Panasonic just released a firmware update for the HMC150. The firmware doesn't look critical, but it would be nice to be able to upgrade. Why can't I? Because in order to install the firmware you must have a Windows machine. Apparently this has been a standard practice for a while with Panasonic (with the HVX cameras you must have a Windows machine to update as well).
There's a thread over at DVXuser.come about this. I know there are answers like Boot Camp or virtualization, but that's asking Mac users to drop some coin on Windows for something as simple as firmware updates. But actually it's not just the updates - Panasonic offers other software, like a handy AVCHD to DVCPRO HD utility but it's only for Windows users as well. I have no idea what the percentage breakdown of Windows to Mac users is for Panasonic, but it has to look more Mac friendly than the general population. I can't think of a production company that I've either worked at, or know people who've worked at, that used a Panasonic camera and then edited on a Windows machine. It has always been Final Cut Pro or Avid (on the Mac). That's just my perspective. I know there are plenty of Windows users that edit this stuff. But the Mac numbers have to be high enough to justify writing firmware updates for us, right?
6 comments:
Yeah that really doesn't make any sense. I think it shows Panasonic's divide between it's target market with the camera, indie film makers aka Mac users. And what OS that their technicians probably use to write the camera's software.
Canon's idiotic about it, but with Canon it'w work-aroundable:
To flash a Canon camera, simply
a) download the MS-Windows firmware executable installer thingy,
b) use *unzip* to unpack the WinZip archive, ( no I'm not kidding: they pretend it's a Windows Installer when it's really a self-extracting Zip file )
c) copy the firmware file, in binary mode ( some systems, in the past, did file-translation from DOS-text to UNIX-text, assuming a *text* file when transferring between filesystems, but maybe you aren't old enough to remember those days...
capable of butchering systems like you wouldn't believe
... to the root of the SD card you just low-level-formatted in the camera, and
d) boot the camera with that card in it, so it can find it.
You may discover that that's all there is to it.
( except for the camera's Menu/Settings/Flash-Firmware-Upgrade activation... )
hth,
-me
As of March 12, 2010 Panasonic supports updating the firmware on Macs. I just updated from 1.19 to 1.20 with a MacPro.
Go here to download the Mac Firmware updater https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/soft/hmc150_agree_mace.htm
Just make sure you are registered with PASS first.
Mark
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/soft/hmc150_agree_mace.htm
That is the full link to download the updater.
Don't know why it was cut off in the previous post.
mark
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/soft/hmc150_agree_mace.htm
That is the full link to download the Mac updater.
Not sure why the link was cut off in the previous post.
Mark
for some reason it keeps cutting off the full URL. Just go to Panansonic's site and search for the.
It is possible on Macs now.
Mark
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