New firmware

[Charlie Chalk]

Hi

Had to send my 2 week old D70 back today, flash popped up but wouldn't fire no matter what I did.

The supplier (Empire Direct in the UK) picked up the faulty one at the same time as dropping the new one off - I'd highly reccomend them to any UK forum members.

Anyway, just fired the camera up, it shows the firmware installed as being 1.01 and 1.03. No sign of 1.03 on the Nikon UK web site so I guess this is to be released soon.

Got some questions to ask you guys, but I'm sat here typing with one hand whilst holding my two week old son with the other, I'll ask them when it's a bit easier to type!

CC

[gstark]

Charlie,

Congratulations on both of your new arrivals, and thanx for the heads up on the new firmware.

[Raydar]

Interesting

Can you see any difference in the way the cam behaves????
Or is the menu’s any different??

Congrads on the little one mate

Cheers
Ray

[Onyx]

A warm welcome to the forums and happy new year CC, interesting tidbit on the firmware. I wonder what changes it's brought. I thought the D70 was flawlessly bug-free and did not need further firmware updates, so maybe there are new features?!

[sirhc55]

Welcome CC from an expat - maybe the new firmware is to counter the weather in the UK!!!

Chris

[birddog114]

I don't think there's one exist, if the new firmware existed, I 'm assuming more noises from other forums prior it hits the real D70 body.

[Greg B]

There is no reference to a 1.0.3 firmware on the Nikon sites.

[Charlie Chalk]

Morning, and a happy new year to you all!

I agree, there is no mention of the new firmware on any of the Nikon sites (official or otherwise) which is why I posted about it here.

I'm affraid I didn't use the previous camera with the 1.02 version enough to be able to notice any difference between the two.

Not sure if it's possible to have a typo in the firmware name, but as you will see from the image I'm not going completley mad, although if these nightime feeds (every 2 - 3 hours) carry on I soon will!



CC

[sirhc55]

CC - unless you are a C@n@n sabateour then you certainly have proved the existence of version 1.03

By the way which camera did you use to shoot the pic?

Chris

[Charlie Chalk]

Hi

Used the still shot facility on my Sony TRV-80 DigiCam.

Nearly bought *that* Canon, so glad I didn't!

[Greg B]

Very nice piece of evidence there Charlie Chalk.

I wonder what is going on?

You would think that the Nikon sites would be across it if there was a higher number firmware.......

Crikey.

[birddog114]

I've just opened two Brand new stock of D70 bodies:
1 from HKG and 1 From Maxwell.
I don't see anything of ver. 1.03.
1.01/1.02 on two bodies with the built date Dec 04., It means fresh stock from Nikon.
If band B is 1.03 then band A should be 1.02.I didn't see any reason why only band B has been upgrade and band A is not upgraded.

[Charlie Chalk]

How do I find out the build date? that may shed some light on it.

Do I need to update band A to 1.02?

[birddog114]

How do I find out the build date? that may shed some light on it.

Do I need to update band A to 1.02?

You can get or see the built date if you receive or get the your cameras from Distributor as Nikon/ Maxwell or bulk buy from disti with full size of shipping container from Nikon Japan. (25 units in a carton)

Where can you get the 1.02 version? if we can see it exist same as band B the we can down load and DIY.

[birddog114]

To have the new firmware released or update is not the simple thing from Nikon. If this new firmware existed (as my previously post), we already heard a big noise from other forums + flamewar and bashing all over the world, and at least we have to see what improvements on ver 1.03 over 1.02.
Another mystery here.

[Charlie Chalk]

Maybe I should try getting in touch with the Techincal Dept on the Nikon site, ask them whats going on?

Will try that next week when the holidays are over.

Anyway, wether its the firmware it should be or not the camer a fantastic, but it has sparked a craving for different lenses and tripod and flash.

Will have to wait for next xmas I fear.

