Posts Tagged: panasonic

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25
Nov 09

Panasonic DMC Gf-1: New firmware for camera and lenses

My kingdom for an updater that works through USB. I have the GF-1 with 20mm and 14-140mm lenses, so I had to swap the card 4 times to get the individual update files to the card and delet them again. When I put all 3 files on the card the camera would only use 1.
Other than that, the update was easy and painless.

Firmware ver.1.1 for DMC-GF1
-Improved AF(Auto Focus)performance in movie recording
-Improved AWB(Auto White Balance) performance
-Improved picture quality in high sensitivity photo recording
-Improved picture quality in portrait program modes
-Improved aperture control in scenery program modes
-Improved accessibility to MF(Manual Focus) Assist function with MF lenses.

Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014045)
Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS045200)
-Availability of AF in FHD(Full HD) mode
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

Firmware ver.1.1 for LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH. (H-FS007014)
-Availability of AF in FHD mode
-Improved aperture control performance in movie recording
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

Firmware ver.1.2 for LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. (H-VS014140)
Firmware ver.1.1 for LUMIX G 20mm / F1.7 ASPH. (H-H020)
-Improved AF performance in movie recording

The new firmware will be available worldwide at GMT: 2:00 on the 25th of November, 2009 at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/

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18
Jun 09

Panasonic: “please don’t buy pur cameras”

You would think that by now everybody knows how DRM kills your sales.

Panasonic doesn’t:

“Panasonic Digital Still Cameras now include a technology that can identify a genuine Panasonic battery. For the protection of our customers Panasonic developed this technology after it was discovered that some aftermarket 3rd party batteries do not meet the rigid safety standards Panasonic uses.

Some of these aftermarket batteries are not equipped with internal protective devices to guard against overcharging, internal heating and short circuit. If these aftermarket battery packs were used, it could lead to an accident causing damage to your camera or personal injury.

Panasonic’s Digital Camera firmware has been updated on this website to detect these aftermarket 3rd party batteries so such serious safety issues can be avoided.

[ Warning ]
After this firmware update your Panasonic Digital Camera cannot be operated by 3rd party batteries (non genuine Panasonic batteries).”

So, if I update my firmware carelessly (I’m sure that extra warning will not be in all the next firmwares release notes…), my (not so cheap) aftermarket batteries will be worthless.

How long until a customer sues? How long until battery manufacturers sue for anti-competitive behaviour?

Stupid. Soooo stupid….

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2
Dec 07

Can I go wrong with a Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT?

I was planning to get a new digital camera at the end of the year, most likely the Panasonic DMC-FZ50. I had one before, traded it in for a Fuji FinePix F31fd for portability, but I’m missing the zoom lens of the FZ50 a lot.

Yesterday I happened to find a Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT at a real bargain price – EUR 399 for the kit with the 18-55 lens, which is EUR 70 below the cheapest vendor on the net.

Now – do I eBay it off for a higher price and get the Panasonic, or do I keep it? What do you think?