Upgrade for D3

[Old Bob]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0804/08041 ... rmware.asp
Looks like a firmware upgrade for D3 owners

Bob

[johnd]

Thanks Bob.
At least 1 of the firmware changes sounds good, that is raising the limit for auto iSO to kick in for aperture mode.

Cheers
John

[Pehpsi]

How does Firmware work? How can a bit of software make big changes to how a camera works after it's been made?

[gstark]

James,

It's what actually drives the device.

It's little different than what makes your PC run, or what makes your iPod run, or makes your cellphone run ....

Think of your camera as a computer that accepts lenses and makes images.

Think of your iPod as a computer that permits you to load music onto it, and at a later time play that music back.

Think of your cellphone as a computer that lets you make phone calls.

Now, consider that for each of these functions : making images, loading and playing back music, or making phone calls, there is software available, for your computer, that permits you to undertake all of those tasks directly on the computer.

The firmware in those devices is basically a highly specialised version of those sorts of programs, but designed and optimised to work specifically within a very limited range of devices. The software (firmware, because it's permanently loaded into the device) concerns itself with the obvious functionality of the device, as well as the less obvious issues related to how the user interacts with that device - the User Interface, or UI.

On a computer, your basic UI consists of a keyboard, mouse and display.

On a phone you have the keyboard and display, a microphone and speaker, and maybe a joystick, as well as a number of switches or buttons.

A camera has no keyboard, but the UI will include a display or two, a number of switches (buttons) and a few dials, as well as lenses, light and focus sensors, shutters, terminal contacts ...

Making any sense to you?

In the same way that downgrading you PC from XP to Vista will change (and slow down) the user experience, so too can changing the firmware on any device change pretty well any aspect of the device that is within the realm of that firmware.

[Antsl]

I have just uploaded and installed the upgrade ..... the only thing that bugged me was that the camera told me to go away and charge the battery before it would import it. The A-Upgrade took only a few seconds to import while the B-upgrade took a couple of minutes.
What I am happy about is that they have improved the highlight warning display. Before if you wanted the highlight warning it would only be in the full-frame review of the image and you could not hide it.... now you can see one full frame display with the highlight display flashing and then scroll through across to a plain view which is a lot less disconcerting if you show the image to others!
The D3 just keeps getting better all the time!

[Pehpsi]

Thanks for the explanation once again You seem to know a thing or two about a thing or two...

[Justin]

The firmware is the 'operating system'. A case could be made that the firmware on a camera is both the operating system and the application. hmmm perhaps that is why there is an A and B upgrade for cameras.

You'd be amazed at what can be controlled by software. But in the camera it would all be voltages etc. So the software (firmware) opens the gate to push a little more voltage through to the viewfinder and hey presto, brighter focus points.

A linux hack would be interesting. But I suspect cameras are too specialised, and there is no way canon or nikon will release an open standards camera (hahaha) for a long time...

[andy]

..... the only thing that bugged me was that the camera told me to go away and charge the battery before it would import it.

I'd rather spend time charging the battery than risking a problem during the firmware upgrade. Not sure on the specifics of DSLR's, but many other devices turn into paper weights if you lose power during upgrades.

[Pehpsi]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1208533712.html

Did anyone upgrade?

[Antsl]

="Pehpsi Did anyone upgrade?

Yes .. I did and I was happy I did ... the highlight warning is a lot better.... I do not think I will be shooting RAW at 9 fps though!

[Oz_Beachside]

did the upgrade come with a can of white paint?

[Antsl]

did the upgrade come with a can of white paint?

do you mean whitewash!?

[Pehpsi]

="Pehpsi Did anyone upgrade?

I do not think I will be shooting RAW at 9 fps though!

Yeah 9fps is a bit insane!

[sirhc55]

Would appear that Nikon withdrew the upgrade due to problems

[ATJ]

Would appear that Nikon withdrew the upgrade due to problems

http://nikonasia-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nikonasia_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5863

[Oz_Beachside]

Would appear that Nikon withdrew the upgrade due to problems

http://nikonasia-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nikonasia_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5863

wow, gee Antsl, only applies to the following conditions; "pushing the shutter release"

amazed they dont have an undo, or uninstall firmware

[Antsl]

wow, gee Antsl, only applies to the following conditions; "pushing the shutter release"
amazed they dont have an undo, or uninstall firmware

I thought they might have put the original firmware back on the Nikon site so people can revert to it..... I have been using the camera without any problems since the upgrade and I think I'll be fine until Nikon releases their 1.1.1 upgrade ... wait and see.
Where's a bit of wood to touch!

[gstark]

Would appear that Nikon withdrew the upgrade due to problems

http://nikonasia-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nikonasia_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5863

wow, gee Antsl, only applies to the following conditions; "pushing the shutter release"

amazed they dont have an undo, or uninstall firmware

Shades of AFD 2006! Remember this?

[ozboyerp]

Good Evening everyone,

I just did an upgrade, and I founded interesting the fact to have copyright information in the new version 2.0!

But after looking at the pictures on my computer, I cannot find any of this copyright informations on it!

Any ideas !

Someone?

[ozboyerp]

Any one knows more about the copyright information!

I don't see it on the pictures informations!