Do it yourself firmware upgrades at DVinfo.net

Jack Zhang · February 8th, 2006, 07:08 PM

if you're an expert (with ASCII porgramming knowledge), you could turn a Z1 from 1080i encoding to 1080p60 encoding. once the ATSC 1080p60 format comes out that just might be possible to turn a Z1 from 1080i to 1080p.

Leo Pepingco · February 10th, 2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Zhang

if you're an expert (with ASCII porgramming knowledge), you could turn a Z1 from 1080i encoding to 1080p60 encoding. once the ATSC 1080p60 format comes out that just might be possible to turn a Z1 from 1080i to 1080p.

Lets assume for the moment this 1080p format is avaliable, would it be possible for a noob like me who knows little about cameras themselves to find someone to do it with only cash and the camera in question?

It would be good if companies themselves actually became involved in the upkeep of old models. Like how some cams now can accept downloaded upgrades and new codecs. (So I've heard)

Joe Lumbroso · February 10th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo Pepingco

Like how some cams now can accept downloaded upgrades and new codecs. (So I've heard)

The Z1U/FX1 *can* accept upgrades to its firmware. I know it can be done. I assume it's done through the firewire. I've not seen anything about this online, but if you knew what you were doing (or were significantly insane or brave), you could definately "get up in that shizz..." and do what you will.

Paul Cascio · February 10th, 2006, 05:16 PM

Jack is right, it can be done and the mods are applied through a firewire. For safety purposes, a copy of the existing eprom code is made first. Then, the changes are applied. Anyone with a reasonably advanced knoweldge of electronic circuits and particularly non-volatile memory devices (eproms) can perfom such mods if they have access to the documented source code. Unfortunately, I don't know sqwat about any of that stuff, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, or was it a Ramada, or maybe it was a Motel 6. Send cash please.

Tomas Chinchilla · February 10th, 2006, 07:39 PM

Can anyone tell me whether we are serious here or not?

I mean can this be done for real make the cam record 60p instead of 60i?

Quality?

Wow!

Boyd Ostroff · February 10th, 2006, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomas Chinchilla

Can anyone tell me whether we are serious here or not?

Of course this is serious. Also see Jack's thread about how you can perform a firmware upgrade to turn your Hyundai into a Mercedes...

Jack Zhang · February 10th, 2006, 09:05 PM

Well, whomever made this a thread will be thanked. (I didin't intend this to be a thread.)
Edit: Oh, it was you Boyd, I never expected this topic to start a wildfire of posts!!!

I was first thinking of upgrading the encoder chip to a faster chip for encoding to MPEG-4 AVC. But you guys seem to be excited about using the current circuitry and converting from 1080i to 1080p60.

Leo Pepingco · February 10th, 2006, 10:14 PM

WEll, if the technology is out there, and someone is willing to do it, then I'll get my Z1 next month. If I can get 1080p and 1080i, that would be fantastico. Then I dont need that HD100.

I was only wondering that when this technology becomes readilly avaliable, will Sony offer to do it for a fee? I dont plan to send my new camera anywhere outside of Sydney... I dont trust Australia post, the Bermuda Triangle of Postal companies.

John Hewat · February 11th, 2006, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo Pepingco

I dont plan to send my new camera anywhere outside of Sydney... I dont trust Australia post, the Bermuda Triangle of Postal companies.

Same with me and Melbourne. But I really like the sound of this. People kept saying "What about when 1080p cameras come out - you'll need to buy a new one... Well maybe not...

How would the NLEs deal with it though?

And can you kiss your warranty good bye with something like this?

DJ Lewis · February 11th, 2006, 02:39 AM

a while back, at a confrence, I heard about a firmware update from a guy in Sweden (I think) that turned a fx1 pretty much into a z1, but never found anything online about it...

1080p on a z1 sure would be nice :)

Steven Gotz · February 11th, 2006, 07:41 AM

I don't know what the big deal is. I have known the secret to upgrading a FX1 to a Z1 ever since the Z1 came out.

Sell the FX1 and buy the Z1. Easy. No sweat.

Jack Zhang · February 11th, 2006, 04:14 PM

^^^for NLEs, I predict Vegas could handle it. As for FCP5, maybe some additional development is required for native HDV 1080p60 to run in FCP.

