Firmware Update for P+ Backs [3.2.6]

September 15, 2008 | Tech Features, Tips & Tech Support

Introduction

New firmware has been released for all the P+ Series digital backs. The firmware updaters will update the firmware in P+ digital backs to:

• Main code: 3.2.6
• PAVR: 1.0.7
• FPGA: 1.6.3

Download links

Firmware download: 3.2.6

How Do I Update My Firmware?

The link above will allow you do download the update program. To minimize a small possibility of problems* you should do the following:

• Insert a fresh battery into the digital back
• On the digital back set: [Menu > Configuration > Power Source > Battery]
• On the digital back set: [Menu > Configuration > Storage > Autodetect]

Then you can launch the updater and proceed with the extremely simple on screen instructions. The whole process should take only a few minutes.

*The only real possible snafu during a firmware update is that the back would become physically disconnected or run out of battery power during the update. By switching to battery power and making sure the battery is full this possibility is eliminated. Neither of these steps is necessary, but they are good ideas.

What’s new?

New camera special application camera modes: “Camera Mode” feature is introduced to facilitate use with Schneider electronic shutter USB control and certain specific industrial applications.  A New “Camera Mode” menu item is introduced inside “Configuration” menu.

• Camera Mode
• Normal (default)
• Mode 1 (Schneider electronic shutter option)
• Mode 2 (Aerial application)
• Mode 3 (Industrial - available only on Hasselblad V version)

In general if the digital back are not used with any special setup as described  above, and with additional special timing cables the Camera Mode should be left in “Normal” position.

Bug Fixes

• General image artifact improved on some digital backs (column artifacts, centerline, and rings artifacts)
• Overall improved image quality at long exposures (visible at exposures more than 30 min.)
• P 21+ Extreme Long exposure enabled (now works for more than 25 min.)
• FireWire power circuit protection enabled (if user mistakenly inserts the FireWire connector wrong way around at computer end)
• P 25+ / Intel Mac tethered retransmitting lost data error corrected

Known Limitations

When using a digital back on a 645 body at f stops that are outside the range of f2.8
to f22, f-stop metadata information may not be correctly listed in the RAW file.