Firmware Friday: New features for Leica S (Typ 007); Bug fixes for Nikon D810 / D810A and DJI drones

It's Firmware Friday, folks, and you know what that means: All of this week's digital camera and related firmware updates in one easy-to-browse location! This week, we have news to report on cameras from both Leica and Nikon, as well as drone-maker DJI's aerial photography platforms and related products.

Leica S (Typ 007)

We'll start off this week with Leica, as its new firmware for the Leica S (Typ 007) is clearly the big news. The Leica S (Typ 007) firmware version 3.0.0.0 release is packed to the gills with feature tweaks, and David Farkas over at Red Dot Forum has put together an excellent summary of the changes. We'll just summarize in brief, then, and defer to the resident Leicaphile for the full story.

Most of the changes revolve around the camera's on-screen GUI and top LCD panel. On the top display, the distance information display now updates dynamically when adjusting focus, rather than only when the shutter button is half pressed. The order in which focus distances are shown has also been reversed to be more intuitive. Shutter speeds of 0.7 seconds or longer are now appended with an "s" to make clear that you're clear on the operating units, and when shooting video, a recording icon is now shown on the top display. Finally, when using Auto ISO sensitivity, the camera now indicates "A-ISO" on the top display, alongside of the current automatically-selected sensitivity.

This last change is also applicable on the camera's main LCD, although here the new icon spells out "Auto ISO" in its entirity.  The icons used for GPS and Wi-Fi on the main LCD have also been changed. The remainder of feature tweaks allow more customization: You can now choose whether a shutter button half-press should lock the metered exposure or not. You can also customize the Live View button to provide access only to photo or video live view modes, or to both. Finally, lenses now automatically update their firmware when attached to the camera body.

In addition, a number of bugs have been squashed. These include problems releasing the shutter in live view mode when using S-Adapter C or H; failure to support shutter speeds shorter than 1/125 second for the S-Adapter H; a delay after the first frame in a continuous burst with auto white balance enabled; unwanted new folders being created when switching between user profiles; the AF assist light failing to turn off after use on the SF40 and SF64 flash strobes; and connection issues with the SD58 flash strobe.

You can download the new firmware update in the Owners Area of the Leica website, and as noted, Red Dot Forum has an excellent summary of the new features in more depth.

Nikon D810 / D810A

Continuing down the list, we have separate firmware updates for the Nikon D810 and D810A. Here, there is but one change, and it is identical for both Nikon D810 firmware version 1.11 and Nikon D810A firmware version 1.01. For both closely-related models, an issue with the camera sometimes locking up when a WR-R10 wireless remote controller running version 3.00 was attached.

DJI Inspire 1 / Inspire 1 Pro / Inspire 1 Raw

Finally, we come to drone-maker DJI's aerial camera platforms, and here there are a huge raft of updates for various models. We'll start with the high-end DJI Inspire 1, Inspire 1 Pro and Inspire 1 Raw drones. The main changes in Inspire 1 and Inspire 1 Pro firmware version 1.8.1.00 are as follows:

• Improved encryption to enhance security during transmission. Both the aircraft and the remote controller must be upgraded or else they will not link.

• Fixed the issue of batteries over-discharging when stored for extended periods of time (over 90 days).

• Fixed the issue of landing gears lowering in midair on rare occasions. 

• Improved stability for camera.

• Optimized gimbal parameters.

For the Inspire 1 Raw, the new firmware version 01.08.00.90 includes all but the landing gear and battery fixes mentioned above.

For all three models, there is also an update to the DJI Go app for Android, now running version 2.7.2. For the Inspire 1 Raw, there are also updates to DJI CineLight (v0.9.9) and DJI Camera Exporter (v1.0). No specific changes are noted for any of the software apps. More info can be found here.

DJI Phantom 4

For the DJI Phantom 4, firmware version 1.1.301 includes the following changes:

• Improved encryption to enhance security during transmission.

• Optimized take-off logic for the aircraft when the compass experiences interference.

• Corrected system status information for some batteries.

• Increased downloading speed for photos and videos.

Again, there is also an update to the DJI Go app for Android, now running version 2.7.2, and no specific changes are noted. More info can be found here.

DJI Phantom 3 Professional / Phantom 3 Advanced

For the Phantom 3 Professional and Advanced models, firmware version 1.8.80 includes the following changes:

• Improved aircraft stability through optimized flight controller logic.

• Optimized gimbal parameters.

• Fixed clip preview error in 2.7K resolution mode.

• Improved encryption to enhance security during transmission.

Of course once again, there is also an update to the DJI Go app for Android, now running version 2.7.2, and no specific changes are noted. More info can be found here.

DJI Phantom 3 4K / Phantom 3 Standard

For the Phantom 3 4K firmware version 1.4.30 and Phantom 3 Standard firmware version 1.5.70, there are but two changes:

• Improved aircraft stability through optimized flight controller logic.

• Optimized gimbal parameters.

Plus that obligatory update to the DJI Go app for Android, now running version 2.7.2 with no specific changes noted. More info can be found here.

DJI Matrice 100

The developer-friendly DJI Matrice 100, meanwhile, now runs firmware version 1.2.0.90. The sole change here is the improved encryption noted previously for other models. There are also updates to the DJI Assistant (v1.0.3) and DJI Go app for Android (v2.7.2) with no specific changes noted. More info can be found here.

DJI Lightbridge 2

And finally, we come to DJI's Lightbridge 2 controller. Once more, the sole changes are the improved encryption noted previously, the new Android DJI Go app and a new DJI Lightbridge 2 Assistant release. Firmware versions are 1.1.10 for the Air System, and v1.1.0 for the Ground System, 1.0.3 for . DJI Lightbridge 2 Assistant, and 2.7.2 for DJI Go for Android. No specific changes are noted for any of the software. More info can be found here.

(Camera parts image courtesy of Kelly Hofer / Flickr; used under a Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license. Image has been modified from the original.)