Of course when you do a rumor work like I do you get plenty of critics if a rumor doesn’t become true. Well, in the case of the 4K firmware update rumor for the E-m1 I really went through many absurd troubles!!!
First of all I assure you that I didn’t make up a story. And it’s time for me to prove it to you. On top you can see one of the two pictures I got showing a beta-tester with the 4K recording feature enabled. Of course you can argue this could be a fake image. If it is is…it’s certainly a well done one!
But it doesn’t stop here: Iron Man 2 Assistant Director Nabil Fathi even openly said he saw and tested the 4K feature on the E-M1 (his tweets can be found here).
So you see this is a pretty weird story! Make up your own mind..I am done with this 🙂
88 Responses
I think the E-M1 was used to perform early tests on future 4K features that will be available on the E-M1 II, before the new model is ready.
Thanks for your work Admin.
I think that the 4k was tested, but was not approved. It’s ok, probably the hardware was really not designed to handle the load.
But no changes in the 1080p, asked since day one (24p / 25p, better codec) is very sad.
And Nabil sayd that this picture is a fake in his last tweet (https://twitter.com/nabilfathi15/status/511619621150269440) – or it’s a different beta version and the names changed.
Person responsible to all rumors about 4k and new codec and etc calls own work as fake?
Or then there is a other tester or other faker.
At least that photo is not blurry and close up like the one that was released here week ago and the cropped and rotated.
At least that one shows more real than Nabil Fathi has doctored.
And as even Fathi claims that there are different test models, whynot one with UHD resolution, that the 3820*2160 after all is, not a true 4k.
That’s an odd font for the timer on the bottom right.
2.0 is ready!!!
Installed. Wiped my custom settings though.
The Photo looks unmodified, I believe you but other may not; here is (some) Proof: http://fotoforensics.com/analysis.php?id=1fc8542dd06036fd71c15bc9696b5a2befce5e77.1086083
Check a Photo: http://fotoforensics.com/
Of course, the Firmware could display that the Camera does 8K, that does not mean the Hardware can. IF the Firmware is legit then it is possible the Mfg. will add the Feature (but the uProcessor needs to be able to do it or it will only be a short Clip, like that other Camera that does only a few seconds of 4K (Pentax?)).
My YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/LowLightVideos
Oh, it is already so easy to use that service. But based to that, it looks legit but still strange.
Hi,
Did you know there is a firmware update for the GH2 which enables 4K as well?
Here is an unaltered picture as proof:
Sorry, here is the link:
http://fotoforensics.com/analysis.php?id=3e2a724499c008060b499a88cf7222acd7c268db.203633
I hope this comes to EM5 II. Should be due for an update.
Come on, Nabil was just a 3rd assistant director… Let’s just say he is nothing important and it’s a bit insignificant to think that this guy is trustworthy. You made a mistake 43rumors by giving it a FT4 rating at one point just because some bloke put up a shady picture showing the 4K menu on a E-M1… Now don’t be stupid, why would Olympus add 4K to a 1 year old camera and not improve the frame rates first? It doesn’t make any sense. Even with a screenshot, it is not even FT2.
Also the timer on the bottom right is weird and doesn’t match the existing one. Why would they change that?
It is little weird but everything else looks correct. If someone could fake such photo, why do things correctly otherwise and change a time that doesn’t need a change?
What if it is simple testing to fit more data in small screen? Separate the testing model or see who leaked it if such photos surface?
Per the imdb Nabil was an uncredited extra on Iron Man 2. He was not an assistant anything: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4236620/
Claims he was a third assistant director in the London in the track scenery or something….
Well, assistant directors are just work moles. Usually first assistant works with the other actors than main ones in the scenery. Second assistant director works behind the scenes working extra to next scenes to come so they are ready.
Third assistant is like person who is responsible to assistant second one by collecting extra and taking names, addresses and finally giving the payments after shootout to extra.
Based the person listed jobs/tasks he does nothing longer times and knows nothing, that impression I get. Sorry.
And Nabil himself most recently posted to Twitter >>
“Just in case, the OMD E-EM1 pic RT (UHD) it is a fake, on the beta = 4K and not UHD, the font is also too much different.”
‘Fact check’ before ‘click bait’.
Awww…. I find it funny that Nabil Fathi claims that is a fake, while it is more accurate and shows even whole camera and is anyways better than his doctored blurry photo of LCD that isn’t even on camera.
