Firmware Update history for EM-1 line cameras - what can we expect now?

[BDennis]

On our Zoom meeting with Mark Thackara, the question about firmware updates came up, specifically whether there might be another major update to the E-M1 Mk2 and about updates for the E-M1X

Long post here - TLDR is I don't think we will see a major update to the E-M1 Mk2, just support updates.

As a software developer, I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the history of updates to the E-M1 line cameras and see if any conclusions could be made based on the history of updates - all the info is on the Olympus website here and other sites have dates - https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/...ads/index.htm

I collated all the details below at the end of this post. So what can we conclude?

The summary for each camera:

E-M1 Mk1:

• Current firmware v4.6
• 3 major firmware updates with new functions
• First major update 12 months after body release date
• No major updates after next body EM1 Mk2 released, just support for lenses / flash systems

E-M1 Mk2:

• Current firmware v3.2
• 2 major firmware updates with new functions
• First major update 14 months after body release date
• One major update issued after next body EM1X released

E-M1X:

• Current firmware v1.2
• 18 months since body release and no major firmware update
• Only 2 minor updates though (good!)

E-M1 Mk3:

• Current firmware v1.0
• Too early for any major updates
• No minor updates, probably the firmware line is quite stable now for the pro-level OMD cameras

So what can be concluded:

• Mk2:
  • The E-M1 Mk1 didn't get any major functional updates after the Mk2 was released, the Mk2 got 1 major update after the EM1X was released
  • So I think it seems unlikely the Mk2 will get a major update now the Mk3 and E-M1X are both out
  • I would be very happy to be proven wrong as still have a Mk2!
• E-M1X:
  • I would be disappointed if I had bought a E-M1X not to have a major update 18 months after release (but COVID has hit the world, this has set companies back!)
  • Let us hope for an end of year update as indicated by Olympus
• Mk3:
  • Major updates come about 1 year after camera release, so hopefully we might see a new feature update to the Mk3 early 2021 (I bought one, got to be positive..)
• Generally:
  • Olympus continue to support older cameras with support updates for lenses and flash systems years after release (E-M1 Mk1 6 years after the body was released)
  • Olympus have issued some great major functional updates years after a body has been released for the Mk1 and Mk2 - let us hope this continues even if we don't see any new pro-line bodies for a while!

What follows is the detail for each camera I found from the website of Olympus UK and other sites (like DPReview and Wikipedia for specific dates)

Meanwhile - keep taking photos!

E-M1 Mk1

Release Date: Sept 2013
Updates here: https://www.olympus-europa.com/site/..._download.html

v1.1 - November 2013 (minor)
Bug fixes, improvements, lens support

v1.3 - March 2014 (minor)
Improvements, First curtain / 0 second anti-shock

v1.41 - May 2014 (minor)
Improvements, OI.Share remote support

v2.0 - September 2014 (major)
Major feature update, 8 new functions and 16 operability improvements including:

• Keystone compensation
• Tethered shooting
• Live composite

v2.1 - November 2014 (minor)
AF Update for 40-150mm f2.8 Pro

v2.2 - November 2014 (minor, bug fix)
Fixes for issues introduced in previous 2.0 updates

v3.0 - February 2015 (major)
Major update to C-AF / AF tracking with 9FPS continuous AF

v3.1 - June 2015 (minor)
Minor improvements for underwater picture mode and live view boost

v4.0 - September 2015 (major)
Major feature update, 7 new functions, 17 operability improvements including:

• Focus bracketing and stacking
• Silent shutter (e-shutter)
• S-OVF (optical viewfinder simulation)
• 4k time lapse movie
• OI.Share and Olympus Capture support

v4.1 - April 2016 (minor)
Minor improvements for IS and flash

v4.2 - December 2016 (minor)
Flash and focus stacking support for additional / new lenses, video support improvements

v4.3 - December 2016 (minor)
Fixes for issues introduced in previous firmware update

v4.4 - February 2018 (minor)
Fixed an issue to support Panasonic / Leica 200mm f2.8 lens

v4.5 - January 2019 (minor)
Added support for FC-WR wireless flash controller

v4.6 - February 2019 (minor)
Fix for issue introduced in previous firmware update

E-M1 Mk2

Release Date: December 2016
Updates here: https://www.olympus-europa.com/site/...downloads.html

v1.1 - March 2017 (minor)
Minor bug fixes, RAW file stability fix

v1.2 - May 2017 (minor)
Minor fixes and improvements, 3rd party flash support / fixes

v1.3 - June 2017 (minor)
AF target pad fix

v1.4 - December 2017 (minor)
EVF shooting fix

v2.0 - February 2018 (major)
4 new features and improvements including:

• Bleach bypass art filter
• Small targets AF
• Flicker scan
• Fisheye compensation for 8mm f1.8 FE lens
• Pro-capture improvements
• Lens support

v2.1 - March 2018 (minor)
Fixed AF issue for Panasonic / Leica 200mm f2.8 lens

v2.2 - August 2018 (minor)
Minor improvements and 3rd party lens fix

v2.3 - January 2019 (minor)
Added support for FC-WR wireless flash controller and UHS-II SD card stability fix

v3.0 - June 2019 (major)
Added 9 new features, 2 new functions and 4 improvements including:

• C-AF updates for centre start, centre priority, C-AF+MF
• 5x5 AF targets
• ISO low 100
• OM Log 400 movie picture mode
• 3 - 15 shots focus stacking
• AF performance
• Camera responsive while writing image to card
• USB Raw data edit from Workspace

v3.1 - July 2019 (minor)
Fixes for shooting and EVF stability issues for previous firmware update

v3.2 - January 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for 12-45mm F4 PRO lens
Added EVF eye sensor ON1 / ON2 options (same as for EM1X)

v3.3 August 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for Olympus 100-400mm lens
Improved IS support for Olympus 100-400mm lens

v3.4 December 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for Olympus 150-400mm Pro lens
Improved IS stability for video shooting

v3.5 June 2021 (minor)
Focus stacking support for Olympus 8-25mm Pro lens


E-M1X

Release Date: January 2019
Updates here: https://www.olympus-europa.com/site/...downloads.html

v1.1 June 2019 (minor)
Added USB RAW processing support for Workspace

v1.2 February 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for 12-45mm F4 PRO lens
Added EVF eye sensor ON1 / ON2 options (same as for E-M1 Mk2)

v1.3 August 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for Olympus 100-400mm lens
Improved IS support for Olympus 100-400mm lens

v2.0 December 2020 (major)
Added 1 new AI tracking feature and some minor updates:

• Bird subject tracking support
• HDMI RAW output support for Ninja V video recorder
• Focus stacking support for Olympus 150-400mm Pro lens
• Focus distance indicator for MF
• Improved IS stability for video shooting

v2.1 April 2021 (minor)
Apple MAC M1 USB support
Connection support for ATOMOS products improved stability

E-M1 Mk3

Release Date: February 2020
Updates here: https://www.olympus-europa.com/site/...downloads.html

v1.1 August 2020 (minor)
Focus stacking support for Olympus 100-400mm lens

v1.2 December 2020 (minor)
HDMI RAW output support for Ninja V video recorder
Focus stacking support for Olympus 150-400mm Pro lens
Focus distance indicator for MF
Improved IS stability for video shooting

v1.3 April 2021 (minor)
Apple MAC M1 USB support
Connection support for ATOMOS products improved stability

[Phill D]

Nice bit of research Bill. I think this should be a sticky that you could add to as updates come along. .

[Bikie John]

Well done Bill, nice piece of leg-work and useful conclusions.

John

[Bikie John]

...and it has reminded me that there was something I completely forgot to ask Mark about yesterday!

John

[wanderer]

I expect there will be an update for the EM1-X & MkIII for the AI bird detection at the least probably at about the time the 150-400 is released.
I suspect that that will not fit onto the EM-1 & MkII due to processor capacity.
Don't know about the EM-5 cameras.

[BDennis]

I expect there will be an update for the EM1-X & MkIII for the AI bird detection at the least probably at about the time the 150-400 is released.
I suspect that that will not fit onto the EM-1 & MkII due to processor capacity.
Don't know about the EM-5 cameras.

Good points I hope they can do some bird detection for the Mk3.

Also they might need firmware updates to the 150-400 to support AF on it and all these switches including LN-Fn / preset and what looks like AF stop switches around the barrel, although the big 4/3 lenses do have those barrel switches (so there must be firmware support for them already). I am wondering if the LN-fn / preset switch in the released photo modifies how those barrel switches work and if it needs firmware changes. Usually LN-fn is a push switch. Have to wait and see!

[Melaka]

The black button switches are interesting. Some of the old Top Pro lenses had them but I can't remember what they did.

[Paul Graber]

I expect there will be an update for the EM1-X & MkIII for the AI bird detection at the least probably at about the time the 150-400 is released.
I suspect that that will not fit onto the EM-1 & MkII due to processor capacity.
Don't know about the EM-5 cameras.

They’ve made it pretty clear the AI stuff is only fior the X. I wouldn’t expect to see it on the 1.3.

[Box Brownie]

They’ve made it pretty clear the AI stuff is only fior the X. I wouldn’t expect to see it on the 1.3.

Though I could not make the Zoom meeting I did ask/request if Mark could be asked about porting the Birds AF to the Mk3.................and if he was not aware if that was a possibility. Then could he send such a request 'up the line' so to speak But no idea if that was discussed or not ~ was it?

[blu-by-u]

I don't think there will be anymore major updates. My reason is that they need to boost sales to make profitability and all the big players launch new bodies with the new features. So if there is going to be major features, I seriously doubt there is going to be a free update to get it. I hope I am wrong on this.

[Bikie John]

The black button switches are interesting. Some of the old Top Pro lenses had them but I can't remember what they did.

Focus lock, I think.

John

[OM USer]

An excellent piece of research.

[BDennis]

Focus lock, I think.

John

Yes, this is what they do on my 90-250mm 4/3 lens. You can suspend AF and recompose while taking more shots with AF locked on the subject - but have to keep pushing on the button, so I always found it a bit tiring on the fingers

[BDennis]

Coming back to this post I note that we still have not had any major firmware updates for the E-M1 Mk3 and the EM1X has only had the bird tracking AI. I wonder if we will get any more major updates soon?

I have updated the firmware history in the top post if it is of interest.

Also looking at the joint firmware updates page on the Japan site, there is an update for the E-M1 Mk2 listed to add focus stacking for the new 8-25mm Pro lens - here: https://cs.olympus-imaging.jp/en/sup...tware/firm/e1/

This Mk2 update v3.5 is not shown on the UK or US sites, so I don't think it is available yet?

[Ross the fiddler]

If it is on the Japan site then it is available (should always look there before local, in my opinion). The other sites just haven't been updated to reflect it.

[Dave in Wales]

Great stuff, thanks.

I've just ordered a Mk2 to compliment my Mk3 and I'm not expecting any updates for it.

WEX are not even listing the Mk2.

[Ross the fiddler]

It will most likely still need updating to FW 3.5 though.

[Dave in Wales]

Ver.3.5
(Jun. 09 2021)
Possible to use focus stacking photography with "M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO".