I have neither the fx1 or z1u so i don't know the specifics on how either of them work. From what i do know they both pretty much have the same body, same lens, and the same image sensors, and are pretty much the same camera besides the extra z1u functions and the xlrs.

I don't know much about firmware hacks, but i've seen them do lots of things from getting psp to play nes emulators to bypassing the tape of a dvx to get hdv quality (though not technically a firmware hack). So what's the possiblity of making a hack to make the fx1 think its a z1u? I mean it probably has the same little processor running both the cameras, and probably all the extra controls are done after the sensors pick up the image letting the camera digitally change the image.

I'm going to suppose this isn't an easy thing to do, because well no body has done it yet. But do you think its possible? It would really increase the possiblity of me getting an fx1 haha.

Related discussion here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=54246

Hey Alex - welcome to DVinfo! I'm in the process of selling my house in Medford, so we were practically neighbors for awhile :-)

Somebody supposedly hacked the firmware on the TRV-950 to try and make it more like the PDX-10 (those two models had the same relationship as the FX1 and Z1), so theoretically I'm sure it's possible. But you'd have to ask yourself whether it's really worth it. Why not just save up a little more money and buy a Z1 if that's what you really want? Messing with the firmware would certainly void your warranty, so you could end up with a real problem. And there are some physical differences between the FX-1 and Z1 such as the audio setup

Here's a site which deals with modifying camera firmware, although it's a little out of date. WARNING - don't try this on any camera unless you're willng to risk ruining it!

http://lea.hamradio.si/~s51kq/DV-IN.HTM