If Nabil would had a access to beta, even see it. He could have got dozens of good photos showing the beta firmware. But now he has just wanted to call shots, collect the rumors and claim there is new codec, new bitrates, new resolutions, new frame rates etc. And always after when someone pointed some features existing in other cameras here.
Nabil follows this site and then copies the wishes and others examples and adds them to own “fact list from beta”.
Then he promotes his own production site in every tweet and credits himself to be in top on Hollywood production while all he has managed so far to produce is a skateboarding video, dark video in somewhere alley and then one Finnish amateur sport event. Nothing really good from what to keep such a noise. Sorry.
And then he identifies himself as Oly here! He told me I don’t know him. That is for sure! I’m not quite sure what is going on really though.
However, I like the look of all the updates & will do mine tomorrow morning (when everybody has gone to work & I’ve written down all my settings first).
Looks more like an alpha test for future products. Let’s face it, the EM1 was never designed from the ground up to do 4k. Anyone hoping for such was hanging on to unprecedented territory, especially for such a timid company as Olympus. That said, it appears they are at least considering the issue for future generations. This really speaks well for the EM1 mark II!
Agreed, there are many reasons why this might not have made the final firmware. Still interesting, though.
So when is someone going to leak this 4k beta firmware or attempt to hack the current one? =p
Can we download firmware from camera even? Like if testers have had a camera, could they easily pull firmware from camera as it needs to be stored there.
I have not found such evidence than you need to download it with Olympus software and get file from it or from their server.
You can upload any firmware directoy from an SD card.
Not true.
Incorrect (you not me)
No. Flashed firmware in camera can’t be downloaded. So if someone has modified firmware, it is only in that camera then.
So we do not never see any claimed “beta firmware” unless Olympus sent the firmware as file “to testers”.
Oly screwed the pooch on this one. No video updates whatsoever!!! after all the internets hype is very bad indeed for their rep. I’m an em-1 owner whose been contemplating going back to the GH series but would really prefer not to have to and I’m annoyed.
From one of his tweets: “Just in case, the OMD E-EM1 pic RT (UHD) it is a fake, on the beta = 4K and not UHD, the font is also too much different.” Does that mean that the picture above is fake?
I can’t make snese of the uttered gibberish.
It is the Twitter generation that can’t even say things correctly in 140 letters. (Not that I am any better but I really dislike whole twitter philosophy).
Let’s assume for a second that the challenges that the engineering challenges that Panasonic worked through WRT heat on the chip are real. Maybe while technically possible to drive the E-M1’s chip that fast, over clocking it that way increases the failure rate above the warranty reserve margin for the product.
That’s exactly my thought on the matter. It works, but…. You don’t want to get a reputation for unreliability due to a frankly unneeded firmware upgrade.
Lets put it like that: If a beta firmware with 4k exists, sooner or later it will leak and at least we will be able to have it unofficially.
How ?
Keep up the great work Ale 🙂
Just upgraded my EM1 to the massive update! i actually saw 16 ms of improvement in EVF 🙂 it’s ultra smooth. regardless how lame the art filters are, i actually dont mind the vintage one.
Ale, you did a great job. Discover rumor, verify that it’s plausible, and report it: that’s what you’re supposed to do. People who are disappointed need to be reminded of what “rumor” means.
My guess: 4K worked well for some testers but not others, so it didn’t make the final release.
I agree, both with the job that admin did on this set of rumours, and with your guess.
The rumours show that Olympus is working on improving their video game: whether improvements come as a firmware upgrade or an upgraded camera? We’ll have to wait and see.
True or not, it was an exciting rumor. Fun to hope and to speculate. Been a good month at 43rumors.
Bad rumor month was awesome. I am exhausted. I, and I bet Olympus does too, want that 4k rumor monger’s balls on a pointy stick!
Actually what is needed is a pressure from clients to Olympus to improve frame rates.
Like why a Tough-3 and other POCKET CAMERAS has 120-240fps and 60fps but not their beat professional DSLM?
Customers/camera owners should email to Olympus and tell them their stories how they would benefit from new frame rates. Not mentioning 4k whining or “better” codec etc. Just the 25fps etc.
Those are all cameras with tiny sensors, a fraction of the size of m4/3. The larger the sensor the more difficult to deal with the heat, the more processing power needed, the faster bit rates needed, the faster buss needed, and so on. There are hundreds if not thousands of design considerations and if you have actually seen the mediocre video coming out of some of those small cameras, I would never want that in a OMD. It is fine for casual shooters posting their vacation to YouTube but that is about it. Not what is expected of a Pro grade camera.
