EX1 firmware upgrade problem

[Bob Mark]

Where did you find v. 1.12? I can only find 1.2 (Sony Canada).
The US site is still inactive.

Bob

[Julian Masters]

I got it from a Sony service centre here in the UK.
I also had a v1.10, but on every EX1 I’ve tried that on it finishes the upgrade in about 2 minutes but never actually performs an upgrade !?!

[Bob Mark]

I spoke with Sony Pro Products Support on Fri. They told me if you are on v. 1.11 you can directly upgrade to the latest version, no need to install in increments. Of course YMMV. Make sure you have you computer on UPS back up. I heard a loud boom this morning and my power went out for 2 hr.!! Still trying to decide whether to try it myself. Not having the camera for two weeks or more is a long time.

How much is Sony charging to do this now? Macie Video will do it for $165.00

Bob

[Julian Masters]

I’m doing a firmware upgrade now as I type.
It was on 1.02, so I went to 1.05 with no problem.
I then tried 1.11 and although the software said it upgraded the camera wouldn’t boot up. It went to the xdcam display in media mode though, without going any further. (I had a similar issue with a different camera last week).
It still connected via usb so I then downgraded to 1.05.
In the past I’ve had problems with 1.10. It upgrades very quickly (a couple of minutes) but stays on the previous firmware version. It’s only after trying it that I remember it doesn’t work.
So I thought maybe it upgrades something else without upgrading the firmware version.
I’ve just tried the camera again with 1.10, and it did as expected (i.e. stayed in 1.05), but when I tried 1.11 again it has upgraded. (It may just be a coincidence though).
I then did 1.12, 1.14, 1.20, 1.25 and finally 1.26.
I skip 1.13 as there are two different versions (one is for “an old version board” .. which/whatever board that is).
I’ll keep on upgrading incrementally as it has worked before (so far!).
I also upgrade using a laptop and also have a battery fitted to the camera so hopefully if there is a power outage it will continue the upgrade.

[Bob Mark]

I’m glad you got it to update. Where are you getting all of the versions of firmware? It’s interesting that one Sony rep told you to do it incrementally and another one told me that was unnecessary.

Bob

[Julian Masters]

Sony UK were a bit “vague” about how to upgrade, and when I mentioned that our cameras are sourced from the US they were even less sure.
I got the firmware from a Sony service centre that we buy kit from, and they said to upgrade it incrementally.
I’m just doing another camera now that was on 1.05, and that didn’t like going straight to 1.11. So I’m about to downgrade and up it to 1.10. Hopefully !

[Bob Mark]

Please keep me posted on your progress. Sony gave me a link to their FTP site for the firmware, but they didn’t give me the ID and password and it didn’t accept anonymous login. The US site isn’t working right now and the alternate site for the software has a broken link, so you can’t get to the firmware. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…..

Bob

[Julian Masters]

I’ve done a couple more over the last few days, and as long as I do the 1.10 update it all goes without a hitch.

The reason that I’ve had to do so many upgrades is that we’ve just bought some Sony PMW500 cameras and there were issues when swapping cards between the two.

[Bob Mark]

I’m tempted to try it. I’m on 1.11 now. I hate sending the camera out for an extended time, but if it freezes up then I’m in big trouble. I can’t find a working link for the latest version of the firmware.

Bob

[Julian Masters]

I got my latest firmware from the sony.uk site (https://www.sony.co.uk/biz/hub/name/home).
I think you can get to if by selecting professional products from the sony.co.uk site. You also have to register to download.
Searching through their software/drivers for the EX1 it shows the 1.20, 1.25 and 1.26 versions. However, the 1.20 links to a “later” version of 1.25, and the 1.25 and 1.26 both seem to link to the 1.26 version.