The LX3's firmware 2.0 has been replaced by the 2.1 firmware and can be downloaded on the Japanese Panasonic page at panasonic.jp
This update is a stable one and includes tones of small improvements such as an improved auto white balance, a faster autofocus, a 1:1 aspect ratio mode, a new white balance bracket, a highlights display in playback mode, and much more.
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36 comments:
What does the 1:1 aspect ration mode do?
The problem with 1:1 RAW is not fixed!!
Hi!
I accidentally ran into this website,and I think this is what I really want.I have Lx3,Lx2,Fz20 and
Z3,so basically speaking,I am a fan of Panasonic family.
Good job!Looking forward to reading more reviews from you.
Ciao.
1:1 is square format.
@MacLo:
what do you mean exactly?
pardon me as i had never shot on 1:1 RAW before and the camera is not with me now.
if you shot in 1:1 RAW mode, the old problem there is still!
Because there are few parts of the photo with a strange artefact!.
P.S.
Sorry for my english! ;)
If the camera has an older version we can upgrade directly to the 2.1 version or do we need to upgrade all the versions until the 2.1???
You can upgrade directly to the 2.1
Hi!
I'm very glad that with the new firmware I won't every time I start the camera have to wait for the lens to fully extract and then usually again to almost fully retract to reach useful focal lengths like 35mm equiv 35mm. Option to remember last zoom setting (like in firmware 2.1) is nice, but I would also appreciate settings like any fixed startup lens setting (24-26-27-29-31-33-35-38-42-46-50-55-60-LastUsedZoom). I myself usually start from 35mm - no matter where I got to last time.
Startup time got a bit faster - which is great - and it would be even greater if it wast't for the annoying message saying like "your zoom is being set to the last used setting". Everybody already knows that. Bye
As I see improvement in things that have been commented on this blog, I'm very glad. It feels like you can fine tune your camera (or somebody does it for you). Great.
- Another issue is the display setting. You can already set how bright the display is, and it would be nice to be able to set the color saturation. If I shot by what I see, I would only use nostalgic film - but on tv or on computer, these pictures would look very faded, so I take pictures that look too vivid on LX3 just to be ok later. I know cheap cameras often have too vivid colors to have sueccess on the market, but I'd like if I could set the display a little more natural on my LX3. Thanx.
Another great possibility would be to set the zoom during video recording. At least the digital one. (It could start like at 1.5x digitally whenever possible, so that you could go wider as well as tele... or no, - any zoom would be nice.) bye.
Flash synchronization on 2nd is pretty unusable. Although flash time is controlled well enough to fit into 0.5ms (on S:1/2000), the flash goes off immediately after the shutter openes or, for the longer times, it goes off around 15ms before the 2nd curtain closes. It means that for 1/40 or faster shutter speed 2nd works just like 1nd and real 2nd effect is possible only with S:1/4 or even slower. I believe this can be corrected in the next firmware update.
I often use sequential(burst) shooting mode to take more pictures I can later select from. - Whenever I want to use flash, I have to disable burst shooting and then open flash and take the picture. I think this menu switching is not necessary. If one opens the flash, it is clear that he wants to use it and burst shooting should be automatically temporarily stopped. Or it may be burst shooting with flash (at 0.4fps). Or flash for first snap and then burst shooting. I believe anything of these possibilities would be better than - when burst shooting is on - to ignore the opened flash, like it happens so far.
Another issue is the automatic review for 2s. It is tricky to turn it off (you have to be in the playback mode) and even when you turn it off, after each picture the display turns black and then displays the picture taken for some time anyways. Since I don't have a viewfinder, the only way how to catch a dynamic sport scene is for me to point the camera somwhere like at the object and watch it sideways. Like if there was no liveview at all.
When I want to take another picture immediately after I took the previous one, I press the shutter .. and nothing happens. Only the previous picture review period may prolong. But no next picture is taken, until I release the shutter and press it again. I know this "being stuck" feature is quite common on some compact cameras, but as firmware update process is going on it may not bother owners of LX3 next time...
