Anne

I am looking at purchasing a new camera and wrote to Sony to ask why I should buy from them rather then a company that sells their product. One of the answers they gave was that the cameras they sell have the latest firmware already loaded? Can someone tell me what is firmware and how do you know what version the camera has already installed when you are shopping? Thanks

Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx

Firmware is the software installed in the camera. If you purchase a camera and it doesn't have the latest, you can "hook" up the camera to your computer and upgrade it. In my opinion, it is foolish to pay full retail for a product from a manufacturer just to get the latest firmware when it can be installed for free later, if it does not have it already installed at the time of purchase. Just my thoughts.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice Wing. I used to have a '95.

Right, and I can't imagine Sony updating all their inventory when they have a firmware upgrade. Those upgrades probably make little difference, anyway, but they are easy enough to do through your computer.

Anne

Thanks for adding to my education, this is a releif to me.
Anne

snowbear

Software = applications or programs.
Hardware = devices (like printers, disk drives, cameras, etc).
Firmware = programmed memory (computer chips).

Typically you get the firmware updates from the company's support web pages. For Nikon, you basically download the firmware to your computer, copy it to a memory card, put the card in your camera and the camera will install the firmware update to itself. I'm sure Sony does it much the same way.

Gidgette Loc: Boerne,Texas

I've had my Nikon D90 for about 3 years and never had the firmware upgraded. Everything works fine so didn't know if I needed to or not. I'd heard, ain't broke don't fix. LOL

dcooper61 Loc: York, England

As I understand it, firmware is software which is related directly to the installed hardware. For example in a laptop you can choose to install whatever general software you require such as windows, word processing software, spreadsheet software etc., whereas firmware is the software that controls how the screen, webcam, hard drive etc. works. In a camera there is no need for general purpose software as the camera is only there to do one thing - take photographs. The firmware controls how the screen, shutter, controls, focussing etc. work.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

If firmware was a big issue dealers would never sell a camera. Often a firmware upgrade addresses minor issues that you may not even need.

Jim D

Anne

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

I'll try to explain the original question(s) without getting into which camera, from whatever company.

First we had HARDWARE. In this case, it is the actual camera body which we attach lenses to, look through the viewfinder, and press the shutter.

Next, there is SOFTWARE. Software is what makes the camera (in our case) function. Basically, what (as the camera) should I do when the power switch is turned on. What should I (as the camera) do if the user switches the selection to AV, AUTO, M, Fireworks, Snow, etc. When the operator pushes the shutter button, make the shutter open, then close.

Then, because WE wanted various options, features, etc., it was too difficult to rewrite the software constantly, so FIRMWARE was invented (back in mainframe computer days). Firmware is not HARD and is not SOFT, it is flexible. It can be easily changed by downloads/uploads (patches) to your camera, and contains all the latest bells and whistles for a camera's (the HARDWARE) specific SOFTWARE. Examples of firmware are.....How long is the picture displayed on the LCD. How long does the camera stay on before going to sleep to save battery power, basically....Menu selections.

Can firmware be software? Yes. Can you usually obtain the latest and greatest firmware for your camera, regardless where you buy it? Yes. Any camera company that wouldn't allow that, would be out of business in weeks.

Can you get equipment cheaper if you buy directly from the manufacturer, sometime, not usually. The manufacturer usually dictates what a dealer will sell a given product for. That does not stop the manufacturer from selling it a little lower, but that would honk-off a bunch of their Distributors / Dealers and would not be good business practice. However, you can sometimes get re-manufactured bodies, lenses or kits EASIER if you go directly to the manufacturer, not always though.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I registered my Nikon camera when I bought it, email, etc. Have never heard from Nikon re updating, and (have no need that I know of). Do they contact you or do you have to ask? Just wonderin'

vasmikey Loc: Bloomington, MN

The big caution here is that firmware is often closely matched to the hardware. It drives the hardware components. If the camera h/w has been changed and altered through manufacturing, the firmware version may not match your camera and the ver. no has to be closely watched.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

speaking of firmware.....canon has a big release with lots of goodies for the 7d...going to be available in august.

usually firmware updates a few un-noticable issues.....but this 7d firmware is big.

Snert Loc: south central Indiana

Hey sodapop! Most usually you have to go hunting for the firmware. Make SURE you get the right copy for your model camera or you can really screw it up.