It is quite possible that Olympus is working on something and quite likely that they may have had more then one alpha/beta project going on at a time. They have said they are behind the curve on video for their top line cameras. They have also said they are working on it. When and how has more to do with meeting goals and quality standards then all the speculation. Yes, someday we will see better video in Olympus cameras. But when and how? That remains to be seen. It is a work in progress. I don’t know about anyone else, but when they do it, I want them to do it right, not some halfway effort. Have you seen some of the video coming out of some of the hybrid DSLRs? It is mediocre at best. If Olympus does add improved video, then I for one want it to be the best it can be, not some half way marketing point.
Continue to work un the right way. We are excited to read pepole we can trust.
I think in order to do a rumors site…you should have a thick skin….don’t let the morons upset you…you do fine work…again you are relaying rumors…not facts…most people realize what a great job you are doing and much appreciate your efforts
It could be a proof concept, as often done in various industries. More often than not, such a project gets killed before completion, that may rile the proponents. In this case it sounds like some disenchanted folks decided to leak it and hope to get some support from user community to give the project a second wind.
Or they’re using the EM1 as a testbed for this feature and the intention is to put this firmware into the next OMD camera (EM5mkII or EM2) ?
Damn is 24p and a better codec so much to ask for for a top of the range camera that does have a movie mode so you can’t say they arent focused on movies. My phone has 24p!
Yup. This is Olympus you are talking about. Any of their users should know better.
A rumor is a rumor, you don’t really have to explain things, really. either people can deal with it or not. Whoever takes a rumor and get anxious as it’s something certain, well, that person is doing wrong. by definition there is no certainty in a rumor. It’s a very simple concept but this is the Internet and not always simple things are simple – for a lot of people.
That said, I think it’s irrelevant whether it’s true or not because even if it’s, there is no guarantee that this will become reality. giving Olympus lack of support for video despite so many wanting to couple the IBIS with it, this is one of those things that you can only believe if and when it happens.
I didn’t think this would go through now, but I expected at least more framerates or any improvements in video to then say “well, at least they are showing that they are trying so this might become true in the next firmware…”.
But in this case, there was no improvement in video, which turn the possibility of actually getting this firmware pretty farfeched. I mean, it can happen, it just doens’t look like so, maybe it will come in the next E-M-something, I don’t know.
Maybe Olympus even want to but there are other things going on behind the scenes that we might not know, maybe some deal with Panasonic or even Sony, who knows?
Well I think we can say for certain this is not a hardware problem but a politican/economic/marketing issue. maybe Olympus are held back by Panasonic for the privilege of using their sensors. But they are continuously crippling the video function, we know that at least.
For certain? LOL. There will be always be some conspiracy theory nonsense. Olympus has Sony and they even used Sony’s sensors, even Panasonic used a Sony sensor, why didn’t Olympus put some great video back then? Makes no sense.
They don’t have enough experienced programmers in video, they’ve said so many times. Even so, to not do anything about it in all these years is just a disgrace.
Personally I would try to exchange expertise or technology. Let’s say Panasonic helps with the codec – the rumor said it was a Panasonic codec – and then Olympus could help with IBIS or something else. I think this much more plausible than Panasonic making them cripple something. LOL. As if Panasonic is such a powerful company. The 4K limit in the LX100 is just 15min, so I wonder how much was Olympus able to work around it to get the 4K, maybe they had to disable the IBIS? There are a lot of things that may not work properly that can make them give up on that. But as I said, there is nothing that justify the lack of framerates and some other stuff for normal video.
Panasonic IS a powerful company, at least on video, so any limit or restriction to video on the LX100 is either truly technical (heat) or down right a marketing decision (GH4 cannibalization, a new spec to boost on an update, etc). As for the conspiracies, at least for the first few Oly cameras Pany DID impose restriction such as sensor tech, that much is true, nowadays ? who knows, it’s all speculation, but either way, Oly’s lack of resolve towards video has left them looking rather like fools in this day and age, it’s like we’re back at the 12MP sensor days, stuck with 720p for years.
Limiting time doesn’t work for heating problem as people will hit rec again after limit is hit. Only way is to shoot and turn off camera when heat raises too high and then deny turning on view if powered on after that too soon.
So if you can record few times in row, there is no problem in CPU/Battery heating.
Just like GoPro manages to record 4k in small airtight plastic box longer than 15-30min.