CC

[sirhc55]

I know this sounds far fetched but could it be a fault with the LCD indicating the wrong number or even the electronics!!!!!

Chris

[Onyx]

Well, i'm a firm believer that Charlie's stumbled onto a discovery. We should no longer look for external websites to provide us with the breaking news - for this site right here is where news originates.

Eclipse - nothing more than methanol. Discovered by MCWB, published here on D70users.com first.

New B firmware for the D70, ver 1.03. Discovered by Charlie Chalk - published here on D70users.com first.

[Killakoala]

Sweet, i hope it is correct and not a faulty camera.

Maybe Nikon has taken heart to the D70 users wishlist and provided the features we wanted. Storage for more than 1 custom curve, mirror lock-up, 5fps shutter, uncompressed NEF, D2x emulator, 1024x768 movie mode, mobile telephone (The worlds first DSLR with built in mobile phone, eat that Nokia!!!)

[birddog114]

Sweet, i hope it is correct and not a faulty camera.

Maybe Nikon has taken heart to the D70 users wishlist and provided the features we wanted. Storage for more than 1 custom curve, mirror lock-up, 5fps shutter, uncompressed NEF, D2x emulator, 1024x768 movie mode, mobile telephone (The worlds first DSLR with built in mobile phone, eat that Nokia!!!)

And to 12mp, optional for batteries grip to be installed with more features, benefits to add on with new firmware ver 1.03 when finishing upgrade.

[sirhc55]

Hi Steve

Can just see it - in Woolies when my D70 starts ringing and I ’Get Smart’ and answer my shoe to hide the fact I have a D70 phone. . .

Chris

[sirhc55]

CC

A question:

Your Avatar interests me as it is often shown on Foxtel UK TV - what and where is it?

Chris

[Charlie Chalk]

Its 'The Angel of the North', a large metal sculpture on a hill on the outskirts of Gateshead in the North East of England.

Here's a link to more info, http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/angel/

If I get a bit of time between now and starting back at work I'll see if I can get over there and take a couple of shots, its a very well used photo subject so getting a picture (or two) without half a dozen of the P&S brigade in the frame will be difficult!

If anyone wants me to check if this D70 does anything different/has different menus to theirs please let me know and I'll do my best.

CC

[sirhc55]

Thanks CC - a mystery solved - maybe not the firmware mystery but a personal one

Chris

[ajo43]

Maybe someone should post a link to this thread on dpreview and see what a reaction it gets. Nothing like some publicity for the forum downunda. (I don't have a log on there myself - just a lurker)

[sirhc55]

Just posted this on DPreview

Chris

[sirhc55]

Thanks for updating my link chrisiand - looks like posting on DPreview has had an affect as we have just listed the most people on line with this forum

Chris

[christiand]

I dropped my D70 off for repair today.
It has the same symptoms as Charlie's, flash pops up but doesn't fire.
Also the flash ready indicator does not come on and I also cannot here
the flash loading up.
I'll let you know what firmware it has when I get it back in a few weeks time (hopefully).

Regards
CD

[birddog114]

For one hour since Chris posted the info about the firmware ver. 1.03 on dpreview, only 3 replies so far. Except our Christiand.
My question is still with:
why only one firmware upgraded to 1.03 and other Band A is still 1.01.?
I'm monitoring it.

[Glen]

Christiand, mine came back just before Christmas with the 1.01 & 1.02 combo (from Maxwells Sydney). Hope yours comes back newer.

[lukeo]

I can only hazard a guess that it's much like a PC Motherboard manufactors RC or Beta Bios's ... they use them in house to fix motherboards that come in with quirks. The quirk might be that it does X when it should do Y and a simple firmware patch that re-interprets Y as X for the board fixes it up as good as new. This is over simplfying but it gets my point accross.

The 1.03 may simply solve the Flash issue without any mechanical fix.

my 2 cents.

[johndec]

For one hour since Chris posted the info about the firmware ver. 1.03 on dpreview, only 3 replies so far. Except our Christiand.
My question is still with:
why only one firmware upgraded to 1.03 and other Band A is still 1.01.?
I'm monitoring it.

Birdy,
About 15 minutes after the original post, the dpreview forums went down for a couple of hours. They are back up now, so I would expect more activity in the next few hours. However, I doubt that will have any more idea than we do regarding this conundrum

[birddog114]

For one hour since Chris posted the info about the firmware ver. 1.03 on dpreview, only 3 replies so far. Except our Christiand.
My question is still with:
why only one firmware upgraded to 1.03 and other Band A is still 1.01.?
I'm monitoring it.

Birdy,
About 15 minutes after the original post, the dpreview forums went down for a couple of hours. They are back up now, so I would expect more activity in the next few hours. However, I doubt that will have any more idea than we do regarding this conundrum

Yes, I knew, it was down nearly 20 min. so far it has 7 in total, I don't think people pay lot of attention in it, cos nothing from official Nikon or Nikon Website, otherwise we got the excess noise from there long ago.

[Charlie Chalk]

Just to clarify, the problem with the flash was fixed by Empire Direct sending me a new camera NOT repairing the faulty one.

I seem to have caused rather a comotion haven't I?

CC

[Nnnnsic]

Nahh... well maybe.

But this is really interesting.

[sirhc55]

I think that 44 viewers in the early hours of the morning shows a influx of DPreview people having a look. The answers so far are nebulous. I can’t see why one of the UK’s largest camera companies would supply a hacked camera!!!

Chris

[birddog114]

I think that 44 viewers in the early hours of the morning shows a influx of DPreview people having a look. The answers so far are nebulous. I can’t see why one of the UK’s largest camera companies would supply a hacked camera!!!

Chris

What I'm thinking of this is:
They tried to renew their marketing strategies in attracting their customers to "the fresh new stock with firmware ver 1.03". No ones in the world has it, Non officicial announcing from Nikon. No explaination what new firmware 1.03 for/ fix what?
As per some replies and viewers on the other site, the firmware 1.03 is only for GUI, perhaps from some guys with a great creatively brain.
Why should we accept the hacked camera?
RIP.

[Charlie Chalk]

Its official!! just got this reply from Nikon Tech Support

Subject
1.03 Firmware on my D70

Discussion Thread
Response (Melanie Stanton) 03/01/2005 11:07 PM
Your camera has the latest firmware. Firmware A latest is still 1.01, Firmware B has recently been updated to 1.03 which will be announced and available for download on the site next week, but your camera obviously already has it.
Details of the bug fix will be given when the update is announced on the site which should be a week today.

See, I new I wasn't seeing things!

CC

[sirhc55]

Well done CC - did they say what the difference was?

Chris

[Charlie Chalk]

No, just that the firmware would be posted on the site next week, and the bug fixes would be mentioned there.

Still 3fps, haven't noticed a grip sprouting from the bottom, and the pictures are still 3008 x 2000.....oh well!

CC

[atencati]

I joined the yahoo group NikonD70Hak and learend a Ton!!!!!! There is a lot of really cool stuff in the works out there, basically software to do everything you could want through the USB cable using a PC and a few guys are working on unlocking features that seem to be inherent in the camera but not available. ISO 100 still seems to be a mystery, no one really knows if the camear is capable of ISO 100 and there is no definitive proof yet. Eiher way....


B 1.03 will not change any functionality of the camera, just menu and GUI (graphical user interface) I am hoping they get rid of the timer for IR Remote shots........

A 1.01 is he section for functionality issues. There appears to be quite a bit of "buffer" built in to both aspects of the camera for future upgrade.

So, we will soon know. Contest for who notices the nikon site first????

Andy

[sirhc55]

I read an interesting post where someone said that it was not within the interests of camera manufacturers to change the electronics for each new camera. All they did was enable/disable features inline with the costing of the camera.

