Firmware Upgrade

The Firmware Upgrade feature was introduced in CameraSDK 3.0. It lets you transfer a firmware package file to the camera. This feature does not require any new firmware version to be present on the camera.

Firmware Packages

There are two types of package files: .fwr and .fwp.

Traditionally, the packages with the .fwr extension contain only firmware for IQ4 digital back or the iXM camera itself. They did not contain any firmware targeting camera housings or lenses, such as XF, XT, XC, RS, RSM, etc.

However, for the P5 camera, the .fwr packages contain all the needed firmware components, including the lenses.

Package files with the .fwp extension always contain firmware for the entire camera system. These are IQ4, XF, XT, XC, and stand-alone XShutter lenses for bespoke photography. For iXM systems, it is: iXM, iXM-GS, RSM & RS.

There are no .fwp packages for P5 cameras.

Upgrading the firmware using .fwp packages will also upgrade any connected lens or camera system. If you have an XF and an XT camera for your IQ4, you must run the firmware upgrade process twice, connecting one and then the other afterward. The same is true if you have multiple lenses for your iXM.

Note

Firmware packages can be downloaded from our Support website, both for iXM and IQ4 cameras: www.phaseone.com/support/camera-firmware

Upgrading Firmware

Beginning with CameraSDK 3.1, transferring a firmware package to the camera involves using the new UploadFile API.

To initiate an upgrade process, you call a single method on the Camera object:

bool success = camera.UploadFile(UploadFileId::FirmwareUpdate, "/path/to/fwr/or/fwp/file");

camera.UploadFile(UploadFileId.FirmwareUpdate, "/path/to/fwr/or/fwp/file");

The UploadFile method is a generic file upload function that could be used to send other files to the camera in the future. The UploadFileId-enum defines what type of file you are uploading.

The UploadFile method transfers the firmware package to the camera. CameraSDK makes no assumptions about the file; it blindly forwards it to the camera. If the transfer is successful, the method will return true.

After the file is transferred, the camera will begin parsing it. Is it the correct format? Does it contain valid firmware? Is the firmware intended for the current camera model? Etc. Just note that there could be many reasons the camera rejects the firmware package.

Note

Cameras will either upgrade or downgrade firmware. They will ignore a firmware package with the same version as the currently installed one.

CameraSDK does not receive any information on rejected or accepted firmware packages. No progress or status information is relayed to the SDK. On IQ4, you can follow the update progress on the display, but on iXM and P5, you can only see the LEDs flashing.