I'm already seeing
the advantages. Didn't even faze my fully charged battery to do the
upgrade. It's cool to suddenly have an FZ2!

But how do you access the new WB features? The menu selections seem
the same as before on WB; I see no mention of varying color
temperature and such. How do you do that?

Click to expand...

John, This feature does not work if you have WB set to auto.In the
other positions, if you press the up arrow past Auto Bracket you
get the option for WB tuning.

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

The_ Beast · Dec 14, 2003

Don't you write that a week ago John, seem nobody's perfect!

"This argument has about run its course. Some believe it's OK to freely copy and distribute firmware, some (like me and others) don't believe that. I don't happen to have any illegal software on my computers, but I'm not going to turn you in for copyright violations, I'll just shake my head in the belief that you're wrong. As in any argument about religion or politics, nobody really changes their mind, they just keep trying harder to change the other person's mind, most usually to no avail"

John_Reed said:
Karl Norris said:

John_Reed said:

Thanks for the easy download, cinchy upgrade. I'm already seeing
the advantages. Didn't even faze my fully charged battery to do the
upgrade. It's cool to suddenly have an FZ2!

But how do you access the new WB features? The menu selections seem
the same as before on WB; I see no mention of varying color
temperature and such. How do you do that?

Click to expand...

John, This feature does not work if you have WB set to auto.In the
other positions, if you press the up arrow past Auto Bracket you
get the option for WB tuning.

Click to expand...

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

--
The_Beast

Effzeeone · Dec 14, 2003

Mike Prec said:
Keep in mind that the compression apparently decreases resulting in
a larger file size. For example, a 128 mb card (Panasonic) held
approx. 150 pics...after upgrade holds approx. 130 pics. This is
probably a good thing as other things being equal, you should get a
slightly better picture.

Mike

I consider this a nice feature for more simple reasons: The capacity of the SD cards are pretty much the same as the total number of pictures that will fit. For example, a 64mb SD card now holds about 64 or 65 pictures. A 256mb SD card holds about 256 pictures. Haha.

-- Chris

RC Bear · Dec 14, 2003

I will get my FZ2 next week cos my firend is going to Japan. Should i just buy a FZ1 locally and upgrade the firmware... or just get the FZ2. Price wise, i think i will be very close.

No sure... Feels to me the FZ2 is somewhat different to an upgraded FZ1!!!! maybe just me...

Please lead me the right way!!!!!

Thanks all.. i want my Fluzi!!! =)

unfocused · Dec 14, 2003

I would buy the FZ1 locally simply for the reassurance of having the 1 year warranty in case something goes wrong with the camera.

Derek Hung said:
I will get my FZ2 next week cos my firend is going to Japan.
Should i just buy a FZ1 locally and upgrade the firmware... or just
get the FZ2. Price wise, i think i will be very close.

No sure... Feels to me the FZ2 is somewhat different to an upgraded
FZ1!!!! maybe just me...

Please lead me the right way!!!!!

Thanks all.. i want my Fluzi!!! =)

RC Bear · Dec 14, 2003

ok... um, one pro... still need more suggestion

FZ1
Pro: Warranty if purchase locally
Con: still a FZ1 after upgrade

FZ2
Pro: "I feel is different from a FZ1"
Con: no warranty. Have to ask someone to buy for me..=)

need more advice...

unfocused said:
Derek Hung said:

I will get my FZ2 next week cos my firend is going to Japan.
Should i just buy a FZ1 locally and upgrade the firmware... or just
get the FZ2. Price wise, i think i will be very close.

No sure... Feels to me the FZ2 is somewhat different to an upgraded
FZ1!!!! maybe just me...

Please lead me the right way!!!!!

Thanks all.. i want my Fluzi!!! =)

Click to expand...

omfr · Dec 15, 2003

Check this out:

http://kakaku.com/sku/price/005019.htm

The price for FZ1 is 29,500 Japanese Yen.

The price for FZ2 is 39,800 Japanese Yen.

Derek Hung said:
FZ1
Pro: Warranty if purchase locally
Con: still a FZ1 after upgrade

FZ2
Pro: "I feel is different from a FZ1"
Con: no warranty. Have to ask someone to buy for me..=)

need more advice...

unfocused said:

Derek Hung said:

I will get my FZ2 next week cos my firend is going to Japan.
Should i just buy a FZ1 locally and upgrade the firmware... or just
get the FZ2. Price wise, i think i will be very close.

No sure... Feels to me the FZ2 is somewhat different to an upgraded
FZ1!!!! maybe just me...

