Olympus e-Series Lens updates.

[MartinHickling]

Both the kit lenses that came with the e-Series cameras have updates available.
14-28 and the 40-150

[pandora]

Originally Posted by MartinHickling

Both the kit lenses that came with the e-Series cameras have updates available.14-28 and the 40-150

Hi Martin ... thank you for that. I have both an E3 and E520, the kit lenses of course came only with the latter.

Can you please tell me what benefit these updates confer?

[Mike_PEAT]

Originally Posted by MartinHickling

Both the kit lenses that came with the e-Series cameras have updates available.
14-28 and the 40-150

The only lenses with recent updates are the MicroFourThirds 14-42mm and 17mm, and that was back in September.

There ISN'T a 14-28mm for the E-System (the E-Series was discontinued years ago, E-10 & E-20).

If there's a new firmware upgrade for the E-System 14-42 and 40-150, it's probably only to make them more compatible with MicroFourThirds cameras.

Now if there's new info, it hasn't been posted yet to the Olympus Japan firmware site:
Joint update service for OLYMPUS E-SYSTEM - OLYMPUS Digital Camera

[MartinHickling]

Thanks Mike_Peat
Sorry forgot the size of the lens and did not get it out of the bag it is a 14-42. Should have rememberd as the two cross over. I only thougt to check recently as my new E520 had just come back from being repaired and I had just bought a 35mm macro. All my lenses had updates required. Having worked in computers most of my life I always apply latest updates after waiting to see if they are stable. Thanks for the pointer to that update site. I have used the Olympus site for two years now and hidden gems keep appearing. Some of them are not easily found from the menus provided by olympus.
I have just checked the .co.uk site and that page is not there in the format that your link has. The page you use is much more informative. The .co.uk page only lists the bodies and the lenses that have updates avaiable. You have to click each one to find out what the update is.

[pandora]

Hey Martin, please cut me into the conversation as I'm almost new to lens updating - I've so far updated only my 70-300mm soon after buying it and I'm not sure what benefit it gained.

However, after reading your initial post I plugged both my E3 and E520 into the computer with the 14-42 fitted but no "Update" option appeared on the camera's menu, as it has done previously.

I would very much appreciate any advice on the issue you can give me as to what effect upon the lens/es the updates have and what I need to do to get them.

Thanks.

[Mike_PEAT]

Originally Posted by pandora

Hey Martin, please cut me into the conversation as I'm almost new to lens updating - I've so far updated only my 70-300mm soon after buying it and I'm not sure what benefit it gained.

Click the link in my reply...for each lens there's a "Click here" link that will tell you what the update will do/improve. If the "Click here" link doesn't work, check to see if you have Java disabled for that page.

Updates only come out every so often, some lenses/bodies may never be updated again, so don't worry about the version numbers being different for different components.

For the 70-300 here is the update history from my link:

ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 Firmware Ver.1.3 has incorporated the following upgrade.

[Modification] -
Resolved unstable sequential shooting when using C-AF on the E-3 and E-30.
* Upgrade history * ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 Firmware Ver.1.2 has incorporated the following upgrade.
-
IMAGER AF is available when supported by the camera.
*Depending on the condition of the subject, the focusing speed near the telephoto end may slow down to maintain focusing accuracy.

ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 Firmware Ver.1.1 has incorporated the following upgrade.
-
Stabilized exposure precision.

[pandora]

Mike_PEAT - thanks for responding. With camera connected I followed your link to the update page and clicked the appropriate links that list the fixes. However, it gave no idication as to whether or not my lens is updated to the latest vers. I'm wondering whether Olympus software needs to be installed before any updates are downloadable? I have a 74 year old CPU that needs upgrading - the casing is also pretty worn out, but I manage.

[camrajoky]

If you have the Olympus Master 2, it will link the body or lens and allow you to update firm ware thru the computer. They usually have firmware updates that improve the speed or operations of the item.

[Mike_PEAT]

If you scroll to the bottom of the page of the link I gave, there are links to instructions depending which software you are using...you're probably going to be using Master2.x (it came with your camera). Here's a direct link:
OLYMPUS Digital Camera : Q&A - OLYMPUS Master

Once you've installed the software and run it, go to the Camera menu and select Update Camera. Of course you should make sure your battery is fully charged before doing this, and connected to the computer.

It's important to follow the instructions to the letter...when updating make sure you WAIT until the camera says it's OK, NOT the computer!

If you're unsure after reading the instructions, and asking questions here don't do it...you could end up with a dead camera if you make a mistake.

For instance, some people disconnected/turned off the camera when the computer said OK. and the camera was dead after that.

[MartinHickling]

Hi Pandora,
The e520 has a firmware option (not got the camera with me at the moment) on one of the tool menus. This will tell you what firmware versions are on the camera and the currently attached lens. I would imagine that the e3 has a similar function.
You will have attach each lens to the camera in turn to see what each version is.
The version number is strored with the lens so you only need to view the lenses on one of your cameras but of cource you will need to examine both to get the body numbers.
As Mike_Peat suggests you will still need the Olympus software that came with the camera to actually perform the update and all his caveats still apply.

[pandora]

Thomas, Mike, Martin - many thanks to each of you for your help. From your comments it's obvious that I must reinstall the Oly software that I uninstalled after buying the E520 and before I bought the E3. That is probably why "Firmware Upgrade" doesn't appear on the camera's start up menu anymore when connected to the computer. My reason for uninstalling it was because the software is a "Free Trial Period" deal that I think should be included in the price of the E3 at least. OK, so looks as if Im going to have to bite the bullet if I am to get these Upgrades - I am intending to add to my bag the F2.8-4.0, 12-60mm SWD to cover my 5 weeks driving holiday on the mainland during Xmas / NY, so surely it won't require an upgrade when I buy it.

[Mike_PEAT]

There are two different programs:

Olympus Master is the free program Olympus provides for editing RAW images, and updating the camera.

Olympus Studio is a commercial program that must be purchased separately, and comes as a trial version on your CD...it's for more professional use...in addition to what Master does it adds remote control and tethering (loading pictures directly to the computer while shooting, bypassing the card).

[camrajoky]

Mike has it right, there are 2 programs, Master is similar to Light Room allowing you to adjust the images and work with the RAW files. Studio is the operation and shooting side that you have to purchase. Personally I think you can do most of what I like with just the Master 2 software.
I do have the 12mm to 60mm lens and find it to be my all around favorite lens I have. It can do most things I need in general shooting. It is sharp and fast enough, you will find it to be like your right arm...hard to get along with out it.

[pandora]

Originally Posted by Mike_PEAT

There are two different programs:

Olympus Master is the free program Olympus provides for editing RAW images, and updating the camera.

Olympus Studio is a commercial program that must be purchased separately, and comes as a trial version on your CD...it's for more professional use...in addition to what Master does it adds remote control and tethering (loading pictures directly to the computer while shooting, bypassing the card).

Originally Posted by camrajoky

Mike has it right, there are 2 programs, Master is similar to Light Room allowing you to adjust the images and work with the RAW files. Studio is the operation and shooting side that you have to purchase. Personally I think you can do most of what I like with just the Master 2 software.
I do have the 12mm to 60mm lens and find it to be my all around favorite lens I have. It can do most things I need in general shooting. It is sharp and fast enough, you will find it to be like your right arm...hard to get along with out it.

Thanks Mike and Thomas for your help and sorry for the tardy reply.
I installed the software and have the upgrades.