Firmware Update for the AF100

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Paul F

Veteran
The initial reaction and commentary about operation of the AF 10x series has settled down. There has been many suggestions for improvements. While some simply are not possible, there were some good suggestions about the user interface and buttons that certainly are possible to be done in the firmware. Of course, change is not always good; for if you implement a change, you are likely to please some, while upsetting others. But there were some suggestions that are likely to please many and upset no one. I'm thinking in particular about suggestions for the use of the rear wheel.

Panasonic put out one firmware update to fix bugs. Will there be another update to provide more flexibility and incorporate some of the user ideas?
 
Almost certainly not. They don't issue firmware updates to add features. They only use firmware updates to fix bugs.
 
I'm wondering if panasonic will develop the firmware any further, it would be nice to clean up the menu system and release any hidden gems? Who knows...
 
Barry_Green said:
Almost certainly not. They don't issue firmware updates to add features. They only use firmware updates to fix bugs.
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That's unfortunate. If this is true, then Panasonic's Pro Division has a differing (and disheartening) philosophy than the makers of just about every other piece of firmware-upgradeable electronics gear that I own.

That's really sad, if it's true. I'd like Jan to confirm this.
 
Steve R said:
That's unfortunate. If this is true, then Panasonic's Pro Division has a differing (and disheartening) philosophy than the makers of just about every other piece of firmware-upgradeable electronics gear that I own.

That's really sad, if it's true. I'd like Jan to confirm this.
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I'm saying it based on eight years of using their gear. They don't issue firmware updates to add features. And neither does Sony, and neither does Canon's camcorder division, and neither does JVC. It just isn't something that's done.

Now, three exceptions -- Canon introduced the 24p firmware on the 5D, but that's a consumer still camera, not a camcorder, and certainly not a camcorder from the pro line. Two, Sony is introducing a firmware update for the F3 that adds S-Log and 4:4:4 output -- but they're charging a list price of $4,400 for that firmware update. And three, Panasonic did introduce flash-band compensation as a firmware update in the HPX300, but that was something that was known from before the product was released for sale.

New features go in new products. Firmware updates are used to fix bugs.
 
All and all It should be something that's done, to an extent; if the current hardware is capable and the next AF camera is still "years" out? We should not have to buy the next camera to get a menu system fix or simple tweaks. I understand adding key features may slow future purchases, but it may also create brand loyalty. Not adding features or fixes or listening to requests from users may limit future purchases as well. Crazy times, many new cams and gear, I would gladly pay more for gear that has a long shelf life aka support from the manufacturer. Instead of passe gear the very next season.
 
Thanks Barry. Good background notes. There is no money in fixing bugs. It's just necessary.

While $4400 is a lot more than anyone would be willing to pay for simple feature upgrades on the AF-10x, people probably would pay a smaller fee for these improvements. But that fee times x users is likely much less than the cost of development. So I can see that the economics of feature enhancement might not be there. Camera manufacturer's just aren't ready for open source code.
 
Very happy my two favorite monitor manufacturers, Flanders Scientific and TV Logic do free firmware updates with new features. Sony and Panasonic seem to follow the Detroit automaker approach--new year, new model. Would RED One and Arri Alexa firmware updates be considered bug fixes/full functionality from promised features or new features?
 
I suspect the difference in approach to firmware is company philosophy. RED and to a lesser extent Alexa are considered evolving works in progress and as they discover new capabilities they implement them into the camera. Canon/Sony/Panasonic design each camera to be more final out the door and firmware updates are specifically to address bugs as discovered in the field. The big leaps in functionality are generally reserved for the next complete iteration of the camera line i.e. next year's model. Now this makes a lot of sense when Panasonic/Sony/Canon etc have been making cameras in not too different forms for decades, while RED and Alexa are brand new beasts.

Noah
 
Sorry to disagree, but I don't buy it.