Please lead me the right way!!!!!

Thanks all.. i want my Fluzi!!! =)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

GrahamL · Dec 15, 2003

Thanks to everyone - here's a site with instructions and two alternative download links.

I'll try the upgrade myself tonight!

http://panasonicfirm.4t.com/

Effzeeone · Dec 15, 2003

Derek Hung said:
I will get my FZ2 next week cos my firend is going to Japan.
Should i just buy a FZ1 locally and upgrade the firmware... or just
get the FZ2. Price wise, i think i will be very close.

No sure... Feels to me the FZ2 is somewhat different to an upgraded
FZ1!!!! maybe just me...

Please lead me the right way!!!!!

Thanks all.. i want my Fluzi!!! =)

You will pretty much have a FZ2 by upgrading the FZ1. I understand that in addition to the logo saying "FZ2", the symbols on the roller switch are also different. Other than that, it's supposed to be the same camera as an upgraded FZ1.

Something to note -- even if you bought a FZ1 locally to get the warranty, depending on how Panasonic feels about you having a Japan-only-released firmware upgrade, you may be voiding your U.S. warranty. I don't buy into that thought process, and Panasonic would have a heck of an argument from me about it (since it is an official Panasonic firmware upgrade and this is a small world due to the internet and easy to buy things released only in other markets), but maintaining your warranty could depend on how much you want to argue about it with Panasonic.

Personally, I would go with the FZ1 + the upgrade. At least then you have an argument's chance of having some sort of warranty covereage. Panasonic USA will not cover the FZ2 at all -- tech. support won't help you either.

-- Chris

dres · Dec 15, 2003

Shucks ! ... you get back after the weekend and just look what's happened !

Enjoy your upgrades ;-)

dres said:
I'm just not sure you'll find anyone brave enough...

The big issue with panasonic is distribution. If it goes up for
uncontrolled free download it will be available to the Japanese
market, where in fact you can buy the upgrade. If you could
release it for free and ensure no-one in Japan could get it that
might be another matter. But that's clearly impossible.

As it is there are several private individuals reselling their
upgrades in Japan already, just do a search on the model number for
the upgrade. I don't know what Panasonic plan to do about these
people... nothing I suspect. But as yet no-one's giving it away.

I agree Panasonic has really messed up the marketing on this one.
The best thing they could do now is make it freely available
themselves and cash-in on the consumer loyalty factor... it would
earn them a lot of Kudos. But I suspect that won't happen... how
could the accountants justify it ?

The mere fact there is no security apparent on the upgrade suggests
the engineers have deliberately given people a second option. I
bet you could write an interesting book on the internal politics of
panasonic !

GrahamL said:

OK, I've been pretty critical on this group about people wanting
the FZ1/2 firmware upgrade for free - I work in the software
industry and know how much piracy hurts me.

But having heard on here that Panasonic won't sell the firmware
outside of Japan, and after waiting for 4 weeks for even an
acknowledgement from Panasonic UK without success, I am a little
peeved.

I was willing to pay a reasonable price for the upgrade. If
Panasonic put up a secure site to download it for a few
quid/bucks/euros I would have done it like a shot.

Now I'm not that good at this sort of thing, but if someone can
give me some info I'll set up a site somewhere and if the firmware
just appears on it then maybe Panasonic will get the kick they
deserve.

I don't expect this post will last long, so by all means email me
on [email protected]

Click to expand...

Ramblin · Dec 15, 2003

Curious.

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

John_Reed · Dec 15, 2003

Operating temperature rise is not rocket science, just an elementary electrical principle. Your camera draws around 0.5 ampere when it's operating, so with a 7V battery, it's dissipating around 3.5 watts. Watts translate into heat energy, pure and simple. One thing I noticed about the FZ2 upgrade is that it reset my "Power Save" option to "Never;" if you don't change that to "2 min," you'll probably notice a temperature rise, and shorter battery life. Has anyone actually experienced a reduction in battery life after the FZ2 upgrade?

Ramblin said:
Curious.

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

Erasmus41 · Dec 15, 2003

Yep. You missed an interesting weekend...

dres said:
Enjoy your upgrades ;-)

dres said:

I'm just not sure you'll find anyone brave enough...

The big issue with panasonic is distribution. If it goes up for
uncontrolled free download it will be available to the Japanese
market, where in fact you can buy the upgrade. If you could
release it for free and ensure no-one in Japan could get it that
might be another matter. But that's clearly impossible.

