New Sanyo HD1 firmware is availiable and can be downloaded from the japan´s support page:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sanyo-dsc.com%2fsupport%2fupdata%2fdmx_hd1%2findex.html

I have already installed it - new firmware version is 1.0.1

New Sanyo HD1 firmware is availiable and can be downloaded from the japan´s support page:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sanyo-dsc.com%2fsupport%2fupdata%2fdmx_hd1%2findex.html

I have already installed it - new firmware version is 1.0.1
Interesting and well discovered! Did you buy your HD1 in Europe, and is it identified as a VPC-HD1EX under the battery?
According to the translation it would appear the main change is to accomodate 4GB SD cards. My concern is that many people have already reported 4GB cards as working with the current firmware, so I'm wondering whether this is just aimed at some early japanes production run, though the dates reported are now.

Edit: I've now noted that the Japanese doc refers to SDHC: I also found a reference to Sandisk's release of their first 4GB SDHC card only a few weeks ago in mid July, so I assume the existing 4GB SD cards aren't actually to this new SDHC standard, and the camera works with them despite this.

"SDHC is the new designation for SD cards larger than 2GB that adhere to the SD 2.00 specification, a completely new design that is required for cards and hosts to support 4GB to 32GB capacities. The specification was developed by the SD Association, an industry standards board, which also defined three speed classes for speed and performance capabilities. These cards adhere to the SD Speed Class Rating specification which defines a minimum sustained transfer speed for SDHC cards 3."

Well, on the basis my HD1 is only a week or so old and could be sent back if a problem arose, I followed the instructions on the pages Dimitri has found.
The download is an exe file s812nup1.exe. Once run on the PC this unpacks a binary file, s812nup1.bin into a directory DMX-HD1.

I full formatted a card, copied this file, as instructed, into the root and put it in the camera.
Then: Select PLAY. Select the menu and go to the menu item FORMAT. Instead of pressing the 'set' button to go into the format menu, Press the joystick to the left and hold for 2 seconds. If the card has the bin file in its root dir (and only if), you then get a screen which identifies the current firmware version. On mine, serial number 3950001, this was still 1.0.0. Choose UPDATE and press SET. It then says 'Updating' for what seems a long 90 seconds. After that the camera powers off without any other message.
It powered on OK again, still with English menus, the right date and time etc. This time, if you again go into the update option with the procedure above, it says 1.0.1, so I guess it worked!
Thanks Dimitri.
Disclaimer: this DID work for me: if it doesn't for you, please don't blame me!! Make sure you use a known reliable card, and have the camera plugged into AC before you start.

Please let us know if there is any improvement in the camera's performance . Updating is kind of risky. I want to make sure it is worth it. Thanks.

Interesting and well discovered! Did you buy your HD1 in Europe, and is it identified as a VPC-HD1EX under the battery?

I purchased my HD1 one month ago in Moscow from the Sanyo dealer. It marked as a VPC-HD1EX under the battery. It always worked with 4GB SD. The firmware version was 1.0.0 and after update it became 1.0.1. I don't know, what's new in this version, but I will investigate.

I've been reading more about this SDHC stuff. In particular, this appears here, on the SANDISK site:
http://www.sandisk.com/Assets/File/pdf/retail/SDHC1.pdf
"Be aware of non-SDA 2.00 specification compliant SD 4GB cards on the market. If these
non-compliant SD 4GB cards record data in a SDHC host, and are then used in a legacy
SD host, issues and problems may occur. File system incompatibility, data corruption,
and potentially you may actually loose the data/pictures. In addition, if these noncompliant
SD 4GB cards are inserted into a legacy SD host device, the host device may
not recognize/utilize the card as 4GB, [and it] instead may read as a 2GB card. If the SD
4GB card does not have SDHC on it, it is not SD 2.00 compliant."
This worries me, since I know a lot of people are already using 4GB cards. So this seems to suggest that the update would create problems for these older non SDHC compliant cards, particularly when you try to read them in a standard SD card slot.
So far, I haven't bought a 4GB card myself, maybe Dimitri can advise how he's getting on with non-SDHC 4GB cards written after the update, and read on older SD readers?
Once you have done this update, you can't go back, since there is no backup of the existing firmware 1.0.0 available.

Can you take a video with strong 45 degree angles in it (right and left) and post it so we can check the updated ROM for the diagonals bug?

Can you take a video with strong 45 degree angles in it (right and left) and post it so we can check the updated ROM for the diagonals bug?
Here are 2 samples of the worst examples I've taken since the update, one has the image stabiliser on, and one off, showing the effect of sampling a smaller area of the chip with the stabiliser on. I don't think this update has made any changes to the chip compression algorithms. Do you agree?
Off:
http://www.mltel.com/sanyo0020.mp4
On:
http://www.mltel.com/sanyo0027.mp4

Here are 2 samples of the worst examples I've taken since the update, one has the image stabiliser on, and one off, showing the effect of sampling a smaller area of the chip with the stabiliser on. I don't think this update has made any changes to the chip compression algorithms. Do you agree?
Off:
http://www.mltel.com/sanyo0020.mp4
On:
http://www.mltel.com/sanyo0027.mp4

Diagonal bug is still here :(

Any new funtion or improve? 320x240 30fps for ipod mode?