Ben De Rydt · February 12th, 2006, 11:06 AM

Please keep the comedy factor of this thread a bit higher, otherwise people may take things serious.

For the record: there's no way to change an interlaced CCD system to a progressive one by software, you can't compress 1080p60 to 25 Mbit/s and expect any quality, and firmware updates for the FX1 and Z1 will most likely need a special tool connected to the service port located in the battery compartment.

Tomas Chinchilla · February 12th, 2006, 11:11 AM

Thanks Ben for clarifying things!

Jack Zhang · February 12th, 2006, 11:24 PM

^^I realize that so that's why I initially thought of replacing some of the parts (CCDs, Encoder chips, etc...). only daredevil repairmen could do that. Remember the guy that fitted a nikon lens on an FX1E?

February 10th, 2006, 05:16 PM	#4
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	I will do it for you when I have the code finished - $250 Jack is right, it can be done and the mods are applied through a firewire. For safety purposes, a copy of the existing eprom code is made first. Then, the changes are applied. Anyone with a reasonably advanced knoweldge of electronic circuits and particularly non-volatile memory devices (eproms) can perfom such mods if they have access to the documented source code. Unfortunately, I don't know sqwat about any of that stuff, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, or was it a Ramada, or maybe it was a Motel 6. Send cash please. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

February 11th, 2006, 07:41 AM	#11
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	I don't know what the big deal is. I have known the secret to upgrading a FX1 to a Z1 ever since the Z1 came out. Sell the FX1 and buy the Z1. Easy. No sweat. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

February 12th, 2006, 11:06 AM	#13
Ben De Rydt Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 139	Please keep the comedy factor of this thread a bit higher, otherwise people may take things serious. For the record: there's no way to change an interlaced CCD system to a progressive one by software, you can't compress 1080p60 to 25 Mbit/s and expect any quality, and firmware updates for the FX1 and Z1 will most likely need a special tool connected to the service port located in the battery compartment. __________________ Please keep in mind that English is not my native language.

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February 8th, 2006, 07:08 PM	#1
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	if you're an expert (with ASCII porgramming knowledge), you could turn a Z1 from 1080i encoding to 1080p60 encoding. once the ATSC 1080p60 format comes out that just might be possible to turn a Z1 from 1080i to 1080p.

February 10th, 2006, 07:39 PM	#5
Tomas Chinchilla Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 212 Images: 8	Can anyone tell me whether we are serious here or not? I mean can this be done for real make the cam record 60p instead of 60i? Quality? Wow!

February 10th, 2006, 09:05 PM	#7
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Well, whomever made this a thread will be thanked. (I didin't intend this to be a thread.) Edit: Oh, it was you Boyd, I never expected this topic to start a wildfire of posts!!! I was first thinking of upgrading the encoder chip to a faster chip for encoding to MPEG-4 AVC. But you guys seem to be excited about using the current circuitry and converting from 1080i to 1080p60.

February 10th, 2006, 10:14 PM	#8
Leo Pepingco Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 275	WEll, if the technology is out there, and someone is willing to do it, then I'll get my Z1 next month. If I can get 1080p and 1080i, that would be fantastico. Then I dont need that HD100. I was only wondering that when this technology becomes readilly avaliable, will Sony offer to do it for a fee? I dont plan to send my new camera anywhere outside of Sydney... I dont trust Australia post, the Bermuda Triangle of Postal companies.

February 11th, 2006, 02:39 AM	#10
DJ Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 97	a while back, at a confrence, I heard about a firmware update from a guy in Sweden (I think) that turned a fx1 pretty much into a z1, but never found anything online about it... 1080p on a z1 sure would be nice :)

February 11th, 2006, 04:14 PM	#12
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	^^^for NLEs, I predict Vegas could handle it. As for FCP5, maybe some additional development is required for native HDV 1080p60 to run in FCP.

February 12th, 2006, 11:11 AM	#14
Tomas Chinchilla Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 212 Images: 8	Thanks Ben for clarifying things!

February 12th, 2006, 11:24 PM	#15
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	^^I realize that so that's why I initially thought of replacing some of the parts (CCDs, Encoder chips, etc...). only daredevil repairmen could do that. Remember the guy that fitted a nikon lens on an FX1E?