Sony, for example, is releasing a free "core" firmware update to the F3 that adds:

1) Simultaneous live HDMI and HD-SDI output (previously missing feature, not a "bug")

2) Ability to use the Slow&Quick knob to move through the menus (vs. the small menu wheel on the back of the camera)

These kinds of things are exactly like the small, subtle features that many of us are asking for (like mirrored-card record, WB reading, thumbwheel for ISO etc.). It's not as rare a thing as some are saying - and again, Sony is currently doing it with that other large-sensor camera often mentioned in the same breath as the AF100.

C'mon Panasonic.
 
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Panasonic did a great job with the AF100, and at least part of that I believe was by listening to what was on the wish lists of potential customers. I hope they will also listen to some fine-tuning suggestions from users now we have the camera in hand. They already did, for the first update, fixing the most egregious "whoopsie" in the user interface of the camera by adding the "not-recording-audio" symbol.

I can see that it may not be worth devoting development time to more tweaks to the AF100. Some things (mirrored card recording) which would be super nice to have may not be possible given hardware limits, or require such a lot of work to rewrite camera internals that it may not be cost effective to do.

Nonetheless I hope they do make a few additional minor tweaks available- like adding ISO control via the back wheel. This isn't adding any significant extra functionality, just using a different control on the camera to change the settings already implemented, so maybe that would not be so hard to do and test and release.

If they could look through the suggestions, pick a couple of such "low hanging fruit" which are easy to implement and widely requested, it would be nice to get that little bit of fine tuning and fettling... but I don't think they should waste too much developer time, because the AF100 works pretty damn well as a package already. I appreciate that their eyes have to be on the next products to be developed, too.

Cheers, Hywel.
 
+1 Hywel, well said. Panasonic has a great reputation for customer service, I think what you've suggested is quite reasonable, could hopefully be accomplished cost effectively, and would go a long way towards rewarding early adopters.
 
Panasonic did release a firmware update to the Lumix L1 camera a year after its release. According to dpreview it included the following new features:

  1. Added a multiple exposure function.
  2. Added panning mode [MODE3] to the optical image stabilizer.
  3. Added a low-angle viewing mode that makes it easier to view the LCD display when the camera is held below eye level.
  4. Added feature that simplifies setting the aperture when using a lens without an aperture ring.
  5. Added two manual white balance settings to GUI. GUI design uses navigational cursor to easily select, and set, white balance (WB) to change the color temperature, or set the ISO sensitivity or flash. Time restriction for making changes was removed.
  6. Added "HOLD" option to Auto Review time, enabling continuous viewing.
  7. Added feature to allow zoomed playback of photos. It's now possible to move back to the preceding images or forward to the next images while the image is still zoomed.
  8. Added [AUTO] for the ISO sensitivity in the aperture-priority AE mode [A] and shutter speed-priority AE mode .
    [*]Added GUI option to easily check the firmware version.
 
lpowell said:
Panasonic did release a firmware update to the Lumix L1 camera a year after its release. According to dpreview it included the following new features:

  1. Added a multiple exposure function.
  2. Added panning mode [MODE3] to the optical image stabilizer.
  3. Added a low-angle viewing mode that makes it easier to view the LCD display when the camera is held below eye level.
  4. Added feature that simplifies setting the aperture when using a lens without an aperture ring.
  5. Added two manual white balance settings to GUI. GUI design uses navigational cursor to easily select, and set, white balance (WB) to change the color temperature, or set the ISO sensitivity or flash. Time restriction for making changes was removed.
  6. Added "HOLD" option to Auto Review time, enabling continuous viewing.
  7. Added feature to allow zoomed playback of photos. It's now possible to move back to the preceding images or forward to the next images while the image is still zoomed.
  8. Added [AUTO] for the ISO sensitivity in the aperture-priority AE mode [A] and shutter speed-priority AE mode .
    [*]Added GUI option to easily check the firmware version.
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Yes, but the Lumix L1 is likely in the consumer branch of the company. Not the professional video branch like the AF100 among other equipment.
 
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