Download | Digital Camera | Digital AV | Consumer Products | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html)

According to Panasonic, this update "Improved the reliability of video recording performance."

SB

Thanks for the heads up. I just DL'd the update and I pick up my GH4 body on Friday so I'll update it first thing.

Anyone managed the Firmware via a Mac? I can download the file but cannot open it. Double clicking, as I would do normally, just duplicates it.

The Panasonic "explanatory" pages look as if originally written in manuscript , by a non-native English speaker, re-typed via an old Remington w.h.y. and then pasted.

Ron

did you download the mac version?

Update Contents for DMC-GH4 (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gh4.html)

I did Paul!


Ron

Same here. I downloaded the Mac version and just tried to open it. The first download is a .zip file. When I double click that it opens a .bin file. If I open that if opens a .cpgz file. If I try opening that if opens another .bin. Here's a photo of what I get each time I try to open it, starting with the .zip file.

I think you'll find the .bin file is the update, put that onto an SD card and then follow firmware update procedure using the menu settings.

Anyone having issues updating on Mac?

- Using the camera Menu I can see the body has the 1.0 firmware version.
- I downloaded the 1.1 version.
- I formatted an empty SD card in the GH4.
- I removed the card and put it my MBP.
- I copied over the .bin file to the SD card.
- I insert the SD card into the GH4 and turn it on.
- Hitting the "play" button brings up "No valid picture to play" and not the update screen described here;

Joint update service for Four Thirds lens and DMC-G1/GH1 camera body step 2 | Download | Digital Camera | Digital AV | Consumer Products | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/step_bg.html)

I have followed all the other instructions they have listed. The GH4 doesn't seem to recognize the updated version on the SD card.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Cant get it to work with my mac either

Well it worked when i did it with my pc

It is not working on my Mac I just get 'no valid picture to play' too.

Have any Mac users been successful in updating the body firmware?

Hopefully a user has a solution or Panasonic figures out the issue if it's affecting all Mac users.

HA! finally - conclusive proof that PC is better than mac :-)

Okay. I Googled this update problem that Mac users are having, turns out Windows people are having it too, so it's not a Mac only problem.

I eventually got it to work. This might not work for others, but here's what I did if it's worth a try for others.

I'm on a Mac.

The first time (when it didn't work) I did this;

- downloaded the .zip file.
- opened the .zip to reveal the .bin file and left the .bin in the same spot as the .zip (either both on my desktop or in a named folder.
- formatted an SD card (SanDisk Ultra 30mb/s Class 10 32 GB) in the GH4.
- inserted SD card into my Mac and copied over the .bin (GH4_V11.bin). The other items already on the newly formatted card were; DCIM, MISC, and PRIVATE. I added the .bin file.
- ejected SD card from MBP and inserted into GH4.
- turned on GH4 and hit "play" button. I kept getting the 'no valid picture to play' text.

I did a Google search and found people were having luck using different SD cards. So I tried using an older Lexar Platinum II Class 6 32GB card. That didn't work either (using the same instructions above), kept getting 'no valid picture to play'.

So I tried again re-formatting my SanDisk Class 10 card (from the first attempt), and again, 'no valid picture to play'.

So here's what I did different, don't know why it worked, but it did.

- I again reformatted my Class 10 card.
- I deleted the .bin file from my MBP, keeping only the .zip file. I then reopened the .zip to get the .bin file once again. All of this was occurring in a desktop folder I had named GH4, which I was using for links and other items pertaining to the GH4 while I was researching it. (I just picked it up Friday).
- I then dragged the new .bin file directly onto my desktop, so that it was not in the same place as the .zip. This probably has nothing to do with why it worked, but even if it's just a coincidence I am writing it down here so others can try if they want.
- I then copied that newly unzipped and relocated .bin onto the newly reformatted SD card.
- ejected from my MBP and inserted into GH4.
- turned the GH4 on and hit "play". Bingo! It showed me the update option and I followed the rest of the instructions as per Panasonic.
- it updated itself and then when it was done I was able to go into the GH4 menu and confirm the firmware was now 1.1.


Like I said, this may just have been a fluke. But it wasn't working for me after several attempts like others have tried. I did it all again with the second set of my instructions and it worked on the first attempt.

Good luck to anyone having problems like I was.

I deleted all other files on the card and then it recognized the update!

Chad, where did you drag the .bin file to on your SD card? "DCIM", "MISC" or "private" ?


Ron

I didn't put the .bin file in any of the 3 other items (folders) natively on the card after the GH4 formats it.

I simply dragged the .bin onto the SD card so that there were then 4 items on there, the .bin file and the other three that the GH4 creates after a format.

You can try that, or the previous poster to this thread seems like he had luck deleting everything off the card and leaving only the .bin file on it before inserting back into the GH4.

Just updated on a Mac with no problem. Download .zip, click it to open it it, drag that .bin file to SD card, camera updates, no brainer, this was the easiest firmware update I have ever done.

