a Z1 NEW FIRMWARE!!!

[kevinc]

Put our force together Z1 users!!! Read to the end, please!
I call on you to demand together for NEW Z1 FIRMWARE!

Ive writen minolta about firmware bugs of Z1 and they said, they know about them, but will do NOTHING about that! They are NOT going to develop new firmware. Ive noticed following problems and bugs

- High chromatic aberation and Noise
- Weak focusing in bad light conditions
- Only 10s Self timer implemented - lets add 2s mode too!
- Wrong Power-Save mode timing (power-save mode is turned on after 1 minute, no matter what the setting in menu is (eg. 10min))
- Makro and Video Full-time AF turns on every time camera is turned on - even if full-time AF was turned off before
- Battery indicatior is absolutely not precise - shows full batteries all the time!
- Cant turn off Video volume (only set to low volume)
- Video sound out of sync
- Digital Image Stabilizator should be implemented in new firmware

Those were only some of 1.00 firmware bugs. WE WANT GOOD CAMERA, WITH GOOD FIWMFARE, but minolta DOESNT CARE!

OVERYONE! Send them your requirement for new firmware - we have to make them develop it! Write them, you are fed up with this version, write them your problems, those that i wrote abowe and your own, too! Here is contacting form:

https://cs2.konicaminolta.net/webqa/...&rgn=apc&abt=1

There IS NEW FIRMWARE 1.04c in JAPAN ONLY, and they are not going to distribute it to Europe and USA! Why? Ask them, and demand new firmware for us!

IF YOU CARE - CLICK ON ADDRESS ABOWE - AND DEMAND NEW FIRMWARE

WE WILL BOMBARD THEM WITH OUR MAILS, LET THEM KNOW, WE ARE CUSTOMERS and WE WONT LET IT BE!!!!

Thank you,
Kevin.

[bob877]

I just want to add that I support this effort; it really is screwed up for Minolta to only release an update in Japan and not go to the relatively simple effort of translating it for users in other countries. Sadly it seems to be the trend (Fuji, for instance, really should update the firmware on the S5000 but there's no sign they'll do that either). You'd swear Microsoft was making these cameras, the difference being that even MS eventually gets around to releasing patches and (some) camera manufacturers just don't care.

[voxmagna]

Some cameras were never built to be firmware upgradeable. Having seen similar annoying firmware bugs on cameras, I can appreciate the frustration, particularly since my simple cheap MP3 player can be upgraded over the USB link.

So whilst moaning to manufacturers is a protest, you really have to think twice about buying their next product and dump all the brand loyalty added value (or disloyalty in this case) which they hope they had built on their previous model release.

If the key cam players keep hanging on to the assumption that we will just keep going out buying the next model, there is a potential niche for somebody to fill. I'm still waiting: after all cameras now seem to be more aligned to computers than SLR's and we all know about the life and price of computer products. VOX

[spikez1]

I have done as you say and sent a mail to the UK support site.

Amazingly I got the following delivery notice!!

[email protected] This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Your message has been successfully relayed to the following recipients, but the requested delivery status notifications may not be generated by the destination.

[email protected]

Do KonicaMinolta not give their staff real email addresses, Im slightly concerned my mail has gone to a hotmail address!!!!

[bob877]

"I'm still waiting: after all cameras now seem to be more aligned to computers than SLR's and we all know about the life and price of computer products."

and I know that in most cases computer (i.e. motherboard, video card) manufacturers release regular bios updates..
Besides that driver updates are also commonly released.

[athlonkmf]

I've redirected this message to a wellvisited forum. The Z1-owners there will be joining the email-petition too.

I'm not a owner myself, but I'm seriously considering buying the Z1.

http://gallery.kmfstudio.com/dsample/

[kevinc]

Thank you for forwarding this post to other users who should help!

Well, after reading few posts, ive learned, that digital image stabilization isnt very common, and surely wont be implemented in camera. so i take this comment back, but each and every on of other comments still remains on our "wishlist"and i hope, they will be fixed!

[bob877]

"I've redirected this message to a wellvisited forum. The Z1-owners there will be joining the email-petition too."

May I ask what forum that is, just out of curiousity?

Bob

[athlonkmf]

Originally Posted by bob877

"I've redirected this message to a wellvisited forum. The Z1-owners there will be joining the email-petition too."

May I ask what forum that is, just out of curiousity?

Bob

Gathering Of Tweakers

http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_topics/71

I might redirect it to another forum too.

Dutchphotozone


http://gallery.kmfstudio.com/dsample/

[marcribe]

This is the reply from Minolta:

Thank you for your patronage of the Minolta DiMAGE Z1 digital camera. With
regard to your inquiry, please find our answers below:

- high chromatic aberration
Please note that lens optical performance cannot be improved by firmware
upgrade.

- video sound out of sync
Please be advised that, time-lag may occur between movie and audio when a
movie clip is played back on PC with USB connection to camera without
saving the movie file in your PC, due to the IC performance and/or file
recording capability. To improve the situation, we recommend you to save
the movie file in your PC in advance of playing it back. Please note that,
however, not only the transfer speed of USB interface equipped with the
DiMAGE Z1, the condition of the PC connected with the camera may cause such
problem.

As for your inquiry on firmware for this model, please note that no
upgraded firmware has been issued either in Japan or worldwide since this
model was introduced. Further, we have no plan of upgraded firmware to add
any further functions to this model at present, although those which to
resolve crucial problems are possible in the future.