Any new funtion or improve? 320x240 30fps for ipod mode?
No. There are no new functions or changes that I can identify. I think, as noted on the web site, that this is purely to do with the finalisation of the SDHC specification and the need to make some minor change to the firmware to accomodate these cards (which are specced. up to 32GB!). Note that it's version 1.0.1, a sub revision, not even 1.1: at least it means that Sanyo do release updates for the HD1, and via the web (at least once!)

It's interesting to note that Transcend, whose 4GB cards have been reported as working, have removed these from their product offering. I assume they will release a 4GB card to the SDHC spec soon, and all the manufacturers are now chasing this goal.
I'm sticking with 2GB cards for a bit rather than pay premium prices for the first SDHC cards!

I'm dissapointed that Sanyo didn't correct the diagonal bug in this update. Still, Sanyo has now provided us with a ROM and a process to upgrade firmware. This could prove useful as in-camera solutions would require these tools.

I wonder what Sanyo's policy is regarding decompiling firmware. I'll have to take a look at the license agreement when this releases in Canada. Allowing us access to firmware may enable us to determine a solution and present it back to Sanyo.

Thanks, Dimitri for the samples. I have been meaning to test the difference between stabilizer on and off, and I think you have answered the question. I viewed the images on a 60 inch HDTV, and they look better with it off, unless you have another explanation.

Because the HD1a is being released about 6 months after the HD1 with nothing but tweaks our fear is that Sanyo won't feel obliged to cater to the ultimately smaller number of people who own the earlier model.

I hope this firmware update for the HD1 suggests otherwise.

Then again, I remember reading back in February that Sanyo had said the HD1 would support the next generation of SD cards, so perhaps they were contractually locked into providing this firmware upgrade or something.

I have to say, despite the diagonal bug, I still think it's a lovely little device.
When I think back to the first 'camcorder' I bought in 1979... This was the first JVC VHS one that used their standard set top mechanism, a large lead acid battery and a shoulder mount vidicon camera: we have moved on a lot. And it cost me 1250UKP, at 1979 prices! Oh, and the charger was the size of a fan heater.

Just so. We need to know when we're well off. I have been eyeing the Panasonic SDR s100 because it seems to me that Panasonic will have to upgrade it to HD to keep up with the competition. It is a handsome, well-made camera with a beautiful screen, and a nice size. I took some shots with a store model, and loved the image on its screen. When I viewed them on the HDTV, they were quite washed out (despite 3 CCDs) and couldn't compare with the Sanyo HD1 shots taken at the same time, even after allowing for the difference in resolution.
I will try to learn to appreciate the really remarkable films that I have made with the Sanyo, and bide my time until something truly better (and solid state) comes along. My morale has been better since I built a little folding hood for the screen that has eye-level and waist-level magnifyers -- a big help outdoors.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your "folding hood" Peter?

Thanks a lot

Erick

I, like you, am keeping fingers crossed on what Panasonic may do with the little S100. It does seem like a natural for them to upgrade it to HD because they're so close as it is. But meanwhile, the Sanyo will hopefully make the necessary changes to stay ahead of the "pocket pack."

I just had a look at one of the AVCHD samples (ezhqp1) posted in the AVCHD thread. Makes the HD1 look good!
Edit: I used PowerDVD deluxe 7 as the player and renamed the file to .mpg.

Erick -- I cut four squares of black cardboard and taped the edges together to form a box that would fold flat. I attached a fine plastic elastic to the front to hold it onto the screen (must be thin so as not to block the mikes). This helps outdoors somewhat; I attached a small magnifying lens to another piece of cardboard and taped it to one top edge of the box so that it can flop over the top, making an eye-level finder that can still fold pretty flat.
All of this was a crude experiment, but is working well enough that I haven't gotten around to improving it. Actually, it works well enough to show that the image on the screen is pretty crude itself.
You can also buy various hoods from www.hoodman.com

You can also buy various hoods from www.hoodman.com
In the UK Camera Bellows (who have been going since 1897 apparently) also do these: here's one aimed at camcorders, with a Velcro loop round the display, but they also do one with a magnifier for digital cameras, and I suppose could put the 2 together:
http://www.camerabellows.com/Video.html
Peter's link didn't work for me, but the Camera Bellows site has the names of their US dealers.

Mike, I use the Transcend 4 GB card Model TS4GSD150 and it is SDHC compliant according to the manufacturer. I bought it just a month ago and the place where I bought it is still selling it for $99. I haven't had to upgrade the firmware either and it works great.Like Dimitri, mine is a EX model, maybe that has something to do with 4GB cards working without the firmware.

