So, who's going to be first?

Any info on whether Adobe Camera RAW can interpret the new RAW format or whether there is an update to Epson's RAW software? I know there was some speculation about this on the list in the last month.

Ben Marks
 
Just a confirmation that upgrading the camera went very smooth.
I am very pleased with the fact that the camera shoots raw/jpg at the same time.
Geo
 
I upgraded successfully as well.

Has anyone tried performing a "full format" of their memory card? A quick format took less than a second. The full format blinks "Formatting..." for over a minute on mine. I tried it twice and ended up turning the camera off mid-format as I thought it locked up. Unfortunately, I don't have time to run any time trials at the moment, but I'd love to know if others are seeing the same issue.

Also, anyone know how to turn on the timer?

-Paul
 
Benjamin Marks said:
Any info on whether Adobe Camera RAW can interpret the new RAW format or whether there is an update to Epson's RAW software? I know there was some speculation about this on the list in the last month.

Ben Marks
Click to expand...

As a result of some quick cooperative action by RFFers (and Sean Reid's good connections at Adobe) support for the R-D 1s raw format was included in the latest releases of Adobe Camera Raw and DNG Converter. RFFers have tested the new versions with sample R-D 1s files and confirmed that the previous problems were fixed.

As long as the firmware update hasn't produced any deviations from this file format, you should be good to go.

Has anyone who has applied the update checked this with a raw file yet?
 
Hi
Just to say the update installed quickly and without any problems and everything works ok.
Thanks for the link Lucy and lets not forget Epson for providing it.
 
RAW converter in PS CS works fine

and my full format also takes about 10 sec (total erase) and a few seconds (quick format, trash the directory only).

Possibly would take longer if card is in non-Epson file format?
 
A succesful upgrade for me as well :D

Thanks Epson ! - but I'm disappointed the upgrade didn't etch an "s" onto the front :D :D
 
Is it now possible to map out the dead pixels? Does it mean that you can now just order a camera and kiss any dead pixels sort of goodbye, or rather, disable their influence?

/Håkan
 
"The Epson R-D1 ‘default film’ can be set to 1, 2 or 3. Value 1 is ‘Portrait’ mode. Value 2 is for ‘Landscape’ shooting and value 3 is a ‘night-view’ set-up. Please note, your original film set-up values will be kept after the firmware upgrade. The new default values will only be set after you perform the photography setting initialization."

Can anyone explain what "perform the photography setting initialization" means? The Film menu looks just the same to me after the upgrade

Thanks
 
Yippee... great upgrade :)

I like the fact the histogram stays put now, and the BIG magnify on RAW.

Big thanks to Sean and others who pressured Epson into reviewing users' needs.

happy day
Phil
 
A great firmware update, but a few things:

1. "Perform the photography setting initialization" means Menu>Settings>Initialize Settings. It resets all your settings except for the date/time, and it (kinda) maintains your file-number count. However:

2. If you do the hot-pixel mapping (Menu>Settings>Basic Setup>Dead Pixel Correction) and *then* initialize settings, it'll forget about the dead pixels. I made this mistake the first time and was disappointed to see that there were just as many dead pixels. Rerunning the pixel correction *after* initializing settings will fix this. However:

3. Dead pixel correction is a vast improvement, but far from perfect. In JPEG mode, I have about six hot pixels now (three of them non-obvious), whereas I had upwards of 20 or 30 before (too many to bother counting). It's a big step, but still not as good as a hot-pixel-free DSLR.

4. What I mean by "kinda" maintains the exposure count in point 1 is that my files have switched from being EPSNXXXX.jpg to _EPSXXXX.jpg. This is annoying because files no longer alphabetize properly. It's not a function of the firmware update itself, because the first few frames I shot post-update were EPSNXXXX; after the hot-pixel correction, the initializing settings and switching to Adobe RGB, however, the change occurred. It was one of those factors.

5. The auto white balance in incandescent lighting is indeed far more accurate ... but apparently at the cost of slightly *less* accurate WB in indirect daylight. I did some before-and-after update tests, and the corner of my living room, which is lit indirectly by the sun through the window across the room, now photographs with a green cast on the white wall. Previously the wall was much closer to white. The middle of the room, which is closer to the window, photographs white both before and after. This is a fair trade-off for the better incandescent support, however; the new problem is much easier to fix and is likely something I'll run into less.

6. Hurray, Epson!
 
Upgrade Works

Upgrade Works

I've successfully upgraded my recently purchased R-D1.

Firmware Update installed first try without difficulty. All newly noted features work as advertised.

I previously had one "hot" pixel which has been quickly and easily corrected with the "Dead Pixel Correction" feature. This is located on page 2 of the "Basic Setup" menu if you are having trouble finding it.

Also, I agree with everyone else, the new RAW+jpg file format, AdobeRGB color space, expanded histogram and enhanced magnification options are all much appreciated improvements to what I already felt was a professional level photographic tool.

With the Firmware Update, this little gem of a camera now has a few new sparkles!

Best regards,
Scott
 
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Dan,

I believe the filename change from EPSNXXXX.jpg to _EPSXXXX.jpg is a naming convention that occurs with use of AdobeRGB color space. The same preceeding "_" occurs with the use of AdobeRGB color space on my Nikon D2x and is referenced in the user manual.

The Nikon manual states, "The NEF and JPEG files recorded at a setting of 'NEF+JPEG' have the same file name but different extensions. Images recorded at a color space setting of AdobeRGB have names that begin with an underbar."

Scott
 
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Thanks, Scott. That would make sense -- although my D1H (the only DSLR I've owned) kept the same filename format whether in sRGB or Adobe RGB.
 