I would argue that there is definately an agreement between the two companies. When I spoke with an Olympus Rep (United Kingdom… Till Thursday.) he alluded to this matter and said that there are agreements in place, or something to that effect, if I remember correctly. I said to the person in question, that it’s quite illogical to invent such a groundbreaking image stabilser and for it not to be utilised in video features, which are lacking, doesn’t make no sense whatsoever.
He agreed but argued that there will be changes in next models.
Whether he was speaking from a position of fact, or just titilating… I don’t know.
It’s all smokes and daggers 🙂
Enough? They just laid off their high speed camera division to separate one. And they had 4k videocameras 2008 already (or was it 2004)!
Olympus HAS talents in company, but that doesn’t mean they work with OM-D project.
Even Olympus pocket cameras has now 120-240fps modes and 30/60 in 1080p.
Isn’t it silly that to get other frame rates, you need to buy a pocket camera accompanying your OM-D E-M1? http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/tg-3.html
Usually best model means it has everything.(flagship isn’t the best ship in a fleet, only that it is where fleet admiral is and from where fleet commands comes, it is usually just communication/transport ship in the fleet)
no i was just saying its a concious choice olympus is making thats all. We could have 24p and a higher bitrate tomorrow if they chose to do it.
that may seems so, but when it’s in a website like this and has a rating system of how high of a chance the rumor is to the truth, then the rumor becomes a fact… maybe the admin should remove the FT rating and just stick with rumor story, cuz it makes an ass out of everyone, just look at gh4 firmware update it wasn’t even close to what was posted on this site. not even remotely close at all.
Great now I have to reprogram every setting on my camera again. It’s frustrating having to do this every time. It takes me an hour to get the camera exactly the way I want it.
Why would you need to reset EVERYTHING ? if you want 4k just change the video resolution. You shouldn’t need to change any Fn button or such, if you shoot manual in video this changes nothing imo
Flashing a firmware cause full reset. Unless we could save MySettings etc to SD card.
But 2.0 is now officially out.
They warn you that everything but AF settings will be cleared with the FW 2.0 update. It is wise to record all the settings first (write them down, photograph each page or whatever, so the settings don’t have to be thought up out of the head.
I just wish that Olympus will give us decent 1080p options that we can partner with IBIS. Fair enough if 4K is unstable with current hardware, but come on. If they actually sat down and worked on their 1080 it would be good enough for a LARGE number of the people here clamouring for 4K.
Update to version 2.0 official available here:
http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/download/software/firm/e1/#omd
Camera updater updated my E-M1.
This picture is a fake, easy to see : the first picture show “4K” on the yellow sign, this one shows “UHD” and the font is very different from the E-M1.
I guess we’ll never see 4K in the E-M1, but thanks, it was entertaining 🙂
Anyway, the real FW upgrade is the best Olympus ever issued, fantastic list of features added! Olympus support has become one of the best in the industry!
Also time font is wrong. A picture like this does not prove anything. And like you said, one time it is 4K and the other time UHD. OTOH, every camera maker is testing new features. These are many times built into present bodies. So, there may be 4K prototypes with new hardware but using E-M1 bodies. And again OTOH, I would guess Nabil Fathi being under NDA before he could see any prototypes…
As I understand, this was the photo what admin got first. Then later he got the one what he showed us, it was the cropped blurry one.
Technically 3820×2160 is not really a 4k but a UHD. UHD means “Ultra High Definition” and it is a 1920×1080 * 2. 4k is really a 4096×2160 and is used for cinemas only. And who knows if the font was planned to be changed? Why the timer font is changed while rest of the fonts are correct ones? Doesn’t make any other sense to me, other than it was a) a bad fake b) a real but trap from Olympus to separate test cameras between versions. Simply by looking fonts Olympus could see who leaked photos. That would be very efficient way as version numbers or other things can’t be shown with photos.
But we don’t know, 99.99% change that photo is a fake too.
And if Nabil Fathi would have been under NDA, he broke that agreement simply even TALKING about the prototype existing.
So he did not ever see anything, now anything or even hear anything. He is a liar and nobody should ever even contact or deal with him. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, you are not trustworthy for anything. If you spread rumors and fakes, you are not trustworthy for anything. He showed his true colors in Twitter and to world and can’t be trusted anyways.
I think Oly gave him a beta camera with new sensor and electronics fitted into an E-M1 body. Probably he didn’t realize the difference between beta firmware and beta hardware.
