[Sparhawk]

Once again I need some advice and direction,
As a newcomer to photography I bought {earlier in the year} an Olympus E300 with 14 to 45mm lens along with other items, I was {i Belive} very lucky to find a brand new 40 to 150mm lens for £54.00 from a well known large retailer {it was mispriced but I was not charged the £200.00 it should have been }
In the camera package is 2 CD's one is the manual,the second is Olympus Master sodtware Installation . I downloaded the manual to understand the camera controls but have not downloaded the software to the camera. I was looking this afternoon on an Olympus website and found out there is now an update to this softwarebut that once installed it cannot be reversed, my question is should I update ?is it needed? I took the camera on hoilday this year and was happy with the pictures I took and I downloaded them with a card reader and they look fine on my laptop.
Any comments welcomed. I am not a person {as yet} who carries my camera all the time, I only use it at weekends and on hoilday so I am {as you see} sure regarding these things
Regards
Sparhawk

[Toonie]

Sparhawk
Basically Firmware is the software installed inside the camera & is usualy updated by the manufacturer every now & again usualy to fix little bugs, The Cd contains the software usually to download & manipulate your images & is installled on your computer. Most people do not install the software into the computer. If you have managed up till now leave it well alone, IF IT AINT BROKE DON'T FIX IT. Firmware updates done wrongly can wreck your camera.

[Revive35]

Hi Spearhawk.
I also have an E-300.I would advise downloading the update.It depends on the firmware already installed,but the E-300 metering system can sometimes be erratic.Firmware updates will fix this.
Enjoy.

[Steve]

Revive35 has hit the nail on the head. If the firmware has been released to fix a certain problem then you should update it so that you camera can perform as designed. If however, you are not happy about performing the process then your local camera retailer should be able to perform the upgrade and the risk then becomes theirs.

Firmware upgrades should not be mixed up with software updates though. The first if for the camera and it functions and the second is for the software that you use to upload and work with the images on your pc or Mac. Upgrading the second should be painless and involve virtually no risk at all. If you make a mistake while upgrading your cmarea firmaware then you can be left with a non functioning camera that is not covered by the guarantee.

HTH

[Sparhawk]

I thank all for the quick responce to my question I think I will take the bull by the horns and download the firmware updates direct from the Olympus site as the do give instructions even I can follow. If you see {in the future} no more postings from me it will mean that everything that can go wrong has done and I have thrown camera,lenses and laptop out of the window and have taken up paper folding as my new hobby
Regards
Sparhawk

[Steve]

You have been quiet for a couple of days, I do hope the firmware update did go well

Any news?

[Sparhawk]

Hello Steve
Thank you for your concern, I am pleased to let you know the firmware download went ok and I have not thrown out my equiptment to take up the new hobby of paper folding
THat means that you will still have to suffer my annoying questions and comic remarks for a long time
Thanks once again
Regards
Sparhawk

[Steve]

Glad to hear it

Annoying questions?? -- We love those here at Pixalo
Comic remarks?? They help us with the annoying questions