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Digilux 3/ Lumix DMC-L1 Firmware Update?

owen_coors

By owen_coors
in Digital Forum

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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I ordered an L1 this week and it's supposed to arrive tomorrow. The first thing that I want to do, after charging the battery and formatting the SD card, is update the firmware to ver2.0. I've downloaded the new firmware, but the instructions state that you need to use an AC-Adapter for the upgrade. Is this true?.. or can I do this proceedure with a fully charged battery?

Also... if anyone cares to comment on the difference in image quality that the new firmware has made, I'd certainly like to read about that. I'm certain that I saw a thread here, a few days ago, where someone expounded on this new firmware but after much time spent searching the forum I can't find that thread again.

 

Owen

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dugby

dugby

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Congratulations on the L1,.......which I also have.

 

It was probably Brian or myself on those threads.

 

The recommendation for using AC power for the Firmware update is a fundamental issue.

 

Sometimes a fully charged (but faulty) battery can go from 100% to zero in a few seconds.

 

Generally if a firmware upgrade is interrupted by a power failure, it will render the device lifeless.

Having said that a loss in AC power will also do that.

 

Unfortunately the L1 AC connector is a pseudo-battery, you will understand what I am saying when you take delivery of the package.

 

The ideal scenario for a FW update would be, a fully charged battery in the device AND also having the device being powered by AC.

 

Anyway, I can assure you that the FW v2.0 is a significant all round improvement to the in-camera processing of the JPEGs, colour temperature, sharpness and tone are all significantly improved and now seem to be a natural improvement over those from the D2.

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spylaw4

spylaw4

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Agreed! One my mild moans about the L1 is that ludicrous way of getting mains power into it. Why no input socket a la LC-1/D2? Does the D3 use this method? I can't think Leica would tolerate it.

 

That having been said the method works exactly as it says on the tin. And is absolute magic.

 

One question - I wonder if one should install V1.1 first - then V2? Doing so would do no harm. I say this in case the V1.1 does some things which then don't need altering in V2.

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miami91

miami91

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Sure wish the firmware update for the D3 would be released. With all the energy being expended on M8 firmware and faults, I have a feeling we in the Leica camp may be waiting awhile for this...

 

Jeff.

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Thanks, Dugby... I didn't realize that the AC-adapter came with the camera! The ver 2.0 firmware update went as smooth as could be. I've only taken a handful of indoor shots, so far, and I'm already quite amazed with what I see. Manual controls and an autofocus Leica zoom lens... this is just great!

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cnguyen

cnguyen

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I did a firmware update on my L1 3 days old last night and it worked fine. I copied it to an SD card and let it installed from there. So to answer your question no need to plug it to AC adapter. I've been having fun putting my Leica R lenses on the L1 body. I sold my Olympus 4/3rds body and will keep the 14-54mm and 35mm macro to use in conjuntion with the Leica 14-50mm and R stuff. By the way you might know this already but L1 and D3 will AF confirm with manual focus lenses. Nikon , Pentax, Leica R , etc.. mount them all and have fun !:)

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Thanks for sharing this info with me, Charles! As nice as the Leica 14-50mm lens is, I'd much prefer to be using good quality manual focus lenses... but Alas, all of my good 35mm lenses from the past are sold off. That you are keeping your Olympus 14-54mm, along with your Leica 14-50mm must be a testament to the qualities of that lens. I was actually looking to buy an E-1 and 14-54, when I got sidetracked with the L1. If not for the recent reduced price of an L1, I'd certainly be using an E-1 and 14-54 now. Out of curiosity, how easy/difficult is it to focus your R lenses with the L1? I'm 44yrs old and my eyes are dimming and I really should go and get my first pair of glasses. I have a difficult time manual focusing the L1/14-50. I really need a split image type screen to do this kind of focusing, now days. Katzeye is not showing anything for the D3/L1... perhaps I should write her to ask about the possibility. If I can get my L1 set up to accurately manual focus, for me, then I may look further into getting the appropriate lenses and adapters too. I'm also interested in the Leica/Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 D Summilux. If I find out that this lens is sharp at f1.4, then the 14-50mm will be sold off and I'll gladly get by with this one lens, for the time being.

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spylaw4

spylaw4

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Owen, there was a thread here a while back about Katzeye fitting to a D3/L1 which appears possible. I find manual focusing a bit hit-&-miss so one of these and/or an eyepiece magnifier would be useful.

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howard_cummer

howard_cummer

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I had ordered a 25 Summilux for my 4/3rds system and it came in today. I invited a friend to join me for late lunch and we played with the lens and my Lumix L1 and Olympus 330E.