I suppose this is borne out by the C@non 300 having a hack avalable to bring online features that are in the 20D(?)

Chris

[Greg B]

I am hoping they get rid of the timer for IR Remote shots........

atencati, you can use the remote with or without a time delay already - is that what you mean?

[Onyx]

Fantastic CC - good to hear unofficical official news of this new 1.03 firmware.

No surprises the simplest explaination was the correct one. Unlike the tons of rumours of hacked FW and/or nonbelievers in DPthreads.

[birddog114]

Fantastic CC - good to hear unofficical official news of this new 1.03 firmware.

No surprises the simplest explaination was the correct one. Unlike the tons of rumours of hacked FW and/or nonbelievers in DPthreads.

If it's true, it's the first time firmware and software from Nikon Corp. unannounced of the pre-release firmware from Official Nikon.
I have had a long chat with Maxwell this morning, first they thought I was joke and want to start a flamewar, one I pointed them to our forum, they said, they haven't got anything released from Nikon Japan atm.
They confirmed the A is 1.01 and B: is 1.02.
And they warned:
If anything come back to their Service Dept. with something strange, they'll refuse the service, cos the 1.03 is not recongnized by them and all other Nikon website, and so far no documentation to support its release within Nikon family.
They only work with the current firmware atm until they officially received in writting from Nikon Japan.

[atencati]

I am hoping they get rid of the timer for IR Remote shots........

atencati, you can use the remote with or without a time delay already - is that what you mean?

I was refering to the irritating fact that you must use the IR remote within a certain period or it turns the feature off. I would like a good old fashioned on/off switch. We'll see

A

[gstark]

And they warned:
If anything come back to their Service Dept. with something strange, they'll refuse the service, cos the 1.03 is not recongnized by them and all other Nikon website, and so far no documentation to support its release within Nikon family.
They only work with the current firmware atm until they officially received in writting from Nikon Japan.

So, you get a camera from them that's very new stock, and has B 1.03. Something goes wrong with it, and because of their ignorance, you will be denied service?

When are they going to get their act together? Not only do they overcharge, but they significantly under service. as well.

C'Mon Maxwells, start acting like a professional importer of high quality photographic equipment, rather than a bunch of backyard yobbos with not a clue about the products you're supposed to be experts in.

[Greg B]

I am hoping they get rid of the timer for IR Remote shots........

atencati, you can use the remote with or without a time delay already - is that what you mean?

I was refering to the irritating fact that you must use the IR remote within a certain period or it turns the feature off. I would like a good old fashioned on/off switch. We'll see

A

Aha yes, I'm with you now! And I agree.

[sirhc55]

Gary you took the words right out of my mouth.

If I want Nikon info the very last place I look at is Maxwells as they seem to be behind the eight ball all of the time.

Chris

[birddog114]

And they warned:
If anything come back to their Service Dept. with something strange, they'll refuse the service, cos the 1.03 is not recongnized by them and all other Nikon website, and so far no documentation to support its release within Nikon family.
They only work with the current firmware atm until they officially received in writting from Nikon Japan.

So, you get a camera from them that's very new stock, and has B 1.03. Something goes wrong with it, and because of their ignorance, you will be denied service?

When are they going to get their act together? Not only do they overcharge, but they significantly under service. as well.

C'Mon Maxwells, start acting like a professional importer of high quality photographic equipment, rather than a bunch of backyard yobbos with not a clue about the products you're supposed to be experts in.

Gary,
Trust me I'm not on their side. They checked and they knew they did not have any stock of D70 with B:1.03, that why they said to me, none of their D70 has the unofficial released firmware, they can see them very clear out of the main shipping carton/ container with the man. date, batch number, firmware etc...
If the new stock arrives by mid or the end of this month with the new firmware then there's another solution from them.
Even right now, if you call Nikon in Torance, CA, they'll tell you the same thing cos, it's still un-official from Nikon and it's unusual without any explanation or fixes from the old firmware.