Well, got it to work but only after trying three SD cards. Transcend 64 gig Class 3, no go.SanDisk 16gig Class10, no go. SanDisk 32gig Class 10, bingo!


Ron

Weird that for some of us, it works so simply and for others that it was picky about the card type/brand, file location, etc. When I first tried it, the camera wouldn't let me until I switched to a brand new, fully charged battery. Probably a good thing.

Chad, where did you drag the .bin file to on your SD card? "DCIM", "MISC" or "private" ?


Ron

Just drag the .bin file into the root directory of the SD card. I did it on my iMac here at work and it worked fine.

SB

EDIT: I actually got around to shooting a LOT of 4k footage yesterday, and even after the new firmware update, the camera still locked up, but only once. Wonder what's going on there...

I have finally managed to install 1.1 in my GH4. I tried a new card and still got ‘no valid picture to play’. Next I deleted the first download from my computer and reloaded the update. This time it worked.

I actually got around to shooting a LOT of 4k footage yesterday, and even after the new firmware update, the camera still locked up, but only once. Wonder what's going on there...

What card did you use? I experienced one lock up when I used one of my older 45mbs sec sandisc cards, I now have a Kingston 80/90mbs read/write card and the last 3 weddings it worked fine. I still have not updated to the new firmware though, will do that today.

What card did you use? I experienced one lock up when I used one of my older 45mbs sec sandisc cards, I now have a Kingston 80/90mbs read/write card and the last 3 weddings it worked fine. I still have not updated to the new firmware though, will do that today.

I was using one of my Sony 45MBS cards, which I've used in the past to good results. Records C4K, and even the 200 mbps fine, except for those odd moments when the camera hangs up.

Speaking of which, I noticed last time it happened that I hadn't even pressed record yet. I had turned the camera on, and was manual focusing and getting all my settings right, and then when I went to press record, it wouldn't work. So I popped the battery, and then everything worked fine. Shot the rest of the day on it and it didn't ever freeze.

SB

Records C4K, and even the 200 mbps fine, except for those odd moments when the camera hangs up
Panasonic recommends UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) cards so anything less might be causing the crashes, I had it once also with a 45mbs card, as my work depends on those cards I got a card with recommended speeds instead, so far, so good (knocks on wood)

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

Also, as a side note, my GH4 crashed again yesterday, but like I said, it was before I had shot anything, and I was just setting up the shot. I pressed the record button on the back and it didn't do anything, so I sighed, and took it off the tripod and popped the battery, and turned it back on. My grip looked at me and asked, "Did you just turn it off and back on again?" "Um, yes..." I stammered, slightly embarrassed.

But it worked from then on!

SB

Hi, Juste went through all the angst and steps to update. for mac users
Here's what we found.
Download the .zip file. double click to get to the .bin file.

Heres the rub...You need the originally labeled bin file… if you download it more than once, as we did on successive attempts.. it will have numbers-1, -2 ,etc added to the label…(for ex: GH4__V11 5.bin) this "new" label will prohibit the camera from reading the .bin file…

1. Get the originally labelled bin.. (GH4_V11.Bin) by lopping off the additional space and number.


2. Format an SD card in the camera, put that card in your Mac. Drag all files on the formatted SD card to the trash and empty the trash.

3. Copy and paste the GH4_V11.Bin file onto the SD Card. - so it is the only file on the SD card.

4. put it in the camera and hit the Play button…. The onscreen upgrade menu ( Version Up) will come on..after a short wait..
It worked for us.

That's how it will work. Had same problems and did that, and it worked after that.

I sidestepped all these issues by sending mine in to the McAllen service center for the "audio buzz" fix. They gave it quick turnaround (about 3 business days) and sent it back to me with ver. 1.1 installed. The audio is now clean and everything seems to work as it should.

To find out if your GH4 has the "audio buzz" problem plug in headphones, an external mic with switch OFF, set the input at MAXIMUM, and set the headphone level at Maximum. Carefully put on the headphones. At shutter speeds of up to 1/30 you will hear a staccato popping, at 1/60 and above it will be an obnoxious buzz.

I usually use a separate audio recorder so almost considered not bothering with sending it in for the fix, but decided to anyway for when the day comes to consider selling it. Definitely gonna be harder with an audio problem.

In order to get your GH4 repaired and returned to you as quickly as possible, the following information must accompany your GH4 when you send it to Panasonic’s service center:

First and Last Name
Physical Address (no PO Box)
Telephone Number
Email Address
Description of the issue (e.g. “Audio buzz”)

Send the camera only (no accessories) along with your owner information to Panasonic’s service center:

Panasonic Factory Service Center
GH4 AUDIO UPDATE
4900 George McVay Drive
Suite B, Door 12
McAllen, TX 78503
Attention: Maria Alonzo

Important: Ship your GH4 via a traceable insured shipper such as UPS or Fed-Ex to avoid any unforeseen delays in delivery.

GH4's purchased new with firmware ver. 1.1 already have the modification and do not need the "fix".