Dan Lazin said:
(snip)
3. Dead pixel correction is a vast improvement, but far from perfect. In JPEG mode, I have about six hot pixels now (three of them non-obvious), whereas I had upwards of 20 or 30 before (too many to bother counting). It's a big step, but still not as good as a hot-pixel-free DSLR.

4. What I mean by "kinda" maintains the exposure count in point 1 is that my files have switched from being EPSNXXXX.jpg to _EPSXXXX.jpg. This is annoying because files no longer alphabetize properly. It's not a function of the firmware update itself, because the first few frames I shot post-update were EPSNXXXX; after the hot-pixel correction, the initializing settings and switching to Adobe RGB, however, the change occurred. It was one of those factors.
(snip)
Click to expand...
I would assume if you leave the battery out for a long time the camera will "forget" the hot pixel mapping. Maybe worth remembering.

Bob.
 
Some quick observations on the firmware update:
  • Ability to magnify raw images up to 16x is HUGE! (No pun intended.) My one objection to shooting raw in studio settings was that there was no way to check the sharpness of critical details before moving on to the next setup; now, no problem!
  • One claim that especially interested me was that the noise level at 1600 is supposed to be improved. A quick-and-dirty test seems to bear this out. Just before applying the firmware update, I shot a series of completely out-of-focus frames exposed (at 1600) to render as a dark gray; immediately after applying the update, I repeated the same series. I opened the images in Photoshop (disabling all of Camera Raw's noise reduction features) and measured the images' "standard deviation" (a statistical measure of how much individual pixels vary from the average value; a perfectly noise-free image would have a standard deviation of zero.) For composite RGB, the old firmware read 3.99 and the new 3.71 -- a 7% improvement. The red channel improved by 8.2%, the green channel by 8.1%, and the blue channel by 6.6%.
  • Maybe it's just my imagination, but after the update, the typeface used in the LCD menu seems slightly clearer and easier to read.
  • A slightly confusing note in the Euro website's listing of improvements said the "multi-shot function" had improved from two frames to three. Apparently that's their way of saying that where previously I could only shoot two raw frames in quick succession before the camera had to stop and flush its buffer, I now can shoot three frames. It may not sound like much compared to a Nikon D2x, but it's a huge improvement -- the camera should generally be able to keep up with my thumb now!
  • The capability of saving raw + JPEG images doesn't seem to slow down the camera at all. The JPEG images average about 1/3 the size of the raw images, so your memory card will fill up significantly more quickly, though. Still, it's a plus to have the capability, even if you turn it off most of the time.
  • An oddity: One much-applauded improvement is that if you're displaying an image on the LCD and need to take a picture immediately, you can just press the shutter release -- no more locked shutter until you "double press." However, I noticed on several trials that when I shot a picture with the LCD on, it sounded as if the camera was making a long exposure -- the shutter click sounded like about 1/2 second. But... a check of the EXIF data showed that the actual exposure time was correct, rather than overly long.
  • Even if you've set the histogram to display automatically (this setting seems to survive a power-off; new feature?) it does NOT display in Quick View; you have to turn on the monitor as usual to see it. Personally, I'm OK with that... Quick View is supposed to be, uh, quick.
  • With the 16x feature, Magnify is now so useful that I programmed my User button to invoke it.
  • Adobe RGB color space -- about time!

Basically, I'd say based on my limited experience so far that this firmware update is just about 100% upside. It resolves just about every one of my minor quibbles about the R-D 1 -- at least, all that you could expect to resolve in firmware. Applause to Epson Europe (and thanks again to Lucyinparis for pointing the way!!!)

Now, I wonder if this is ever going to appear on the Epson USA website, for the benefit of those R-D 1 owners not in the RFF loop...
 
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It's not perfect but this is a very useful update. Epson USA's contact with me almost stopped after I published the long-term R-D1 review. It's the price one pays for being honest, I suppose. Back when we were in contact, I suggested a firmware upgrade with a number of changes (via an e-mail follow-up to a phone conference). It took a long time but most of those changes are here in the new firmware. I also suggested changes to PhotoRAW in the same e-mail and most of those have been implemented (in version 1.21) as well. Here are the significant things I notice with the new firmware:

1. Even with the new RAW+JPEG option switched on, the RAW buffer has increased from 2 to 3 frames! Both of these changes are welcome.

2. The "double-press" shutter problem now seems to be banished!!!!!! Pressing the shutter button now releases the shutter no matter what the camera is doing (so long as it's cocked of course).

3. The camera does now remember to display the histogram even after the camera has been turned off and on. It also can automatically show a review image after exposure (for 3 or 10 seconds, as set by the photographer). Unfortunately, as mentioned above, Epson forgot (and I think this is the correct word) to combine the two features so that one could see an automatic review image *with histogram*. I'm fairly sure that they could fix this with a slight revision to the new firmware (2.1?)

4. The hot pixel correction isn't perfect but it has indeed reduced the number of hot pixels I see in files from the camera I've upgraded. In some frames, I still see a few but they're quite small. With the correction, my R-D1 seems to show no more hot pixels than several of the DSLRs I've tested. This is an important improvement. I come back from shooting a wedding with hundreds of pictures (made with two R-D1 bodies). Cloning hot pixels from the final edit was a time-consuming PITA.

5. Breezebrowser Pro supports both the new ERF files and the associated JPEGs.

I'll check on what C1 does now.

Yahoo!! C1 Pro seems to support the (new firmware) ERF files with no problem. This is a huge relief to me because I have some big shoots coming up and I rely on C1 for RAW processing (from the Epsons and the Canons).

Cheers,

Sean
 
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Looks like JLW and I were writing at the same time!

Cheers,

Sean
 
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