My last issue is just a language one. I am czech and in menu in our language (česky), the option "pre AF" (off/q-AF/c-AF) is translated incorrectly as "přisvětl.AF"(english: adding more light.AF). It should be "předběž.AF"(prior to.AF) or "průběž.AF"(continuous.AF). "Přednost.AF"(of higher priority.AF) that is used in cz manual would be almost so confusing as the "přisvětl.AF" that is used in LX3 by now.
That's all from me, bye.
Correction to my first post, about the startup zoom function. Two options in menu would suffice : *remember current value as a startup* and *remember last used zoom value*. To get the 24mm wide startup like with fw 1.x, you could simply fully extract your lenses, go into menu and call the first option.
I often shoot for whole days with the auto-bracket exposure on. It seems that the LX3 doesn't remember my auto-bracket setting after power on/off. Why?
The LX2 remembered my auto-bracket setting after power on/off.
I would like this feature in up-commng firmware of the LX3. Thank you!
Any surprises to expect with the firmware upgrade ?
Can I still use my "non-Panasonic" battery packs after an software-upgrade from 1.3. to 2.1 ?
I have heared that, after a firmware-upgrade, e.g. the Lumix DMC-TZ7 did only accept the original Panasonic accus from the moment of the update . Although this specific "feature" has not not mentioned in the update-description from Panasonic.
Anything similar to expect here ?
asdf42 - I agree with your suggestions:
- it would be great to be able to pre-select the start-up zoom length, the new "remember last setting" option seemed great at first, but is actually a bit lame, especially because of the stupid message that you get every time you switch the camera on;
- flash and burst - I 100% agree with this. If I have gone to the trouble of popping up the flash then of course I want to take a flash photo, and I have missed a lot of spontaneous pics already by having to fiddle around and switch off the burst mode before the flash will work. This is really annoying.
- for anyone worrying about batteries, I have installed 2.1 and my third party batteries work fine.
To asdf42 -
I can't agree your opinon more. the signal marked "the last position" is totally unnecessary.
But this original design I guess is from the point-and-shoot concept. According to my expirence, as soon as I turn on the camera,press the shutter directly neglecting the sign on the LCD,I barely feel the lag.Hope Panasonic will modify this small annoying thing in the next software.
Hi, thanks for that interestibg blog. Sorry for my English. I have a problem with firmware. I can´t upgrade to 2.1 because my camre has 1.0 firmwre and it needs version 2.0 to install 2.1. But the problem is...2.0 is not avaible in panasonic website soo what can i do??
please help. i have firmware 1.2 and i tried upgrading to 2.1 but nothing happens. i followed the instructions on the panasonic site and i noticed that after choosing 'yes' in the start version up menu, after only 5 seconds, it said to turn off and on the camera. after i do and i check the version, it is still 1.2
any help is greatly appreciated.
- to Yo - you can upgrade directly to fw2.1. If it is impossible, you probably have some other problem. About fw2.0 - stay away from that, because you would have to reset your personal settings. (Panasonic says so, somewhere.)
-to all having troubles upgrading-
*1. You can try to download the fw file to your computer again, then, after runing or unzipping, the LX3__210.bin should have 6096384 bytes.
*2. Copy it to your SD/SDHC card. When copying, you may have to unmount / SafelyRemoveHardware (in quick-launch-panel) before you remove the card from your reader. Or you can wait for some time (like a minute), until the file completely copies. Premature unplugging of your card can lead to incomplete copying of your file, while still listing as of correct length. LX3 would verify its whole content - and install nothing.