 

Here are some sample pictures developed from RAW in Silky Pix and resized for the web using Photoshop CS 2.

 

Comments are provided about the pictures after you have opened them.

 

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/25mmSummilux/

 

http://tinyurl.com/yvnnth

 

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/25mmSummilux/JYaoB_amp_WSPW.jpg.html

 

http://tinyurl.com/25zs7x

 

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/25mmSummilux/HCB_amp_WSpW.jpg.html

 

http://tinyurl.com/2h4tua

 

My first impression of the lens is very positive. It seems to focus accurately in the near distance (which my Sigma 35mm f1.4 did not) and although it seems quite big on the camera(s) perhaps that size is the price of quality.

 

 

Cheers

 

Howard

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Riley

Riley

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on MF focussing issues

Im not sure but if D3/L1 can use the Olympus ME-1 eyecup, which is pricey and has minimal effectiveness

you could perhaps exercise the option of using the Pentax O-ME53 mag finder

which requires modification to fit, but is cheaper and better

 

Pentax O-ME53 on E400! - FourThirdsPhoto Forum

 

and there is also the katseye focussing screen, which is ground glass and gathers more light

there are also chinese versions on ebay that are less effective but cheaper

the rub is you have to fit them your sels

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Howard, those images are very encouraging... if not downright fantastic! Thank you for sharing. Please, do keep us informed of any more test images that you may upload. I too was interested in the Sigma 30mm, at one point, but was privy to many dissatisfied users (and many satisfied users, too). However, the threads I followed usually resulted in the person receiving their lens back after Sigma serviced it... and they were very happy with the results, then. At twice the price of the Sigma, I'd expect a lot more from the Leica Summilux. I'd be very interested in knowing about your findings as you use your Summilux more.

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Riley, thanks for the info about the screens and mag finders. I've only used modified Nikon magnifying eyepieces with my 2x previous dslr cameras. I've read good things about the Pentax magnifiers before... perhaps it's time to investigate them further.

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cnguyen

cnguyen

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Owen - you can use the AF confirm focus on the L1 to help you with focusing. I usually set it to the center focus point hold down the shutter release slightly and start turning the focusing ring slowly. The light will lit up when you have it in focus. The L1 has better screen than the E-500 I used to have. Manual focus is not easy for 4/3rds cameras due to screen size. By the way Olympus lens 14-54mm is no slouch. I did comparison with the leica 14-50mm and they're almost identical as far as sharpness goes. The Leica lens is a tiny better better as far as clarity goes the Olympus is a tad darker in color/contrast rendition and I like them both. As Leica owner I'm always impressed with Olympus optics. They have a unique look to them like Leicas.

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Thanks, Riley... that looks promising! Is it a sure thing that the D3 and L1 screen are the same? I'm not going to get this screen just yet, as I'm pooling my resources to get a 25/1.4 Summilux right now. Howard's images have turned my affections 100% in the direction of the Summilux... and nothing else will satisfy, for now.

 

Owen

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owen_coors

owen_coors

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Charles, I tried focusing the 14-50 manually using the focus assist light but my results were variable... or to steal another's phrasology, earlier in this thread, focus was "hit or miss". If/when I get into manual focus lenses with the L1, I'm planning to use a split screen. This in itself has not been a 100% cureall for me with other dslr cameras. One particular camera that I was using manual focus Zeiss glass on, with both a Katzeye and converted Nikon magnifier was still backfocusing... everytime and with a consistant focal point. Fortunately I was following the huge DMR thread over at the FM site and read that if the lens is backfocusing then you need to shim the focusing screen up away from the prism/mirrors(in the D3/L1 case... not the main mirror in front of the sensor). If it's front focusing, they stated that the focus screen needs to come closer to the prism/mirror-arrangement. I first made a shim from .005" brass shim stock. It ever so slightly began to front focus. Carefully, I ground the soft (I annealed the shim) shim down to nearly .004" and I was in business, after that. Perhaps I'm too particular, but if I focus on the eyes (for a closeup portrait) with a fast lens, wide open, I want the tip of the nose and the eyes in sharp focus. Anyways... I'm off on a tangeant here and for what purpose, I'm not certain. The images that Howard Cummer shared, on this thread, have been continuously on my mind since viewing them and I'm only concerned with getting a Summilux 25/1.4 for now. Focus screens, magnifying eyepieces and mf lenses will have to be put on the back burner, for me, 'til later.

 

Owen

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