What many doesn’t notice with he new 2.0 firmware, is that now the C-AF mode keeps the AF point visible while shooting. So it doesn’t get hidden anymore and this makes it easy to keep focus point over target.
That’s actually a really nice improvement, but not one that grabs headlines. Those of us who actually own and use the E-M1 appreciate it. I was lukewarm about the FW update, but I’m going to install it right away now.
I am LOLing a big time on you e-m1 4K fools,
look at PANA, they deliver
Nabil Fathi also says the image above is a fake: https://twitter.com/nabilfathi15/status/511619621150269440
There’s nothing “well done” about this. You can unpack the firmware and change the menu labels at your will. The number font can be changed by editing the glyphs / characters.
The font in the new firmware 2.0 is different from the previous firmware and is almost the as same as in the picture
Admin, even though it would have been a great scoop. You have not done your due diligence on this one. The image is clearly fake, like many others have said. Wrong font, inconsistent naming (UHD vs 4k on other “images”), unreliable sources including the assistent ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4236620/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 ) and to top it off you placed it on a too high FTrumor scaling. As a fellow photo enthousiast, you should know that whatever the intentions, people can manipulate a photo before and after taking it. Most likely this one was was manipulated before the photo was taken, with either a manipulated firmware, or just easily uploading a doctored firmware picture on the SD memory card.
I hope this constructive criticism will help you improve your reporting on m4/3 rumors. Be more suspicious from now on. 😉
An IM2 “extra” according to his imdb page claims 4k with a fuzzy menu image and that makes it true? Footage would make it true, until then its just a rumor.
As its a new Panasonic codec being used. It may be that the firmware cannot use a certain feature until Panasonic has released something related to it on their own product.
After the pany release(whatever) the em-1 will allow a quick FW update and there we have 4K
I don’t know whether E-M1’s 4K firmware does exist, but I think the images of setting screen or icon can’t be credible evidence. I don’t have Olympus camera, but as for Panasonic camera, it is very easy to make such fake image.
display setting screen on camera –> output via HDMI or composite video cable –> capture and doctor it on PC –> copy it to SD card –> play back it on camera
Thank you! This is exactly what I meant! It is too easy to fake a menu image. The admin should really become aware of this, or we will have a lot more of this.
Don’t worry, Olympus provided a fantastic new video “art filter” to make your professional videos look like a bad attempt at making them look old and scratched.
It’s more like they are taking the piss at their customers. “You want more framerates and better bitrate for your videos, we’ll give an art filter to make them look even crappier. Now shut the fuck up”. The moment Panny manage to put something similar to their IBIS in their cameras (even if it’s only 3 axis), i predict the end of Olympus and I’ll be the first to laught.
I realize it’s not particularly exciting, but I’ve been looking and haven’t found anything that says how the p14 has been updated. Just cosmetic? New coatings?
Just got the email from Olympus. 2.0 doesn’t show 4K in list of improvements…
From Nabil Fathi’s twitter:
At least we know that E-M1 sensor is capable of 4K, I think this is the same sensor for GH-4.
Too bad the same website does not give information on the GH4 sensor die, would have been interesting.
With the E-M1 sensor being capable of 4k (assuming panasonic did not disable it during manufacturing), I wonder if the E-M1 processor is capable of working with 4K.
Didn’t he also threaten with releasing the beta firmware? Or did I misread that? He should do that and then we will know for sure instead of having to speculate. Under the assumptions he actually has it, of course.
I spent some time browsing one of the files inside the 2.0 firmware using the freely available tools (filename: 00.main-code-01.addr_strings_all.txt).
1) there are references to 120FPS and 240FPS
2) no direct reference whatsoever to UHD/4K
3) there are references to very high shutter speeds
4) references also to keystone adjustment, new art filters, etc…
Now, it is not uncommon adding placeholders in code:
a) for future developments (either software or hardware)
b) they are just there because they are part of a common code base that may be used or not in a given camera model (marketers call it product positioning I think).
Assuming things given the findings above reminds me that old Oscar Wilde aphorism: “When you assume, you make an ass out of u and me”.
Given that the TruePic VII seems to be dual-core, it could well be that it lacks enough processing power to manage 4k streams without running at 100%, which affects both battery use and warming. This said, one can be reasonably sure that it has enough power to process up to FullHD at frame rates different than 30p, and it totally smells like b) above. IMHO.
Just installed FW 2.0 on my EM-1, no 4k video.