*3. Before upgrading fw, fully charge your battery. I'm not sure LX3 would warn you if you don't. It may just simply skip the upgrading just like Joseph described.
i did as told, charged my battery full, format my card and downloaded the file and paste it in the root folder and it shows "NO VALID PICTURE TO PLAY" when i turn it on..why?? in my sdhc card i got 2 folders only DCMIA and MISC.
i pasted it into DCMIA folder
any kind sould care to explain why?
my LX3 is still FW1.1 sigh..
i did as told, charged my battery full, format my card and downloaded the file and paste it in the root folder and it shows "NO VALID PICTURE TO PLAY" when i turn it on..why?? in my sdhc card i got 2 folders only DCMIA and MISC.
i pasted it into DCMIA folder
any kind sould care to explain why?
my LX3 is still FW1.1 sigh..
is there any chance of opening 1:1 raw files? I shoot many of them and now I am stuck. any help is greatly appreciated!
Hi everyone. I was able to upgrade to 2.1 after several attempts. It turns out the MediaCard Reader on my desktop is the culprit. I used my wife's laptop to download the firmware upgrade from the panasonic site, unzipped it and copied the .bin file to the SD card, inserted it into my lx3 and it upgraded the firmware to 2.1.
My advice is check your MediaCard Reader or try using a different computer.
Thanks everyone!
Hi! I've got a question: which language are supported in the new version of firmware? I'd be glad if there's Polish in languages list :)
to Njakub: If "polski" is good enough for you, then you're gonna be satisfied.
One more option I would appreciate for the flash is "fill flash", forced flash without overriding white balance setting. It could brighten the shadows on sunny days without changing tone of the image. And there is place for one more option in the flash menu.
FOR KELVIN
Don't put it either folder. Those are not the root. Simply place it on the card, ignore the folder(s). Then it will work (this took me an hour to figure out).
So-reformat your card, then install the unzipped file on it so it is not hidden in a file but visible. Then turn on camera in play mode. The update happens very quickly (at least it did for me).
Joel
to JOEL
thanks man you are a life saver!!
now mine is version 2.1 :)
like u said dont place them in the folder. and it will detect the software.!
THANKS
1) As asdf42 mentioned, it seems that using the flash seems to override the white balance settings & completely ignore them. Just try using fill flash (-1 or -2 flash comp) to soften shadows in incandescent indoor lighting; the image turns orange/red no matter what your white balance setting. (also liked asdf42's suggestion re two choices for the startup zoom function.)
2) Please, in addition to the "Red-Eye Removal" Off/On for "processing", also provide a "Red-Eye Reduction" Off/On camera setting, so that we can turn this ridiculous & annoying pre-flash off when using the Slow-sync flash or other settings crammed together with Red-Eye Reduction.
3) Another vote for removing the annoying startup message when the Lens Resume feature is on.
Addendum to my previous post: Oddly, there seems to be different Fill-Flash White Balance behavior in Daylight lighting than in Florescent lighting??:
With Fill-Flash in Florescent conditions, regardless of the chosen/adjusted WB setting, the white balance only seems to respond to the Flash WB settings (including blue/yellow/magenta/green tweaks to the Flash WB setting), whether Flash WB is chosen or not!? Ie, if the flash isn't the overwhelming portion of the lighting, the resulting tone will be orange/red, regardless of chosen WB setting.
With Fill-Flash in Daylight conditions, the WB responds as one would expect, as set by the chosen WB setting/tweaks, ignoring the Flash WB/tweaks if some other WB setting is chosen. Ie, you *can* control the tone with your chosen WB setting.
Very peculiar...
(Florescent lighting also seems to wreak havoc with the OI Stabilization as well; seemingly there is *much* more efficacy in low light/slow shutter situations under daylight than florescent lighting. My experience anyway...)
Hi everyone,
does anybody knows where at Panasonic to post our wishes for next firmware upgrades. asdf42 has some great ideas.
And I would like to be able to use focus btn as AF-Lock.
Is it possible that author of the blog makes some kind of compilation of firmware wishes so we could post that to Panasonic.
An exposure lock during video would be very nice too in a future firmware. It is sometimes very annoying that exposure changes when you are just happy with the one that the camera picked the first time.
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