As it is there are several private individuals reselling their
upgrades in Japan already, just do a search on the model number for
the upgrade. I don't know what Panasonic plan to do about these
people... nothing I suspect. But as yet no-one's giving it away.

I agree Panasonic has really messed up the marketing on this one.
The best thing they could do now is make it freely available
themselves and cash-in on the consumer loyalty factor... it would
earn them a lot of Kudos. But I suspect that won't happen... how
could the accountants justify it ?

The mere fact there is no security apparent on the upgrade suggests
the engineers have deliberately given people a second option. I
bet you could write an interesting book on the internal politics of
panasonic !

GrahamL said:

OK, I've been pretty critical on this group about people wanting
the FZ1/2 firmware upgrade for free - I work in the software
industry and know how much piracy hurts me.

But having heard on here that Panasonic won't sell the firmware
outside of Japan, and after waiting for 4 weeks for even an
acknowledgement from Panasonic UK without success, I am a little
peeved.

I was willing to pay a reasonable price for the upgrade. If
Panasonic put up a secure site to download it for a few
quid/bucks/euros I would have done it like a shot.

Now I'm not that good at this sort of thing, but if someone can
give me some info I'll set up a site somewhere and if the firmware
just appears on it then maybe Panasonic will get the kick they
deserve.

I don't expect this post will last long, so by all means email me
on [email protected]

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Ramblin · Dec 15, 2003

What would account for the change after upgrading? You think it is the power save being reset?

Unless the upgrade makes the processor do more mental gymnastics, what would account for the change. Maybe writing 20% more data per shot to the SD card?

John_Reed said:
Ramblin said:

Curious.

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

Click to expand...

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

--

Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

Dan Cohen · Dec 15, 2003

I tried to get your email and couldn't. I'll try again.

John_Reed · Dec 15, 2003

I haven't seen documentation regarding power increases after upgrade. It is true that if the "real" FZ2 uses some CMOS logic to implement functions which are being performed by the UG FZ1 in firmware, the FZ1 processor will be working harder (expending more cycles) per operation, hence maybe more power will be dissipated. Certainly loading more data per shot is one such operation, but who knows the function of the FZ2's extra hardware, if indeed it has extra hardware? (Panasonic Bob must grimace when he sees posts like this!)

Ramblin said:
Unless the upgrade makes the processor do more mental gymnastics,
what would account for the change. Maybe writing 20% more data per
shot to the SD card?

John_Reed said:

Ramblin said:

Curious.

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

Click to expand...

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

Click to expand...

--

Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

--
John Reed

Nikon CoolPix 4500 Panasonic DMC-FZ1

Dan Cohen · Dec 15, 2003

PT,

Here's an address. could you send me a PDF with the FZ2 manual. I tried to download it and it didn't work for some reason. Something I'm doing wrong, I'm sure. Thanks

Dan

[email protected]

Alexandre Trindade · Dec 15, 2003

It does work, took a little over 1 min and no problems so far. These options are not absolute musts for every photo but I've encountered far too many situations where some manual controls would have proven unvaluable. Well, not anymore. Now the only thing lacking is a full manual setting but what we have is already good enough compared to what we had.
The biggest weakness of the FZ1 has just been remedied.

Kestas · Dec 16, 2003

Rollz said:
some pics and love how I can control dof now.

Please explain how. If I understand correctly by dof you mean bluriness in the background?

I'm just learning you know..

Huge thanks in advance

Kestas

Effzeeone · Dec 16, 2003

John_Reed said:
Operating temperature rise is not rocket science, just an
elementary electrical principle. Your camera draws around 0.5
ampere when it's operating, so with a 7V battery, it's dissipating
around 3.5 watts. Watts translate into heat energy, pure and
simple. One thing I noticed about the FZ2 upgrade is that it reset
my "Power Save" option to "Never;" if you don't change that to "2
min," you'll probably notice a temperature rise, and shorter
battery life. Has anyone actually experienced a reduction in
battery life after the FZ2 upgrade?

I have noticed a reduction in battery life, but I'm thinking it's because I'm using my camera a LOT more with a lot more, trying out a lot more manual settings. I have the funny (but non technical) feeling that a shot taken with an 8-second exposure setting takes a chunk more power than a shot at 1/100th-second exposure. When I would take infrared photos on my FZ1 prior to the upgrade, I would use night mode to get the longer exposure times, and I would notice a significant reduction in battery life when taking a lot of these pictures in a short period of time.

-- Chris

FZ1 firmware upgrade - bring it on!

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