My apologies. The link should have been www.hoodmanusa.com

Mike, I use the Transcend 4 GB card Model TS4GSD150 and it is SDHC compliant according to the manufacturer
I had a dig about on the Transcend web site looking for some reference to the SDHC spec in relation to their cards, but I was unable to find one, hence my comment:
http://ec.transcendusa.com/center.asp?chtype=Flash%20Card&indexnum=2

Sorry, my bad, I mis-read SDMI (the music industry compliance) for SDHC. You're right, it isn't an SDHC card, but nonetheless, the Transcend card works great and doesn't require the firmware upgrade. The only reason I would do this upgrade, is if I needed to use a card larger than 4GB. I read on a different user forum that Panasonic will charge around $265 for a 4GB SDHC card. You mentioned it appeared Transcend is not selling this card, you are right about not selling it from their website. I got mine from Newegg.com and they are still selling it and there are no signs that it's a clearance sale either.I guess I'm of the school "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so I'm just going to stay with what I'm using. If you're interested, here's the link to Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820163159

Sorry, my bad, I mis-read SDMI (the music industry compliance) for SDHC. You're right, it isn't an SDHC card, but nonetheless, the Transcend card works great and doesn't require the firmware upgrade. The only reason I would do this upgrade, is if I needed to use a card larger than 4GB. I read on a different user forum that Panasonic will charge around $265 for a 4GB SDHC card. You mentioned it appeared Transcend is not selling this card, you are right about not selling it from their website. I got mine from Newegg.com and they are still selling it and there are no signs that it's a clearance sale either.I guess I'm of the school "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so I'm just going to stay with what I'm using. If you're interested, here's the link to Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820163159

I've just tried a new Transcend 4GB card with the part number that you've given, and it does work OK, even without formatting, in the updated HD1, even though not marked SDHC.

I'm not going to try to format it though, just in case. I've been trying a 2GB card from a firm called Datawrite, also claimed 150x. I can't get the HD1 to see this as formatted, though it works in my other cameras. I've even tried formatting it with the Panasonic SD card formatter off their web site, in all the option permutations. This still doesn't work. If you format it and then, without powering off, record, then the recordings are fine when you take the card out and look at it in a card reader. But when you put it back in the HD1, or even just switch it to play mode, it wants to format it again, and each time you power the camera off and on, the same thing happens. So Datawrite are a firm to avoid, certainly with the updated firmware.

Mike, I failed to mention in the last posting, I did in fact format the Transcend 4GB card in the HD1 camera before I ever used the card. This was also when I first bought my HD1 (about 6 weeks ago) and it had never been use before.After formatting, I used my HD1 for the first time and it's worked great ever since. Formatting shouldn't be a concern or an issue with this card.Not to mention (for what it's worth), Sanyo's HD1 manual states a new card should always be formatted first, before using the card or the camera for the first time.

Formatting shouldn't be a concern or an issue with this card.
The concern I had was the fact that I've upgraded my firmware to the version which officially supports SDHC cards, and then it had failed to format some 2GB cards I have. In fact, I have since formatted the Transcend card, and it still works OK, so the problem does lie in the brand of 2GB card I tried (mentioned further back in this thread).

Diagonal bug is still here :(

Too bad,
this is a k.o. for me.

I will not buy the HD1 or HD1A until this diagonal bug is fixed !

The camera has otherwise a nice resolution,
but when you look at:

http://www.elecard.com/download/MP4_HD.php

and
http://www.elecard.com/download/mp4-avc.php

you can see, that these files look much much clearer
and like real HDTV...
The HD1 and HD1A make both the display so grainy
with this bug, it annoys me all the time, so I can´t stand
it to see my videos being recorded with this annoying bug...

I hope that they soon have something else out,
otherwise I will wait for the new Hitachi small size AVCHD cams
that were shown in the latest Japanese show report,
where also the new Panasonic AVCHD cam was shown,
but the Panasonic cam is a bit too big for my applications.

Many thanks.

Regards, Stefan.

What camera was that bike footage taken with? Looks Good...and that one chick has a real nice ass..

Well, I don´t know, what camera Elecard has used,but probably a better one than the HD1....

Well,if you read again the test over here from this Japanese guy:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fav%2Fdocs%2F20060920%2Fzooma273.htm&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

you can see, that with the right quality setting of the video mode
in about the center of that page, he says and shows with 2 pics, that
you can almost prevent all jaggies !

You must probaby set the camera onto soft image mode,
then there will be much less jaggies visible and you can
later add detail via filters in NLE Editing...

But if you compare the HD1 to the new Canon HV-10,
there are really milestones of better quality with this new
Canon camera ! Such a good HDV I have not yet seen !

Unfortunately it still records onto DV tape, which I
did not want to stay in, I wanted record to SD cards
in a small pocket sized unit I can carry with my all day long....

Check it out at:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fav%2Fdocs%2F20060920%2Fzooma273.htm&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

and compare to the new Sony AVCHD Harddisk version:

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060920/zooma273.htm

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060920/zooma273.htm

Sorry, I have posted some wrong links,
got mixed up.
How can I edit over here my postings ??
Anyway, Here is the Canon HV-10 test:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fav%2Fdocs%2F20060823%2Fzooma269.htm&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

and here is the HD1 test:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fav%2Fdocs%2F20060215%2Fzooma244.htm&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

Regards, Stefan.